Page 27 of Picture Perfect

"Fine." The word falls from my lips, flat and resigned. Inside, my mind races, tracing the lines of every possible outcome as if I could somehow prepare myself for whatever confrontation lay ahead.

The scent of sweat and old cologne wraps around me like a noxious cloud as Preston shoves the locker room door open with his free hand. The click of the lock snapping into place behind us feels final, ominous. I swallow hard, my gaze flickering around the empty room—rows of metal lockers stand open like mouths agape in silent judgment.

"Start talking, Addy," Preston growls, releasing my arm to pace before me, a caged animal in letterman's garb. "What's going on with you and those freaks?"

My heart thuds against my ribcage. I rub at the red imprint his fingers have left on my skin. "Nothing's going on, Preston."

"Liar!" His voice ricochets off the tiled walls, and I flinch. "I see how they look at you... how you look back. You think I'm stupid?"

"Of course not," I reply, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. I hate this—hate that I know just how to navigate his temper. But survival is an art form I mastered long ago.

"Do you think you're funny? Parading around with that trash? Letting them touch what's mine?"

"Oh, but it's okay for you to let Cecily hang all over you?" I scoff before I can stop myself.

Preston's face twists into a cruel smile, his eyes darkening with anger. "Jealous, are we?" he taunts, stepping closer until I can feel the heat radiating off his body. "I fucking knew it."

"Don't be ridiculous," I drawl back, my own anger rising to match his. "I couldn't care less about Cecily."

He laughs, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Sure you don't." He reaches out to twist a lock of my hair around his finger, tugging it roughly. "You're just like every other girl. You want what you can't have."

"But I can have you, can't I?" I mutter. I just don't fucking want you.

"You're mine," he demands, closing the distance between us in two long strides.

"Yours?" The word slips out, defiant despite the quake in my knees. "I don't belong to anyone, Preston."

"Oh, I beg to differ. You and I both know you belong to me, Ice Princess. As soon as your father signs on that dotted line. And we both know he will."

His rough hand grasps my cheeks, forcing my face towards his as he slams his cold, greasy lips onto mine.

"Let go," I demand, trying to pull away from him. But his grip only tightens as he brings his face close to mine.

"You know what? Maybe I should teach you a lesson," he sneers, pressing my head back against the lockers with a crash.

My heart races in fear as I realize that Preston is serious, that he intends to hurt me for not giving him what he wants. I should have played his stupid fucking game. He wanted me jealous. He wanted a reaction. And, I gave him nothing.

Stupid. Stupid, Addy. You know how to play this game. You know how to survive.

My breath hitches in my throat as Preston's body presses against mine. I can feel the hard length of him pushing against my belly and my stomach rolls.

"I think it's high time I take what I want from you, what I'm owed you frigid bitch." he growls, his hot breath fanning over my face. "You owe me, Addy."

"I don't owe you anything," I snap back, trying to push him away but his grip on my face is too strong.

"Oh, but you do," he insists, his voice low and menacing. "You owe me everything. Your daddy is going to sign those papers Addy and then no one can stop me. But, I don't think I want to wait."

His hand slides down from my face to grip onto my waist, pulling me even closer until there's barely any space between us.

Preston leans in closer, pressing his lips against mine with an almost painful force. His tongue invades my mouth and I try to resist but he's too strong. His other hand roams over my body, squeezing and grabbing at any part he can reach.

"Stop," I gasp out as tears start prickling at the corners of my eyes.

"Why? You don't like this?" Preston breathes against my ear before biting down on the sensitive skin there.

I struggle against him but it only seems to fuel his desire. He groans and grinds himself against me harder, pinning me against the lockers with his body.

My mind races with ways to get out of this situation but nothing comes up.

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