Page 57 of Drama Queen

Thankfully, Aldric is damn intimidating. Only Jamie is stupid enough to attempt flirting with him. Silas can’t make it through a conversation with most people, let alone women.

With the exception of one, but she’s a whole other story.

Walking into the library, I find Silas at the same damn table he’s always at, and he’s not alone.

Fuck me. What is with today?

I must have pissed someone off. That’s got to be the only answer with the luck I’m having.

Sitting with Silas is none other than Emory, the pink-haired she-demon.

I’m not sure what I did to her that made her hate me so fucking much, but boy, does she hate me. Most people at this school know me. I’m here on a scholarship for boxing, and all sports are a big deal. I’d experienced a bit of it in high school, but this is next-level shit.

Much to Aldric's dismay, I’d never even planned to go to college, but having the chance to go pro changed everything. What were a few more years of school if it meant I could live out my dream?

A fucking headache, that’s what it is, but one that will be well worth it. The attention is annoying on a good day, Jamie being the worst, but it isn’t all bad. The girls love me, and the guys either want to be my friend or are afraid of me.

It’s a far cry from what I dealt with growing up, though. Most people saw my record of fighting and thought I was headed for a life in a gang or prison. It wasn’t a far cry from reality. Honestly, I’d been on the wrong side of the law more often than I care to admit, but Aldric always bailed my ass out, and now...

Now, they love me for the same thing.

Everyone except Emory, that is.

When Emory looks at me, I feel like the scum off the bottom of her shoe, the same way I used to when I was growing up in that shit-ass town. She shouldn’t be able to get under my skin with just a look, but I can’t help it. Something about her riles me up.

She and my brother sit at the table with more books than should be allowed. Their heads are buried in the pages, with notebooks sitting open next to them as they scribble away without looking up. I stand and watch them for a moment, their eyes darting across the pages so quickly it feels like they couldn’t possibly be reading a word. Yet every few seconds, one of them will jot something down, so they must be.

It’s a strange sight for so many reasons. Like the fact that my brother doesn’t make friends for one. Hell, he has issues speaking to girls in general, let alone sitting so fucking close to one. And of all the girls, it had to be her.

Emory's head snaps up suddenly, and I freeze, sure I’ve been caught staring like a creep. Her lips turn up in a smirk before she reaches out, resting her hand on my brother's arm to get his attention. Silas often gets lost in his books, but she sits patiently, waiting until he turns his attention to her.

Her eyes are on his as she whispers something to him I can’t hear, but I see her face over his shoulder clear as day, and I can’t look away. There’s a softness in her eyes that I’ve never seen before. Usually, when she looks at me, it's all blazing fire, as if she would like nothing more than to go a round with me in the ring. Every conversation is a battle of wits and tongues as we trade insults and harsh words in an attempt to one-up each other.

I’d never admit it aloud, but having someone who doesn’t skate around what they want to say is refreshing. Some days it’s a better way to let off steam than going a round in the ring, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t fun.

I never would have guessed those two would get along. In my mind, no one could get along with her. Even Aldric and her butt heads in class. They both have the same stubborn asshole personalities, or at least I thought they did. Seeing her with Silas has me second-guessing everything I thought I knew about her.

My feet are moving before I can think better of it, and just like that, I’m standing beside their table.

“Silas,” I say to get his attention, and his head snaps to look at me. “Let’s go. You and the she-demon can nerd out later.” I hadn’t meant to say it aloud, not really. I’m not sure where the nickname came from, but it’s something I’ve called her since the day she sat next to me in Aldric’s class a few weeks ago. Everytime I say it, her cheeks go red, and I’m man enough to admit I love it, even if only to myself.

This time is no different. Her eyes narrow, and I watch as her cheeks redden and the soft look she just had for my brother melts away. Usually, I love getting this reaction from her, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying right now.

What the hell?

Our eyes clash, and instead of the blue that I’m used to, I’m met with a bright pink that blazes as if she’s staring into my damn soul. I can’t look away as if trapped by her gaze. My brain screams for me to run, but I can’t make myself move. This is Emory. She’s not a threat; hell, she hardly comes up to my shoulder. She might have a sharp tongue, but I don’t think she would hurt me even if she could.

Right?

Even knowing that, I can’t help but take a step back as she reaches out toward me. Her little fingers wrap around my wrist, and her eyes still trap me as she pulls back, flinching as if I’d hurt her.

“Emory?” Silas’s concerned voice breaks me from my dazed state as he stands, rushing around the table to her side. He doesn’t touch her, instead hovering at her side as if unsure what to do now that he’s there.

Same ol’ Silas.

Damn it.

“Emory, what’s wrong?” I ask without moving toward her. I’m not sure what it is, but something’s going on, and I don’t like it.

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