Page 12 of Soul of a Psycho

“Oh, fuck. Fuck.” Ruby is suddenly leaning over me, but she’s practically drowned out by the redhead laughing.

“Seriously?” I snap, pushing myself up a bit and cradling my arm. There’s something wet and warm sluicing between my fingers, and I crane my elbow to see that the skin is cracked open and bleeding.

“Are you okay?” Ruby tries to take my wrist, but I shove her away.

“I would be if you had caught me,” I seethe as I realize the rest of the floor has turned and is gaping at me down on the floor. A few have wide eyes, but most are snickering. Because it’s just so funny to see someone bleeding.

“I was—” Ruby tries.

“Thanks a lot,” I cut her off.

I can’t believe she didn’t catch me. Sure, she’s been less than friendly, but to just openly let me fall? And in front of everyone?

“I didn’t—” she tries again.

Martha’s pointy boots slap down in front of us.

“Just one year,one year, I would like to make it without one of you girls pulling something like this. And to think we were so close. I expect more from you all. You’re seniors for goodness sake.” Her face is red, lips set in a grim line, as she looks down at me.

It feels like she’s chastising me as well, when I’m the one who got dropped. Idon’tlike being chastised.

“To the infirmary,” she says.

“I’m fine. I just need a paper towel.”

“And you’ll find one in the infirmary.” She plants her hands on her hips.

I take a breath to stop myself from snapping at her, remembering that my father may not be around, but wordsdoget around, and finally concede with a nod.

When I push myself to my feet, I shoot Ruby a withering look. She huffs and rushes back into our room, slamming the door behind her.

Chapter Nine

Cade

The headmistress is thin—too thin—with a form-fitting turtleneck and a sweater over top, seemingly trying to hide it. Her black hair is held in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, and it threatens to come loose as she shakes her head at me. She’s not old, mid-forties, but the last four years have seemed to age her.

Part of me is remorseful, but the other part—the stronger part—has me smirking like an asshole because I’m the cause of her rapid aging.

“One week. You made it one week.” She sighs and tightens her delicate fists over the desk.

I’m sitting across from her in a leather seat that might as well have my name on it with how much time I’ve spent in it, and I look away so I don’t risk feeling any more remorse. Yes, I made it one week. Which is one week longer than last year. And I could make it a whole fuck of a lot longer if people didn’t test me.

All Caleb had to do was complete our little bonding session in silence, but he couldn’t contain his malice. And I couldn’t contain mine. I practically gave myself whiplash the second he tugged my hood down. I spun in a one-eighty and didn’t hesitate as I slammed my fist into his jaw. There was a pop, and when hedidn’t immediately retaliate, I realized I had dislocated his jaw. It hung abnormally loose.

I haven’t had someone tug my hood down since I was a sophomore, and back then, I would have had no choice but to just take it. But now? Now, I dare anyone to fuck with me. I guess I don’t know my own strength though, because dislocating his jaw was not my intent. He deserved it, but that doesn’t mean I’m proud of myself. I have a plan, one that requires patience, one better than a dislocated jaw.

“You should be expelled,” the headmistress laments. “Do you know howweakyou make me look?”

Guilt passes through me like a ghost I can’t see because I know exactly how it looks. She’s in between a rock and a hard place. If I was expelled, there would be nowhere for me to go, and she knows it.

“You strut around here like you walk on water, Cade.”

The ghostly sensation dissipates quickly, and I scoff, a weak laugh in the back of my throat. I do not strut. Islink, like a shadow in a time-lapse. Strutting is what Caleb does, what Henry and Bentley do, and what Connordid. And I’m not like them at all.

She slaps the desk at my disrespect, but it doesn’t hold any weight, and I bet the action even hurt her fragile bones. I raise my brow at it.

“I’m at my wit’s end with you. Really, I am. What am I supposed to tell Caleb’s parents as to why you aren’t being punished?”

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