Page 100 of Depraved Desires

When the bell finally rang, I bolted out of the room. Anxiety gripped me in its clutches, making my throat swell. This felt too normal for me. How could I go right back to normality after everything that had happened?

My shoulder hit the wall as I leaned against it. The hallway was bustling as students meandered to their next class, but I was frozen to the spot. I whipped out my phone and hit the message icon before finding Rocky’s name. An array of emotions bulldozed through me, giving me whiplash.

“You okay?” Gia’s voice carried over to me.

Silently cursing, I shoved my phone back into my jacket’s pocket before turning to face her. I should have at least made my way out of the building first.

“Yeah.” Another false smile.

Her eyes narrowed, like it was becoming hard to believe me. Hell, I wasn’t the most convincing person when it came to my emotions. It was probably written all over my face that something was amiss.

“I can walk you to class if you want,” she offered. The sympathy flashing in her eyes just put me more on edge.

“I’ll take her,” a strong, familiar, authoritative voice decided, slicing through our conversation. I glanced behind her, meeting Foster’s gaze for the first time since yesterday.

Annoyance oozed from Gia, and she whirled around to face him. “Not this again, asshole. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?”

His lips kicked up in amusement. “It was just an offer.”

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to cause a scene. Everyone already stared at me like I was some kind of freak. “It’s fine. I canwalk myself to class. Thank you for the offer, though,” I added, my words meant for Gia.

“Oh, well…if you’re sure.” She frowned.

I couldn’t handle the smothering. Gia was an asshole, and that was being kind. Her overly empathetic and nice demeanor was only there because something had happened to me. I couldn’t handle it. Not right now, at least.

“I’ll see you at lunch.”

She nodded, tossed Foster one last heated glare, before sauntering out of the building altogether.

I gripped the strap of my backpack and shifted uncomfortably on the balls of my feet. “What do you want?” I demanded. “This is the opposite of leaving me alone.”

He jutted his chin toward the exit. “We walk and talk.”

Sighing, I stepped into stride with him and started off down the hallway with him in tow. Students walked past us, talking amongst one another. He was silent until we got outside, the cool air settling into our skin.

“So, talk,” I said irritably, losing my patience.

Things between us might have gotten a little bit better. Bybetter, I mean that he wasn’t constantly insulting me anymore and didn’t seem to be as disgusted with my presence as he had been before. That hardly meant we liked each other, though. He was still a thorn in my fucking side.

“I need you to answer me honestly,” he began, his expression turning serious. On instinct, my spine straightened. “No bullshit.”

My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Okay…” I treaded, curious about what was so important that he had to ask me now—in between classes, making us both late in the process.

He pulled me to a halt once we reached my science building, backing me into a wall near the entrance. I glanced around the proximity nervously, wondering what the hell this was all about.I tightened my grip on the strap of my bag for the millionth time today.

His blue eyes were intense as they searched my expression. Like he was already trying to find evidence of a lie before even asking me the question.

“I overheard your little conversation with Gia,” he explained.

This only confused me further. “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything, and I don’t plan on it. Can I go now?” I motioned to the science building impatiently.

“That wasn’t my question,” he deadpanned with an eye roll.

“Then spit it out, asshole. I have places to be.” Annoyance simmered beneath the surface of my skin. What game was he playing at? Was his intention to make me late for class? Was he running out of torture methods, so boring me to death was the next best thing?

“You and Rocky. He saved you.”

“Um…yeah. And?”

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