Page 20 of Wicked Dreams

“Then I think you should wake up, sweetheart. For your own good.” His dark eyes wavered with the pain of his words. I looked at him, wounded. “Please, Livvy. Just for now. I swear to you I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Promise?” My lower lip trembled as I stared up at him.

“I fucking swear it on my existence. I’ll always be here.” His fingers brushed against my shoulders as he gently put my dress back in place, a hungry, desperate look in his eyes.

“What if you’re not—”

His fingers were under my chin in a flash, tilting my head up so I could look at him. “There isn’t a force in Hell that could keep me from you now that I’ve found you, Olivia. Believe that.”

It wasn’t the conviction in his voice that made me believe it. It was the fierceness in his dark eyes. A storm was brewing behind those pools of midnight, making me think for just a moment that this was more than just a dream. That it was some alternate reality I’d stumbled upon, a prison in which only he lived, and I was the key to setting him free.

Oliva

“Olivia. Olivia, can you hear me?” a female voice wafted out to me. I shivered, curling into a tighter ball.

“Get a blanket,” the voice commanded. A moment later my eyelids fluttered. I peered through them to see Mrs. Stevens, the assistant principal, staring down at me. Miss Parsons, the school nurse, was at her side. My brain rubber-banded back to the events that led to me being on the floor. My face heated in humiliation as I tried to cover my body.

A girl named Melissa Jenkins popped into view with a gray, wool blanket in her hands. I recognized her from my biology class. She quickly came to us and handed it over to Miss Parsons, who wasted no time in wrapping it around me.

“Olivia, what happened? Did you hit your head?” Miss Parsons’s blue eyes leveled on me.

“N-no.” I shook my head, clutching the blanket. “I…someone took my clothes. I didn’t have anything to wear.”

“Do you know who it was?” Mrs. Stevens asked abruptly, her hazel eyes darkening, her lips set in a firm line.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

“Olivia.” Mrs. Stevens gave me an even look. “You can tell us. I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.”

I wanted to tell her it was Jasmine and her friends, but I had no idea if that was even true. It seemed like the most likely answer.

“Mrs. Stevens?” Melissa piped up. Mrs. Stevens glanced over at her with a raised eyebrow. “I think it was Jasmine Marcel and Brenda Cameron. I overheard them in calculus talking about taking someone’s clothes and putting them in the dumpster behind the cafeteria.

“I see,” Mrs. Stevens said tightly. “Melissa, would you please go to the office and let Principal Forrester know that I’ll need those students brought into the office. Ask him to send a page out. Also, go to the emergency clothes stash we have and bring Olivia something back to wear.”

“You don’t have to—” I started, my heartrate galloping. Sure, I wanted the clothes, but I definitely didnotwant the fallout of Jasmine and Brenda getting called into the office. Melissa looked between me and Mrs. Stevens before trotting off.

“Olivia, I’m not blind,” Mrs. Stevens said softly, kneeling down so she was in front of me. Miss Parsons gave me a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “I know you don’t have it easy here. I try to keep the students in line. I really do. This particular group that’s been harassing you needs to be dealt with before something terrible happens.”

“You mean like me being naked in the middle of the school?” I asked hoarsely. I shook my head as I looked into her eyes. “It’s too late. The terrible has been happening since ninth grade. I’m a senior now. I only have a few months before graduation. Then I’m out of here. So really, it’s whatever. What’s the point now? It’s something that should’ve been handled four years ago when I told Principal Forrester about it the first time I was tripped in the hallway.”

“I’m sorry this has been happening to you,” she returned with genuine sorrow on her face. “If I’d worked here then, it would’ve been dealt with.”

“Can I just go home? I want to go to sleep.” My mind flashed to Donovan and our steamy kiss. I had to get back to him. I didn’t care anymore if I spent all my time sleeping. It sure as hell beat being awake in this nightmare. All the things I’d been afraid of were stupid.Thiswas where the real fear was. In my dreams with Donovan, I was safe. I knew I was.

“We’ll call your mother—” Miss Parsons started but I shook my head.

“She works at night. She needs to be sleeping when she can. I’ll be fine.” To prove my point, I climbed to my feet, making sure to keep the blanket firmly around me. As if on cue, Melissa came back in holding a few articles of clothing in her hands.

Mrs. Stevens let out a sigh and nodded to me. I snatched the clothes from Melissa and went to a bathroom stall where I quickly yanked them on.

Disgustedly, I looked down at myself. I was wearing a t-shirt with a cat on it that had laser beams for eyes and was floating in space. The neon green basketball shorts were about two sizes too big. I secretly wondered if the shorts belonged to Brent or one of his loser friends. They all played sports. It was better than nothing though.

When I walked out of the stall, only Mrs. Stevens was left.

“Olivia, I meant what I said. I want to deal with this.”

“It’ll just cause more problems,” I sighed, shaking my head. “Please. Just let it go.”

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