Page 92 of Forbidden Lessons

Part of it, anyway.

I drag my hands up my throat, over my face, through my hair.

Heavenly, I’m not. Kai’s right. I have a one-way ticket to hell.

A tear flashes down my cheek, startling me at how quickly it cools. Guess there’s more rain on the way. But the clouds still don’t look dense enough. Might only be some scattered showers.

The first storm of the season is always a rager.

I should leave AHC. I mean, what’s the point of sticking around? I’ve made one friend, and she’s already screwed me over. Having to look Kai in the face every time I have a class with Professor Rooke will be torture.

My gaze shifts until I’m looking at my feet. There’s barely two feet between me and the rocky cliff.

Wind tugs at my hair, shoves against my back.

My hands tighten on the barrier, then relax.

How much would it hurt?

I reckon quite a lot.

Maybe it would be worth it.

But only if I didn’t survive.

Another gust pummels me. I can smell moisture in the air, taste it on my tongue.

I’m trying to find the tiniest sliver of hope, but things look pretty fucking dark right now. Kai might have played it off as a joke, but what are the chances there won’t be rumors about me living out of my car?

One secret down, one to go.

I don’t want to be around when that one comes out.

Another tear flashes down my cheek.

“Fuck!”

The wild wind doesn’t care. It snatches away my frustrated yell and pulls it apart.

I’m so fucking sick of crying.

So sick of lying.

I slip off the barrier, take a tiny, hesitant step forward. Then another. Inching closer until I can look over. Fuck. I’m pretty sure I’ll bounce a few times before I get to the bottom.

My toes curl against the soles of my flip-flops. The wind toys with my hair and gives me gentle little shoves, like it’s encouraging me closer.

There’s a sickening buzz in my ears. A painful thump in my chest as if my heart is trying to push me back to safety.

But I’ve been here before. This isn’t new territory for me.

I shuffle a little closer.

Just a little closer.

And then I’m right on the edge, and every excuse not to jump becomes as flimsy as the last bit of ground beneath my feet.

Chapter 26

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