Page 199 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Denard turns to walk away, and then pauses mid step to peer at Indi over his shoulder.

“Welcome to Lavish Prep, Miss Virgo.”

Indi

Did that just happen? Did a teacher of this godforsaken school honestly crap me out after he saw that guy on top of me? I’m so pissed off, I can barely fucking breathe.

“Hey, virgin!”

I have no idea who the hell shouted that, but before I can find out, someone grabs the back of my shirt and tugs. In fact, they tug so hard that one of my buttons pop off. I’m hauled several feet away before I can free myself.

Addy glares at me when I turn to give her a piece of my flaming mind.

“Seriously don’t know how to read a room, do you?” she mutters.

My eyes go wide. “You too?” I say, contempt dripping from every word.

Addison cocks her head. “Do you know who that was?”

“No,” I say through an indignant laugh. “But if I did, I’d be at the police station, not?—”

“That’s Briar. Prince Briar, the Third.”

I try to glance over my shoulder, a laugh rattling in my throat. “You’re a fucking prince?” I yell out.

Briar cocks his head at me, a smile touching his lips. Then he spreads his hands to either side, as if to show off his mouth-watering physique.

Last night I barely got more than a glimpse of the guy; he was all shadows and square jawbone. Now in the daylight, I realize I was tousling with a six-foot-something teenage Adonis. Sandy, windswept hair, crystal blue eyes, and a face that captained those thousand ships launched for Helen of Troy.

Addy grabs my sleeve and rushes for the school, hauling me after her.

“Let go!”

“This is for your own good.”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just shut up, Indi! Fuck!”

There’s so much vehemence in Addison’s voice, I stop fighting and let her drag me into the school proper. A few students flow in with us—obviously bored now that the morning’s entertainment is over. Addison pulls me into a nearby corner and looks around as if this is a known mugging spot.

My chest is too tight to speak. The fists at my sides are aching how I’m holding myself back. But when Addison finally turns her gaze on me, all my anger—my indignation—melts away.

Her brown eyes are drenched with sadness, frustration, regret; her mouth an upside-down smile.

“What is it?” I whisper. “Addy, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t you ever,everget close to that guy again. Hear me?”

I open my mouth, but she’s not done.

“I mean it, Indi. If you see him coming down the hall, you go the other way. Got it?”

“Addy, I don’t?—”

“Say it.” Addison’s teeth flash white as she grits them at me. “Say it!”

I’ve had just about enough of being bullied by every second person in Lavish. But, at the same time, I’m utterly drained after everything that’s just happened.

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