Page 295 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Briar!

Briar!

Whywouldn’tthey cheer for him? They let him walk loose among them as if he’s nothing close to the wild predator Addy suspects him of being. An animal Iknowhim to be.

My skin feels a size too small.

I try walking faster, but my disengaged body just keeps plodding along at the same pace.

When I try to look behind me, my eyes remain fixed forward.

Briar! Briar! Briar!

Addy’s standing at the foot of the benches wearing a pink, glittering cheerleader’s outfit that doesn’t look anything like Lavish Prep’s gold and black uniform.

A pair of pink pom-poms dangles at her side as if she’s lost every bit of enthusiasm.

I stop in the center of the gym.

Breath stirs fine hairs against my neck.

Shit, he’s so fucking close.

Briar! Briar! Briar!

I want to close my eyes, but they stay wide open. I have no choice but to stare at Addy as she stares back at me.

No, not me.

She’s looking past me.

Briar! Briar! Briar!

Why am I stuck? Why can’t I move? I don’t want to stand here in the middle, not with Briar this close. What if he pulls up my skirt or shoves me to the floor?

My insides grow tighter and tighter.

Briar! Briar! Briar!

Hands slide around my stomach, draw me back. A hand closes around my throat, firm but not too tight.

My core clenches as tingles start spreading through me.

Addy starts to dance. Her pom-poms dazzle, despite how reluctantly she thrusts them into the air. Her lips move, but her chanting comes from everywhere at once, like she’s wired to a mic.

Who’s number one? He only wants some fun.

Lips touch the side of my neck. My body aches in response, and I melt against the hard body behind me.

Who’s perfect too? He’s right behind you.

Addy twirls around and does a perfect backflip. When she straightens, there’s a pained smile stretching her glossy lips.

The hand around my throat squeezes, while the other trails down my belly, heading for my navel. I shudder, my core clenching tight in pained anticipation as those fingers creep closer and closer.

Who’s wild and free? Not you. Not me.

Addy spins around, shoves her pom-poms in my face, and then flips away from me again. Her brown eyes are slitted now, her teeth bared in rage.

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