Page 303 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

I let the bracelet slip through my fingers, twisting and turning the sapphires so they catch the light.

God, it’s beautiful.

Which brings up so many questions, least of all?—

We both know what’s going to happen tonight.

I squeeze shut my eyes and inhale deep. No, Briar. Youthinkyou know what’s going to happen, but you’ve got no fucking clue.

As I slip the bracelet back inside its box, I feel eyes on me. I put the box in my pocket and take a quick peek around the classroom.

Marcus is openly staring at me, his dark eyes as unreadable as his blank face.

I hurriedly face forward again, and start copying our homework into my notebook. As much as I try to ignore it, I can feel those black eyes on me for the rest of the lesson.

Will he be there tonight?

Fuck, why wouldn’t he? He and Briar seem inseparable.

Does he have a date?

Why the fuck do I care? I have more important things to think about.

Like what the hell I’m going to wear.

Briar

When I spot Indi leaning against the wall of classroom 301, a smile twitches at my mouth. She’s staring at something in her hand, and as soon as I come close enough to see it sparkle, my suspicion as to what it is is confirmed.

“Guess I’m not the only one who likes pretty things.”

Indi starts, her hand closing guiltily over the sapphires. She slips the chain back into the box and shoves it into her blazer.

Her glare slides right off when I slip my hand behind her neck, draw her close, and bring her close enough to kiss.

Stiffening against me, her eyes dart over mine, anger swiftly replaced with confusion.

“I’ll have to take it back if you say no,” I murmur.

Her neck muscles tense under my fingers. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Dylan won’t be amused if you arrive naked.”

Color touches her cheeks, and she drops her eyes. “I mean…I don’t really have?—”

“Now that can’t be true. You’ve gotta have something in your closet.”

Indi’s eyes narrow. “Yeah, I used to. Then some fucker burned down my house, remember?”

She steps back, tugs my hand off her neck, and walks away, turning her back to me.

Shit. How the fuck could I have forgotten about that?

My hand curls into a fist, and I thump it against the wall a few times as I stare at the back of Indi’s head.

I step up behind her, and grab her stomach when she tries to step away. Gentle though, just enough pressure to keep her in place.

“There’s a boutique in downtown Lavish. When we’re done here?—”

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