Page 2 of Crush

Shelly’s face dropped but understanding swam into her expression. “Was he intimate with you?”

“Yes, Miss Stephens?” the voice belonging to the new person said.

“We’re going to need a SAEK when we get to the station,” she informed the younger woman briskly. I hadn’t a clue whatthatmeant but her companion glanced at me with a look of puzzled concern.

They then started whispering,rude. I chewed on a fingernail, feeling self-conscious that they were speaking about me. I had nibbled on them so much that my thumb had started to bleed. Oh dear, Zander wouldnotbe pleased. He always had a go at me for biting my nails.

I heard Shelly say something about needing permission from my father and then she mentioned my age. The fact that she saidonlyfifteen,pissedme off when I’d turned sixteen last week. I had been through more in my life than she and her silly little notepad wouldeverexperience.

“Thanks, Cathy,” my note-taking tormentor said as the other girl, Cathy, scurried away. She reminded me of a mouse. I found both their names ridiculous.

I lowered my fingers as Shelly’s eyes drew back and she watched me across her beaklike nose. The silence was suddenly deafening.

“You said you’re together but Mr Harker’s personal items are next door. This suggests you didn’t share a room. Is that the case?”

Sucking in a breath I replied, “It’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”

Shelly exhaled and glanced briefly around the room before leaning closer, “Look. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot but youcanspeak to me, I’m on your side. Would you like to go into one of the other rooms for more privacy?”

How many fucking questions was that?

Shrugging I said, “So, I’m expected to sit here and answeryourquestions but you won’t return the favour.”

She tapped her pen against the back of her other hand. “I’ll answer your questions if I can.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “So, answer it then,” I huffed, feeling frustrated that this ‘compromise’ wasn’t a two-way street.

“I’m sorry, what question?”

“Whereis Zander?”

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her expression was now empathetic and she placed a hand on my leg. It was probably supposed to reassure me but it did the opposite, and I wanted to knock it away. I stiffened. No one touched me, Zander didn’t like it.

“He’s in custody.”

I didn’t likethatreply. “What?”

“Do you know what that means?”

Raising my chin, I moved my leg away from her hand, feeling patronised. “Of course, you’re saying he’s been arrested. I’m not afuckingchild. Why is he in custody?”

Shelly’s hand flopped to one side and caught the notepad. It fell onto the floor between us with what she had scribbled facing up. I so wanted to know what she had written about me and I strained forwards as she leant down to snatch the book back.

The paper contained a semi-illegible amount of squiggle but I saw the words,suspectedcapture-bonding.WTF?

Her next comment drew my head back. “Because he broke the law. You know that.”

“You mean by running. But surely if that’s the case webothbroke the law,” I pointed out with a sneer.

Shelly’s face became guarded and she shook her head, “You’re a minor. You havenothingto worry about or be ashamed of.”

Snorting, I bit back, “Who says I’m worriedorashamed?”

She paused, a cocktail of emotions plaguing her features. And then her following wordsrippedmy world apart.

“Bottom line, Alexander Harker is no longer part of your life. His twisted games can’t hurt you anymore.”

She was wrong. The impact ofthatstatement penetrated deep, almost like a physical pain.

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