Page 107 of Forever We Fall

His weight gives before anything in his leg, pulling him over backward. He screams like the fucking pussy he is. Other opponents flip midair to keep from being pinned. Not Phillip. The rock thumps onto the grass several feet from his fat melon head. A head that gives a satisfying thud of its own.

He lies dazed and unmoving with his arms out by his sides.

It would be humiliatingly easy to pin him, but I don’t want to hold him down. I want to hurt him. Bloodlust claws at my chest, demanding I mark him, that I make him remember how badly he fucked up tonight.

I jump to my feet, stalk to his head, and lean over him. He blinks at me, but he’s not entirely there. I grip his shoulder and flip him onto his belly. Then I fill both of my hands full of his hair and drag him toward Arlo.

When the grass turns to concrete, I make sure to leave traces of his preppy face between the rock and grit.

He comes to pretty quickly, flailing and screaming. So I turn his face into the pavement until I reach my destination.

Arlo sits on the edge of the grass, closer to the building. He’s listing to the side and cradling his head in his hands. His shoulders, fuck, his entire body shakes with a low-level vibration that speaks to shock.

I lift Phillip’s head and step on his lower back to keep him still.

“Look at Arlo,” I demand.

A whine seeps from Phillip’s bloody lips.

“He is brave and kind, noble and intelligent, loyal and beautiful. He is a person worth everything. He is everything you will never be.” I shake him. “Every time you look at your scarred face, think about how amazing he is and how much you fucked up tonight.”

I turn his bloody and raw meat face toward me. What unmarred skin remains loses color. As though he just realizes he cannot stop the consequences of his actions.

“If you so much as look in his direction ever in your entire life, he will be the last thing you see. I will kill you. I will bathe in your blood. I will welcome the jail time.”

My gaze narrows, and Phillip’s ruined lips quiver. “Do you understand?”

His head shakes, along with the rest of his body.

“Tell me what you understand.”

Tears leak from his blue eyes. “Don’t look at him ever again,” he whines.

“Or what?” I snarl.

“You’ll kill me,” he sobs.

“Killing you will be the relief, Phillip. It’s what comes before that you should worry about.” I pull his head up higher. He struggles to get his feet under him but finally does. I grab his face and hold it within a breath of mine.

He winces. Snot flies out of his nose and onto his mangled lips.

“Remember this promise any time you feel like getting a little revenge. Remember this promise when the headmaster asks what happened here tonight. You’ll want to lie. You’ll want to make me out to be the bad guy. Remember this. Tell the truth and keep your gaze away from Arlo.”

I release him. “You’re welcome to look at me if you dare.”

His wide gaze hits the ground, choosing the right option. The only option.

“Leave now.”

Phillip stumbles over his feet, then stumbles over the bloody rock. He screams at it as though it was used on him.

My hands fist at my sides, wanting to wail on Phillip until he’s nothing but chunks of meat and bone.

“Hota.”

Arlo’s already reedy voice is smaller and thinner than normal.

“I’m right here.” I drop to my knees beside him.

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