Page 80 of Encounter

“You did a wonderful job on the project last week. Very detailed. Very interesting! I wanted to let you know,” he said, smiling widely. Unsure how to accept the compliment, I awkwardly nodded and looked down. “Especiallyconsidering the majority of the works I got were mostly copied from the internet.”

He was one of the teachers who cared for quality of work submitted. I liked him for it, but most people didn’t. Glancing at him with an understanding expression, I put the bag over my shoulder. “I imagine you’re probably advised to overlook that fact.”

A desperate chuckle escaped his lips. The poor guy seemed to bestillgetting used to the ways this place ran. Thankfully, he kept lecturing with the same passion. “I’m starting to understand that’s how it goes around here. Thank you for keeping it interesting for me.” He gave me a grin before turning to go back to his table.

“Thank you, anyway,” I blurted out. I was never good at accepting praise—always longing for it, but when it finally hit me, Iwould get flustered and anxious. “See you tomorrow.”

Walking out of the class, I felt the pressure lifting off my chest, making space for a warm, soft sensation settling at the bottom of my stomach. With a smile, I brushed my hair back and tried to remember if I checked up with Chast about going to the gym later on or not.

I should probably call him.

“Surprised he didn’t suck your little cock for that paper.” Blake’s voice behind me nearly caused me to trip up. Did he eavesdrop?!

I turned, and the moment I landed my eyes on his sour, annoyed face, I knew I was in trouble. There wasn’t even anyone else around—the hallways were emptied as everyone went for lunch.Shit.

“Wh-what?” I mumbled, trying to keep calm and high, but my insides were already shriveling up. I should’ve kept going, but instead, I stood there while Blake made a few lazy steps toward me.

“I said I’m surprised the bitch-ass teacher didn’t suck your dick. All that fucking praise for a stupid essay. Oh, wait a minute,” he paused, sarcasm and frustration growing in his voice. “Ididn’t get any of that. Funny, considerin’ you did mine, too.”

Clenching my already sweaty fists, I gulped and stepped away. “You passed.” What did he expect? That I would be able to write up an original, quality paper not only for myself, but him as well?The nerve of this damn guy. “If... you wanted A+, you’d be better actually paying someone qualified to do your work,” I murmured, balancing on a verge of fear and anger.

All these years of bullying and torment, and he expected the work I was forced to do for him to be perfect?! Maybe itwasmy fault—I kept letting him to step all over me, so why wouldn’t he expect me to worship him like the weak little nerd he thought I was?

“Why the fuck would I do that?” He chuckled and made another step. Knowing he was within reach, my heartbeat already picked up, and warning lights turned on in my mind.

I just want to get the hell out. I want this crap to stop.

“It’s not like you don’t have the money. Why... Why not pay someone who—”

My body shuttered as Blake grabbed my shirt and pushed me against the wall. “Who the hell do you think you are, tellin’ me what to do?” He didn’t even need his stupid goons to walk around like I was David and he was Goliath. It wasn’t new. None of this was new. I was supposed to be used to it, but something about today made it unusually unbearable. “Feelin’ brave all of the sudden, huh?”

Meeting his eyes like there was some force pushing me to do it—like I was as powerless as always toward his will—I saw a familiar, childish anger in Blake’s face.

Why does he hate me so much? What have I ever done to him?

Opening my mouth halfway, the muscles all over my body tensed up, and I fought the sudden, dangerous urge to ask what I had been thinking out loud.

I knew what it would get me. I knew I would just get pushed around like always, yet—

“Why can’t you fucking leave me alone?” I growled. Holding my breath almost instinctively, I knew what was coming.

A flash of rage later, Blake grabbed me again, but this time, instead of cowering and pulling away, my body responded with resistance. Pushing him without even realizing and making him stumble, we stared at each other, momentarily in awe of what happened.

With my heart in my stomach, its panicked beats still echoed in my head. Yet the adrenaline, crisp and exhilarating, pulsed through my veins like I did somethinggreat.

The expression on Blake’s face was something I didn’t think I’ve ever seen before—full of this genuine shock.

This is what Chast would’ve done, right?Thisis the person he’s trying to help me be.

As soon as he shook it off, Blake fixed his eyes on me like a raging bull. “You little shit!” Quickly overshadowed by horror of what I had done, the brief test of bravery soured in my mouth when he grabbed my arm and pushed me to the ground, twisting it behind my back. Squirming and groaning, I tried to get up, but he pressed my face against the cold floor.

Someone has to hear us.

Someone has to pass through the hall eventually!

“Did you forget your fucking place, bitch?!” Blake screamed in my ear, overcome by irrational, manic rage.

This fucking sociopath!

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