Page 3 of Quinlan

Another kid beats me to him. Puts a hand on his shoulder. Offers him a tiny smile when Rome turns his head to face him.

Liam, with his unruly, wavy dark hair over his forehead, his amber eyes. He can sneak up on you without you ever noticing. The genius who skipped two classes.

I watch as Rome blinks when he realizes it’s him. Something that resembles a smile appears on Rome’s lips too. He can never stay angry when Liam’s around.

“Black called you,” he refers to me by my last name. Jerks his head in my direction.

I’m almost there, only one girl standing between me and them.

“Hey, Scar Face.” Ginne, the redhead asshole from my class, laughs as she points at Liam.

Her evil green eyes squint as they zone in on Liam. On the scar tissue that starts on his jaw, runs across his cheek, and ends below his earlobe.

“Why don’t you pull your hood over?” She laughs again. Fucking laughs at him. “Gross. No one wants to see that thing.”

Liam’s eyes widen. His fingers flex at this side, itching to cover himself up, if I had to guess. Rome and I swore him not to do that. Never hide his scars. There’s no shame in surviving a nightmare. Fucking none.

Ginnie doesn’t agree with us. She hasn’t ever since Liam was released from the hospital.

I’m never an asshole to anyone in school.

I am an asshole to her. Keep telling her to shut up about it. That I’ll ruin her social life.

The bitch just won’t listen.

One asshole coming right up, Ginnie.

Except Rome’s already there. Already serving her order.

My friend throws himself at her, his hand balled into a fist. His knuckles are red and raw from never having his gloves on when he takes his anger out on walls and punching bags.

And soon they’ll be red from destroying Ginnie.

His dark blue eyes are furious. Lips curled in a snarl.

Bam!

That first blow connects to Ginnie’s stomach. She doubles over, folding her arms over her stomach.

Stifling a laugh is hard. So I don’t. That bitch has earned it. I hope there’ll be more where that one came from.

“Dame has been nice to you this past year.” Rome looms over her, ignoring the growing crowd around us. He grabs her by the hair and yanks her head up to meet his furious gaze. “I’mnotnice. Next time you even look at Liam, I’ll ruin you.”

Silence.

Boys don’t beat girls up around here.

Then again, not too many people I know are as overprotective as Rome. None of them have been gearing up to murder people when they’re older, like the three of us.

“You’re hurting me,” she grits out.

The crowd stays silent and at a safe distance from her and Rome. They won’t come to help her. They won’t run inside to call a teacher.

They’re scared to mess with Rome and me.

Ginnie’s on her own.

Serves her right.

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