Page 37 of Ramsay

“Hm, yeah, maybe. You got details?”

“Here, gimme your phone.”

He plugs in his number and hands it back to me but not before texting himself. When I raise my brow, he just grins. “You’ll need a date. They don’t let just anyone in.”

“Huh,” I chuff out a laugh.

Beside me, Matt’s blush fades to a wistful grin and I spy Oliver’s sister approaching with a small smile.

She shares Oliver’s pretty blonde hair and sparkling green eyes but that’s where the similarities end. Oliver has a take no shit attitude that exudes from his pores.

His sister, although gorgeous, hides behind glasses, slouchy clothes, and a wary expression. The dichotomy is a curiosity I’m tempted to mine, but I sense that I’d be taking advantage of this shy girl.

“Maeve,” Bone says, and she waves, watching me curiously.

“Hey,” I smile, and she shrinks away with a small nod.

Lord help me but I feel a pang of pity for the girl who must always be in her brother’s shadow. As though she can sense my thoughts, she glances toward him before looking away quickly. Oliver doesn’t spare her a glance, but Diem has no such qualms.

Hm. Can I use this? Looking at her again, I decide not. I’d rather not be more of a monster than I am. Thank you very much.

With a wave at the group, I walk away. It feels good to be focusing on something other than my tragic life, but as soon as I’m through the doors, it’s back on me like an albatross.

What will I do if Carmen’s dead? Does it matter? She’s been dead in my heart for years.

I brood through my classes, ignoring the typical taunts thrown my way and it’s not until the fifth period that I’m pulled from my morose thoughts shockingly.

Little Hailey, with the sad eyes and warnings about Sabrina, steps into my view, and before I can track what’s happening, I’ve got a mouthful of water as something cold and bright red, splashes me in the face, spattering my body.

Wiping the sting from my eyes, I pull them back to see my hands are now a deep vibrant red, my clothes a matching hue. It’s all I can do but stare incredulously as the red dye leaks slowly from my wet clothes and onto the floor.

The image brings to mind my nightmare from last night and I blanch. Holy shit.

Inexplicably another memory appears, and I’m sucked into the past on the very night I push from my dreams with disturbing regularity.

The world around me is a haze of crimson. The walls. The floor. My hands. Fuck, I—

Laughter breaks me from my daze, and I shake my head. I can’t freak out here.

Get it together, Will.

Pulling my thoughts away from the vision, I wipe my face again, quite sure it’s the same macabre color.

Hailey shuffles before me and with a shiver because I’m fucking cold, I slowly raise my gaze to her triumphant face. The little bitch’s smile fades under my stare. I expected this from Sabrina, and even though I knew, I knew I couldn’t trust a single one of her lemmings, I'm still caught out by Hailey’s betrayal.

She backs up a step under my murderous glare and darts a glance to Sabrina, who’s grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Eyes on me,” I bark. “This is between you and me,” I say, poking my chest with vehemence.

Her eyes grow wide before her lower lip wobbles. The hall is deathly quiet while everyone waits with bated breath. Perhaps, Sabrina hates Hailey, too, because no one steps in to defend her. No, they circle like fucking sharks scenting blood in the water.

Ignoring Hailey’s pathetic face, I charge, shoving her down and climbing on top of her. I get two good swings in before I’m lifted off her and swung around. At first, I don’t recognize her savior, and I snarl at the dick too stupid to keep out of it.

But slowly Ramsay’s smirking face comes into view, and I bark, “Let me go!”

He shakes his head, heat blazing behind his eyes. “No can do, love. Faculty is on their way. Everybody move!”

“Why should we?” Sabrina says, with a calculating smile. “She just attacked Hailey. I saw it.”

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