Page 575 of Filthy Elites

Her glare never relenting, Erica presses her mouth to mine, and moans when I run my tongue along her lower lip, opening up for more.

I don't know how I make myself let go and finally open the door.

I'm hard as steel, and my crisply pressed shirt is rumpled. Erica looks freshly fucked, which sadly isn't the case. "You're going to have to walk in front of me for a bit, girlfriend."

We walk into the school side by side. I can feel everyone in the hall staring at us, whispering. I can't say I care.

"You can say it a thousand times, it won’t make it true."

I choose to ignore her, my mind on more important matters. I don't have long to ask her. "Where are you going? Next year."

Most of my friends will attend Rothford next year, so I thought I'd join them, initially. Now, I'm not certain. I realize my future entirely depends on her answer.

"To whatever college gives me a full ride, I guess."

She's vying for a scholarship. That makes sense, given her mother's finances.

"Where would you go if money wasn't an issue?"

The second bell rings, spurring her into action. Without so much as a wave, she rushes down the science wing, leaving me with more questions, and an uneasy, growing awareness.

I need to know where she's headed. Otherwise, how the hell can I follow?

ChapterTwenty-Six

I buyfour cheap tanks at the pet shop after work, and Audrey meets me in front of the store to help me stack them in the back of her Audi. We drive to the falls, where I fill four jars with algae.

I set up my stuff in the library Audrey and I never use. I like reading well enough, but I tend to stick to audiobooks. I only fill the first aquarium with the river algae. I've ordered other strains online, but I feel like using natural elements from our backyard will be a selling point of my presentation.

The oil extraction is another issue. Pressing it seems more straightforward than usingcarbon dioxide or a solvent, though considerably messier. I make note after note, biting my lower lip as I consider my options.

The doorbell rings, and I'm still working, so I scream, "Audrey! Are you in?"

"I'm in the bath!" she yells back.

I grumble, but get up just in time to see Chase walk in like he owns the place. Which I suppose he kind of does. "What are you doing here?"

"Feeding my girlfriend."He lifts a bulging brown bag.

"Oh? What does she look like? I'll let you know if I see her hiding somewhere."

He tilts his chin to my empty aquariums. "Getting some fish?"

I shake my head."School project. In fact, I'm in the middle of it right now, so if you don't mind…"

"I'll let you get back to your work right after dinner, so the sooner you give in, the sooner you'll be rid of me."

I exhale, too tired to even attempt fighting him tonight. Besides, now that I've stopped for a minute, I realize I’m starving. "What are we eating?"

He winks. "Set the table and I'll show you."

For the first time in our acquaintance, I do as he says without argument. I really must be tired.

"Isn't your mother eating with us?" he asks when he sees I've only placed two plates on our farmhouse dining room table.

"You want to eat with mymother?" The same woman he keeps insulting? With good reason, but that's beside the point.

He shrugs."I got enough for her, just in case."

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