Page 50 of Changing the Play

“Why not? You’re okay withWestontouching you.”

I try to pull my arm away from him, but his grip tightens. “Couldn’t stand the sight of you. Sitting in the stands, all high and mighty.Shoving your bullshit in everyone’s faces. Fucking disgusting. And that little show in the hallway afterward? Sick.”

He just about spits the words out, and I clearly have no chill because I open my mouth and nothing good comes out. “Aww, are you jealous, sweetheart? Don’t worry. We can probably find some dick for you to enjoy too. Just not mine. West’s is out of commission too, I fear.”

His jaw clenches tightly, and it’s obvious I struck a nerve. He drops my arm, and I move to take a step away when pain explodes across my face. The impact makes me stumble backward, and I stand shocked for a second.

Did he just hit me? I bring my hand up and touch my chin where a sharp pain is blooming, and pull away fingers covered in blood. My tongue darts out and I realize my lip is split. Bigoted freak. I don’t even think. I hit him back, a right hook to his jaw. It’s clear it surprised him, but he recovers quickly and tries to swing at me again. I duck away from him and take off running, my adrenaline pumping so hard that my heart is racing, my stomach twisted in knots.

Jesus Christ. I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut, huh? Couldn’t just de-escalate the situation. I had to go and make it worse.

I don’t even realize where I’m running to until I see West’s apartment building up ahead. My lungs are screaming and I could probably stop running now, especially since I’m almost positive I’m not being followed. And really, why in the world did I not stop for my car?

Holy crap. I just got into afight.I haveneverbeen in a fight before. Not a physical one, anyway.

My feet carry me up the stairs and down the hallway to West’s door, where I burst in without even knocking. He’s sitting on the couch, book in hand. His head shoots up when I come barreling through the door and it takes him all of three seconds of processing to piece together what happened.

He’s off the couch and in front of me before I can blink. He cups my face gently, fury burning in his eyes.I’m safe.I’m with West, but now I’m pretty sure the adrenaline is crashing and my knees don’t seem to want to hold me up and I basically collapse against him.

His arm wraps around my waist, and even though I’m not a small man, he picks me up and carries me to the couch. He sits me down and I grab his shirt with a trembling hand when he starts to move away. “I’m just getting ice, Darce. And something to clean you up with. I’ll be right back.”

It’s way harder than it should be to force myself to let go of his shirt, but finally, I manage it. He steps into the kitchen and grabs an ice-pack from the freezer and wets a wash cloth before coming back to the couch and sitting down beside me.

Gentle fingers cup my face, and then West is wiping the blood away from my chin. “What the fuck happened, Darcy?”

I stare at him for a second, debating on if telling him is a good idea. Finally, I sigh. “So the guy I was meeting to tutor tonight? Marc?” West nods, his eyes laser focused on his task of cleaning me up. “Yeah, turns out he’s actuallyMarcus.”

West freezes. It’s eerily silent. I swear even my heart stops beating. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

I barely even have time to react before West is on his feet and rushing away from me toward the door.

“No! Stop.”

He stops, hand on the door handle, back rising and falling, his shoulders raised and every muscle in his back tense. “He’s not going to get away with this, Darcy. I already fucking told you. I don’t care what they do to me. But hurting you is out of the fucking question.”

I stand up and go after him on shaky legs. “I know. But hear me out—it was my fault.”

West scoffs, whirling around to face me. “It wasnotyour fucking fault.”

I shrug. “It kind of was. He was running his mouth and I provoked him. Besides, I got a hit in too.”

West’s entire chest heaves with his next exhale. “That’s not the point, Darcy. He fucking hurt you. He put his hands on you.” He starts pacing. “I’m going to kill him.”

I move after him, placing a hand on his chest, forcing him to still. “West. It’s not worth it. He’s a jerk. It’s fine. You’renotgoing to get expelled and lose everything you’ve worked so hard for over this dickhead, okay? Breathe.”

He watches me for a second, the rage burning in his eyes so potent I can almost feel it. His jaw clenches and unclenches, the fury pouring off him in waves. “Breathe,” I repeat.

He inhales a ragged breath before letting it out, and then another. Finally, after what feels like forever, his taut muscles relax the slightest bit under my touch and his breathing evens out. “Let me finish getting the blood off you. If I have to keep staring at it, I won’t be responsible for my actions. It’s bad enough that it’s already bruising.”

I try for a joke. “Doesn’t it make me look tough, though?” West’s nostrils flare. Clearly not amused then. “I’m serious. I got in a crazy right hook to his jaw. It was kind of amazing.”

With a sharp exhale, he presses his forehead to mine. “Stop talking, Darcy. You’re about to make my heart explode. I’m barely hanging on here.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, leaning into his touch. “I’m really okay, I promise.”

He lets out a slow, measured breath and wraps his arms around me. He’s trembling. Not a lot. I’m not even sure I would have realized itat all if he hadn’t wrapped himself around me. “I’m okay,” I repeat, gripping his waist.

“Jesus. Okay. Let me get you cleaned up, then we need to ice your jaw. And you’re staying here.”

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