Page 65 of The Darkest Note

The mere memory of his lips burns so hot that I can’t look him in the eyes. Not without practically tasting his mouth and the way it teased and then parted mine.

In fact, I can still feel the weight of his kiss.

Like a tattoo.

My hands band around my waist and I hug myself to get my body in check.

Dutch is a hurricane, designed to destroy me until I’m nothing but a stub. He wakes up every morning thinking of the sneakiest ways to inflict pain on me. Sure, he may not have beaten me or assaulted me, but his psychological warfare is ten times worse.

Every nerve ending in my body might be standing up right now, but there’s no way I’ll allow myself to sink this low.

“We’re supposed to be in free period.” Dutch checks his watch. “But everyone is still sitting here.”

A flush spreads on Ms. Eunice’s cheeks. She looks flustered. “I dismissed the class long ago—”

“But they haven’t left,” he says pointedly.

Ms. Eunice clears her throat and rises. “Everyone leave. Except you.” She points at Dutch. “You come here.”

He ambles lazily towards her desk, his body moving almost rhythmically. He’s a predator on the prowl, totally in control of his side of the jungle. He’s the highest on the food chain. What would he have to fear?

Christa gives Dutch a look of blissful relief. The moment he gets close, she wraps her hands around his biceps.

I feel my entire body bristle and I tell myself it’s not because Dutch was kissing me yesterday and plotting my ruin with his girlfriend twenty-four hours later. It’s only because the sight of him disgusts me. Believe me. That’s all it is.

“Idoexpect you both to turn in new assignments. Copying will not be tolerated in my class.” She slants a hard stare at Christa. “Even though I’m just a substitute teacher, I can still do this much.”

Christa blinks rapidly.

Way to go, Ms. Eunice.

I start to like her a little more.

“And you,” she points at Dutch, “since you’re so concerned with this matter, I’m giving you the responsibility of helping Ms. Cooper with her stage fright, so if there’s a need to handle cases like this in the future, she’ll be able to participate.”

“What?” My jaw drops. “No, you can’t let Dutch help me.”

“Why not?” Dutch asks smoothly. There’s a cocky smirk on his lips as he watches me.

I point my furious gaze on him. “Because I’d rather choke on a basket of peaches.”

“Peaches?” He arches a brow.

I’m deathly allergic to them, but it’s not like I’m going to give him or Christa that information so they can try to murder me in the future.

“I heard Dutch and his band are acclaimed in their own right.” Ms. Eunice gestures to him. “And since he and his brothers can’t be bothered to come to class,” her aggrieved look in his direction tells me Ms. Eunice isn’t too thrilled about that, “he can contribute to the lesson by helping a fellow student during class.”

“No!” Christa stomps her foot. “I object.”

“This isn’t a courtroom, young lady.” Ms. Eunice rises and collects the copied music sheets. “Have the new projects turned in to me by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I squeak.

“Tomorrow?” Christa blanches.

“Or would you like me to go with my previous plan?” She arches an eyebrow.

We both shake our heads.

---