Page 358 of As the Rain Falls
“Cassandra, please,” his voice shifts, turning into something gentle. Caring, almost. “Mom is worried sick about you. We need to talk.”
Kayla steps in, her brown eyes darting between us, trying to deescalate the situation. “Can’t this wait until tonight?”
Nathaniel ignores her.
“Come on, Cass. Let’s not make a scene,” his voice is dripping with faux concern. I want to punch him. “You’ve had enough fun the past month.”
Mateo scoffs, immediately seeing through him, “You’re the only one making a scene, man. What’s up with you?”
People are watching now.
A few teachers and students are lingering in the parking lot, watching us from afar. I motion for Cassandra to move towards my car, wanting to get her out of here, but Nathaniel blocks her way.
His hand shoots out to grab her.I yank him off before he can.
Nathaniel meets my gaze, then, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. It’s like he’s just now registering me as a real obstacle and not just a guy pretending to care.
“My mother is waiting for her call,” he says through gritted teeth.
“The phone goes both ways,” I taunt him back, getting in his face. “We both know that it’s not true. She doesn’t care about Cassandra.”
He snaps, “And what do you know about my family?”
“I know enough.”
“Who is she to you?” his voice is measured, but I see the challenge burning in his gaze. “Because that’s my sister right there, and—”
“She’s mine, Nathaniel.” I touch my own chest, feeling my tattoo itch. “My girlfriend.”
Nathaniel stills. His expression doesn’t change, but I can feel the shift in the air, how it builds up after I use those words.
Mine.
And then, I know I got under his skin.
I shake my head.
If he’s smart, Nathaniel will back off. But something tells me he doesn’t like losing, especially not to another guy.
Slowly, he smirks.
“Ah, I get it now.” He turns to Cassandra, malice dripping from every word being spoken. “His poor sister died, and now he’s going after mine. Right Cassie?”
The words hit like a slap in the face.I don’t understand what’s behind them, but the weight falls on top of me nonetheless because I see the way she freezes. How the color drains from her face, and she glances back at me, terrified and out of her mind because of him.
“Go to the car,” Nathaniel barks at her. “Now!”
Who the hell does he think he is to give her orders?
I press my hand to her shoulder, allowing her to stay exactly where she wants to be.I’ve never felt this. In fact, the desperation to get him away from her is unlike anything I’ve never felt before in my entire life.
“Is this all she is to you? A possession? A fucking doll?”
I need him gone.
Dead.
I need him dead.
