Page 60 of Mayhem

She shrugs. “That’s what I heard, but then again, I’ve been hearing all kinds of things about you lately too. One rumor even featured me. I didn’t know we had become close enough to become lovers. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Wait. People are saying me and you are…” I trail off.

“Lovers and friends. The girls are jealous, but the guys just want to watch. What do you say?” She winks at me.

“People disgust me. Why do they feel the need to gossip?”

“Maybe because the trash around here gives them plenty to talk about,” Tim calls from behind us as he and his friends walk up to the stop. “What are you doing back here? Did the Rockfords get tired of you already? All used up and ready for the next poor sucker?”

I cross my arms, ignoring his jab. “My life is none of your business.”

“Oh, I know. I wouldn’t want any part of your business. Like mother like daughter, right?”

I clench my fists, barely resisting the urge to knock the smug look off his face.

Hailee reaches down, grabbing my hand. “The bus is here.”

I nod at her, standing back to let Tim and his friends on first, giving myself a moment to breathe. I scan the street, focusing on the cars coming and going. A white electric van is parked at the corner, a man sitting in the front seat, staring at his phone.

I don’t know why, but it strikes me as odd. It’s seven in the morning. Why would the electric truck be out?

Shaking off the thought, I board the bus behind Hailee. She picks a seat up front, so I slide in next to her.

“You okay?” she whispers.

“Fine. Some people just make me want to throat punch them.”

“I’d like to see that, but I also don’t want to watch you face the consequences.”

“What’s the worst that would happen?”

“I don’t know. Maybe suspension, jail time, or I don’t know, the slimy fuck might actually hit you back.” She raises a brow.

I shrug. “A well-placed punch to the throat and knee to the groin would keep me safe.”

A flash of white out the window draws my attention, but it passes too quickly to see what it was. That nagging feeling in the back of my head is yelling at me to pay attention.

“You’re pretty scrappy. Me, on the other hand…” She trails off.

“I can teach you some things,” I murmur, craning to see out the front of the window.

Why do I feel like something’s wrong?

The bus pulls up to the school, ending my wayward thoughts.

I follow Hailee off the bus, falling behind as she walks. She stops and glances back at me. “Are you coming?”

“In a minute. I’ll meet you inside.”

“Are you okay?” She frowns.

I give her my attention. “Yeah. I want to take a minute to myself is all. See you in there?”

“Sure.”

I watch as she walks toward the building before turning back toward the street.

I take in all the vehicles, my eyes catching on the white van that has the same logo as the one from the bus stop. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

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