Page 7 of I Despise You
Chapter 3
MY BED IS SO INCREDIBLYsoft I don’t want to get up. Ever. At least I woke up before my alarm went off and I can lie on my pillows some more.
The noise coming from the hallway catches my attention, and my eyes fly open.
Wait, what time is it?
I spot the alarm clock on the nightstand, and a gasp escapes my throat.
Late.
I’m going to be late for my first class if I don’t get ready in the next five or six minutes. I jump out of bed so fast that I’m lightheaded. Everything around me is a blur as I dash to the bathroom and then try to find my uniform.
I’ve never been late to school before, but that’s probably because my mom always made sure I got up on time, and even if I tried to sleep a bit longer, my sisters would be there to wake me up.
A pang of homesickness hits me, and I miss my family all over again.
As I take a quick look at the mirror while raking my hands through my long hair to get it in order, I realize I put on my uniform the wrong way. The school’s crest on the T-shirt is nowhere to be seen, so I turn around and glance over my shoulder in the mirror.
Yep, the crest is on my back.
I sigh, yanking off the shirt. Now my hair is a mess again.
Fuck!
Once I’m presentable, I grab my bag and rush out into the hallway. I can still see students milling around, but I don’t know when their classes start, so they may not be in a hurry.
Reaching into my bag, I search for the sheet with the list of my classes that I got from a nice lady in the administration office after I signed up for the classes I wanted.
There are so many hallways and doors, and I have no clue how I’m going to find the right classroom.
I focus on the sheet again and walk straight into a wall.
No.
It’s not a wall.
It’s only a tiny bit softer, and its arm effortlessly sneaks around my waist in a tight grip.
Wait, what?
I look up, opening my mouth so I can apologize, but words die on my lips because a pair of piercing blue eyes are trained on me. A shot of electricity surges through me, or maybe it’s actually a shiver.
“Hey, watch where you’re going,” Chase says, a smile tilting his lips.
His arm is still around my waist, and I’m still gaping at him like some moron. I take a step away from him, and he lets his arm drop to his side.
“I was just—” I start to say.
“You should stay out of my way,” he says, his face smiling, his tone chilling as he leans his head toward me as if he wants to whisper a secret into my ear. “Unless you want to get fucked.”
I can feel his minty breath on my face, and I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise.
“Liliana, there you are!” I hear Vanessa voice just a moment before she places her hand on my arm and tugs me away from Chase, who keeps watching me.
“I’m looking for this classroom,” I say to Vanessa, ignoring Chase and his penetrating gaze, and lift the sheet so she can see the number.
“It’s right over there.” She points her finger. “I’m going in the same direction, so I’ll show you. But let me give you some friendly advice. Stay away from Chase.” Her eyes meet mine. “I mean it. He’s trouble and you don’t want to have anything to do with him, okay?”
