Page 23 of I Despise You
Chase’s arms are around her waist, and I wonder how old she is, because I don’t think she goes to our school. I’d say she’s at least thirty, but it just might be that the lights and her heavy makeup make her seem older.
But it’s none of my business who Chase is hooking up with. Unless...
I lightly bite the inside of my cheek. Would Chase’s father be bothered by any of this? Would the school?
If a video of Chase getting drunk and dancing with an older girl was posted online when he was supposed to be sleeping in his room at school, would that help me?
Vanessa is too lost in music to care what I’m doing, her arms in the air, her eyes closed. I pull my phone out of the hidden pocket on my dress and lift it toward Chase and the girl.
A groan escapes my throat. The lighting here is shitty, and my cheap phone camera is even shittier. Chase looks like a bunch of pixels, and if I posted a video, he could claim that it’s not him in it without any problem.
Fuck! I’m sure Vanessa has a way better camera, but I don’t want to tell her what I’m up to. At least not yet.
I tear my gaze away from Chase. Maybe next time, I should just call the paparazzi. If the Campbells are so important, then the press might want an exclusive of what Mr. Campbell’s son is doing while attending a fancy boarding school.
I just don’t know if that would be interesting enough for the press, or if Chase’s father would stop them from publishing anything. Maybe that’s why there aren’t any reporters here right now.
Hell, maybe Mr. Campbell would be proud of his son.
It’s not like I know anything about him.
A guy approaches Vanessa and says something into her ear. She laughs, or at least I think she does, and then she takes his hand.
Before she goes off with him, she winks at me. She mouths something to me, but I’m terrible at reading lips, so I have no clue what it is.
All too soon, she’s out of sight, and I’m alone. I guess I can have some fun on my own. As I dance, I forget about everything, just let myself enjoy the music.
When someone’s arms wrap around my waist from behind, a strong body pressing against mine, panic bubbles up inside me.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Chase says into my ear, his lips brushing my earlobe and sending shivers through me.
My hands grasp his arms as I try to free myself, my heart jumping into my throat, but he’s too strong for me. He grinds his hips against me, and I can feel his erection poking at the small of my back.
A jolt shoots through my core, and I dig my nails into his arms.
He doesn’t let go of me, but I manage to turn around to face him. One of the bright lights crosses his face. His eyes are glassy and his breath reeks of alcohol.
“Let go of me!” I shout, pushing at his chest, but I don’t think he can hear me or understand what I want him to do.
If he even cares.
Instead of letting me go, he pulls me closer, his hands roaming my back.
“You’re so beautiful tonight.” His lips linger on my ear as his hands cup my ass, squeezing.
“Let me go!” I yell, even though I don’t like how close our faces are, but I need him to finally hear me.
“Why?” His fingers entangle in my dress, tugging it up.
I shove at his chest again, and he laughs.
“All right. This time I’ll let you go, but the next, I’m going to fuck you.” His eyes briefly met mine, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.
“Fly away, little bird. Don’t let me catch you,” he says. His tight grip on me loosens, and I stumble away from him.
I break into a run, pushing people out of my way. All I can think about is getting out of here and away from Chase. He’s not thinking clearly, and I can’t risk being around him or in this place.
I don’t stop, even when the branches whip at my legs. My feet protest, and the heel of my shoe gets stuck in something.
