Page 29 of Vicious Kitten

Eric cries out in pain even before my guys make it to him, and people close in around him, blocking my guys from getting through but also blocking the teachers from being able to see.

What the fuck is going on?

I glance back at Bell, still standing on the table. She has the best view of whatever is going on, and when her eyes lock with mine, she gives me one of her rare smiles and shoots me a wink.

“Move out of the way!” Mrs Holland cries, trying to pry the crowd apart as other teachers join her. Their attempts are useless until a minute later when the crowd quickly moves apart, and Eric Carter comes into view.

I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth as a laugh bursts free. Everyone starts laughing at Eric as he stumbles to stand, his uniform slashed, his lip bleeding, and the top of his head shaved right down the middle.

Four sets of wide eyes turn back to me, amusement dancing across their faces as my guys slowly make their way back to my side, and Tillie steps out of the way.

Holy shit, this was planned. Bell. Tillie. Maybe even Lexi. I’m confused as fuck, but I’m not going to question it. Especially not now that my mum has shown up and students are being ushered into the stadium while Eric storms off with Mrs Holland at his side.

“What the fuck just happened?” Shaun voices the thought I had moments ago.

“I have no idea,” I admit, turning to find Tillie and Lexi, but they’re gone. Yep, those loveable bitches were totally involved.

“Fuck, that was… kind of epic.” Simon chuckles, and Marcus joins him, nodding.

“It really was. I’m still gonna smash that fucker's face in the next chance I get, though.”

“Same.” Garrett growls.

“Guys. There’s no need. Eric got what was coming to him, and I don’t want you to get into any trouble. Promise me you will drop it.” I eye each one of them, and my brows lift when they don’t agree with me. “Fine. Can we at least wait until the summer break and get Eric somewhere that no cops can get to quickly?”

They all nod with satisfaction at that, and Marcus pulls me into his chest. “No one gets to speak that way about my girl and lives to take another breath.”

“Oh, I do like fierce Marcus.” I lift up on my toes and press a kiss to his smirking lips.

Chapter Ten

Rhys

I’m over exams. I’m pretty sure I’ve failed each one now. After the whole Bell and Eric thing, I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the clusterfuck that has become my life. I stared at my mum up the front of the exam hall for most of the time, and she stared right back, only occasionally looking around the room at other students. If she didn’t already know that I’ve tanked year eleven, she does now.

The phone message from Julie that Char told me about is playing on my mind. I wonder if I ask Cin to play it to me, that she’ll let me listen to it. I also wonder if I have to watch my back now. Julie said as much in the message, apparently. I’d be stupid to assume that the video reveal was the real threat. I just wish I could get to her first. Or at least wish the cops would hurry up and catch her. Lock her up and throw away the key.

It's not that simple, though, is it? If she is caught, then there will be a court case. I’ve been through that before. I don’t want to go through it again, but I will if I have to. I’ll do anything to end this nightmare.

When the exam is over, I don’t get the same awful reception I received yesterday. No one calls me names. Those who look at me give me a smile, which are mostly from other girls. I stand from my seat, expecting to go to my guys, but my mum appears and takes my arm.

“What are you doing?”

“Will is waiting to take you home.” She says as she leads me in the opposite direction to where I want to go. Looking over my shoulder, Shaun, Marcus, and Simon watch me while Garrett walks off in the other direction without looking back.

“Why are you so determined to keep me from them?” I turn back to my mum, reefing my arm from her grip. She sighs as she stops walking.

“Rhys, I’m not trying to keep you from them. You aregroundedand therefore not allowed to seeanyone.”

“Yet you allowed me to walk in with Garrett this morning.”

She sighs again. “I couldn’t exactly tell him to wrack off, could I? Not after he has obviously been through his own ordeal. This morning was an exception. Garrett is on his way to my office now for a chat. I will help him, Rhys, but things haven’t changed. You’re still grounded.”

I huff. “Why? Because I dared to fall in love with someone forbidden?” Tears pool in my eyes, and Cin’s face softens as she looks around the hall to see if anyone can hear us.

“Honestly, Rhys, we only just learnt that you’ve been going to a sex club with adults. The thing with… you know who is a lot, but we aren’t trying to punish you. We are trying to keep you safe.”

I take a step back, frowning as I swipe at a tear that falls. “You think I’m going to go back to the sex club?”

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