Page 33 of The Star

He grins, crossing his arms over his chest, but doesn’t speak to me. He just stares at me, his ocean eyes connecting with mine as I huff and heave.

“Carson!” Cassidy cries from the ground, and his gaze finally disconnects from mine to look at her.

He bends down to lift her up from underneath her arms, then leans her against the lockers to inspect her face. I watch him as he strokes along the redness on her cheeks, then wipes at the blood streaming from her left nostril.

Carson turns to look at me. “You can go.”

His head turns back to his girlfriend, and my gut flips. I feel moisture lick at the back of my eyelids, so I quickly bend to pick up my backpack and rush from the scene of my crime.

sixteen

CARSON

Cassidy’s face is fucked up. She’s going to need industrial strength concealer for the football game on Friday, that’s for sure.

I watch Logan walk away, heading in the direction of the bathrooms at the end of the hall. There’s a sense of triumph deep inside of me, but right now, I have to play the part of doting boyfriend since this was my idea in the first place.

“Did you know she would do that?!” Cassidy whispers through gritted teeth as she holds her busted nose.

I shake my head to say no, when really all I want to say is yes. Of course, I knew Logan would react that way. That’s why I orchestrated the whole thing. I wanted to see that mean, tough streak vibrate and illuminate inside of her.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little turned on.

It was hot, watching Logan roll her sleeves up and beat the shit out of someone. She’s tough, she’s fierce, and she’s wild. Like a lioness when she spots a helpless little gazelle.

Although I don’t think lions give a warning before they rip the gazelle to shreds. It was admirable that Logan warned Cass beforehand, I’ll give her that. I didn’t expect Cassidy to push it, to be bold and laugh in her face again. But here we are. One girl with a bloody face, and another hiding out in the bathrooms, probably wishing she had some ice for her knuckles.

I brush my fingers across Cassidy’s cheek, which is starting to bloom with black and blue. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I take her to the locker rooms in the gym, where I know there’s a first aid kit. I avoid the mirrors, because I don’t think my eardrums would survive the scream my girlfriend would let out if she saw what she looked like right now. Sitting her down on the chair just outside the shower stalls, I kiss her forehead before I run to get the first aid kit. “I’ll be back.”

She sniffles, tears still streaming down her pretty face, but she nods at me, trusting me to take care of her.

Once I’ve grabbed the first aid kit from the closet, I go back to Cassidy and crouch down in front of her. I use a wet paper towel to get the blood off of her face, and she hisses and moans the whole time.

After her skin is clean, I put some alcohol on the gash on her cheek and then stick a Band-Aid over it. There isn’t much I can do for her nose, so I just look it over.

I press a kiss to the tip of her nose softly. “It doesn’t look broken. Maybe you should head home for the day, get some rest.”

Her watery eyes peer down at me, her bottom lip twitching. “Will you come with me?”

“You know I can’t leave. I have practice after school.” I thread my fingers through hers. “C’mon, I’ll walk you out.”

* * *

Once Cassidy’s shiny red Beamer is pulling out of the parking lot, I rush back inside.

Hayden and Levi are waiting for me just inside the doors. Levi is tapping away on his phone, but his face is spread into a big smile. Hayden looks bored, leaning against the wall with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips as he picks at his fingernails.

“Well?” I ask in greeting.

“Sending it now, bro,” Levi answers, his attention on his phone.

Hayden’s dark eyes flick up to me as he pulls the cigarette from his lips and slides it behind his ear. “What was the point of this?”

I cock my head. “You’re the one that wants to show her who’s in charge, this is step one.”

“By getting her expelled?”

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