Page 25 of Charming Cruel Boys

“Jackson?” I breathe, my voice shaky. I think that’s his name, anyway. He’s a grade under me, a tall, lanky boy with black hair and brown eyes. He’s on the swim team and does really well. That’s the only reason that I’m familiar with him.

“Are you in on it too?” he asks manically, gripping the straps of my backpack in tight fists, his legs straddled over mine. His entire body is shaking and his eyes are swimming with tears. “You’re a part of it. You know, don’t you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I choke out in a panic, frantically trying to push his chest away.

“Don’t lie!” he screams in my face, spit flying from his mouth. He shakes me by my backpack straps and my skull cracks against the floor. I cry out and squeeze my eyes shut against the sudden, sharp pain.

Jackson makes anoomphnoise and then his weight is gone, and I gulp down a desperate, fearful breath. I tilt my head to the right, where Knight has Jackson shoved up against the wall, snarling in his face like a beast straight out of a horror movie.If that expression was pointed at me, I’d piss myself.

With jelly-like limbs, I push to my feet and stand. My head throbs where it met with the floor and my eyesight goes fuzzy. I lose my footing and sway, crashing into Knight, who moves to catch me just in time. He lifts me into his arms like I weigh nothing, barking at people to move out of the way as he carries me down the hall.

Knight kicks open the door to the boys’ bathroom, walks us inside, and then closes it behind himself before gently setting me on my feet. Since school is over, there’s not a chance anyone will walk in right now. It’s just us and this quiet room, the only sound the buzzing of the fluorescent lights. I lean against the door and he stalks closer, caging me in with his body, both hands flat against the wood on either side of my head. He scans my face for an uncomfortably long stretch of time, brows furrowed and eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them.

“Are you okay, Remi?” he finally asks, his voice deep and rough.

“I’m fine, just— just a bit dizzy,” I say, carefully raising my hand to the back of my head. There’s a knot already swelling there and it’s tender to the touch.

Knight slowly moves one hand up to cup my cheek, every muscle in his body seeming to vibrate and his breaths uneven. “I should have killed him for touching you,” he growls.

“I’m okay, Knight,” I whisper, dropping his intense gaze and focusing on his chest instead.

“You’re not, Remi. You’renotokay. And I’m not okay. We’re just... I may be a dick, but I’d never hurt you like this. Seeing some punk put his hands on you? That crosses every line I have regarding your safety,“he grits out, his face a mask of fury and fear and… longing? No, that can’t be right. My brain must be lagging right now due to the injury and all the shaking.

My mind fumbles over that entire statement, catching on a few things that raise a question, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “My safety? Knight,god, I’m fine. I’m safe. It was just some dumb guy, probably high as a kite.“ I shrug, trying to force my shocked body to quit shivering.It’s giving away how truly terrified I was for a moment there.

Knight shakes his head, brushing the pad of his thumb across my lips. “Nobody gets to hurt you but me,” he whispers roughly, staring into my eyes until it feels like I’m waiting for something big. He surprises me by dropping his mouth to mine and setting every cell in my body alight in a dangerous, toxic flame.

I tangle my fingers into his hair, kissing him back for a moment just to remember the taste of his empty affections. Then I pull his hair hard enough to break his lips from mine. “You can’t do this, Knight. It’s not fair,” I whisper.

Knight cups my cheeks, furrowing his brows. He opens his mouth and then snaps it closed again. Finally, scowling and backing away from me, he spits, “You’re right. I got caught up in the adrenaline. Forgot who I was with.”

I push my tongue into my cheek as hurt lashes my chest. “Why don’t you make up your mind? Either hate me or fuck me, but you can’t have both! I’m tired of being confused over how we feel about each other.”Whoops, there goes my plan to not share how much I’m starting to like him.

Knight rolls his eyes, pacing the bathroom floor, hands fisting in his wild hair. “I don’t understand how you keep doing this to me, but I swear to god, this was the last time you make me weak. I won’t ever touch you again. No pussy is worth it.”

“Fine by me,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “Do us both a favor then, and stay the hell away from me.”

“Gladly! That’s all I fucking want.” He shoots me one more glare and shoulders past me to leave. “Stay away from Duke, too. Neither of us needs the trouble you bring,” he snarls as he moves by, ripping the door open and forcing me to either move or get smacked with it. My jaw drops as I’m filled with rage. Jesus, that guy messes with my head like nothing else in this world can.

18

Knight

I’mstillfumingaboutJackson and the fight with Remi when I get home from football practice. Duke had to take the truck to help Mom, so I hitched a ride with some of my teammates. They could tell by the brutal way I played on the field today that leaving me alone to scowl out the window was a good idea.

You know what’s not a good idea?

Losing myself in Remi’s lips.

I could smack myself for forgetting everything and kissing her earlier. Really, we’re both lucky that’s all I did. I was so amped up from seeing that punk swimmer tackle her in the hallway that I could have easily stripped her bare and fucked away my worry. Seeing her naked and all in one piece would have put me at ease. But since I can’t have her the way I want, I had to play the asshole again and we wound up in a screaming match instead.

It’s not how I pictured my day going.

After a quick, angry shower, I sulk downstairs into the kitchen on the hunt for food. Remi’s car wasn’t here when I got dropped off, so I can wander around the house freely without the risk of throwing myself at her. It’s getting harder every single day not to give in to what I so desperately want. The only thing keeping me at bay is knowing she can’t possibly be as innocent as she acts. There’s no way she’s clueless about everything.

I assumed she was out with Duke, so when he and my mom walk into the kitchen as I’m shoving Hot Cheetos into my mouth, I’m instantly on edge.Should she be driving after hitting her head? Is she safe? Who is she with?

Fuck, what is she doing to me? I don’t care about any of that shit.

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