Page 98 of Giving In

God, he really can’t let this go. He doesn’t have the capacity to understand people’s emotions and it’s like he can’t see that Landon is seconds away from pissing his pants right now. Regret is plastered on his face, but Jake can’t read that. He keeps going because he’ll only stop when it’s enough forhimand him only.

“Jake–” I try to intervene, to say there’s no need to terrorize Landon, but he doesn’t let me talk.

“Apologize for making her uncomfortable,” Jake orders.

“I–I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” Landon quavers.

Mila is looking at her plate to avoid looking at the situation unfolding in front of her and I can’t blame her. This is embarrassing, for everyone but Jake.

“I didn’t sayifI saidfor, if you couldn’t see you were making her uncomfortable you need a new pair of glasses.”

“I–I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Jamie,” he blurts out.

His eyes lock on mine and I can’t stand his pleading look. He’s screaming ‘please make him stop’ and I try to respond with a silent ‘if I could make him do anything, this wouldn’t be happening’.

“It’s okay,” I reply instead. “Apologies accepted.”

“It’s not, really,” Jake cuts in. “She’s being too nice.” He turns to me to say, “Are you not eating anymore?”

“My appetite is gone suddenly,” I fume through gritted teeth.

“We can get you something later,” he smiles as he gets up.

I stumble up as he brings me with him and barely have time to grab my bag.

We cross the whole cafeteria with his hand still on my neck and I feel the colors of humiliation on my cheeks.

He only lets go when we’re alone in a classroom and I think I’m the one who’s going to explode with anger but he beats me to it.

“What the hell is wrong with you, huh?” he demands. “Do you have to make everything so difficult? I said to come eat with me. What were you trying to do? Make me jealous?”

“I–” I try to defend myself but he’s already on me, pushing me hard enough against the teacher’s desk that I have to go on my toes and sit on it as my bag falls to the floor.

“Because if that was the plan, here, you got me, jealous and fuming. What are you going to do about it now?”

“I wasn’t trying to make you jealous.”

I push at him but it’s pointless. His shoulders are too big, and his chest is rock hard, anger rippling through his body.

“I wasn’t trying anything. Has it ever occurred to you that I’m just not interested? You’re the one making this difficult, get the hint!”

Lies. Lies. Lies.

His hands are on my waist the next second, crushing me so hard I struggle to breathe. His forehead comes to rest on mine and his hard breathing is hot on my skin.

“Stop playing games, Jamie. Stop it.” His teeth are so clenched I can barely make out the words. “You’re hard to get, you’ve made your point. Now give in,” he orders.

“Or what?” I snarl. “You’re going to tell everyone I’m a thief? You’re going to send my mom to jail and leave me parentless. Like you? Is that what you want? For me to be as broken as you are?”

I regret the words as soon as they slip my lips but amongst the regret there is pride hiding. Pride for finally being able to hit him as hard as he usually hits me. For finally not holding back, just like he does.

I jump when one of his hands grabs on my jaw hard enough for my teeth to rattle.

“Jake–” I squeal but his hand is pouting my lips so bad I can’t get any sound out.

“You have no idea how fucking broken I am, Angel.” His smile is so cold it freezes my blood.

He is pure satisfaction right now. It’s like all this time he’s been waiting for me to push back hard enough so he could let his real demons out. The same ones that took me to the woods that night. I recognize the darkness in his eyes.

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