Page 2 of Rocked: The Price of Dreams

Everyone turned. Oh, now they notice!

Matias threw me an evil glare. His lip curled with a twitch. “What’s your problem, midget?”

“Dickheads like you.” I held out my hand for the backpacks. “Hand them over now or you’ll be next on the ground. Pick on someone your own fucking size. Seriously? What are you? Ten? Stealing lunches? You losers. Get the fuck out of here.”

Matias stood his ground. But the moment I stepped toward him, he flinched backward. I swiped the bags and lunches from his hands and turned to Kyle and Hunter.

“Here.” I handed Kyle his belongings. “Are you okay?”

But as he took them, prickles darted across my skin. Something unnerving rippled through the air, struck my chest and spun my head. What the hell? Had the adrenaline from taking on three big bullies finally hit me? Yep. That must be it.

Kyle sucked in a deep breath. His intense espresso eyes flickered with gratitude and a fuckload of confusion. Did he feel that weirdness too? Surely not. He was just dumbstruck that I’d saved his ass. “Um. Yeah. Thanks.”

Turning to Hunter, I handed him his lunch.

“You were awesome.” Awe and respect shimmered in his stunning azure eyes. “Thanks.”

Trevor scrambled to his feet, clutching his precious little nose. He glared at me, then glanced in one direction, then the other at the growing crowd. His face burned redder than a ripe tomato; clearly angry and embarrassed at being taken down by someone half his size...and a girl.

“You broke my fucking nose,” he hissed.

He stepped forward to push me on the shoulder, but I blocked his hand before it connected. “Seriously? You wanna take me on?”

I hadn’t broken his nose. There was no blood. No crooked bend in his bridge. Shame.

“Who the fuck are you, bitch?”

“No one you need to be concerned about unless I see you doing shit like that again.” My voice came out cool and calm, strong and stoic, but inside, I was shitting bricks. If these guys wanted to hurt me, I stood no chance. Three against one weren’t good odds. But I kept my game face on. “Grow the fuck up.”

Gasps and chuckles hovered through the groups of guys and girls watching.

Hank staggered to his feet, rubbing his nuts.

Were they tears in his eyes? Cool.

“Trev, let’s just go. I need an icepack for my balls.”

Trevor straightened the collar on his jersey. Smoke steamed from his ears. He stabbed a finger toward my face. “Look out, bitch. We own this school.”

I smirked. “Actually, the government does. Dipshit.”

Matias got up in my face. “You think you’re tough? Better watch your back.”

My knees knocked together. I didn’t want trouble. But I wasn’t going to back down. I lifted my chin and folded my arms. “Why? Do you want to see what I can do to you if you grab me from behind? It will involve breaking your wrist, your nose, and maybe a rib or two. How’s that gonna work for you and football season?”

Matias sneered at me. “Stay out of my sight.”

I had no time for dickheads like this. “Stop being a bully and I will.”

He hissed, grabbed his bag, and took off down the hall with his friends.

Everyone cheered and clapped. I just snarled and gave them the bird.

So much for avoiding trouble. So much for staying under the radar.

“You kicked their asses.” Kyle grinned as he rubbed the back of his neck.

His golden-brown skin showed off a fresh summer tan, but the bruises on his arm didn’t go unnoticed. My heart cinched. Did those assholes do that to him? Fuck. They looked nasty. I hoped I’d helped him, not made things worse. Would they hurt him again?

---