Page 35 of Seren

Instead of sitting back down, I stormed out of the cafeteria, needing to evaluate my head. Why had I stood up for her? Why had I stopped the hazing? I was the king of hazing at Windham Prep, but it all just felt empty. It had lost the excitement it once held.

I thrust open the exit door and walked out into the parking lot. The cool air couldn’t touch the heat coursing through my veins. My day was over, and I needed to be out of that place. It had suddenly become too small for both Grace and me, and I didn’t know what to do with that.

Grace

I picked at my sandwich, furious that the one person I hated the most in this town had come to my rescue. There had to be something to it. He’d probably be expecting something from me in return. Something he could hold over me.As if I owed him anything. He was the one who wanted me here. He wanted this. So why stop it?

When the bell rang, I headed into the hallway and right out the exit door. I hadn’t planned on skipping the rest of my classes, but what were they gonna do? Kick me out with a month left?

The cool air was a welcome sensation. I couldn’t get to my car fast enough and was shocked to see Seren leaning against the hood. Had he expected me to run like I had? “Get away from my car.”

“Is that any way to treat the person who just saved your ass?”

“Saved my ass? It wouldn’t have been necessary if you hadn’t brought me to your school in the first place.”

Anger tightened his features.

“What? Did you think it would be more fun watching me get bullied by your rich friends?”

His eyes narrowed.

“Are you disappointed that I haven’t shed tears in a room full of vipers? Are you not getting the response you hoped for? Tell me, Seren. What the hell more do you want from me?”

His eyes itched to pull away from mine, but I could tell the internal battle to hold his own raged within him.

“I thought my dad dying was as bad as it could get,” I said, exhausted by everything that happened to me. “But then I had to move here.” My arms spread, indicating the grounds around me. “I got torn away from the only friends I’d ever known. Now, I’ve got to endure entitled assholes who want to hurt me for no reason other than it’s entertaining for them. How much more should I have to take?”

Seren’s eyes dropped away from mine, focusing on his expensive sneakers.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget I might actually have feelings?”

“Stop!” His eyes lifted to mine. They were cold and empty and impossible to read.

I crossed my arms. “You first.”

“Whatever.” He pushed off my hood and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the parking lot wondering what I’d have to endure next.

CHAPTER 19

Grace

I didn’t go straight to the manor. Instead, I headed back to the overlook to clear my head. My phone rang and it was Holly. I lifted the video call and saw Laney and Holly in the frame.

“Hi,” they sang, excited to see me.

I smiled because they were the two people in this world that made me the happiest. “Hi.”

“How’s it going?” Laney asked.

“I miss you guys,” I said, trying to deflect the conversation so I didn’t have to explain how it was really going.

“We miss you,” they said.

“I miss you more.”

After chatting for a few minutes and getting filled in on all the Coopersville gossip, we said goodbye and I headed back to the manor. I pulled into the driveway a little before four and was relieved to see no one playing basketball. I parked the car, stepped out, and headed for the manor.

“Got a minute?”

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