Page 11 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

“Home,” I blurt out. My voice shakes, and one of my books drops to the floor. Our gazes follow it, but none of us attempts to retrieve it. I would have picked it, but I’m too scared to move. On a regular day, I can handle myself against bullies, but Ben’s eyes hold a promise, and I won’t give him a chance to fulfill it. We can hash this out somewhere private. “Benjamin, I was at home.”

If looks could burn, I would have been reduced to ashes. There is so much anger and hate packed into the stare he levels me that I might have confessed if I didn’t have to protect my identity. But I can’t tell him the truth with Maria standing inches away from me. We have been best friends since napkin days, and she doesn’t know I fight for Coach Greyson. I force tears to my eyes, batting my lashes at Ben, who continues staring at me like I have grown a horn on my forehead.

Does he believe me?

“She was at home. I can confirm it because I was there,” Maria says, her voice a tiny ray of hope. My head jerks shakily in agreement. Moving forward, I will do whatever she requests of me without complaints. I will even take a photography class for her sake. She inches toward Ben and shoves her phone in his face. “We were at her house, an all-girls night.”

I know she’s showing him a picture from the last time she spent the night at my house, which was before her travel. We are not allowed sleepovers when school is in session, but Ben doesn’t need to know that. The silence stretches. I’m confident I’m not the only person awaiting his response.

Where are the teachers when you need them?

Still locked in a battle of stares with me, Ben replies, “Stay out of this, Maria Vega.”

This can’t be good.

Sweat breaks out on my forehead, but I can’t do a thing as it stings my eyes. Maria flashes me an apologetic smile and steps back. I breathe normally when Ben backs away from me. His finger connects with my pendant, and I shrink into myself. I shouldn’t have worn the necklace today.

Ben traces the shape of the pendant. “You were at home, yeah?”

I nod. Ben squats to retrieve my textbook. I accept it, and the remaining notes in my hands drop to the floor. I can’t hold anything with everyone gawking at us, waiting for drama. But he picks up the notes and points at my backpack. The bag slides off my shoulder, and he shoves my books inside. His thumb caresses my cheek, and I stop breathing. He makes a sound at the back of his throat, then walks away.

The crowd thins out in his absence. Maria confronts me. “What was that all about?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you go ask him?”

“Tessa!”

“I’m serious, Maria. I have no idea.” For lack of anything to do, I open and close my locker door without picking out anything. She can easily tell if I’m lying. “I have to go. I’ll be late for class.”

Maria shuts my door. Her face draws closer to mine, and she pins me with a motherly glare. “Where were you Saturday night?”

“At home. What’s up with both of you?”

I spin on my heels and start for my class, knowing she will catch up. Unfortunately, she catches up too fast.

“I can’t believe Ben touched you. How does it feel? Maybe we can strike that off your bucket list?” What? No. It was only my cheek, and I’m sure he did it to check if I was wearing makeup. Shit. Of course. That’s why he touched me. I stop in the middle of the hallway. “Tessa, what—”

I hug her briefly. “I forgot something. Just go on without me. See you later. Love you. Bye.”

Her gaze punctures holes into my back as I hobble away. Where am I going? No idea—hold that thought. Ben appears at the other end of the hallway, beckoning me with a crooked finger. Double shit.

“Keep walking, Tee.” I scan the empty hallway for an escape. How did Maria get away so fast? I don’t move an inch. Ben covers the distance and grabs my wrist. “Looking for your best friend?”

“Ha-ha. Funny.” But I fall in line with him like an obedient lamb. He stops in front of a class and opens the door. “Benjamin, Ben, you have the wrong person. This is all a big misunderstanding. I was at home.”

“You are beginning to sound like a broken record, Tee.”

“Tessa. The name is Tessa.”

I enter first. The class is empty. Great. Ben follows behind me and shuts the door. I jump.Just breathe in like Coach taught you. I can handle him. I did it once in the ring. I can do it again. I watch him lean back on the door, fold his arms on his chest, and then cross his legs at the ankles.

Why is he posing? We should both be in class.

“You cheated,” he starts. I open my mouth to lie my way out of this situation, but he holds up his finger coated with my foundation. “You are hiding the bruises, Tee. You never wear makeup.”

How does he know that? Ben pushes away from the door. Before I can spell vitiligo, he has me pinned to the wall. My confidence deserts me. I can’t even lift my hands to punch away his smirk.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” He breathes down my face.

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