Page 129 of Bound in Darkness

My head pounds. My behavior.Why won’t she acknowledge Alex’s behavior or the shit I heard him say to Mackenzie before I assaulted him?

Principal Martin looks over at Alex’s parents. “Do you wish to press charges against Chase Landon?”

Detective Barnes looks over at me, his gaze cold and calculating. “We do.”

The blood flowing through my veins turns to frozen sludge as I quickly look at the floor, trying not to cry. I feel Mike’s hand cupping my shoulder, squeezing lightly, but I can’t look at him. Especially when I hear Pearl sigh and mutter that Mike has a bleeding heart.

The security guard I hit comes in a few moments later, holding an ice pack against his eye. When Principal Martin asks if he wants to press charges, he doesn’t even hesitate before confirming he does.

Jesus Christ. What have I done?

When I finally look up, Alex is smirking at me, his eyes victorious.

He played a game and outsmarted me. I’ve lost everything.

74

MACKENZIE

“Please, just let me go with Chase.” Tears spill from my lids as I stare over the shoulder of my English teacher, who had cafeteria duty today and called for security to break up the fight.

“I’m sorry, Mackenzie.” Mrs. Fielding’s voice is gentle. “If the principal wants you there, he’ll send for you. Right now, I need you to return to your seat.”

“Please, Mrs. Fielding. I need to know what is happening with him.”

She shakes her head, her eyes sympathetic. “They won’t tell you anything, Mackenzie. Please, finish your lunch.”

Jeff and Melody are standing behind me. Melody wraps an arm around me. “Come on, Kenz.” Leading me away from Mrs. Fielding, she says, “This sucks. But as soon as lunch ends, we’ll head to the principal’s office and see if we can find anything out. I’ll go in and ask his secretary a question about my schedule and do some sleuthing. But you’ll need to stay outside with Jeff because if they see you, they won’t reveal anything.”

“Okay.” I give her a watery smile. “Thank you.” I wipe my runny nose with my sleeve. “I’m grateful you’re willing to do that.”

“Of course, Kenz. That’s what friends are for.” She gives me a side hug. “I know you probably don’t feel like eating, but please try. Chase would be upset if he knew you weren’t eating.”

I nod. “I’ll try. I’m just so worried.”

Melody sits beside me while Jeff slides into the seat across from me. “I’m sorry I didn’t prevent the fight. It happened so fast. Chase flew in here and was on Alex before I could comprehend what was going on.”

“He’s very protective of me. Especially since…” The words hang in the air. I can barely swallow over the lump in my throat.

Melody grabs my hand. “It’s okay, Kenz. Focus on your breathing. It will work out.”

“I hope so.” To appease her, and ultimately, Chase, I take a bite of my sandwich, unable to taste it. But I chew and swallow, earning me a smile and thumbs up from Melody.

Melody and Jeff maintain idle conversation the remainder of the lunch period. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m continuously watching the minutes slowly tick down on my cell phone, hoping I’ll somehow get a text from Chase. Every time Mrs. Fielding gets close to me, my head springs up, hope in my heart. But disappointment follows since I’m not summoned to the principal’s office.

As soon as lunch ends, the three of us hurry from the cafeteria, heading to the principal’s office. Jeff steers me over to the bulletin board while Melody flashes me a thumbs up and opens the door.

“He’ll be okay, Kenz. Chase is a good guy. I can’t imagine they won’t be lenient with him.”

I blow out a breath, but the butterflies are nervously flapping their wings in my stomach, making me nauseous. “I hope so, Jeff.” My words die in my throat when I see two police officers entering the school. My heart beats wildly inside my chest as I watch them head directly to Principal Martin’s office.

“Oh, God.” My hand flies out, latching onto Jeff’s arm as the color drains from my face. “Jeff, are they arresting him?”

He looks stunned and slightly ill. “I-I don’t know, Kenz.” His Adam’s Apple bobs as he swallows hard. Blowing out a breath, he spins me so I face him, gripping my forearms. “Let’s not jump to conclusions yet, okay?”

I stare at him with unseeing eyes, a buzzing in my ear as my gut churns. I feel it in the pit of my stomach. I know something is really wrong.

Without saying a word, I turn my head in time to see the police leading Chase out, his hands cuffed behind his back.

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