Page 40

11

Bianaca

Iwoke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding and mind racing. Fear doused me like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head.

My dream…it had felt so realistic. So real. I could still hear the whimpers escaping Ali’s parted lips. See the fear emanating from her eyes.

I scrubbed a hand down my face, willing the images away. I knew, without a doubt, that they would haunt me. It was only a dream, only a nightmare, but it had felt so damn real.

The time on the alarm clock showed it was a little after eight. Breakfast would’ve already started, and Beau would no doubt be looking for me.

The remnants of my dreams suffocated me, a cotton ball being shoved into my throat. I forked my fingers through my blond tresses as if that gesture could somehow bleach my mind of what it had conjured up last night. It wasn’t unusual for me to have nightmares, but this was unlike any that I had ever had before. Who knew my thoughts could be so twisted and deprived? One thing was abundantly clear: the school, or the boys and their drugs, was messing with my mind.

* * *

Quickly,I dressed in a tank top and shorts combination, combing my hair with my fingers. When that didn’t work, I tossed it into a tight ponytail. I was desperate to release some of my energy. It ran rampant within me, a coiled snake seconds from striking.

There were a few students still clustered in the hallway, and I gave them a nod as I walked by.

It didn’t take long for me to reach the gym I had visited the other day.

Dropping to my butt, I began to stretch my taut muscles, the dream replaying in my head. Over and over and over again. I saw it all. It remained etched on my eyelids like a tattoo I couldn’t remove.

Why had I dreamt that? What could my subconscious possibly be trying to tell me?

Or…

Was it real?

As soon as I thought that, I shook my head vehemently.

I didn’t want to evenstartgoing down that road. It would lead to a place I wasn’t sure I could get back from.

It was a dream. I had to believe that, had to hold onto that, or else I would truly lose my mind.

“You look to be deep in thought,” a soft voice said, startling me. I glanced up, not at all surprised to see Tanner leaning against the doorframe. He was dressed in a pair of low-slung sweatpants and a white shirt. The pants showed a dusting of blond hair and glorious tanned skin.

He was an asshole, yes, but he was a sexy one. There was no denying that.

“What do you want?” I snapped, turning back to focus on my stretches. I lowered myself to the splits, leaning over one of my legs.

“To talk,” he answered evenly.

“I’m busy.”

“B…” He took a step closer, eyes earnest. “We really need to talk.”

“About what?” I retorted. “About how you claimed you drugged me?”

My hands trembled at just the thought. The violation.

I had the sudden, irrational urge to slam my fingers into his eyeballs. Watch him bleed.

Or cut off his nuts.

That could be quite painful, I would imagine.

Tanner seemed undeterred by my snark.