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Were the other students saying I had sex with Damian in the bathroom by now? Because I knew what happened to stories like that. They exploded, and I had no doubt in my head that particular one would spread fast and multiply—with or without help from the devil himself.
Ugh.
What a mess.
I made my way to my locker and quickly grabbed my things before heading to fourth period. Now that I knew how close my locker was to Damian’s, I knew I had to move as fast as possible from now on. The less opportunity I gave that man, the better.
It didn’t take me long to find my microbiology class on the bottom floor. It wasn’t too far from the room I’d had a panic attack in earlier in the day.
As I turned to walk through the door, a sharp pain split through my face.
“Ah, fuck!” I shouted as I stumbled back. My hand instinctively moved to my nose. As I pulled it away, I saw a little blood. Looking up, I saw what hit me.
Furious light blue eyes stared me down. I could practically feel the rage emanating from Harper. It was like a noxious cloud surrounding her. I wanted to be pissed she hit me, but the truth was, I deserved it.
“Whore,” Harper spat.
Oh,great. She’d heard. Glad we could get this out of the way, though I would have preferred it happen somewhere a little more secluded and not in front of everyone.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Harper,” I said.
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about. When you came here, I told youonefucking thing.One. Stay away from Damian Wolfe. What’s the first fucking thing you do?Fuck Damian Alexander Wolfe!” She shouted the last sentence, her hands balled into fists at her side. She looked like an angry toddler.
“That didnothappen!” I shouted back. “God, I’m going to kill him.” I mumbled that last part to myself, but she heard it.
“Don’t blame him because you can’t keep your legs together. I knew you were trash, but even I underestimated you, and that’s saying alot.”
I groaned. The punch to the nose immediately gave me a headache, one I’d willingly accept because I deserved it, but I knew it wouldn’t stop there.
“Come on. Fight back! You’ve set a reputation for being a big badass, so let’s see it!” Harper held up her fists, but it was obvious she had absolutely no formal training.
That being said, she landed one hell of a punch, so I had to give her credit for that. Bad form or not, she made me bleed. Most of that had been surprise, though. If we fought now, I would have to defend myself. I was cleared to go back to normal activity, but I wouldn’t risk any kind of injury to my side. She knew my weakness, and I had no doubt she’d exploit it if given the opportunity.
“I’m not fighting you, Harper. I deserved that hit. Thatone. But if you come at me again, I will defend myself.”
She laughed. “You won’t fight me, but you’ll defend yourself. What are you going to do? Talk at me? You can’t defend yourself without fighting me, you idiot.”
Actually, I could, but I wasn’t about to argue with her.
“Drop this now, Harper. It’s been a really,reallybad day. For both of us, apparently. Don’t make it worse.”
I saw movement by the microbiology door, and I looked over to see Damian getting comfortable, leaning against the door. He popped a piece of candy in his mouth and smiled.
I seethed.
“This is your fucking fault, you know,” I snapped at him.
“No, it’syourfault,” Harper snapped. “You’re the one who couldn’t keep your hands off him.”
She lunged, and I stepped around her, my eyes now focused entirely on her.
“Harper…” I said, my voice low and full of warning. “Stop.”
The students surrounding us grew excited and circled like vultures as Harper raised her fists again. They all looked like they were waiting for the lions to finish with the gazelle carcass they’d been feasting on.
Harper lunged again, and I blocked her punch with my forearm, just like I had Damian’s reach for me earlier. She tried to kick me, and I raised my leg to block the blow.
She let loose a loud, angry, “Uuugh!” Stomping her foot, she said, “Fight me, you bitch!”