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I shrugged. “I told you. I’ll defend myself, but I’m not fighting you. We both know I’d win.”
Two girls stepped up behind her, each one touching her shoulders. They looked so much like her; it was creepy. They had nearly the same color hair. It was fixed the same, and I could tell one of them was wearing colored contacts, while the other had natural blue eyes, though they were a lighter shade.
“She’s right. Let it go for now. Trust me, she can’t win. Not against youandDamian,” one of them said.
“Yeah, come on. The teachers will be here any minute. You don’t want to get suspended on the first day. Your dad would be pissed,” the other one said.
It was just a flicker, but I saw recognition in Harper’s eyes when her friend mentioned Rick. They were right. If we got in trouble for fighting, Rick would have to show up. He would either have to choose to show up for both of us, or he’d have to throw me to the wolves to deny knowing me and let the school do as they pleased with me.
Which probably wouldn’t be good since I wouldn’t have rich parents to back me up. Still, that would be the choice I hoped he’d pick, because the negative consequences the school imposed would still pale in comparison todeath.
“This isn’t over,” Harper snarled.
I nodded. “Oh, I know.”
She turned and stomped away, her friends following her. Frustrated groans and sighs echoed throughout the crowd as they dispersed. Several people scowled at me, mostly girls.
“Slut.”
“Whore.”
One girl laughed as she looked me up and down, never stalling in her steps. “Damian chosethat?” She looked over at him in the doorway, and his eyes locked on hers. She laughed again. “What the hell were you thinking?Her?”
He shrugged. “Probably the same thing I was thinking when I gave you a pity fuck. Remember that? Begging me to take your virginity? Hands down, still the worst lay I’ve ever had to this day.”
My. Jaw. Dropped.
I looked over at that poor girl, and her eyes widened as shock rolled her over. “Dick!” she shouted, her voice shaking as tears formed.
He faked a yawn. “And youbeggedfor that dick. I had to stuff it in your mouth just to shut you the hell up,” he said with a loud bark of laughter before he turned and headed into the classroom.
Fuck.I realized at that moment he was in the same class as me. I’d hoped he’d slithered out of some dark recess in the hallway to lounge in the doorway.
“Wilder!” I couldn’t see him anymore, but I heard the sharp call from out in the hall. He called me like a fucking dog. “You’re with me!”
I turned and looked at the girl he’d just destroyed, but she quickly retreated down the hall. Most of the crowd had already dispersed, but a few people lingered.
Rolling my eyes, I once again faced the door. I couldn’t help but wonder what fresh hell awaited me. Instead of figuring it out right that second, I decided to take a moment to myself to clean up my face and prepare for whatever was to come.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TEMPERANCE
When I returned from the bathroom and cleaning the blood out of my nose and off my face, I stepped into the room with my senses heightened. I already didn’t like this, but I had no choice but to go in. It was too late to change schedules.
The microbiology class held ten tall, slick, black tables. Each one could seat two students, and each one was equipped with the typical gas line and a Bunsen burner. As usual, the teacher had yet to enter the room, and I realized the staff typically waited until the very last second to enter the classrooms. Sometimes even after the bell rang.
There was no doubt in my mind it was because they were all hiding out and stealing all the moments away from the entitled assholes in their classrooms they could.
I knew I would.
There were only about ten students in the class so far, and they were relatively dispersed. Damian had the same idea I’d had earlier and chose the back left corner—and, of course, the seat next to him was empty.
Shocker.
He looked at me expectantly, and I rolled my eyes. To stay as far from him as possible, I plopped down in the front right corner spot next to a thin guy wearing glasses that were entirely too big for his face. He had cute, messy blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
“Come on now, little lamb,” Damian said. His voice was loud and booming, but it held a playful tone. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. “Don’t play hard to get. It’s too late for all that. Everyone already knows what we did, so you may as well come sit with me.”