Page 35 of The Darkest Note

Dutch strolls toward me. If I were smarter, I’d turn the other way.

But I’m not afraid of him right now. I’m pissed.

So I storm toward him too.

We collide in the middle of the hallway, neither of us stepping aside. I can feel everyone watching us, but I don’t care. I’m boiling with righteous indignation.

“Mulliez is innocent, you bastard,” I snap.

He gives me a bored look. “Teachers who meet students in night clubs aren’t my definition of innocent.”

“It wasn’t a nightclub. It was a lounge.”

He scoffs as if I’m mentally challenged and he refuses to listen to whatever I have to say. When he moves to side-step me, I know I’m being dismissed.

Acting on impulse, I slide into his path and slam my hands on his chest. A gasp erupts from the student body.

Zane and Finn arch their eyebrows.

“Keep Mulliez out of this,” I snarl.

“Might I remind you,” Dutch advances, causing my arms to get squished between his chest and mine, “that you’re not in any position to make demands.” He bends down so we’re eye-to-eye. “Things will only get worse from here. You ready to say goodbye…” his eyes catch on my cell phone, “Brahms?”

“You ready for my fist to meet your face,” I snarl, hauling my arm back so I can paint his perfect jawline.

Dutch captures my wrist and holds it in his grasp. “So violent.”

I’m not sure, but I think Finn’s lips curl up.

Zane coughs into his hand.

I bite down on my bottom lip and try to squirm my hands free, but he’s much stronger than me. It’s hopeless.

When I realize I’m trapped, I give up and glare at him. Rage burns through my chest and my heart thumps like crazy.

“Screw. You.” I punctuate each word.

Dutch’s gaze drops to my lips and he crowds my personal space, practically breathing on top of me. Then he blinks. A wave of something dark crashes through his eyes. His jaw flexes and he tosses my hand aside like it’s moldy bread.

“Get out of Redwood before things get worse.”

Dutch hikes the strap of his backpack higher on his shoulder, steps past me and continues his royal parade down the rest of the hallway.

Finn and Zane follow on his heels.

I whirl around, my chest heaving and my vision turning red. I did absolutely nothing to those boys and neither did Mr. Mulliez. Why are they trying so hard to destroy us? Is this what rich people do when they’re bored? Do they destroy lives for the fun of it?

Before I can think it through, I start rushing down the hallway, fully intending to leave my footprint on the back of Dutch’s pristine vest. For Mr. Mulliez’s sake.

“Ms. Cooper.” A voice calls to me before I can lunge into a flying kick.

I stop abruptly and turn to find Miss Jamieson, the youngest teacher at Redwood Prep, standing in the middle of the hallway.

She glances at me and there’s a hint of understanding in her gaze. Then she hurls a look at the brothers. Her eyes narrow. I get the feeling there’s a part of her that would like to deliver a flying kick to The Kings too.

“Come with me.” She flings her head, indicating the stairwell.

I frown. I haven’t been particularly engaged in her lectures since I’ve been here and I’m surprised to find out she knows my name.