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Chapter 29

I searched through the mountain of clothes on Alec’s couch. It just so happened that all the clothes that covered the couch were mine. I hurled a pair of jeans on the floor, huffing.

“That’s it. I’m not going!” I crossed my arms and fell back onto the couch.

Alec was leaning against the head of the bed, his charming smirk on his face and amusement in his eyes as he watched me trash his room. He hadn’t got out of bed yet. I watched his bare muscles flex as he stretched his arms. Gosh, that is inhumane.

“Pull the blankets up or something. Stop tempting me.” I smirked in his direction. His rumble of a chuckle turned my smirk into a full smile.

“Chloe, would you just get dressed? You’re going to be late for school.” Alec winked at me.

“I can’t. I have nothing to wear.”

Alec threw the blankets back and stumbled over to me. It took all my strength not to look at his muscles and defined upper body.

“Here.” He handed me a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, the first two things his hands landed on.

I took them from him, and suddenly a wave of nerves washed over me. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it.” I stared at the ground. “I don’t want to go.”

“Chloe, you will be fine. I promise.” Alec dropped to his knees in front of me, placing a hand on my knee, looking up at me. “I won’t let him get to you.”

My hand automatically cupped his cheek, looking down at him. What did I do to deserve him? “Thanks.” His reassurance smoothed my nerves slightly.

“Now, get dressed, buttercup.” He kissed my forehead before he stood up.

Looks like I couldn’t put it off any longer. I walked to the bathroom. It was time to get ready for school, as much as I didn’t want to.

***

I gripped the textbooks tightly as I walked into Xavier’s classroom. I made a beeline for the back, dropping my textbooks on the desk, and slid into a chair. Everyone was chatting and catching up about what they did over the weekend. I was really out of the loop.

No students looked at me. I was beginning to think maybe I was invisible to them now, which I was silently thankful for.

Xavier walked in and the classroom went silent. I swallowed hard. I just wanted this to be over already.

The school bell rang. I was praying Xavier wouldn’t notice me. Though that prayer landed on deaf ears.

“Chloe, it’s nice to see you back.” Xavier was looking in my direction. I could feel it, but I didn’t pull my eyes up from the desk.

Just don’t look at him, just don’t look at him, I repeated silently to myself over and over.

“Chloe, after class you can come talk to me about the assignments you have missed.”

I nodded my head, noting the frustration in his voice, since I wouldn’t look at him. How could I? I would be drawn back into his spell. Xavier had the ability to blind me, filling my mind with only desires.

If only Dan was here, he could be my human shield. But he wouldn’t leave Maddison. I was sort of angry with him for it. But I guess I had no right to be. Maddison came first.

Xavier only spoke a few words before there was a knock on the door. Curiosity got the better of me, and, for the first time since I walked in the classroom, I looked up to see who was interrupting us at the beginning of the period.

When I saw it was the principal I hoped that I hadn’t caused the visit.

“Sorry Mr. Clark, but I just had to show Alec the way to Chloe’s classroom.” The principal smiled at Xavier, while my eyes doubled in size.

Xavier shot a quick glance in my direction before looking at the principal. Alec’s familiar body stepped into the classroom and the pen I was holding dropped to my desk.

“Why?” Xavier’s professional voice was gone. Clearly, he was angry to see this guy wanting to see me.

“This is Chloe’s tutor. Her parents organized it. Seeing as Chloe has had so much time off, it was only fair. Well, I don’t want to hold class up any longer. Alec, as you can see, Chloe is in the back.”