Page 8

WATCHING ME

MILA

“I had no idea a Ferris wheel could make you sick.” Patience plants her hand over her stomach; all color has drained from her face.

“Just the swinging one.” I breathe in the cool night air, still trying to keep my vomit down.

“You should have warned me.”

“I tried.” I smirk as her face sours.

“You’re the one afraid of heights. How come I’m the only one who puked after that?”

“Because you ate twice as much cotton candy beforehand.”

“Right.” She tips her head back, steadying her breath. “How have I lived without cotton candy in my life for this long? It was too good.”

I laugh, linking my arm through hers. “I still can’t believe you’ve never had it.”

“Another downside of being chained to Bristal my entire life. This is our first carnival or fair or anything remotely exciting. ”

“With how green your cheeks are right now, that’s probably a good thing.”

She narrows her eyes. “I’m not green. Just a little queasy.”

“Mm-hmm. Do you need me to drive you back to the dorm? I can always come back to get my car in the morning.”

The only reason we drove separately was that her study session ran long. Now, I’m wishing I hadn’t listened to her when she suggested I just meet her here. The Ferris wheel drained all the color from her already pale complexion, and her eyes are hazy like she’s still swinging.

“I don’t need you to babysit me.” Patience shakes her head. “I’ll roll the window down if it gets too bad.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“I don’t need any help.” Her tone sharpens.

Patience is impossible. I don’t know what it would take for her to let someone help her, but she’s more resistant to it than anyone I’ve ever met.

“Okay. But promise to call me if you have to pull over, and I’ll come get you.”

“I know you will.” Patience slips her arm out of mine and heads to her car.

“I will,” I yell after her, ignoring her irritation.

I wait until Patience climbs into her car and pulls away before heading to mine. The lot is packed with cars in every direction, so I breathe out a sigh of relief that I don’t find myself blocked in.

As I fumble with my keys, I regret not parking under one of the streetlights. At least I’m close enough to hopefully be within the sweep of security cameras. Pulling out my car key, a shadow casts over me from behind.

“Leaving so early? ”

I jump when someone grabs my arms.

Spinning, I find Oxy standing in front of me with a grin on his face.

“Damn, Oxy.” I plant my hand in the center of my chest. “You scared me.”

“Sorry.” He flashes me the same charming smile he used to flirt with me the other night at Sigma House.

That smile is what made him the perfect target when I needed someone to occupy the space around me so Marco would keep his distance.

Oxy and I had fun playing pool. We shared a few drinks.

He found creative ways to try and paw at me, while I let him think it would get somewhere.

But soon after my friends disappeared, so did Marco, and I found my excuse to go home alone. Mission accomplished.

Oxy reluctantly took the hint, but he hasn’t stopped texting me since.

“I just got here.” Oxy flashes another grin. “You can’t take off yet.”

“I’m tired. It’s almost midnight.”

I try to tug my arm free from his grip, but it takes him a fraction of a second too long to release me, sending a whisper of unease creeping up my spine.

“Exactly, it’s only midnight. It’s still early.”

“Some of us have class in the morning.” My flirty smile grows in an attempt to mask the fact that I don’t like how he’s still standing too close.

“Come on, Mila. We got along at the party the other night, didn’t we?”

“It was a lot of fun.” I shift my keys into my left hand out of instinct.

“So when are you gonna stop teasing me then?” Oxy’s hand reaches for my jaw, and I cringe as his thumb traces over it. “I hear the Ferris wheel is nice and slow at this thing. Let’s take a ride.”

Insinuation drips from his tone as his dark eyes drill down at me.

“I wish I could…” I try to take a step back but run into my car, which only gives him leverage to pin me to it.

“Why can’t you?”

Because I don’t want to.

Because I’m getting the impression you’re a forceful prick.

Because I still have a shred of self-respect, no matter how thin you think it is.

I don’t say any of that to Oxy, trying to maintain my practiced facade. Mila Bianchi is pleasant, pretty, agreeable, and party-loving. She’s flirty and doesn’t cause trouble.

Better they think that than wonder what I might be getting into.

“We’ll meet up next time.” My overly sugary comment doesn’t erase the bitterness on my tongue. “I promised I’d do Patience a favor tonight, so I really can’t stay.”

“A favor?”

“I have to drop something off with her brother.”

Oxy’s hand falls to his side, and his eyes widen. “Alex?”

That’s not the reaction I was expecting. Alex might be a Sigma Sin urban legend for what happened to him at his trial, but Oxy started school after Alex was already in Montgomery. I didn’t think they knew each other.

Oxy’s face pales the slightest, but he doesn’t back up. If anything, the lust in his gaze churns with something else.

Annoyance?

Rage?

“You know Alex?” I hope the question comes out friendly .

“Not personally.” He huffs like he’s irritated by my question. “But I guess Marco was right.”

“Right about what?”

Oxy’s lip tilts in a wicked grin. “You’ll spread your legs for just about anyone, apparently. Even Sigma Sin’s very own psycho.”

“Don’t call him that.” My instinct has me defending Alex before myself.

Later, I might need to dig into why that is.

“Why not? It’s the truth.” Oxy grabs my wrist so hard it hurts. “But I don’t mind. If it’s the crazy ones you like fucking, I’m happy to help play into that little fantasy.”

Oxy’s free hand aims for between my legs, and my vision spots around the edges.

Hands where they don’t belong.

Screaming.

Blood.

Fire.

I act on instinct and shove my knee hard into Oxy’s groin.

He buckles over with a grunt, releasing my wrist. In that split second, I twist, elbowing him in the face. The crunch of his nose breaking fills the night. He stumbles backward, falling to his knees in the dirt.

“Bitch.” He spits a wad of blood, glaring up at me.

“Asshole,” I shoot back.

Oxy is too dazed to climb to his feet, but his eyes promise revenge, so I hurry to climb into my car. I might know the basics of self-defense, but I’m not willing to push it.

As I lock my doors, Oxy finds his footing.

My fingers shake as I turn the key, and I don’t wait to press the gas as he starts to stand. With one eye on the rearview mirror, I watch Oxy disappear in the plume of dust. There’s a warning in his eyes before he’s swallowed up in the night.

It isn’t until I hit pavement that I loosen my hold and finally take a breath.

Did that really just happen?

Oxy never struck me as the prince-charming type, but I didn’t expect that side of him. I’m usually better at reading people.

I run my fingers through my hair, barely seeing the blur of lights on the road as I speed down it.

It’s not the first time I’ve been called a slut. And even if Oxy didn’t use that word specifically, he insinuated it. Not only that, he made it sound like Marco is the one spreading the rumor that I’ll sleep with anyone. It’s almost laughable considering I refused to sleep with him.

I’ve been trying to play nice, but I’m ready to set this bridge between me and Marco up in flames.

My grip on the steering wheel tightens, and before I know it, I’m across town. I drive past the dorm, not bothering to lie to myself about where I’m going. Not asking myself why .

I pull my car to a stop under a streetlamp in the mostly empty parking lot. The few cars sprinkled around belong to the night shift. Releasing the steering wheel, I tip my head back and take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry I’m failing you, Remi,” I whisper to the night.

To myself.

No one else is ever really listening.

Flexing my fingers, I see Oxy’s blood still flecking my skin, so I wipe it on my jeans. The spots feel like fire burning into me .

When my hands are finally clean, I turn my head to look out the window, scanning Montgomery Psychiatric Ward. It’s the one place I shouldn’t be right now, and the only place that makes sense to me.

The tall building is lit by the moon, drawing out every crevice in the brick. I count the windows until I reach the fifth floor, knowing that’s where Alex’s room is. I scan the windows, freezing when I see him.

Alex is sitting in the window seat facing out into the night. The moon lights his face, revealing his stare focused down at my car.

I should leave.

If not for Patience’s sake, then for Alex’s. He doesn’t need more complications in his life. One more mess that could rip him apart.

So why do I find myself getting out of the car instead? Why do I find myself crossing the parking lot?

It’s a warm night. Summer’s teasing me again. Still, I rub my arms like they’re cold because goose bumps prickle my skin. Without looking up, I know Alex is watching me.

Probably wondering what the fuck I’m doing here.