Page 27 of I Despise You

I press my lips into a tight line. It’s something I can’t do. “So you’re going to tell the principal that you were at the club too?”

He chuckles. “Oh, come on. No one’s going to believe that. I’m the best student here. I can say that I heard some noise and went out into the hallway to check. Then I saw you. Running like crazy with your shoes in your hands. I checked the time on my phone, wondering if you needed help and where you were at such a late hour. But since you just flew past me without a word, I figured it was nothing and I could go back to sleep.

“I assumed you were just hooking up with someone in their room. I didn’t step forward with the info immediately because I didn’t connect the dots, and right now, you stopped me and threatened me. But I decided to be brave and still went to tell the principal everything.” His face transforms into the most innocent look ever.

It’s like magic.

One second, he’s a heartless monster.

The other, he’s the perfect golden boy who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Fuck.

It would come down to his word against mine, and I already know his would carry more weight. His rep here is way, way better than mine.

“It’s better that you forget about the scholarship, which you won’t get anyway.” He leans forward, as if he wants to whisper a secret to me. “Drop out of the race now, while you still have the chance to graduate nicely. If you don’t do as I say, things will get ugly, and you don’t want that.”

I’m angry.

I’m so fucking angry I want to rip his head off.

Why would he get to decide who can be in the run for the scholarship and who can’t? Just because he somehow has the whole school under control?

Well, I’m here for that damn scholarship, and if I don’t get it, finishing school here won’t mean all that much.

Yes, it will be useful no matter what, but fuck everything if I let this asshole have what I want so easily, and if I let him win with his stupid cheat tactics.

“Why are you so afraid of me?” I tilt my head, my lips spreading into a smile. “Are you scared that I’m better than you? Is that why you’re trying to blackmail me into dropping out? Because you know you can’t beat me?”

He just watches me with those frustrating eyes of his. “I’m just trying to help you. Your place isn’t at Richerville University. It’s for me. The sooner you accept it, the better.”

“You’re an asshole,” I say, brushing past him.

He doesn’t try to stop me, but I can hear him laugh.

He’s crazy.

Totally insane.

And the worst part is, he’s in control. If he tells the principal, I’m screwed.

But how can I stop him without giving him what he wants?