Page 12

CHAPTER 12

ZAIDEN

"Y ou're giving off stalker vibes," Sterling muttered, stepping beside me outside the football stadium tunnel. "And what's worse is that you're not even trying to hide that you're stalking her."

"I'm not stalking her," I said dryly, my gaze shifting to meet his. "Not yet, anyway."

I pushed off the wall, the concrete rough against my palm. Each step down the stadium stairs brought me closer to my vantage point—and to her. The empty row of seats offered the perfect view of the dance team, of Ariella. Just where I needed to be.

I wasn't opposed to stalking her if I needed to, but it hadn't come to that. I wanted her to know I was there, watching, waiting for her to do something stupid.

"I think you've tortured the girl enough," Sterling said, following me.

"Maybe you missed her punching me in the face an hour ago." I traced the tender spot on my jaw, sliding into a stadium seat with a front-row view of the dance team. My feet kicked up as I settled in like I was watching a movie I'd paid good money to see.

"Yeah, bro." Sterling's laugh grated against my ears. "You deserved that. So let's call a truce and move on."

My fingers curled into fists against my thighs. "My sister can't move on." My voice was flat and void of any emotion. "She's stuck in a grave because of her." I pointed down to the field. "There's no way I'm going to let her live her best life when my sister can't live at all."

"What did she do?" Sterling twisted in his seat. "We were all at that party, and I don't remember her doing anything to Kacie."

I didn't answer; I just stared forward, eyes locked on Ariella. It didn't matter what she did.

"Tell me what she did." Frustration edged into his voice. "Maybe then I can understand this obsession."

My gaze narrowed as the dance coach gave his dismissal speech.

"What are you planning to do to her at the party tonight?" Sterling asked after I ignored his other questions.

"Nothing." That was the truth because she wasn't going to make it to the party.

The coach's voice cut through the afternoon air. "Mila, I need to see you in my office."

I caught the silent exchange between Journey, Mila, and Ariella, eyes widening, color draining from faces, fingers gripping water bottles too tightly. Not disappointment. Not embarrassment.

Fear.

"Why do you think he calls a different girl's name at the end of each practice?"

"What?" Sterling sneered.

I nodded toward the dance coach on the field. "After every practice, he calls one of the girls’ names and tells them he needs to see them in his office. Why?"

Sterling shrugged as he shook his head. "I don't know, maybe because they did really bad, and he wants to scold them privately."

"Except all the girls look," I paused as I swiped my tongue along my lips, trying to think of the right word. "like they're praying that their name isn't called, and when it isn't, they look relieved."

"No one wants to be in trouble."

My stomach twisted. "My gut says it's something else." It was no secret that the coach was inappropriate with his dancers, but how far did that go, and was it still a thing between him and Ariella?

"Why don't you ask Ariella?" He smirked. "Oh, you can't because she hates you now." I rolled my eyes. "Ask one of the other girls, maybe Journey or Mila."

"Yeah," I agreed, but I had no intention of asking Journey or Mila, though I probably had a better chance of getting the truth out of them quicker than Ariella. I pushed out of my seat. "I'll see you at the party tonight."

"Seriously, man." Sterling threw his hands up, face flushed with frustration.

I was already walking away.

I made it into the tunnel and was waiting near the football locker room entrance when Ariella finally showed up. She moved toward the open entrance without acknowledging me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I scowled, stepping in front of the locker room and blocking it.

"Haven't you taken enough of a beating for today?" she smirked. "Get out of my way."

"Not even close." The corner of my lips curved into a grin as my gaze lifted to see Journey standing behind her. "What's up, Journey?"

"Yeah," she frowned, holding her hands up. "I'm not getting involved in whatever this," she waved a finger between Ariella and me, "is." She sidestepped me and disappeared into the locker room.

"Get out of my way, Zaiden," she demanded.

"You know the rules," I reminded her.

"Fuck your rules." Her palms connected with my chest, the shove punctuating her words. "And fuck you too."

I grabbed her wrist—one quick motion—and pulled her against me. The sudden collision forced a small gasp from her lips. The bruise forming on my jaw from her earlier punch throbbed with my heartbeat.

"I already owe you for earlier." I dropped my lips to hers, letting my breath fan across hers as her pulse raced beneath my fingers. "Don't make this worse on yourself, princess."

"The entire football team is in that locker room right now, and if you don't move, I'll scream, and you'll start a war."

My lips curled into a smirk. If she thought I gave a fuck she was sadly mistaken, but lucky for her, this isn't how I wanted this to go down. I threw my hands in the air in a sarcastic surrender as I stepped back.

"You're right, I don't want to start a war." And I didn't. I wanted her to submit to me, and she would before I was through with her. She stepped forward.

"What happens when your coach calls your name at the end of practice?"

Her confident stance faltered. "What?"

I stepped closer, watching her pupils dilate slightly. "At the end of every practice, your dance coach calls a name to meet with in his office." My voice dropped lower. "What happens when you meet with him?"

She shook her head. "I—I don't know."

Chatter from the locker room grew louder as the team headed for the exit. She was lying, but I'd have to get it out of her later.

"See you at the party, princess." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. I strolled away, unhurried, shoulders relaxed.

Now, I was going to stalk her because I needed to get to her before she got to that party tonight.