Page 67 of Vicious Little Snakes

Letter after glorious letter repeated absentmindedly over and over—that’s what I saw.

She brushes her hands together as if wiping herself clean, and I chuckle as she cooly walks back to her chair, lowering down. We lock eyes, and the way she looks at me tells me I hit the mark.

She’s rubbing her finger as if she burned herself, as she says, “Dangerous little things. If you aren’t careful, they’ll burn. Better to get rid of them before they get too close.”

I lean in and capture her fake burned hand, bringing my lips to her fingers, pressing a kiss.

“Don’t worry, Carebear. It might hurt, but I’ll always kiss it and make it feel better.”

Caroline

The party’s raging. Apparently, Grey’s idea of celebrating the end of our sophomore year was to invite everyone from our school. Red cups litter the floor as people dance in the main living room, filtering out in the halls, and God knows where else.

I walk through my house with my friend Laura in tow, looking for the guys. I haven’t seen them since this insanity began.

“Gotcha—”

I yelp as I’m nabbed by Kai and spun around. “How’s my favorite girl?”

I pretend he’s joking, but I know he isn’t. His affections have become more apparent over the last few months. Maybe because we’ve been spending so much time together, just him and me. At first, I wasn’t interested because my sights have always been set on Liam, but now I’m starting to think Liam doesn’t feel the same.

“Where’s everyone else?” I question as he sets me down.

“Over there.”

Kai points to some chairs over by a fireplace, and Laura and I follow him over. Grey gives Laura a half-interested once-over as she begins to fawn all over him.Never happening, Laura, move on.Everyone around is talking and drinking as a familiar pair of hazel eyes stare at me over a red cup.

I look around for a place to sit, but all the seats are taken. Liam’s still staring at me as a smirk grows over his face, and he pats his leg. The memory of him telling me he could feel my heartbeat pulls forward, so I shake my head.

He raises his brows, then spreads his legs wider and taps his foot.

Flirt.

I lick my lips, pulling down the black bandage dress that’s daringly short, and turn to Kai. I touch his bicep, letting his arms wrap around my waist as I stand on my tiptoes.

“I’m going to go get a drink. Do you want anything?”

Before Kai can say anything, Liam jumps up. “I’ll come with.”

We walk in silence, people parting for us, me glancing up at him. He’s holding my hand like he always does, but most people just assume it’s because I’m protected—like he’s my brother by proxy. I know that’s not true. Not with the way it feels when he holds it.

Liam pulls me past the keg and down the hall, but I don’t say anything or stop him. We weave around people until we get to the empty hall that leads to the library. He’s like a man on a mission, never once looking down at me. He reaches out, opening the closet. The one I pulled him into the first time we re-met and guides me in. The door closes behind us with a thud, and my heartbeat trades place with the sound as we stand in silence.

“Why are we in here, Liam?”

“Are you dating Kai?”

“What? No…Maybe. Why?”

I run my finger over the scar on my wrist. It’s like a blankie, making me feel strong even when I’m weak. “I don’t know what I’m doing with Kai. But I know he likes being around me, and he’s not hot and cold.”

“I like being around you,” he counters.

“So then be around me.”

Put up or shut up, Liam.

“It’s not that simple, Caroline.”