Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
It’s really fucking confusing because he’s a total prick most of the time.
That’s just surface too, I think.
Beneath all that hardness is a soft, vulnerable boy. Just knowing he’s inside there makes me want to dig and dig and dig until I unearth him. I feel like he’s mine. Like he could be mine. If I take the time and effort to find him.
Me: How’s your head?
I send Roan another text. This one, like the others, goes unanswered. It makes me worry his condition has worsened. He’s not at school, which is understandable considering he got the shit beat out of him by some thug, but what if he had to go to the hospital or something? My gut tightens and twists.
The bell rings for lunch and I take my time getting to the cafeteria. I’m sick to my stomach with stress and worry. The scent of pizza or whatever the fuck they’re cooking today has my insides burning in protest. I bolt into the restroom and head for a stall. Bile creeps up my throat and the room spins as I push into the handicap stall. I barely get the lock pulled when I’m scrambling for the toilet. Pain lances through my stomach as I gag. There’s nothing in my belly because I felt too sick after all that happened with Roux and Roan this morning to eat. I’m thankful I didn’t eat anything, because I’m too exhausted and overwhelmed to add puking my guts up to shit I’m dealing with today. Acid burns up my esophagus, but nothing escapes.
Once I feel like I’m no longer going to dry heave, I stand up and rush from the stall, eager to splash cold water on my clammy face. I’m just turning on the sink and getting my hands wet when the door to the bathroom opens.
In walk the Hoodlums.
Minus their grumpy leader.
“I thought I smelled a rat,” Jordy sneers, prowling inside with Cal and Terrence behind him. Terrence stands in front of the door, blocking it. Cal cracks his neck, towering behind Jordy, as Jordy steps into my personal space.
I don’t like him at my back, so I turn off the water and face off with the psycho freak.
“What did you do?” Jordy demands, poking my chest. “What the fuck did you do?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I bite back.
“We know you ratted like the bitch you are.”
Cal must sense my confusion because he clutches Jordy’s shoulder. “I don’t think he knows.”
“Knows what?” I glare at them both, imploring them to tell me just what it is they think I did.
Jordy pokes my chest again. Hard. “You told your aunt and now child protective services are involved. So help me—”
The words are drowned out as my blood turns to ice. Aunt Karen told CPS? Oh, shit. This is bad.
“You hear me, motherfucker?” Jordy roars. “We’ll make your life a living hell!”
He shoves me with the strength of three men, sending me hurtling across the bathroom. I fall to my ass, bruising my tailbone on the linoleum floor. My stomach is seizing as my stress reaches new heights. Not because Jordy is seconds from kicking my teeth in, but for what this means for Roan and Roux.
Oh God.
I need to explain that I didn’t know Aunt Karen would say something.
The guys are taunting me, but I manage to get back to my feet. Jordy stalks my way, his fist raised, when someone bangs hard on the door.
“Open this door now,” a deep voice booms.
Coach Rendell.
We all flinch and Terrence steps out of the way. Coach storms in, assessing the situation.
“You okay, English?” he asks me, clearly understanding the tension and that it’s directed at me.
Jordy gives me a murderous warning glare.
“Y-Yeah. Fine. I, uh, I just need to leave. Feeling sick.” I push past them and head for the office. I want to confront Aunt Karen. Ask her how she could throw Roan and Roux under the bus.
I find Aunt Karen in her office, on the phone. When she sees me storm in, she tells them goodbye, before turning her sympathetic eyes on me.
“Why did you call CPS?” I practically shriek at her. “Do you know what will happen?”
Gone is her sympathy as her stern authoritative scowl washes over her features. “As principal of this school and an adult, I have an obligation—”
“Aunt Karen,” I snap, cutting her off. “They’ll take Roux away.”
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” she says softly. “Their home situation—”
“Unbelievable.” I pace her office, ripping at my hair in frustration. “What happens now? She goes and lives with another family? This will destroy him, Aunt Karen.”
“Honey,” she says in a soothing tone. “It’s best if you let people more qualified handle their unique situation. I’m only trying to help them.”
“By ratting them out?” Tears of anger prickle at my eyes. “I have to go.”