Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
His attention stays locked on me as he lifts his Gatorade and takes a swig. “Heard you were in Pembroke’s office before school started.”
I glance away and lie through my teeth, “I needed to speak with my mom.”
“Hmm.”
Before he can give me the third degree, the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch, and the cafeteria erupts into chaos. There are only two more periods left, and the last one is my TA hour with Ms. Pettijohn. After the day I’ve had, it’ll be a relief to hide away in her empty classroom and lose myself in test corrections.
DELILAH
By the time I walk into Ms. Pettijohn’s room, I’m on the verge of falling apart. There’s not much more I can take. Fifth hour was the worst of all of them. Jasper waited for me to show up and made sure to cause a scene. It was so embarrassing that I wanted to melt into the floor. A few of his friends dropped notes on my desk with lewd suggestions.
Even though Duke sat with me at lunch and I’m appreciative of that, I’ve never felt more alone. If I thought begging Mom to transfer to Hawthorne Public for the rest of senior year would do any good, I’d fall to my knees in front of her and plead my case. But there’s no way she’ll allow that to happen.
The woman cried actual tears of joy when she opened my acceptance letter during the spring of eighth grade. For some reason, Mom doesn’t see the kids at school for what they really are—spoiled brats who think they can do whatever they please without consequence.
And there’s zero point telling Pembroke about the bullying. After the way our conversation played out this morning, he’d probably be thrilled by the news.
So…I’m stuck.
Ms. Pettijohn glances up from her computer. “Good afternoon, Delilah.”
I force a smile. Even though I like the older teacher and she’s always been kind, there’s no way I can confide in her. In fact, there’s no one I can talk to about this. It only makes me feel more isolated than I already am.
“Hi. Should I finish up the test corrections from last week?”
Fifty minutes of mindless work is exactly the kind of distraction I need. If she wants, I’d be happy to take papers home with me. My social life has just become nonexistent. Which is fine. It’s not like I enjoyed hanging out with Jasper and his friends anyway. Or constantly fighting off his advances.
“No.” She leans back in her chair and pulls off the black-rimmed glasses that sit perched on the bridge of her slender nose. “Something’s come up that I need your assistance with.”
“Oh?”
“I have a student who needs extra help in English. Honestly, he could use support with most of his subjects.”
Hmm…sounds interesting.
For the past couple of years, I’ve volunteered my time after school to tutor some of the younger students. Since I plan to become a teacher, it’s an activity that will look good on college and scholarship applications.
“Is this person free during sixth period, or will we need to work after school in the library?”
She hesitates before saying, “Actually, you’ll be working with him during sixth period at his house.”
I blink, thrown off by the answer. “At his house?”
“I know it’s a little unorthodox, but this particular student has just been suspended for three days. So, I’ll need you to start this afternoon.”
My belly drops to the bottom of my toes. It feels like I’ve just thrown myself off a cliff and am plummeting to my death.
“Suspended?” I echo faintly.
“Yes. I believe you know Austin Hawthorne.”
Oh god.
“I do.”
“Good. Then this arrangement should work out perfectly.”
That’s the last thing it will be.
The thought of spending time alone with Austin sends a burst of panic rushing through my veins as icy cold tendrils of fear wrap themselves around my heart before squeezing painfully. The look of retribution that had blazed from his green depths this morning is enough to make my body tremble. My brain whirls, trying to come up with an excuse as to why this arrangement won’t work.
There’s no way I can be alone with him. It would be like throwing a lamb to a wolf. An image of him wrapping strong fingers around my throat and squeezing the slender column flashes through my head.
Slowly.
He would do it slowly to draw out the pain.
With a gulp, I blurt, “I don’t think I’m the best person to work with Austin.”
Her eyes sharpen as she tilts her head. “Why would that be?”
Unable to hold the steeliness of her gaze, I glance toward the window before sucking in a harsh breath. It feels as if the bright and sunny skies are mocking me. “I just think there’s someone else better—”
She doesn’t allow me to finish my thoughts.
“I’m afraid there isn’t anyone else available during sixth period.” An uncomfortable silence ensues. One that leaves me fidgeting beneath the intensity of her scrutiny. “I must say that I’m surprised by your attitude, Delilah.” The disappointment that fills her voice leaves me wincing. “I wasn’t expecting this from you. You’re always so positive and willing to work with any student, no matter how challenging. If you think as a teacher, you’ll be able to handpick your pupils, allow me to kindly disabuse you of that notion.” There’s another pause. “Perhaps you should reconsider your future endeavors.”