Read Online Death Screams by Tamara Rose Blodgett - Free Book Online

other students. Zero," Chen repeated in a tone.
    They remained sullen and quiet. And it was at that point that Chen noticed Christi looking pathetic and weak on the floor.
    " Oh my! Who hurt a girl?" Her gaze fell on my group and I just shook my head. I wasn't going to rat Tiff out but none of us guys would touch a girl. I couldn't say the same for Carson and now, Diego.
    Christi scented the possibility of sympathy and maneuvered her position until she could look up at Chen with those luminous whiskey eyes of hers, her nose bashed up. A small face with eyes that took up half of it. Even I had to admit, had I not known Christi, I would have wanted to hammer a guy that did that to her. She sat there looking fragile and beaten and it wasn't a guy. It'd been Tiff. She'd deserved it. Still, I kinda felt bad about it. Must be in my DNA I thought with dismay, the desire to protect a female. Even one as horrible as Christi.
    Tiff didn't have that biological directive.
    " I did it," Tiff volunteered. Bry put his face in his hands.
    " Thank you for your honesty, Miss Weller. You will receive a less severe suspension than your peers."
    John groaned, thinking of the crucifixion he would receive at home. Mrs. Terran would have him encasing the basement furniture in plastic.
    For a couple of days. While cleaning the microwave hinges with a toothbrush. Pink apron strapped on for added torture.
    Her attention swiveled back to Carson's group and she asked, "Why were you abusing your classmate?"
    Nobody said anything. Finally, after watching the boys shift around nervously, Lewis said, "I'm gay, Miss Chen."
    Chen looked at him. Then she said, "What does that have to do with anything?"
    He spread his hands out and laughed, dried blood edging his nostrils. "You wouldn't ask that if you were gay."
    " I am not trying to be condescending on purpose, Mr. Archer. I truly don't know why... were you being targeted because of your sexual orientation?"
    God, catch a clue, Chen. Duh. With that group? I think so.
    She scowled. "Are you certain, because that flirts with a hate crime."
    He nodded. "They'll tell you that I was provoking them. But I wasn't. It was them. They knew. Every day, day in and day out, it was, 'how's it hangin' pretty boy?' Or, 'packed any fudge lately?' I'd say that qualifies as hate to me."
    I thought so too.
    She folded her arms across her chest and looked at Carson. "You admit to this? Is his retelling accurate? You know that fighting, using your ability against others, and this issue you allegedly have with sexual orientation go directly against what you pulsed your consent for. That your parents pulse-consented at the start of school?"
    He nodded.
    " What do you have to say for yourself? In your own defense."
    Carson tapped his temple with a smirk. "He got on my gay-dar, Miss Chen. That's it. We're all jocks here. He was checkin' out our strap placement...if you feel me."
    And he grabbed his package, doing a disgusting hip thrust.
    Wow. The room filled with an awkward silence and I saw Mia turn her face away in disgust. I think that was the unanimous feel for Carson.
    Chen's lips formed a grim line. She didn't say anything, but whipped out her pulse and stabbed her thumb into the pad.
    Sliding it back in her pocket she looked at my group. Me specifically. "Caleb, leave the school grounds with the girls. I will be in touch."
    I didn't like leaving her here with these clowns. She was an adult, and I shouldn't have given two shits. But I did. I looked at Jensen, immediately dismissing him as incapable. Of anything.
    " What about..." I stretched the arm that wasn't holding Jade toward the jerk posse.
    " I have people coming."
    " Let me stay until they do," I said.
    " Suck-up," Brett said derisively.
    Jade looked at him. "Maybe he just thinks you guys are capable of stuff. He just wants things to be alright."
    Brett stared at her and I could feel my heart speed. I calmed it with difficulty. Parker's warning was in my head. That's all