features for clues.
“Sure.” Tad plucks a dish out of the cupboard. “It’s called a party for two, otherwise known as a roll in the hay.” His lip curls up on the side as though he were certain.
Maybe I should blow them away and tell them I’m sleeping with Dudley, that Brielle is too, hell—that everybody is.
“I’ve invited Mr. Dudley over for Thanksgiving,” Mom says shoving a piece of toast in her mouth. “The Olivers, too. I really like that Emma.” She stares off dreamily as she moves the eggs around in the pan. I admire the way she didn’t acknowledge any of the insults Tad hurled my way. It’s as though the words from his lips were as irrelevant as he is.
“That’s great.” I’d rather have them here anyway.
I turn to head back up.
“And Skyla?” Tad shuffles over with his arms still folded tight. “When you get home from school, your mother and I have a gift for you.” He narrows his tiny eyes in on me, and for the first time I feel the undeniable presence of evil.
“No, it’s OK, whatever it is, you can take it back. The party was more than enough.” The less I have to do with them the better.
“We can’t take this back.” He tips his head and peers at me through slotted lids. “But you might wish we could.”
Chapter Fourteen
My Boyfriend’s Back
First thing I do when I spot Gage at school is leap on him with my legs wrapped around his midsection and indulge in a deep throaty kiss that lets him know exactly how much I’ve missed him.
He pulls back and gives a naughty grin that assures me Chloe is the last thing on his mind. His dimples explode as he lands me safe on the ground.
“So why the ride? And can you please stop being so damn nice?” I push in another quick kiss. “Except to me.”
Gage straightens. He scans the area as though he were looking for little miss bitch herself.
“What’s going on?” He’s scaring me.
Gage doesn’t say anything. So I pick up his hands.
“Tell me.”
I can’t.
***
The hallowed halls of West Paragon High are alive with the demonic whispers of Chloe’s name. It echoes off the walls like a Gregorian chant, moves through the courtyards like a voodoo rattle.
A film crew has set up shop in the quad and interviews Chloe before the start of first period. She sits on an elevated canvas chair across from a woman I recognize from local TV. Chloe is poised and well versed in her lies. She reminds me a lot of Logan in that respect.
I can’t watch, so I tuck my arm around Gage, and we head off towards the English building.
Every person I see gives me a mistrustful eye. The death rays come from every direction. I’ve quickly become the girl who tried to asphyxiate Chloe Bishop.
Gage, too, continues to give me the mysterious cold shoulder. We head into second and find Chloe standing at the desk nodding into Marshall as though it were perfectly normal for her to be living and breathing and in my Algebra Two class. I hope she’s been rendered speechless by his beauty. Marshall could ignite a forest fire with his cutting good looks—just touching him is explosive.
As if on cue he reaches over and lays his hand over hers. He’s saying something to her—sympathizing. I watch Chloe’s face light up like a glowing coal. She’s feeling it. Maybe she is the one who’ll procreate with Marshall. Maybe he’ll get his dream race after all.
Gage and I take our seats behind Ellis.
“You think she’ll sit next to me?” Ellis appraises her with his glazed eyes.
I’m surprised Ellis would want her anywhere nearby after the way she treated him, or mistreated to be exact. But then knowing Ellis, he’s probably up for some midnight visits and impromptu light drives despite Chloe’s erratic behavior.
“Don’t know, don’t care, ” I say, digging into my backpack.
Chloe heads on over.
Great.
“So where we sitting?” She doesn’t bother acknowledging either Ellis, or me.
Gage glosses over
“Sure.” Tad plucks a dish out of the cupboard. “It’s called a party for two, otherwise known as a roll in the hay.” His lip curls up on the side as though he were certain.
Maybe I should blow them away and tell them I’m sleeping with Dudley, that Brielle is too, hell—that everybody is.
“I’ve invited Mr. Dudley over for Thanksgiving,” Mom says shoving a piece of toast in her mouth. “The Olivers, too. I really like that Emma.” She stares off dreamily as she moves the eggs around in the pan. I admire the way she didn’t acknowledge any of the insults Tad hurled my way. It’s as though the words from his lips were as irrelevant as he is.
“That’s great.” I’d rather have them here anyway.
I turn to head back up.
“And Skyla?” Tad shuffles over with his arms still folded tight. “When you get home from school, your mother and I have a gift for you.” He narrows his tiny eyes in on me, and for the first time I feel the undeniable presence of evil.
“No, it’s OK, whatever it is, you can take it back. The party was more than enough.” The less I have to do with them the better.
“We can’t take this back.” He tips his head and peers at me through slotted lids. “But you might wish we could.”
Chapter Fourteen
My Boyfriend’s Back
First thing I do when I spot Gage at school is leap on him with my legs wrapped around his midsection and indulge in a deep throaty kiss that lets him know exactly how much I’ve missed him.
He pulls back and gives a naughty grin that assures me Chloe is the last thing on his mind. His dimples explode as he lands me safe on the ground.
“So why the ride? And can you please stop being so damn nice?” I push in another quick kiss. “Except to me.”
Gage straightens. He scans the area as though he were looking for little miss bitch herself.
“What’s going on?” He’s scaring me.
Gage doesn’t say anything. So I pick up his hands.
“Tell me.”
I can’t.
***
The hallowed halls of West Paragon High are alive with the demonic whispers of Chloe’s name. It echoes off the walls like a Gregorian chant, moves through the courtyards like a voodoo rattle.
A film crew has set up shop in the quad and interviews Chloe before the start of first period. She sits on an elevated canvas chair across from a woman I recognize from local TV. Chloe is poised and well versed in her lies. She reminds me a lot of Logan in that respect.
I can’t watch, so I tuck my arm around Gage, and we head off towards the English building.
Every person I see gives me a mistrustful eye. The death rays come from every direction. I’ve quickly become the girl who tried to asphyxiate Chloe Bishop.
Gage, too, continues to give me the mysterious cold shoulder. We head into second and find Chloe standing at the desk nodding into Marshall as though it were perfectly normal for her to be living and breathing and in my Algebra Two class. I hope she’s been rendered speechless by his beauty. Marshall could ignite a forest fire with his cutting good looks—just touching him is explosive.
As if on cue he reaches over and lays his hand over hers. He’s saying something to her—sympathizing. I watch Chloe’s face light up like a glowing coal. She’s feeling it. Maybe she is the one who’ll procreate with Marshall. Maybe he’ll get his dream race after all.
Gage and I take our seats behind Ellis.
“You think she’ll sit next to me?” Ellis appraises her with his glazed eyes.
I’m surprised Ellis would want her anywhere nearby after the way she treated him, or mistreated to be exact. But then knowing Ellis, he’s probably up for some midnight visits and impromptu light drives despite Chloe’s erratic behavior.
“Don’t know, don’t care, ” I say, digging into my backpack.
Chloe heads on over.
Great.
“So where we sitting?” She doesn’t bother acknowledging either Ellis, or me.
Gage glosses over
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