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Evan peels me away, eventually, his expression bleak and confused as he flicks his eyes between me and the guy. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I tell him, shoving him away and stalking down the hallway.
Good? No. I’m not fucking good. And stupidly, I know this time, it’s all my fault that I’m not.
Harper
My heart jackhammers against my chest as I run from the jeering crowd.
For a second, as that guy held me against the locker, I’d thought things might go too far, but embarrassing me further with words was clearly enough for him.
I rush down the halls, turning left and right without seeing where I’m going, just wanting to get as far away from them as possible. My eyes narrow in on the bathroom to my right, and the bell rings as I push through the door, tucking myself into one of the stalls while everyone clears out for their classes.
Leaning against the door, I slump down onto the floor and take long, slow breaths to calm myself.
I hadn’t intended to cause a scene or let everyone know Madden and I had slept together, but the moment I saw him there, Bethany rubbing her hands all over him, I saw red, like a flag to a bull.
I’d never even considered that he hadn’t bragged about it to his friends. After all, that’s what he did. Then the words his mom said came barreling into my mind, forcing their way to the forefront before I could stop myself.
The plan was to drop off the cash and tell him I was finished with this bullshit between us, but I went too far … and, as always, he took it further.
I don’t know why I can’t get it into my head that Madden is not the guy I thought I knew, but every time he’s a complete fucking asshole, it still shocks me. And now, I’m the one sitting on the bathroom floor, missing her first lecture back, while he no doubts laughs it up with his friends about how he fucked lowly little Harper Delaney.
Annoyed at myself for always being so emotional, I haul myself up, grab my things, and step out of the stall. Before I can make it to the basin to splash some water on my face, I halt, my eyes widening as Bethany and her clan of bitches stops in front of me.
Fucking great.
“Can I help you?” I ask, stepping to the side.
Bethany cocks her head, a slow grin splitting at her lips. “Yeah. You can tell me why you’re so fucking desperate that you’d fuck someone that wasn’t yours.”
“And he’s yours?” I scoff, shaking my head. “I didn’t realize you’d laid claim to him, considering he can barely stand to look at you.”
Her eyes narrow, and her friends glare in the background. When her hand strikes out, slapping against my cheek, I blanch, stumbling backward.
“What the fu—”
“Don’t speak,” she says, crowding into me. My fingers tighten around the strap on my shoulder, my knuckles whitening with tension as her friends follow. “Madden is mine. You don’t get to come along and take him from me.” Taking a pair of scissors from her friend’s outstretched hand, she smiles evilly at me, and my heart thunders against my chest. “Perhaps a little makeover might help him see reason.”
I shake my head, holding my hands out in front of me. “Bethany, this is stupid. You can get in a lot of trouble for what you’re doing right now. Walk away.”
“There isn’t any trouble here, Harper. Who’s going to believe you? You havenobodyon your side. You’re a peasant walking among queens.” She reaches me quickly, her hand grabbing a fistful of my hair as she brings the scissors toward the strands.
I thrash my arms, shoving and pushing to get her away, but as she opens the blades and I rock my head to the side, the metal catches on my cheek. A sharp ache follows, and warm liquid trickles over my skin.
The door creaks open, closing quickly, but it seems to do the trick, and Bethany’s friends jolt back, their eyes widening a little in shock as they realize what they’ve done. Bethany laughs again, although it’s unsteady, lacking the confidence from a moment ago.
“Consider this your lucky day,” she says, wiping the crimson liquid from the blades over my gray T-shirt before she rolls her shoulders back and turns to make her way out of the bathroom. “Stay away, Harper.”
Once I’m alone, a vicious chill coats my body. My cheeks heat with anger, mortification, and bitterness, the wound throbbing. My hands tremble, my chest heaving, but nothing works to calm me down. I push blindly out of the bathroom, and the sound of footsteps greets me, hushed, deep whispers in my ear as Evan steps in front of me.
He says something, his eyes frantic as he takes in the mark on my face, but I don’t hear him. Blood rushes my ears, and my vision swims, my knees beginning to buckle.
Evan catches me before I can hit the floor, curling his arms tightly around me, and as darkness takes over the edges of my vision, I let him. He’s never been a close friend of mine, only tagging along with the boys when they were around, but right now … any friend will do.
Chapter Twenty-One
Madden
