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“Unintentionally,” he admits. “But Scarlett made it seem like I intentionally did it because I despised her from the get-go.”
“Of course, you despise her.” It’s funny how I act as though I know these men’s personality traits inside and out.Only been like what? 72 hours? “She’s fake as fuck. Faker than all the social media influencers or better yet, those puck bunnies who love stalking hockey players so they can get a good fucking after a winning game.”
Zander chuckles at that one.
“Funny you say that,” he notes and looks back at me when we reach the top step. “That’s what Scarlett was. A puck bunny.”
“She was?” I’m trying to envision it. “But how did she meet Domino then?”
“He plays hockey,” Zander reveals. “To be honest, he’s fucking good at it. Like, the N.H.L. has tried to recruit him at least ten times already.”
“And he declined?” I can’t imagine Domino on the ice, let alone in hockey gear.All buff and shit, with a helmet and everything.Just thinking of seeing a jersey with LEIGHTON on the back makes me cringe.
God. Never would I wear a jersey of his.
“Do you envision Daddy Leighton approving of his career choice?”
Nope.
My face must prove a point because he smirks and looks away.
“Leighton U has a hockey team, so he’ll probably join that. Good way to pass time, aside from our few classes and such. You should look into what afterschool activity you want to be a part of, but I think females don’t get to choose until three weeks from now. Don’t ask why.”
“Let me guess? Some condescending reason that belittles us females in some way, yes?”
“Sort of,” he acknowledges as we walk down a hall that’s far less crowded.
The entire space is rather lovely in comparison to the old-looking lockers of light peach with hints of pink. In this hall, the lockers are brand new, with electronic keypads. At first glance, I realize there’s even the option for fingerprint identification.
Damn. Filthy rich shit.
“Your locker is next to mine,” Zander announces.
Coming to a stop, I check the number of my locker, which is ‘555-LU.’
“Pin code, fingerprint-proof lockers, huh?” I say out of disbelief because I’m honestly shocked this is legit.
Everyone is fucking rich here. Except for me.
“You sound a tad jealous,” Zander notes with intrigue as his chin now rests on my shoulder. “Talk to me, Dolcezza. Is walking back into an academic institution riling you up?”
Oh.
Listening to Zander acknowledge such makes me realize that could be the case in my foul mood. Sure, protecting him from that cunt and getting annoyed with Domino’s lack of reaction didpoke me the wrong way, but is that why I got so bold to forget my role as a Maiden and take matters into my own hands?
Maybe…
“I hate bullies,” I mutter as I stare at the matte black locker with foiled swirls in various colors. “Despise those who take one look at you and determine you don’t belong. That your existence is but a cheap hindrance to them. Enough that they start stalking your every move and aiming to make your life miserable.”
Look at all the years that have gone by, and I can still recall the brutal torture I dealt with at the hands of Domino and his crew of assholes, who followed every command to feel like they belonged.
So they don’t become outcasts like me.
“That’s why you altered the contract, huh,” Zander quietly mutters. “To give you some empowerment outside of these royal walls where things can spiral very fast.”
“Do you blame me?” I question while I can’t help but distract my trembling fingertips by reaching out to lightly play with his unique strands. “I’ve consensually signed a contract that allows my bully to not only treat me whatever way he wishes for the sake of my little sister’s future, but I’ve given the approval to be portrayed as trash if I don’t prove to be a submissive bitch within these walls. I worked hard to create this side of me, Zander. To rebuild those walls of confidence again and again, ignoring the broken pieces that litter the floor that was the foundation of my ego. My pride in being a survivor.”
Tilting my head enough so I can see his softened eyes, I dare to let him see a glimpse of my worry.The haunting fear that all those years spent building myself for this moment will only end up in vain.
