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"I didn't know this would feel...like this. The more I get, the more I want." She looks at me for guidance, a sign that this is how it's supposed to be.
"Same for me." I claim her mouth with ferocity, my nails digging into her waist. "Dani, fuck, we have to stop."
"That's what I've been saying." She chuckles, but I don't think she actually expected me to stop, because a disappointed surprise grips her when I back away.
We wait a few seconds, listening to any sound that there's anyone outside the classroom. It's dead silent. The break ended about five minutes ago. Confident that everyone must be in class, we step outside. We almost bump into Mr. Bowman, deep lines denting his forehead, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" he asks in an irritated tone.
I don't miss a beat. "Ah, we do, the same place as you: your boring-ass class. This is more fun. I think you agree since you'd rather spy on us than teach. When did voyeurism become an approved hobby for a teacher? If you're hoping to improve your skills, I'd love to give you tips sometime. Bring your notepad; I'm sure you'll need to take copious notes."
Chapter Seventeen: Dani
"I don't get the logic. We're being given detention because we've been busted kissing, but the punishment is putting us together in an empty room? Which genius came up with that?" Damon asks.
We got detention after our stunt yesterday, of course. When I got home, my parents lectured me for an hour. My father was a bit too calm; I'm afraid he's plotting something. He has instructed Paul to trail behind me during every single break and lunch. I have this horrible sense of foreboding that more is to come. At any rate, this is the first I've been alone with Damon today. We're in one of the school's study room. It has three long rows of tables and one leather couch, on which we're both sprawled lazily.
"The teacher's room is next door, Damon. A teacher passes by every ten minutes, and that's a glass window. They can see what's going on inside."
"And that would stop us because...?"
"We don't want to get into even more trouble?" I suggest, unable to contain the sarcasm.
"I'd say we're being rewarded. If it weren't for this detention, I wouldn't get to be alone with you at all today," he says. My heart constricts and I fidget in my spot uncomfortably. How long before Damon realizes I'm too much trouble and moves on? There is no shortage of girls who'd love to fall into his lap. They'd have no problems meeting with him after school, going on dates, or even spending the night with him.
"Let's not get into more trouble," I say. I don't know how to explain my suspicion that my father is preparing a nasty surprise for us without appearing paranoid or scaring him off. At that precise moment, the music teacher glances into the room, her eyes lingering on us for a few seconds.
I sigh. "I can use this time to prepare my speech for Rhetoric & Public Speaking class."
"That's not until Thursday," Damon points out.
"Yeah, I know, but I'm a mess when I have to speak in front of the class. I have to rehearse the speech like tens of times, so I don't look like a complete idiot."
Damon scans me. "It's true; you tend to lose yourself a bit when you have to speak in front of the class."
"You noticed, huh?"
"Kind of hard to miss it. What makes you so nervous?"
"I don't know. I'm self-conscious that I'll say something stupid or that my body language is awkward, and everyone will laugh at me."
"Ah,
this is where not giving a damn about what everyone else thinks about you comes in handy." He smirks, clearly referring to himself. "Why don't you practice in front of me?"
My eyes widen at the horrifying proposal, and I try to put him in the spotlight again. "I've seen you; you're good at it, no need to brag. You can pull an entire speech out of your ass, can't you? You're just like James. Parker tells me he would show up to class in high school without homework or any idea what was going on, but he was so overconfident the teachers believed he knew the lesson backward."
"Who's Parker?"
"My cousin. He and James went to school together. Parker lives in—”
Damon holds up a hand with a tsk-tsk. "You're trying to distract me from the fact that I asked you to rehearse in front of me."
"That's not gonna happen, Damon. I'll read it until I memorize it while we're here, and when I'm home, I’ll rehearse it in front of the mirror."
"You're not going to get over your fear of public speaking if you only practice alone."
"Well, that's my way of confronting my fear."
