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The second his lips find mine, I know it’s all wrong. “Hayden, wait.” My hands go to his chest, trying to push him away, but he pulls me nearer, kissing me harder, forcing something I know will never be there.
“Hayden, I said stop.” I tear away from him, my chest heaving. “I shouldn’t have let you do that,” I say coolly.
“But you did.” He smiles weakly. “I know a part of you wants it, Hadley, baby. You’re just scared—”
“I think we’re done here. Goodnight, Hayden.” I start backing away. “I’ll see you at school on Monday.”
“Come on, Hads, don’t do this. It was one kiss, a little misunderstanding, you don’t need to—”
“I said goodnight.”
Dejection washes over his expression, and I see a flash of a hurt in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the night as I spin on my heel and take off in the direction of Sterling Prep. I guess I can probably call it home, since I’m not sure I have one of those anymore.
Hayden doesn’t follow me, but then, I never expected him to. He might be a little persistent, but he isn’t like Bexley.
I shudder just thinking about what he put Remi through. To think I spent all those nights cheering for him at games, only to discover he was a drug addict with a problem with the word no.
Sick bastard.
Deciding to stick to the better lit path, I cross the road. There are a few passing cars and a dog walker or two, but on the whole, it’s quiet.
I like the silence.
It’s the only time I allow myself to think about things. The things that led me to Sterling Bay.
I’m lost in my thoughts when I notice a black figure lingering in the shadows. A tingle of fear zips up my spine, but I shake it off. It’s Sterling Bay, for Christ’s sake. You could walk your dog on a gold-plated leash, wearing a dress made out of diamonds, and no one would look twice.
But there’s something about him. I can’t get a good look but—
“Cole?” I gasp.
Before I know it, I’ve diverted again, hurrying to where he’s standing. His dark hood is pulled up, but I don’t need to see his face to know those cold blue eyes belong to the youngest Jagger brother. He doesn’t speak as I approach. I’m not even sure he sees me, his icy gaze cutting right through me.
“Cole?” I say again, trying to alert him to my presence.
He startles, his eyes blinking as if he’s in some kind of trance.
“What are you doing out here? What’s wrong?” The Jagger house is on the other side of town.
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“Hadley?” He blinks again as if he’s seeing me for the first time, but then a wall slams down over his expression and I step back, aware of the hostile energy rolling off him.
“Cole, you’re scaring me.”
“Fuck,” he breathes, dragging a hand down his face.
It’s then I see it.
The blood.
On his hands. Dark patches splattered up his hoodie. A little streak smudged along his cheek.
The air whooshes from my lungs, a violent shiver rolling up my spine. “Cole...” My voice trembles, a hundred dark thoughts running through my mind.
“What the hell did you do?”
