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Who’s turn is next?
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Haveyou ever had that dream where someone is chasing you, and no matter how fast you try to run, they’re always just one step behind?
That’s exactly what it felt like during the undie run. The four of them were constantly there, constantly gaining on me, and all I could do was keep running. Most of my life I have run towards them, arms open wide, knowing that no matter what, they would catch me. This isn’t the first time I have run away from them, but it is the first time I had to watch them as I did it.
When I made the decision months ago that brought us all here it wasn’t simple, but in a way it was easy. I just cut them off. Stopped picking up their calls, ignored their texts, kept myself away from them, we went from everything to nothing. I obliterated us with a phone call, an arrest, and a well timed instagram post, and they never looked back. Or so I thought. I should have anticipated that they would show up here, make my life hell, but what the hell are we doing now?
The bracelet, the bet, the reward… It feels…just like before.
Fun and exciting, secretive and dangerous, wild and exhilarating.
Feelings I want to consume me, to wrap around me and never let me forget again what it is like to be a part of them, but now there are those other feelings.
Fear, anxiety, pain, and dread. They are filling me up from the inside out, choking me until I feel Carson’s phantom hands around my throat as a reminder of what he will do to me. Of what he has already done, and it’s then I remember why I run from them in the first place.
Shelby is talking beside me but I can barely hear a word she's saying. The throb in my side is just too much. I’m glad I took two pain pills before we left, but apparently those and even the two shots we downed aren’t doing anything to numb the aches. I knew it was a stupid idea to run when I was injured. I mean I’m not an idiot, I know I probably have a cracked rib, but I couldn’t turn down the bet. It’s not like I could go to the guys and say rain check, my fake boyfriend beat me so hard I can barely breathe without it hurting so running for me right now isn’t great. That would have started a war no one would survive.
It’s fine.
I’m fine.
I just need to get back to the dorms, pop two more pills, take a hot shower and get into bed. If I am lucky the exhaustion I am feeling will drag me under enough that I don’t even have any nightmares and I can just get some rest.
“Are you even listening to me?” Shelby calls me out and I cringe as I turn to look at her and find her staring at me expectantly, she knows full well I wasn’t listening.
“Sorry, Babe, can you say that again?”
She rolls her eyes with a smile. “I said, what’s the deal with you and Ashton? That boy looked ready to rip your clothes off.”
The blush is instant, I can’t stop it. I know she sees it, but I can’t respond because in truth I have no idea. I have known Ash almost my whole life, and not once have I ever seen him act that way. He was so angry, so forceful, not in the way Carson is, but in a way that demanded my entire body. I couldn't help but let him push me against the side wall of the bleachers, couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting up to meet his, couldn’t stop my breath from seizing up as he brought his fingers up to push my hair away. It was like in that moment nothing else existed but him and I. A moment I wanted to stay in, but like with all good things in my life lately, it had to end.
“Nothing, he’s just sensitive and emotional.” I shrug at my casual assessment but I know that Shelby is becoming more and more observant of my interactions with the guys. Is asking more questions about my relationship with Carson. I’m not sure how much longer I am going to be able to keep the shadows of my secrets in the dark.
“If you say so,” she drawls as we arrive back at our dorm room.
I wait for her to unlock it and then try my best not to look like I am rushing inside to sit down, but I desperately need five minutes off my feet.
“Wanna order some food?” she asks and I am grateful she doesn’t want to go out and get something because honestly I don’t think I could even walk back downstairs right now.
“Sure that sounds great, I want to shower first though.”
“Oooo how about I jump in the shower first and then I’ll run to the corner and grab us some of those tacos we like while you shower, deal?”
My mouth practically waters just thinking about the tacos we discovered a couple of weeks ago and have eaten about nine times since then. “Okay yeah, that sounds amazing.” I smile, laying back on my bed and watching as she gathers up her stuff and heads to the bathroom.
“I promise I’ll be quick.”
I nod my head, my eyes closing as I let my body appreciate the fact we are finally resting again as she disappears inside the bathroom.
Barely even a few minutes pass and I hear the sound of the water shutting off. I smile to myself, she really meant she would be fast. A knock on the door draws me from my thoughts, it’s light and quick. I groan at the sound of it, dragging myself back up into a seating position. The stiffness in my side is excruciating as I take a deep breath and force myself to my feet. I can feel sweat at the back of my neck and suddenly the idea of letting Shelby shower first doesn’t seem like the best thing right now, but still I let my feet move across the floor so I can open the door.
I don’t know why I thought it was going to be anyone else, why I didn’t think for one second it would be him. Maybe it was the high of endorphins from the run with the guys, the shooting pains throughout my body as the aftermath, but when I stare up into the empty eyes of Carson Crawford, every other feeling inside of me disappears and all that is left is dread.
My hand tightens around the door knob as I panic and rush to shut the door in his face. The smirk he gives me is evil incarnate as he shoves the door back towards me, making me stumble several steps backwards.
He shuts the door behind him with a loud thud that echoes in my ears as fear makes bile rise in my throat. “Are you alone?” he demands as he looks around the room for any sign of Shelby.
