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Once they were in the hallway, I turned back. There was a whole audience now, but I didn’t care. No way in hell was I going to let this stand. If I did, they’d keep doing shit. I wasn’t certain who they were, but there was always a they.
“Listen—” Gabby began.
I waved her off and ignored the vibes Theresa was sending. Her energy was biting. I focused only on Gabby. “I don’t know you. I don’t know this school or the dynamics here, but you blasted my shit on your social media. You fully fucking knew what that would do.” She started to say something, but I got even closer to her. “Save your shit, but you and me? I now give a fuck about you. I give a whole lot of fucks about you. Are you getting what I’m saying here? I’ve been through hell, literal hell, and I’m standing here. If you think I didn’t grow some tough-ass skin going through my ordeal, you’d better educate yourself. Here’s my warning for you: I’m going to hurt you. And it’s not going to be today, tomorrow, the next day, but I’m the type of bitch who’s going to wait for the perfect shot, the one that’ll hurt you the most, and that’s when I’m going to make my move. Trust and believe, your shit’s coming back to bite your ass.”
I stepped back, sweeping my gaze over the table.
Scout had remained, and he ordered, “Take that shit off your social media. Now.”
It was gone within the minute. Gem told me later.
21
RAMSAY
“You feel good about your showdown?”
I was in seventh period, study hall in the cafeteria when someone tossed two books onto the table beside me. Scout folded down in the seat, an eyebrow raised for me to respond to his question.
I bristled, hearing his judgment. I rolled my eyes. “Spare me your condemnation.”
“I didn’t tell you that shit for you to go off on her. I told you so you’d stop and think before you did.”
“What’d you think was going to happen? You told my cousins. You were there with us. You followed us to the cafeteria.”
“I told you as my apology for my part in it. I never meant for it to get out how it did.”
That was his apology, and it went a long way. “Don’t think Amalia’s getting a pass. I don’t know your relationship with her, but she had a hand in it.”
His gaze sharpened. “She didn’t mean to do what she did. She doesn’t know you. Stay the fuck away from Amalia.”
I didn’t respond, and he knew that was my way of telling him to fuck off.
“Ramsay,” he warned in a growl.
I changed the subject because we’d be at an impasse, but Amalia was a delicate topic between us. “Are you good with my cousins now? Also, what are you doing here? Have you been skipping this whole time?”
“Your cousins and I are getting there.” He opened one of his books. “And I switched so I can take off for training an hour early if I need to.”
“I was told that this wasn’t a skip hour.”
He motioned to the table where the teacher had been, but wasn’t anymore. “Jeffries never comes back after roll call, and he’s friends with my uncle. I get special privileges.”
He was totally serious as he said that, and suddenly I’d had enough—enough of him and enough of this day and its rollercoaster of emotions. I grabbed my books and stood.
“Where are you going?”
“Not here,” I said. “I’m done with this day.” I wanted to say I was done with the place, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t. No matter what, my cousins were here, and I’d felt the first remnants of happiness these last few weeks. I hadn’t felt that emotion in so long.
It wouldn’t last. I knew this as I went into the hallway and to my locker. I opened it and began pulling out what I needed.
A shadow fell over me as Scout leaned against my neighbor’s locker.
I stifled a slight scream as I glared at him. “What are you doing?”
He shrugged, watching me put things into my backpack. “This is more entertaining than studying, I guess. And I don’t want to go to training yet.”
“We’re not friends. Remember?”
“I’m aware.” His eyes darkened, looking me up and down before meeting my gaze. He smirked. “Wanna do what I offered last night?”
“Are you kidding me?”
The smirk transformed his face again. It was a whole different vibe than when he’d smiled at lunch, but again, I wasn’t ready for the way my body reacted. Did I want to indulge in him? Yes. Lots and lots of yesses, but I squashed that.
“I can’t.” I shut my locker, swinging my backpack on.
“Why not?”
“Besides how many times we cursed at each other today? Or threatened each other? Right. I can’t think of one good reason why not?” Sarcasm. I was laying it on as I began walking out the door.
