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The room explodes with jeers and laughter at his final words.
Spinning on her heels, Melissa’s loud sobs echo around the room as she sprints from it.
I’m in shock, my feet rooted to the floor, as I look around the lunchroom. For once, the jeers and laughter aren’t directed at me, as I grovel on the floor on my hands and knees from Melissa or her nasty friends tripping me.
The queen was just knocked from her throne by the only other student more powerful than her.
William spins around, his hand lightly gripping my elbow, drawing my attention to him. His gaze roves over my soaked uniform, then back to mine. My head cocks as I see the sadness in his eyes, but there’s a glimmer of something that I recognize because I saw it when I looked into Terryn’s eyes the first time she was cleaning the blood from her hands from being bullied.
William has been the victim of bullying.
I can’t imagine when or why, but I’m convinced he has.
In a soft voice, he says, “Come on, Irelynn. Let me help you get cleaned up.” He puts his arm around me, escorting me to the door.
As soon as we exit the cafeteria, I stop, my feet frozen to the floor. I shrug his arm from my shoulders, my body trembling from my fear. “I can’t go into the restroom. Melissa is probably in there,” I hiss, my wide eyes pleading with him.
He shakes his head, his low, soothing voice calming me. “I wouldn’t do that to you. The only way I’d let you go in there is if I went inside with you.” He gently pushes a lock of my hair away from my face. “I have access to a private restroom. I’m taking you there.”
He holds out his hand. My gaze travels to it, and I put mine in his, clinging to him as he leads me up the stairs and down a couple of hallways, stopping in front of a bathroom I never knew existed.
“Here, take this and strip out of those wet clothes. I’ll get another uniform for you.” He slips off his jacket, holding it out to me.
“Won’t you get in trouble for not wearing the uniform properly—oh wait, never mind.” I take the jacket from his hand as he gives me a shit-eating grin, winking at me. I open the door, then pause. “How are you going to get a uniform for me?”
He has his phone in his hands, typing rapidly. Raising his head, he cocks an eyebrow at me. “Don’t worry about it. But you better get those clothes off before they soak your bra and panties. Unless you don’t plan on wearing any the rest of the day.”
My face flushes bright red, and I yank the door open, his chuckle ringing through my ears.
William’s voice causes me to pause. “You better put my jacket on once you take those clothes off. Unless you want me to see you half naked.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down and I roll my eyes, stepping through the door and letting it slam shut behind me.
I quickly peel off my wet clothes, then toss them in the sink. Grabbing paper towels from the dispenser, I wet them and hurriedly wipe the milk from my skin. I dry off, then slip William’s jacket on.
As I stand there, my arms wrapped around my petite body, William’s jacket snug against my skin, there is a gentle knocking on the door.
“Irelynn, are you decent?” William calls through the door.
Clearing my throat, I head to the door and open it. “Yes.” Reaching my arm out to grab the clothes from his arms, I pause, the look on his face stopping me. He motions for me to step back, then steps inside, locking the door behind him.
“Irelynn, level with me here. How often has this shit been happening to you?” His eyes are full of sympathy and concern.
I bow my head, unable to hold his gaze. “Whenever you and Mike aren’t around,” I whisper, tears of frustration and despair filling my eyes. “I should just listen to the queen bitch and return to public school.” My lips tremble, a sob escaping them, and I clasp my hands over my mouth.
The uniform drops from his hands as he gently but firmly puts his hands on my arms, his face close to mine. “No, Irelynn, don’t even think about giving in to them. Don’t let them win.”
As I break down in front of him, he pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around me, letting me weep against his chest. His voice is low, anger lacing his words. “I will take care of it. They won’t mess with you anymore. I fucking promise you that.”
I pull back, tears coursing down my cheeks, shaking my head furiously. “No, William, please… don’t. It will only get worse.”
He cups my face, his thumbs wiping my tears away as they continually fall. “I’ll make it stop. You just need to trust me, okay?” His eyes are full of promise.
Really, what choice do I have? If anyone can stop the bullying, it would be William Anderson.
I nod and his face breaks into a smile. “Now put this on and I’ll wait outside for you and walk you to class. I’ll pick you up after each one.” He squats down, grabs the clothes, then shakes them out before handing them to me. “Sorry, I threw them down. But you are more important than this uniform.”
I’m touched by his words, a slow smile crossing my lips.
That is, until my stomach emits a low growl and I slide my hand over it, realizing I haven’t eaten. As his gaze drops to my hand, I realize I’m clad in only my bra and panties beneath William’s too-large jacket. My arms wrap around my body, pulling his jacket tighter.
