AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There’s that word again.Supposed. He said it the night of the break-in, too.
An inkling forms in my mind, incredibly outlandish, but it gains traction, spinning over and over until I can’t let go of the thought. “Did you have something to do with the break-in?” I whisper before I can stop myself.
Guilt crosses over his face, so clear I can’t explain it away as anything else.
My hand covers my mouth to contain my gasp. “Oh my God, how could you?”
His jaw firms. “It’s not what you think.”
“Oh my God, oh my God,” I mutter on repeat, retreating towards the door.
He says something about how it was only a way for me to see him in a different light, that it was for us, that he didn’t actually rob me so it was okay, but I can barely focus, trying to make it to the door without it seeming obvious I’m running away. My hand reaches the knob, fumbling to grip it, and then his palm is there, applying pressure to keep it closed.
“Let’s talk about this, okay?” he asks, nervousness seeping into his voice.
I turn and kick backward, connecting with his leg, and open the door, screaming Austin’s name. Can he hear me from this far down the hallway?
The door slams shut again as Joel recovers and locks it, then he drags me by the arm over to the far side of the room.
“Stop screaming. You’re going to get us in trouble.”
“You mean getyouin trouble. You’re crazy.” I’m trembling, hardly able to get the words out.
“Just keep your mouth shut, okay? I can still fix this.”
“Austin,” I scream at the top of my lungs, hoping he hears me.
“Shut up.” Joel slams me against the wall, rattling me, and presses his palm over my mouth to silence me.
Oh God, oh God. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to remember what Austin taught me during our self-defense lessons, but it’s all a blur. I never thought I’d actually have to do any of those things.
I stomp my foot as hard as I can on Joel’s, and though he makes a noise of pain, he doesn’t let go of me. If anything, it only seems to piss him off more. He presses into me so I have no room to move, my arms awkwardly caught between our stomachs, his legs holding mine in place against the wall so I can’t maneuver enough to knee him. I had no idea Joel was this strong. Or maybe I’m just that weak.
I struggle to breathe, my head dizzy from that slam, anxiety overtaking me until Austin’s deep voice sounds from the hallway, calling my name. Relief crashes over me, my thoughts more in focus now. I’m not alone. He’ll save me.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Joel whispers through gritted teeth. “Or you’ll regret it.”
I try to yell again, but it’s muffled against his palm. How is Austin going to get in with the door locked?
“If you tell anyone about this, I’ll make sure no one believes you,” he hisses in my ear. “I’ll discredit you. Tell them you’ve been sleeping with the participants. Say I found you making up data. It’ll invalidate the whole study. Is that what you want?”
The doorknob jiggles, my already racing heart somehow going faster. I need to unlock that door.
Austin pounds on it, like a real-life death knell. “Joel, you better open this fucking door right now.”
Both of us freeze at the fury in his voice, and it takes me a moment to remember it’s not directed at me. I don’t have to be scared.
“If you touched a hair on her head, I swear to God…”
Joel’s hold on me loosens slightly, his gaze darting wildly, and I use the opportunity to get my arm out from its awkward position and pinch him as hard as I can on the underside of his upper arm. He flinches back, creating more room between us, and I knee him in the groin.
I slip out from between him and the wall as he stumbles back, startling again as there’s a slam against the door, the whole frame rattling. Is Austin trying to bust through?
I rush forward, afraid to look back and see if Joel’s right behind me.
“Hold on a second,” I call out, and unlock the door for him.
Austin rushes in, giving me a quick once over. “Did he hurt you?”
