AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I mentioned it to my brother, Gray, but he just dismissed me, saying it was a side effect of my injury and that Mia never would’ve done anything to harm me.
He's right. I know he is. She was my best friend. She was a bitch and moody at times, but not to me. She loved me, and she had a hidden softer side. But the constant nightmares make me think that I'm missing something.
Looking at the door, I see light shining under the crack. Daytime, I was right. Maybe someone will hear me now.
I bang on the door hard. But my hands and fists are so sore from yesterday.
“Please, if anyone can hear me, let me out!”
I go to shake the door handle, and it pops open.
How long has that been unlocked?
Who cares? I walk carefully outside but keep an eye on my surroundings. Moving around the corner, I see a group of people waiting. As if they knew I would be escaping. Halting my steps, I wait for someone to say or do something. But they don’t.
They stand in front of me, silent and smiling, but they do nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's like they are also waiting for something. Taking a closer look, I notice it’s the same group from yesterday: my supposed teammates and some of the football team.
Yeah, nope. I’m not dealing with their shit again. I turn around and walk the other way toward the woods, but the boy who grabbed my hair yesterday steps forward. He has dark hair, blue eyes, and glasses. He’s also seriously hot. What is in the water here?
“I wouldn't go that way, Bambi. Ash might have set some traps last night in case you escaped. He was pretty trashed when he called me at three this morning.”
Oh, he had been drinking? Well, that makes sense now why he was sobbing outside the shed.
“Okay, thanks, I think, but why are you helping me?” I ask, making sure this isn't just another setup.
He gives me a sad smile and shakes his head. “You may not remember me, Bambi, but I remember you, and you never once did anything malicious toward anyone. So count this as repayment for helping me stay on the football team last year. You can head home. I’ll keep the wolves at bay. But know this: Ash won’t stop until you’re as broken as he is. He’s the king of this school, Gracie, and we will always follow him,” he says but drops his gaze to his feet, avoiding my eyes.
Wow, okay, that was a lot to take in just now, but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
“I don't even know your name, but thank you. I know this was a one-time parlay, but it's the first nice thing anyone has done since I came back. If you see Asher, can you tell him something for me? Tell him I’m sorry. I’m not sure what for exactly, but I heard him last night… outside the shed, and when he's ready, I'd really like to talk to him. No one should ever be in that much pain. I would like to help him, especially if I somehow caused it.”
He looks at me with his mouth wide open. “Dom, my name is Dom. If you’re talking about Ashton, I’ll tell him, but I don't think it will do much. Now run along before I change my mind. Or one of the other guys decides to come over here.”
I turn, doing just as he said, when I think I hear someone whisper.
“Way too nice. She always was too good for this place.”
King
“What was that all about?” I ask Dom when he jogs over to meet us. He’s acting strange as hell, and I already have one friend to worry about, plus the shit going on at home. I don’t need any more on my plate.
I have a meeting with a recruiter next week I need to prepare for, so I can finally escape this hell hole. Dom shrugs and moves closer to the group. Tinsley, Bianca, and Carter are talking about something and laughing.
“So, what’s the plan for that little skank?” Bianca asks Dom, and I watch as he fists his hands. Damn, he really was serious about protecting Gracie.
“Yeah, when can we run that little whore out of town? She doesn’t deserve to be here,” India chimes in, and I notice Carter wince. Dom clears his throat and rubs his eyes. He looks tired, which I guess makes sense. We were up late playing games before Ash called, and we had to go rescue his drunk ass.
“We’re going to go to class and wait for it… learn,” Dom says with a gasp, and Bianca rolls her eyes.
“Whatever, we will just get the bitch when she returns. No doubt she ran home to cry to her mommy. She never could take a fucking joke.” Bianca storms off toward the back door, and the girls follow.
“Damn, those girls are fired up,” Carter says with a laugh.
“Mia was their Queen Bee, and it seems Bianca has decided to take her spot,” I mutter, watching Dom. He knows something that he’s not telling us. I nod to Carter and jerk my head toward Dom.
“So what’s up, man? Why do you look like you’re fighting to tell us something?” Carter asks Dom, and I watch as he runs his fingers through his dark hair and sighs.
“Ash is gone. After we brought him home, he texted me to let Gracie out of the shed. I swung by his place, and it was empty. He had shit thrown all over his room, and his car is gone.”
