I start towards the exit. “I’m telling the principal.”
“Sure thing, princess. While you’re at it, tell him you painted my car’s windshield.”
I come to a screeching halt and fold my arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He pushes off the door and it’s like he gained height. He’s become all broad and stiff and…
Threatening. Intimidating.
All humour vanishes from his face as if I was imagining all the smirks and nonchalant behaviour.
It’s scary how much he masters his emotions, what to show and what to hide, when to stalk and when to attack.
Something undecipherable shines in the depth of his eyes and they turn another completely different shade of blue.
Deadly blue.
The type of blue that's infested with sharks,
I keep my position, refusing to let him affect me. But that doesn’t stop my limbs from screaming at me to step back.
Levi King isn’t someone I want to play games with.
One more year.
If I stay out of trouble and finish this year peacefully, everything will be over.
Any type of conflict will destroy my invisibility game.
Despite my pride, I step back, matching his wide relentless strides. The air ripples with crackling tension that grips me by the gut. With every step forward, my heart hammers against my ribcage. I feel like the stupid little deer who lost her way from the herd and got herself stuck with a hungry, relentless predator.
My shins hit the easel and I yelp. I grit my teeth at the effect I’m letting him have on me.
“Stop!” I thrust both my palms against his chest and push him.
I might as well be pushing a buffalo.
A very toned one with hard ridges and pectorals and the whole thing.
He doesn’t move back. Not even a step. If anything he leans closer into my personal space. So close that my hands are the only thing stopping his chest from crushing against mine. So close that he becomes tenfold more beautiful. So close that I smell cigarette and chocolate cheesecake on his breath.
Wait. Is that on me from this morning’s breakfast? Because if this bully likes cheesecake, too, then I’m retiring from the food.
“What do you want, Levi?”
“It’s King to you.”
“No, thanks. You have a name, why does everyone call you by your last name?”
“You don’t ask the questions, princess. You only answer mine, understood?”
I can’t believe the arrogance of this bastard. But then again, he’s had the school at the palm of his hands for two years, why wouldn’t he think everyone would bow down to him?
“What do you want, your majesty?”
He tilts his head at the sarcastic note and I jut my chin upwards. He looks down at my palms on his chest as if contemplating something.
Before he can get any wild ideas, I remove my hands with a jerk.