I never confirm or deny his accusation, but the implication is there. It's not ideal, but I'd rather them think she's fucking me than my father. No one will give a damn about that, and she'll quit getting hassled. Or else I'll be hurting a lot more stupid rejects.
There's no mistaking that body, even from the back. Her supple hips swing gently as she makes her way toward the house. Why is she leaving so soon?
Her small waist is hidden by the flowing material of her shirt, but I noticed earlier that her chest was sure as hell accentuated. She really needs to stop distracting me.
I note all the eyes on me as I make my way toward her, ready to explain to her that what happened earlier won't happen again, but I chicken out. I'd really rather not have her berate me for letting people think she's getting in my bed.
"Hey," I say while jogging toward her.
She ignores me and speeds up. That's going to raise eyebrows and form questions. I don't have time for this sort of drama.
"Raya," I prompt, using a harder edge, hoping it's enough to get her to quit running off.
"What?" she asks, but when her voice cracks with emotion, my stomach sinks.
It didn't work?
"Shit. What happened?" I almost demand, needing names. Maybe the new rumor hasn't gone as viral as I'd hoped. I can fix that.
"Nothing. You'll be pleased to know I'm calling your father today to apologize for going back on the deal I made with him. You win. I give up. Call off the hellhounds. I'm waving the fucking white flag."
She thinks this has something to do with me? She really thinks I'd do something as sick as spread rumors about her and my dad? That hurts.
She tries to run off, but I grab her and whirl her around, forcing her to look at me. I regret that instantly, because those tears nearly destroy me. A gnawing feeling of more guilt spreads, and I really have nothing to feel guilty about this time. Do I?
She needs to get a new layer of skin. She can't keep acting this fragile. They'll chew her up. Sterling Shore is not a town where you show any weakness. It's a shark tank that leads to a piranha pit.
I can already see the damage done if Dad finds out. He'll charge in like a white knight, and Raya will become a bigger joke. People will use that has heavy ammunition.
"I didn't do this, and you can't call my father. He'll come to the school and raise hell if he finds out this is happening, and you'll have an even bigger target on your back. What did you expect to happen? You'd move in and no one would say anything? That's not the way it works."
That was a little harsher than I meant for it to be, but she had to see that there was going to be some backlash. Right?
"So it's my fault they want to call me a slut and a charity case? Nice. Real fucking nice."
The venom in her eyes and tone isn't exactly what I was expecting. One second she's crying, and the next she looks like she's thinking of ways to castrate me. Instinctively, I turn my balls and manhood away from her. Just in case.
But when she starts rushing away, I'm yet again forced to follow, rushing my steps to keep pace.
"Damn it, Raya! Stop. If you have me chasing you across campus they'll talk even more."
"Then stop chasing me. I'll just move out without calling your father."
Fine. If she wants to be a big baby, so be it. I don't need this shit. I've got my own issues to deal with, and none of it involves her. This is for the best. She shouldn't be living with me. It's exactly what I wanted a week ago.
Until the bruises...
"Shit," I gasp when she nearly gets run over by a car. My heart leaps into my throat as the horn blares, but she never even looks up. I'm going to kick her ass. That's it. It's time to show her how to cool down.
"She okay?" a guy asks. I have no idea who he is.
"She's fine. She's just pissed that I got in a fight earlier because some prick said shit he shouldn't have. She doesn't like me fighting," I lie, fueling the new rumor. If they think she's mine, they'll start backing the fuck off.
Furiously typing on my phone, I send a group message to my loyal partiers:
Party Saturday. My place.
It's damn near impossible to keep my cool as I stalk toward my house, and I make it my mission not to tear down the front door.