Wait, what? Whispers surround me, creating a wave of murmurs from all the way down the hall to where I am.
“What did you do?” Kass exclaims, horrified.
“You tell me,” I let out, unable to even begin to understand the scene I’m witnessing. I look around the room, helpless. Absolutely everyone is staring at me, the look on their faces similar to the one you’d have if you’d just witnessed a crime.
“You got a problem?”
My heart skips a beat.
Creepy but strangely attractive dude is standing right in front of me, his cold eyes piercing through my soul. His eyes… they’re very blue. Pale and clear. Almost unreal. His intimidating presence is a lot harder to ignore now that barely a couple of steps separate us.
“Excuse her. She’s new. She doesn’t know.” I’m astonished when Kassidy intervenes, apparently begging him to have mercy on my life. What in the world is going on? What do I not know?
He stays silent for a little while, carefully analyzing me without bothering to be subtle.
“What’s your name?” His voice is deep and husky. I’m sure his demanding tone usually gets him everything he asks for, but truth be told, right now, all I feel like giving him is a slap. He looks me up and down. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
“She won’t do it again,” Kassidy falters.
“Did I ask you?” he says. It’s official. I hate his guts.
His eyes find their way back to me. “What’s your name?”
“Winter,” I answer, confused as to why it matters so much.
“I am so sorry,” Kassidy begs yet again.
What the hell is this?
“Are you deaf? I said I’m not talking to you.” The way he raises his voice is what sets me off. That’s it. I’ve had enough.
“Who the hell do you think you are, jackass?” The words leave my lips before I can stop them.
The whispers stop abruptly as he raises his eyebrows in disbelief. Someone’s clearly not used to people talking back.
“What did you just say to me?” He steps closer, tilting his head to the right as he thoroughly examines my face.
“Winter, don’t.” My cousin reaches for my arm. I glance at her. Her eyes say don’t you dare. Mine say watch me.
“You heard me.” I remove my arm from her grasp, gathering up what’s left of my courage.
From there, everything happens so fast I can barely keep up. He fills the distance between us, causing me to step back so quickly my body hits my locker, the noise of the rattling metal ricocheting down the silent hallway. I instinctively close my eyes, anticipating a hit of some sort.
But it never comes.
“What are you doing? I’m not going to hit you.” A hint of mockery can be heard in his tone.
I look back at him in shock. A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, the distance between us so small I can smell his cologne. He smells disturbingly good. Of course he does.
He leans forward as my heart thumps against my rib cage. Then, without a word, he pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“I’m going to let this go because you’re new, love. But watch your mouth from now on.”
He looks into my eyes one last time before pulling away.
Chills spread throughout my entire body.
I can’t speak. Hell, I can’t breathe.