Daphne
To protect my heart, I avoid anywhere I know Micah will be the rest of the day. I know his class schedule, and I avoid the lunchroom like the plague.
The day goes by with maddening slowness. The hushed whispers surrounding me are so distracting it’s impossible to focus in my classes; I feel like an animal at the zoo. At first, I’d thought I was reading way too much into the way my classmates pointed and the quantity of conversations that ground to a halt whenever I’d walked into a room, but I know I’m definitely not overreacting or imagining things. The gossipers have me in their teeth today. It’s getting ridiculous.
By the time I drop into my seat in the art classroom, I’m completely spent.
“Hey. Where have you been hiding all day?” Scarlett quirks an eyebrow at me from across the table.
The back stairwell. The bathroom on the second floor of the science wing. My car for lunch.
“I’ve been around. Trying to lay low since I’m the hot topic of ugly conversation today. I basically want to skip school the rest of the week. That’s how bad it’s been.”
She shrugs. “It’ll die down eventually. When the next scandal sparks everyone’s interest.”
I laugh, disturbed. “Yeah. You said the same thing with the Star Wars panty incident and guess what? They moved on from talking about that to talking about my tiny boobs and then to my kissing adventures at the dance. Apparently, Daphne Davis is hot gossip these days.”
“Don’t shoot me for saying this, but that last one is kind of on you. I get what you were doing, but you definitely called attention to yourself with that move.”
Dropping my head onto my arms, which are crossed on the table, I groan. “I know,” I mumble. “I was really upset.”
“But … how was it?”
“How was what?”
She gives me an eye roll. “Griffin. How was the kiss?”
My face colors as I peek up at her. “I thought at first he was going to push me away, and then he didn’t.” I pause, throwing myself back in time for a second. “I guess it was pretty hot, actually. He’s a really good kisser. But it was like having an out-of-body experience, watching myself do things I’d never ever do in a million years. I don’t know who that girl was.”
“She was you, but on a drug called Micah. And what he did hurt you. It might not have been the most mature thing to do, but I don’t think anyone blames you for wanting to hurt him, too. Seems like a simple enough explanation to me.”
My lips twist. “I wish I knew what Micah was thinking. He’s got this whole weird Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing going on. One second he’s sucking face with Alora and the next he’s asking if I’m okay … and he really let Shayne have it this morning. Carter may have peed his pants in his mad dash to his car.” I hesitate. “Like I said, he’s been really confusing ever since right before homecoming. He—” I pause, swallowing hard. “He even kissed me.”
Scarlett’s eyes widen. “You mean when he found you out at the limo? Or this morning?”
I briefly pause, wondering how much people know about Micah laying into Shayne and Carter and what happened there. I sure as hell haven’t said anything. I doubt Micah would have. But Shayne and Carter? Who knows. Those dudes are loose cannons who don’t seem to care what anyone thinks of them. They think it’s perfectly okay to do whatever they want, whether they hurt someone or not. Like their elite Rose status will protect them from whatever dumbass thing they decide to do. Deep down, this other bold version of Daphne wants to take those assholes down a peg or two. I wish she’d come out to play more often.
I clear my throat before spilling, my face flushing. “Not this morning. At the limo. And after he did, I-I slapped him. And he looked so hurt. But, like kissing Griffin, it was a gut reaction. I didn’t think, I just did it.”
“I might have, too, if I were in your shoes. I mean, what was he thinking, trying to lay one on you after ditching you for Alora?” She shakes her head. “I’m really disappointed in him lately. That’s not the Micah I’ve come to know.”
“He drank that night. A lot. Did you notice?”
Her brows raise, but she nods. “Xander said something about it. He also said that Micah won’t talk to him.” She works with the clay in front of her as she chews on her lip. “I think it’s probably because of our friendship. Micah’s actions have become this divisive thing between them. Xander saw how hurt you were, and knows what hurts you hurts me.”
My heart sinks as I nod. “I really hate this. You’re a good friend, Scarlett.” I grab the hunk of clay I’m going to be throwing on the potter’s wheel and start to work with it, murmuring, “This is all my fault.”
“Come on. Don’t be like that.”
“I should have known better than to get involved with him, but—”
“You couldn’t resist. Micah is a force of nature. I get it.”
“He’s … persuasive when he wants to be. And really hot.” I shoot her a small smile.
“He is both.”
My phone vibrates in my skirt pocket. “Crap.” I glance at Scarlett, who shrugs, and then down at my hands, which are messy from the clay. I don’t get texts from many people, and since Scarlett is right in front of me, it’s either one of my parents, Max … or Micah. Gritting my teeth, I set the clay down and scoot off my chair. “Be right back.”