Thoughts of Nico having something to do with our solitude float around my head, but I refuse to give him the credit. Nothing about what just happened says that my career, my future, registered in his plans to fuck me like a brute in that back room. Organising clearing out the entire place for an hour seems like way too much effort for him to prove his entirely futile point.
I’m still shaking my head at that insane thought when I finally get brave and step out of my safe haven.
Thankfully, there’s no one to be seen as I make my way down the hallway, but that doesn’t mean that the sixth formers are far away, I can hear them all talking inside the common room.
With my eyes locked on the double doors that will take me away from this building and everything that’s happened in the last forty-five minutes, I focus on getting the hell away from him.
Should he still even be here.
I’m about two metres from freedom when a shiver of awareness races down my spine.
I don’t need to turn around to know that he’s there.
Was he waiting for me?
Did he really think I needed the knife driven any deeper into my chest?
“That’s it, Miss Andrews,” he drawls, making my heart jump into my throat. “Run away like a naughty little girl who’s been caught with her fingers in the biscuit tin.”
My teeth grind as anger surges through me at his audacity. Shaming me in private is one thing, but in public? In the middle of the fucking sixth form?
No. Just fucking no.
Spinning around, I search the hallway before me.
But there’s nothing.
Not until his amused chuckle fills my ears.
Dragging my eyes up, my fists curl at my sides as I find him leaning against the railing of the first floor with a smug-as-fuck grin on his face.
Without thinking, I spit the only thing I can think of at him that will hurt.
“You don’t think you can trust me? How about you go and speak to your sister about how good I am at keeping secrets.”
His expression falters, and I hate that a surge of victory races through me. He’s still trying to process my words when I spin on my heels and run from the building.Guilt slams into me, and my heart races as I realise what I’ve just done.
I’m a flustered, sweaty mess by the time I crash through into Melissa’s office where the rest of my stuff is.
“Brianna, what’s wrong?” She gasps in shock, her eyes as wide as saucers as she stares at me.
“I-I’m sick.”
“You should go home. You look…” She hesitates, too polite to tell me that I look like a piece of chewed-up dog shit.
“Y-yeah, is it okay if I do?”
“Of course. Go.”
“Thank you,” I mutter as I dive for my things and stuff them all into my bag haphazardly.
In only minutes, I’m racing toward my car, ready to put this nightmare behind me.
But before I can put it into reverse and speed away, a fresh wave of guilt rips through me and I pull my phone from my bag.
Opening my conversation with Calli, I ignore what she’s sent me and type out a message of my own.
Brianna: I’m so sorry. I might have dropped you in it with Nico. He’s probably heading your way right now.