Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two: A dark high school bully romance

24. Abigail

ABIGAIL

“He’s so obvious,” Tally whispers before popping another grape into her mouth.

I glance over at Elliot and flush.

She’s right.

All week we’ve done this dance. Attended classes. Sat with our friends at lunch. Together but not really together.

Not in the way that matters.

The way that I wish were.

“Yeah,” I murmur, looking away first.

Elliot asked for time. He asked me to trust him. And I do. At least, I want to. But ever since he came back from his parents’ house and told me his mum wanted to help us, nothing has changed.

Every time I pluck up the courage to ask him, he brushes me off or distracts me.

There’s been a lot of that behind closed doors—Elliot distracting me. With his hot wet kisses and long skilled fingers.

I’m powerless against it, against him. Because when the morning rolls around and we have to leave my room—or his—we have to go back to pretending that we’re nothing to each other.

That I’m not?—

“Abi?”

“Sorry, what?” I blink at Tally, and she gives me a sympathetic smile. “You’ve really got it bad, huh.”

“I just wish it didn’t have to be like this,” I whisper.

“Oak says he’s going to fix it.”

When?I want to scream. But I don’t, trapping the words behind my pursed lips instead.

I feel him watching me. Silently begging me to look at him. But I don’t.

I can’t.

Not right now.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I say, excusing myself.

A couple of girls glare at me as I pass their table, but I let their judgement roll off me. It all seems so insignificant now.

The whispers and stares. The rumours and cruel comments.

I’m the girl with scars. The girl who lost her mum in a tragic accident and spent years waiting for her father to leave her too. The girl who is too afraid to trust people. To put herself out there.

But I realise now, that my scars aren’t something to be ashamed of. People fear differences. They fear what they don’t know or don’t understand. And until Olivia, Tally, Raine, and Elliot, I’ve never given anyone the chance to understand me.

I make my way down the hall and into the girls’ bathroom, relieved to find it empty.

Being here, spending my days pretending that I’m not madly in love with Elliot isn’t easy.

Even though, every night, he’s determined to remind me what we have is real. Not being able to touch him, to kiss him, and be with him in front of our fellow students is like a gnawing pit in my stomach, growing wider and wider every day.

I feel it writhing under my skin. Picking at old wounds.

Wounds I haven’t completely dealt with yet.

And although I don’t feel the burning need to hurt myself anymore, not since Elliot made me his, I can’t deny that I feel… restless.

I’m worried sick that Johnathon Eaton will make life difficult for Elliot. So difficult that he’s forced to choose.

Stop.I curl my hands into fists. Willing myself to calm down.

I have to trust him. Elliot knows his family best. He knows how to handle his father.

I’m half tempted to text him and ask him to skip our afternoon classes.

I need him.

I need to know we’re okay. But I’m trying to be stronger. I’m trying to be the kind of girl everyone expects to stand at his side.

But it’s so hard to keep the negative thoughts out, to drown out that little voice growing louder and louder every day that he doesn’t deliver any good news.

Sucking in a ragged breath, I compose myself. Elliot said he’ll take care of it, I have to trust that he will.

I just hope something changes soon because I’m not sure how long I can do this.

With shaky resolve, I throw my bag over my shoulder and head out into the corridor. My next class isn’t for another forty minutes but I can’t go back to Tally and the girls.

So instead, I take off for the one place on campus I have always felt at peace.

The swimming pool is empty so I decide to go inside and lie on one of the loungers.

It wasn’t like this before, when I used to sneak into the abandoned building to do my homework, or read, or simply escape my thoughts.

Now, it’s a state-of-the-art facility, here to help students with their mental health and well-being.

Ironic really then that I’ve been avoiding the place.

After my father died, I half-expected to be mandated to attend counselling sessions with Miss Linley. But everyone was all too happy to leave me to my own devices.

I don’t know if that made things worse, or better.

I guess I’ll never know now.

I stare up at the ceiling, lost in the way the water reflects off the tiles, swirling and shimmering.

I’m so lost in my thoughts, in the restless energy coursing through me that I don’t sense Elliot enter. I don’t realise he’s here until he’s standing over me, his brows pinched with concern.

“How did you know I was here?” I ask.

“I followed you.”

“You… Of course you did.”

“What’s wrong?” He picks up my legs and sits down on the end of the lounger, dropping my feet in his lap.

“Just wanted some space.”

“From me?” His expression darkens.

“From everything.” I shrug. “It’s peaceful in here.”

“It smells funny.”

“It’s the chlorine. I don’t mind it.”

“You’re pissed at me.”

He watches me, the air stretching thin between us.

“I’m not. I just… I wish things were different.”

“I’m trying, I promise.” He lets out a weary sigh, running a hand over his face. “But it’s going to take time.”

“Okay.”

I don’t know what else to say.

I could scream and shout and demand answers, but it won’t change anything. Time and time again, the girls warned me that Elliot was a complicated boy.

But I didn’t listen.

“I missed you this morning,” he says, changing the subject.

“You chose to leave at silly o’clock to go work out with the guys.”

“I’ve got a rep to uphold, you know.” He runs his hand along the curve of my knee, sending delicious shivers through me.

“Elliot,” I warn.

“There’s no one here but us.” His eyes flash with hunger as the tips of his finger dance higher, slipping under my skirt.

My breath catches, my heart crashing against my rib cage. “We shouldn’t,” I breathe.

“Nobody’s watching you but me, Red.” His pointer finger inches closer, and I can’t help but shift into his touch.

“The cameras.” My gaze darts to the little black orb in the corner of the room.

“You think I’d ever let anyone see you come undone for me? You’re mine, Abigail. Mine.” He growls the word, right as his digit finds my underwear.

“Ah,” I cry as he rubs me in just the right way.

“Let me in.” My legs fall open and he smirks. “Good girl.”

His praise lights up something inside me and I relax into the lounger accepting my fate.

I want this.

I want him.

Any way I can get him.

“Fuck, Red, you’re soaked.”

“Elliot,” I gasp as he slides his finger deep, curling it the way I like.

“What do you want, Red? Tell me. Use your words.”

“I… More. I want more.”

“Fuck yeah, you do.” He adds another finger, stretching me, gliding his thumb over my clit in perfect synchrony.

My skin flushes, my blood heating as I lose myself to the addictive sensations.

My head rolls back as my eyes shutter. Six months ago, I would never have dreamed letting anyone touch me in this way. But Elliot has unlocked a part of me I never want to cage again.

But only with him.

“I love you,” I murmur, my breaths coming choppy and hard as he pushes me towards the edge.

“Come for me, Abigail.” He presses his fingers deeper, so deep it hurts. But I like the sting. It spreads through me, cresting and then crashing like a giant tidal wave.

“Oh God… God,” I pant, my fingers curled into the sides of the lounger.

“Fuck, that was hot.” Elliot slowly withdraws his fingers bringing them to his mouth and sucking them clean.

Despite my post-orgasm bliss, my stomach clenches violently, a bolt of desire going through me.

“Maybe we can?—”

“Later,” he says gruffly. “If we’re missing from class…”

“Of course.”

There goes my happy bubble.

I smooth my skirt down and sit up, running a hand through my hair, not daring to look at him.

I need a second.

To think.

To catch my breath.

To try and calm my tired, weary heart.

“You good?” he asks, sliding his hand into the back of my hair and collaring my neck. I finally lift my eyes to his.

“Like you said we should get back.”

His expression hardens and he offers me a sharp nod.

“It won’t always be like this, I promise.” He pulls me in, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. “I love you. So fucking much.”

“I know you do.”

Loving me isn’t the issue.

Because everyone knows sometimes love isn’t enough.

He kisses me again, on the lips this time but the heat from earlier has gone and when he gets up, I’m left feeling cold and more restless than ever.

“I’ll see you tonight?” he asks, and I nod.

Relief washes over him, and he gives me a small smile. “I’ll leave first. Give it a few minutes before?—”

“I know the drill, Elliot.”

“Until later then.”

“Later.”

I watch as he disappears out of the room, then I inhale a shuddering breath.

How can being with someone be so exhilarating and so exhausting all at the same time?

He makes me so happy. He makes me feel so beautiful and special. And then he leaves, and all those old insecurities come rushing back.

A small, defeated sigh slips out of me as I compose myself and get ready to go back to class and pretend.

The thing about pretending though, sometimes you’re only fooling yourself.

“Have you spoken to Elliot yet?” Tally asks me as we file out of the building sometime later.

Classes are over for another week, which means we’re another week closer to exams and the end of the year. At least, for them.

“No, why?”

“Oh, crap. I… I’m not sure I’m supposed to say anything yet.”

“Tally…” I warn, not liking where this is going.

She laces her arm through mine and gives me a secretive smile. “Fine. But when he tells you later, don’t tell him I told you. We’re going out tonight. All of us.”

“We are?”

“Yes. Group date, baby.”

It’s hard not to be infected by her enthusiasm and excitement bubbles up inside me.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. But don’t worry, the guys know we have to be discreet. We’re probably going out of town.”

“And Elliot definitely knows about it? I mean, he wants us to go… together?”

“What? Of course he does.” Her brows knit as she takes in my hesitant expression. “Abs? What’s wrong?”

“It’s just been a long week,” I confess.

“I know it isn’t easy right now. But Elliot is dealing with it. Everything’s going to be fine, babe. You’ll see.”

Her words lift my spirits a little after the way me and Elliot left things earlier. And it will be nice to do something with our friends, like a real, normal couple.

“What should I wear?” I ask. “I don’t want to be too underdressed or overdressed.”

“Oak said we’re not clubbing. So nothing too dressy.”

“Okay.” I can do that, I think. “Is it weird I’m nervous?”

“Oh, Abs. Elliot is crazy about you. I know I had my reservations, but anyone can see he’s smitten.”

But no one does know.I swallow the words. She’s so excited and I want to see this as a step in the right direction.

I really do.

“Do you want to get ready with me? I can do your hair and make-up?”

“Can we do it in my dorm room?”

“Of course. I’ll bring some champagne for a little Dutch courage.”

“Okay.” We reach the fork in the path that’ll take me to the Bronte Building and her to the Chapel. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Can’t wait. And Abs?”

“Yeah?”

“This is a good thing.”

I give her a small nod and take off towards my building.

A group date.

Nervous energy bounces around my stomach. I’ve been out with them all before but never as Elliot’s girlfriend.

Maybe Tally is right, maybe this is a good thing.

I’m smiling as I open my door, mentally considering what I might wear.

I know Tally said not to dress up too much, but I want to wear something nice for Elliot. Something that means he won’t be able to take his eyes off me.

A little giggle bubbles out of me as I imagine him all intense and brooding as he watches me talking and laughing with the girls.

My phone vibrates and I dig it out of my pocket, my smile widening when I see Elliot’s name. He probably wants to tell me the plans for later.

But the second I open the text, my heart sinks and tears fill my eyes.

Elliot: I can’t come over tonight. Family thing. But I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you. xx