Chapter 26 – Clover
Chapter Twenty-Six
Clover
Has Thomas lost his damn mind? There’s a freak – a spicy freak – blackmailing us who seems to have a problem with us talking to each other and even hate-interacting.
I have to watch my back today. I don’t have time for Thomas and his shenanigans, waving at me from across the dining hall like we’re an item.
He has one mission: take the money to the whispering bench and hope to Jesus that saves our asses for the time being.
I almost can’t believe I survived the night in a dark room with him. What the hell is his problem anyway? Why did he hurt me like that? Why does he keep staring at me like he wants me? Why did I let him kiss me?
Ugh. I’m not the type of girl who falls for the bad boy, so it’s not that. I don’t fall for anyone. In the world I grew up in, the motto was “never get attached”. My mama taught me right.
Thomas apparently didn’t grow up in a world where you take hints. He comes over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Hey.”
I turn around and glare at him. “What?”
“You alright?”
“Why do you give a shit? Move it along, I’m eating breakfast.”
“I just want to talk.”
“Later,” I hiss. “Seriously? We shouldn’t be seen together.”
Thomas turns red, but he stalks away. Ugh. It’s not like I don’t want to talk to him. He left something in my bedroom and I want to give it back. It’s just that doing this in front of the entire dining hall seems like a horrible idea.
Sylvia and Kola join me at our table. Luckily neither of them saw Thomas trying to talk to me. Kola heard about Thomas sleeping in my room and insists on getting the “gory details”. Sylvia wrinkles her nose.
“Just so you know, I don’t approve of this,” Sylvia says.
I roll my eyes. I don’t approve of Sylvia’s secret boyfriend, but what do I know? Sylvia deserves a man that will want to claim her in public, but she insists the secret protects both of them.
“You don’t approve of Thomas?” Kola scoffs. “Why not? Sure, he’s white so he’s probably evil and racist, but he’s sexy. He has a great body. Does he dance? I would have him up in the front of my choreo like Channing Tatum.”
“Seriously, Kola?” Sylvia says, wrinkling her nose. “I thought you hated white guys.”
“I do. Jamal’s going to be my black king,” Kola says. “But I know y’all are down with the swirl. I’m fitting in.”
“Please never say ‘down with the swirl’ for the rest of your life,” I say.
Kola laughs hysterically. “Whatever. I’m just speaking my truth. Thomas has a six-pack and in those tight rowing outfits you can see the whole imprint.”
“Ew! You’ve been looking at the boys’ dick imprints when they’re supposed to be our sworn enemies?” Sylvia gasps in surprise.
I can’t stop smiling. Sylvia with sworn enemies? She can’t stay mad at anyone or anything. But I appreciate her efforts to stand against the rowing team. At least they only get to use the dance studio for another week.
“I wasn’t looking,” Kola replies defensively. “I was researching. There’s a difference.”
“I don’t want to talk about dicks,” Sylvia says. “Not while I’m eating sausages.”
Kola laughs and wiggles one of her sausages in Sylvia’s grimacing face before sticking it into her mouth. Sylvia eventually lightens up and starts laughing too.
“Thomas and I don’t have a thing. We’re just Ethics group partners.”
“That’s a new one,” Kola says. “Is that how it works now? Boyfriend? Fiancé? Ethics Group Partner? Spouse?”
“Gross. I’m not marrying anybody, least of all some moody billionaire’s kid.”
“Who may or may not have a big dick,” Kola says.
I tighten my jaw. I know he has a big dick.
Unfortunately. Against my will, Thomas held me down and I felt the size of his member as he moved against me.
Enormous. Terrifyingly enormous. Even last night when I straddled him in my bed, nearly letting my dumb hormones lead me down a dark and dangerous path, I could feel his cock jutting into me.
It’s like he spends all day with an erection. Boys.
“I am going to vomit if I have to think about Thomas’ dick,” Sylvia says. “Seriously.”
We change the subject for the sake of Sylvia’s breakfast. After breakfast, I walk to Ethics class, hoping that Thomas is already sitting there instead of skulking around some corner. Sylvia and Kola have class in the opposite direction.
I forgot that if there was one thing that I could count on Thomas for, it was skulking around corners. He grabs my forearm the second I turn into the humanities department and drags me into an empty classroom, slamming the door shut and locking it behind him.
I don’t walk around without a weapon anymore after Thomas. I reach into my back for a sharpened hunting knife that I ‘borrowed’ from Jude Fox’s bedroom after the last time he was a dick to me.
Thomas rolls his eyes. “Can you put the knife away?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Yes. About you. What the fuck was that?”
“What?”
“Snubbing me.”
“We aren’t friends, Thomas. Remember? I’m watching my back today.”
“With a four inch blade?”
“Four inches can get the job done.”
There’s an awkward beat and I know his stupid boy brain is thinking of some sexual innuendo. He smirks and I lunge at him. His face blanches. Scaring Thomas and putting him in his place will never get old. I tuck the knife away calmly.
“Why are you so fucking scary?”
“Says the guy who nearly raped me.”
“I’m sorry. And I wasn’t trying to–”
“Are you?”
“Yes. I… I don’t know… I’m fucked up, Clover.”
“I gathered that. We have class in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
I walk over to the door and he blocks it. Ugh.
“Thomas. We have class. Move out of the way.”
“Can I kiss you first?”
My heart jumps into my throat. No. He can’t kiss me. He shouldn’t kiss me. I shake my head.
“No. You can’t kiss me.”
My heart beats a million miles a minute and I hate that I want him to know that I’m lying and kiss me anyway. I should just tell him what I want.
“Because I touched you?”
“Among other things.”
Thomas touches my face and bites his lower lip until it’s red as if he doesn’t want to say what he says next.
He whispers to me, “I didn’t hear the word ‘no’ until I turned sixteen. You can ask my sister.”
I don’t know why he’s telling me this.
“When I hear the word, I want what I want even more. I’m willing to do anything to get it. Even horrible things,” he murmurs. “I shouldn’t. I know.”
“Seek therapy.”
Thomas chuckles. “Therapy can’t fix being a rich cunt.”
“Can anything?”
His eyes are fiercely fixed on me. I can see on his face how badly he wants to kiss me and his tongue runs over his lips.
“Kissing you.”
He just makes me want to try out one of my new British insults. “Wanker.”
He snickers, but doesn’t drop his hand from my cheek. “You’re right. We should… act like enemies.”
“We are enemies.”
“Yeah,” he mutters, biting down on his lip again. “Got it.”
“See you in class.”
He winks and then opens the door behind him, allowing me past. “See you in class.”
* * *