Chapter 2
ALLIE
Hoping the slight heat in my cheeks isn’t showing, I take a moment to introduce myself to my new friend.
Which is exactly what we are now, friends.
She saved me from the creepy guy who doesn’t seem to understand consent, and now there's just no going back. We’re friends for life.
Sorry, no take-backs, returns, or exchanges. Thems the rules.
“I’m Allie, by the way. Aren’t you in a few of my classes?
You look so familiar.” …And... I’m rambling.
Shaking my head slightly, I try to recover whatever may be left of my dignity.
“Thank you again for saving my ass back there. I’ve told him I’m not interested more times than I can count, but the guy doesn’t seem to understand that the word no is a complete sentence or an acceptable response to bullshit. ”
I watch as her eyes go dangerously dead and empty for a moment before regaining composure.
But that one moment is enough for me to understand that there is far more to the woman standing before me than just some happy-go-lucky socialite she presents as.
No, there’s something dark and brilliantly dangerous that lurks beneath her mask.
I would know – If there’s one thing in this world I’m familiar with, it’s the monsters that lurk within the shadows; hidden behind pearly veneers and bodies as plastic as Barbies.
The darkness is my comfort zone. But I know better than to test a predator's restraint in public while they are trying so hard to maintain a ‘normal’ facade.
Better not to immediately trauma dump about how many times that particular person has made unwanted advances and not respected the word no.
I won't tell her about how he touched me…more than once. Or how he stalked me day in and day out. Something told me there would be plenty of time for that later, when we’re alone.
For some odd reason, the thought of being alone with the woman in front of me did funny things to my insides, like angry little bats fluttering about. Maybe then I can poke the proverbial bear…. Just to see its claws.
“Are you alright?” Her question pulls me from my internal ramblings as heat begins to creep up my neck.
Was I alright? Mentally, no…not for a long time.
“Yeah, sorry. Just spaced out for a moment.”
“No worries!” She replies with an easy shrug of her shoulders. “The names Avery and I’m pretty sure we do have at least one other class together.”
Ambling into class, we take two seats adjacent to each other as our English Lit teacher walks to the front of the room and begins to speak.
“Attention, class! I understand that this is the final week of class; however, we still have one more assignment to complete.” The room groans, and someone in the back even boos.
Personally, I don’t mind this class; it’s always been one of my stronger subjects.
Our teacher, Mr. Harvester, stands before the class, hands raised in a placating gesture.
“The good news is this assignment will count as your final, so no long, boring test at the end of the week. The bad news, for some of you anyway, is that this writing assignment will be done in pairs. But more good news? You get to pick your partner. So choose wisely.”
My eyes immediately cut to Avery, who must have done the same as her eyes catch mine. A smile lights up my face, and I wink. “Hey there…partner.”
Oh, this is going to be so much fun.