Addison
For the first time since I started this school, I’m greeted by a student who’s excited to see me. Mindy, my new friend, sits on the curb of the school parking lot, obviously waiting for me. I can’t get out of my car fast enough.
“Hey, friend,” I say, grinning at her.
She shyly wriggles her fingers. “Okay to wait for you?”
I pull her to me for a hug. “Absolutely. I’m so happy we met.”
When I step away, she’s smiling bashfully. “My mom was right. She said if I joined an after-school club, I’d meet friends.”
“So, you’re not in Greenhouse Club because you’re obsessed with plants?” I tease with a giggle.
She shrugs. “I mean, they’re okay, and it was better than Math Club.”
My heart is so full right now. After finally making love with Theo, and now having a social life again, I’m on cloud nine.
A buzz on my wrist sends a shiver of unease through me. As soon as I see Cason’s name, I relax. Until I see that he’s attached a YouTube video.
It’s happening.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, trembling.
Mindy frowns at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll text it to you.”
She pulls it up on her phone and I watch it over her shoulder. My brother wasted no time pulling together a train wreck of an investigation on Lucy. It’s all laid bare. Unfortunately, my piece is woven in. But it’s not like I can be humiliated any more than I already have.
“Look at the views,” Mindy hisses. “They’re climbing so fast.”
My stomach twists. We start walking toward the school and notice people around us looking at their phones, eyes glued to their screen. Since news about “my scandal” spread so fast from school to school, I’m not surprised this video has already made a landing here.
“I’m going to get to class,” I tell Mindy after I walk her to Coach Long’s room. “Text me later.”
Mindy nods and then gives me a hug. “You’re so strong and brave.”
Her kind words make me emotional. It’s been a hard few months. Knowing someone sees me, despite all the drama and rumors, heals something inside of me.
She skitters into class and Coach Long eyes me with a stern frown on his face.
I don’t stick around, hightailing it to the greenhouse.
When I step inside, there are a few students already there.
Theo stands up front, watching something on his phone.
As if he senses my presence, he snaps his head up and locks his eyes on mine.
A flurry of emotions pass over his features: worry, anger, admiration.
I give him a small smile, hoping to convey that whatever he’s seeing on his screen right now isn’t hurting me. In fact, it feels like I’m ripping the scarlet letter off my chest and tossing it to the ground. It’s Lucy’s to wear now.
“You okay?” he asks, voice low. “This is…a lot.”
I’d mentioned it to him while we cuddled last night after sex. But I guess hearing about it and watching it are two different things.
“I’m good,” I promise.
He shoves his phone back into his pocket, choosing not to watch the rest of the video, and then barks at the class to put their phones away. I can tell he’s tense throughout the lesson, but he manages to go over what he expects of us for our first test without too much trouble.
Meanwhile, my phone buzzes nonstop. I see texts from each of my parents, Rhett, Mei, Savvy, my old friends, and my new enemies. Cason will pass on to my family that I’m okay, so they won’t worry, and the rest will have to wait.
After class, Theo is practically vibrating with anxiety as he waits for the last person to leave the classroom. Then, he’s on me, hauling me to him for a tight embrace.
“You sure you’re okay, baby?”
“Yes.” I giggle when he squeezes me and then spins us around. “Miss me?”
“You have no idea.” He pulls back to look at me and then glances at the door. “So much I have to do this.”
His lips crash to mine. I melt in his arms, a prisoner to his claiming kiss. He tastes like minty chewing gum. We kiss frantically and desperately knowing we only have moments before we have to stop.
“How’s your pretty pussy?” he asks against my lips, causing me to shiver.
“Still tender, but definitely ready for more.”
He bites my bottom lip. “After school. My house. I need my face between your thighs again.”
“That did feel really, really good,” I purr. “Maybe this time, you’ll let me get up close and personal with your cock.”
I reach down between us and palm his growing erection through his slacks. He groans, slightly thrusting against my hand.
“Fucking tease,” he growls.
I laugh and press a sweet kiss to his lips. “You like it.”
“I love it.” He caresses my cheek. “Be a good girl and go straight to my place after school. You can put your sexy lips around my cock and then I’m going to lick you to orgasm as many times as you’ll let me.”
Laughter can be heard close by.
I start to pull away but Theo steals another deep kiss that makes me breathless. He releases me just as students begin to enter. With my cheeks burning with heat, I snatch up my things and hurry out of the greenhouse.
Later.
I love that we can continue this later.
Theo: I’m running about 15 minutes behind. I’ll make you a key this weekend, so you don’t have to wait in your car if this happens again.
I’m grinning as I make my way out of my last class and through the hallway. A key. We’re already there in our relationship. This may not be conventional—the whole teacher/student thing—but it’s right for us. Just two people who were lonely and sad who found each other.
Heat blasts me as I step outside. I’m grateful for remote start so the AC can start cooling off my vehicle.
Kids push past me, eager to make their way to their cars to go home.
I take my time since I’ll beat Theo to his place if I hurry.
By the time I reach the parking lot, it’s mostly cleared out.
After unlocking my car, I throw my stuff into the back seat.
I’m just sitting down into the driver’s seat when tires squeal.
Curious, I whirl around to see what idiot is peeling out. It’s a common thing around here. A jeep barrels my way and abruptly screeches to a halt in front of my car. When I see Nick in the driver’s seat, my heart starts pumping hard.
And then I see who’s with him as she bolts from the vehicle.
Lucy.
Her features are contorted into one of rage, skin almost the same shade of red as her hair. It’s what’s in her hands that has me suddenly gasping for air.
An orange baseball bat. It’s the practice bat Nick uses for the school team.
I attempt to close my car door, but the bat makes impact.
The glass shatters and shards explode everywhere.
She flings open my door but I’m already climbing across the console to get away from her.
When she grabs my ankle, I kick back at her, my shoe smacking her right in the face.
I make it to the other side of the car and push through the door.
But Nick’s there, blocking me with a sinister look on his face.
“You bitch!” Lucy roars from behind me and then swings her bat again. I manage to duck out of the way, slipping on gravel as I sidestep Nick.
“You and your asshole brother ruined my life! Liars!” Lucy screams, slamming her bat into the side fender of my car.
I dart around my car, trying to keep space between me and Lucy. Her makeup is smeared and the air is permeated with the scent of liquor. My own face is drenched with sweat and tears streaming down my cheeks. I can’t let this girl get to me.
A guy notices the commotion and calls out. When he starts to intervene, Nick shoves him to his ass. I’m distracted by it long enough Lucy makes her move. The bat swings out again, clipping my arm. I howl in pain. That’s going to leave a bruise.
I scramble backwards, desperate to get away from her.
In my efforts, I roll my ankle and fall hard on my hip.
Lucy pounces on me, bat swinging toward me like she’s trying out for the Major Leagues.
It connects with the front of my thigh, just above my knee.
Hot-white pain explodes up my leg. My resounding scream is so loud I’m surprised they don’t hear it three counties over.
Before I can move out of her way, Lucy shoves me so hard my head smacks against the asphalt.
And then she’s on me. Again.
This time, she raises the bat above her head like she’s going to whack-a-mole my face. All I can do is frantically hold my hands up to try and shield myself from it. As the bat swings down, I close my eyes, waiting for it to likely kill me.
“Ahhhh!”
Lucy screams as someone tackles her off me. There’s a lot of yelling and cursing and commotion. Sobbing, all I can do is crawl away as fast as I can despite the throbbing pain in my leg.
I have to get away from her.
She’ll come after me again.
When strong hands grab my shoulders, I screech in horror.
“It’s me. Principal Renner.”
The relief that floods through me as me sagging against him, clinging to him for protection.
The chaos ensues behind me. When I gain the courage to turn around, I see Nick in a headlock, Coach Long snarling something into his ear, and Theo has Lucy pinned to the ground beneath his knees, eyes boring into me.
“Adam!” Theo yells. “Is she hurt?”
Principal Renner tries to talk to me but all I can do is cry. Everything hurts and I just want Theo. I’m afraid to leave the safety of these arms, though, in case Lucy gets loose.
“As far as I can tell,” Principal Renner calls back. “Cops should be here soon.”
Not soon enough.
When the police arrive and take over the scene, Theo races over to me. He scoops me into his arms, holding me like he can fix everything with a hug. I grip onto his shirt, crying uncontrollably. His palm runs comforting circles on my back.
I’m vaguely aware of things happening around me, but I sort of check out, shutting down in Theo’s safe embrace. When the EMT arrive, he even goes with me into the ambulance so they can check me over.
“Adam called your dad. He should be here soon,” Theo says, never letting go of my hand. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby.”
One of the EMTs shoot him a strange look, but he ignores it. After a thorough checkup and cleaning up some of my cuts and scrapes, the EMTs deem I’m okay enough to go home with my dad. Theo helps me out of the back of the ambulance. Almost immediately, Dad shows up and yanks me to him.
“My God, Adds. What the hell happened?”
I manage to tell him through my tears and Theo fills in the rest. By the end of it, Dad is scowling at Theo like this is all his fault somehow. Probably looks pretty bad how he’s staying right by my side like a good boyfriend, not simply a caring teacher.
Finally, the cops come and take my statement. Sheriff McMahon is gentle and concerned, listening to every detail. Then, he assures me both Lucy and Nick are in a lot of trouble. Both were arrested and taken to jail.
“I’m taking her home now,” Dad says to anyone who’ll listen. “Where’s your stuff, honey? I’ll get it for you.”
I point to my car and shiver as he releases me. I’m drenched in sweat because it’s a thousand degrees outside, but I can’t stop shaking. Theo wastes no time wrapping his arms around me.
“Guess I’m going home,” I say through my tears. “I wanted to be with you.”
He kisses my head. “Soon. Right now, get home and rest. I’ll call you shortly.”
Dad practically has to pry me away from Theo and deposit me into his car. Once we’re on the road, he shoots me a furious glare.
“What was that?”
I know he doesn’t mean Lucy beating my ass.
He means Theo.
Swallowing, I force myself to meet his glare and lift my chin in a show of confidence. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“The hell he is.”
He punches the gas and curses the entire way home.