Chapter 30
The Concession
Harper
By the time I get to art class, I sag into my seat.
Me:
Hope you feel better. Miss you
Kenz:
Binging shows and bored
Did you get your punishment?
Me:
Yes
But I’m trying a new tactic
Kenz:
I can’t wait to hear all about it
Good luck
Keeping up the ice-cold bitch routine is harder than I thought. I’m not a hard person, but fuck them is my motto right now. I’m sure Kenz would approve.
They all seem confused and a little concerned about my change in attitude, so mission accomplished. Shouldn’t have fucking spanked me first thing in the morning. Dicks.
I relax into my seat, even as my ass hurts, and pull out my sketch pad. I’ve been working on a sketch of a face for a while now. Death’s face, soft in sleep, is etched in my mind. I need to get it out of there because that guy is a fucking lie.
The way he held me and cuddled me, protected me.
All lies.
Lies to get me to drop my guard to trust them. To want them. Fuckers.
The act of sketching helps center and calm me.
“Hey, you’re Harper Davidson, right?” The guy standing in front of my desk looks familiar, like I’ve seen him around, but I honestly couldn’t tell you his name. Kenz is much better with that.
“Yes?” I hesitate to engage. Kenz warned me about users. Which kind is he going to be?
Tall and well-built, he has blond hair and bright blue eyes. An easy smile hits his lips. He’s like a nicer Luke, less ominous. Not quite as hot though.
“I’m Tanner Lewis.” He pulls out Kenz’s chair. “Mind if I sit here today? I tore my contact this morning, so it’s hard to see the board from the back.”
“Sure, but Kenz will probably be back tomorrow,” I warn him.
“Thankfully, I’m getting new ones after school.” He settles into the seat, and Ms. Sullivan begins the lesson.
I keep working on my sketch while she talks. I notice Tanner glancing over at me from time to time, but I ignore him. After half the period, Ms. Sullivan releases us to work on our projects.
“You’ve got a great eye,” he says softly.
“Thanks.” I’m still not in the mood to talk. My ass hurts more the longer I sit. Plus, next period is lunch. I have none with me. Luke promised to take me out, but I’ll believe it when I actually see it. Not that I really want to go anywhere alone with him. Or his posse of fuckheads.
“I think I was in the sculpting class while you were in drawing, because I’ve never seen you in art class before this year.” Apparently he wants to talk.
I put my pencil down and look at Tanner. Really look at him. He wants something. I just don’t know what it is yet. “Sure, that happens.”
He smiles now that I’m engaging. “You’ve been claimed by the horsemen this year. How’s that going?”
I smile, but it probably looks like a grimace. “It’s not like I had a choice in the matter.”
“I missed last week helping my sister settle into her new school. It surprised me when someone told me they picked you.”
I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean since I don’t really know this guy.
“We were in history last year together, and I always thought you were cute.” He gives me a crooked smile. “When they said no one would claim you in the cafeteria that day, I didn’t understand why not. I mean, excuse me if I’m being forward, but you’re hot.”
“No one was willing to stand up against the horsemen. I don’t blame them.”
If what I’m suffering is when they like someone, I’d hate to see what they do to someone they actively dislike.
I ignore his compliments because I don’t trust his motives. Is it to get closer to the horsemen or pull one over on them?
“Bunch of cowards in this school.” He shakes his head. “I tried to stand up against them after what they did to my sister.” He shrugs and looks down at his drawing.
“What happened to your sister?” I’m curious.
“They targeted her until she finally caved. It was last year. She hasn’t been the same since.
She transferred schools this year to get away from them.
” His eyes get a far-off look to them. “We’re twins, so I tried to stand up to them.
After all, I thought the guys were my friends until they got me kicked off the football team. ”
I hadn’t heard about his sister, but I’ve basically been living with my head in a hole. It’s not surprising I’m not privy to the inner workings of this school.
“That doesn’t seem fair if you were just trying to help your sister.” The guys are jerks and I know this is a pattern with them. The only difference this year is I’ve got their full attention.
“Yeah, well, that’s the horsemen for you.” Tanner shrugs. “I wanted to let you know you aren’t alone. If you need someone to help you, I can’t sit by and watch them do to another girl what they did to her.”
I’m still wary of him, but then he settles in to sketch quietly beside me. It’s not like people are lining up to help me. Even my bestie can only do so much. I’ll have to ask Kenz what she knows of Tanner’s story.
When class ends, Tanner stands and nods to me. “I don’t want to get you in trouble or I’d walk you to wherever you need to go.”
“Yeah, I’d rather not face their wrath anymore today.” My ass couldn’t handle it.
“Here.” He hands me a scrap of paper. “It’s my number if you want to talk or need help. I hope you consider me an ally if not a friend in your war. Good luck.”
Tanner backs out the door and heads off down the hall. I slip his number into my notebook before anyone sees it.
“You know.” Penny moves up beside me. “I wouldn’t let him sit next to you anymore. I don’t think the horsemen like Tanner much.”
“Yeah?” I’m curious what she knows. “Why not?”
She nods. “I just know he used to be a big deal on the football team until last year. I don’t think he even gets invited to parties anymore. Poor guy. He’s stupid hot though.”
I nod thoughtfully. That only substantiates his story.
Penny smiles. “You’re coming to the game on Friday, right? It’s a home game and we’ll all be there. We can sit together and then head to whatever party afterwards. It’ll be loads of fun.”
“I’m still grounded this weekend, so probably not. I wish I could though.” Not really. I need to find a way to stay out of the horsemen’s clutches. Mom might be amenable to “grounding” me more, but I’m not sure that won’t get me in trouble with them.
She smiles easily. “Then the next one, for sure.”
I nod and walk out of the classroom and toward the cafeteria. My feet are heavy like I’m walking to my doom. I don’t even have lunch to eat today. And I trust Luke as far as I can throw him.
I have to reassemble the ice princess persona I’ve been using all morning, but it seems like too much work now. I just want to go home and forget the horsemen even exist. I’d go to the nurse’s office and get sent home if I didn’t need to save those days for when things really get to be too much.
The only good thing about today is I might have found an ally. Who knows, maybe more people feel the way Tanner does. Maybe I’m not alone in this battle.
Jack
I’m pretty sure we broke Harper. She’s been skittish and defiant and even sometimes submissive, but today she was a hellcat until we broke her. Now she’s nothing.
I walk up behind her as she drags her feet to the cafeteria. I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off her feet. Not even a shriek of surprise.
“You’re going to get us in trouble.” Her words are flat. Not a bite or a hint of amusement. Nothing.
Fucking Luke and his plans. Great way to start the fucking week. Spank our girl. All together. And she’ll fall in line after ignoring us all Sunday. Though I enjoyed pressing my hand against her warm ass cheek, feeling the muscles twitch beneath my palm.
“You’re going the wrong way, sweetheart.”
“The cafeteria is this way.” Simple statement of fact.
“We aren’t going to the cafeteria today.” I set her on her feet and turn her around. “Luke promised to take you out.”
I hold out my hand to her, and she sticks her hand in mine. It’s loose like a limp noodle.
Fuck. I don’t like this.
At least she’s moving in the right direction now. I lead her out the doors to Luke’s car. Everyone else is already in, waiting for us.
I open the back door and she climbs in. No muss. No fuss. No arguing. Nothing.
I inhale and figure today is going to suck ass, and not in a good way.
The guys all talk as if Harper isn’t being a sullen little thing on the way to the wing shop. I study her to see if there’s any spark left in there. I don’t know about the others, but I’m almost afraid to kiss her when she’s like this.
If she kisses like she just held my hand, no thank you.
Luke parks and we all get out. I turn back and look in at Harper sitting perfectly still in the center seat. My eyes meet Caden’s over the roof of the car.
He nods. We both lean in. I unbuckle her seatbelt before Caden drags her out and throws her over his shoulder. She dangles there.
His hand covers her ass to keep her skirt down, and she lets out a small whimper. Her ass is probably sore. My eyes meet Caden’s again. Yeah, this definitely takes the fun out of having a pet.
I like her better when she’s feisty.
Eli and Luke have already gone into the restaurant to order. I hold the door open for Caden, and he strides through the tables until he reaches a booth toward the back. He sets Harper on her feet.
“Slide in,” he commands her.
She does, and he slides in next to her while I sit across from her. She clasps her hands on the table in front of her and stares at the napkin holder like it’s a show she needs to watch.
I pull out a napkin and hand it to her. She looks at me for a second and then takes the napkin and sets it on her lap. Then she returns to staring at the napkin holder again.
I do the same thing. Grab one and hand it to her. She glances at me before setting it before her. We go through the motions two more times before she sighs and looks at me as she puts the napkin in front of her.
I give her a smile. Luke and Eli arrive with drinks and pass them out. Harper focuses on her drink instead.