Chapter 32
“CANNIBAL” BY KESHA
My locker combination had been the same for two years. Though I knew it like it was tattooed on my body, I found myself struggling to focus on unlocking my door. It only got worse when Duke passed me, acting like a blubbering idiot.
“I just don’t understand where you think you’d belong on a football team, princess?” Duke laughed with his buddies. He leaned back against the lockers and smirked in Quinntessa’s direction. “Unless you’re here to fulfill our needs, what more are you useful for?”
Quinntessa blinked and lowered her lip gloss tube from her mouth. She rubbed her lips together and released with an audible pop before placing it back in the magnetic cubby.
“Look, Harvestman, I understand you’re insecure about your football skills.
” Her eyes scanned him up and down. “Among other things,” she snapped as my eyes widened in surprise.
“So, if you need any extra conditioning before the season really kicks off, I have some time around my private lessons to help you. Otherwise, leave me alone.”
The other boys on the team snickered as Quinntessa threw her hair over her shoulder and closed her locker.
“I have to get to class.” She rolled her eyes and attempted to walk away.
Duke moved off the lockers and followed the shorter football player as she turned down the hall.
The second he locked his eyes on her, I saw red.
Flashes of the night before filled my head.
The smoke smell that still stuck to my body reminded me how easily I could take care of this issue.
I forgot about my locker combination struggles and started toward them.
“You’re just upset you’re not on the field because now I can’t hit on you in those pants,” he accused stupidly. Duke jogged toward her and scoffed. “Hey, I’m talking to you!”
He reached out for Quinntessa’s arm, but I grabbed his wrist and threw him back into the lockers. Duke howled with pain as I turned him around, jabbing my knee into the back of his leg.
“She said she had to get to class,” I hissed at him, digging my knee into the back of his leg.
“Fuck, Quinn!” Duke whined. “That shit hurts!”
“Stop disrespecting women then, you insufferable cunt!” I snapped, tightening my hold on his locked-up arm.
I raised my eyes through my messy hair to see Quinntessa had stopped at the corner. She stared at me with wide eyes, her books so tight to her chest, I could make out the way her breasts pushed up in her pink sweater.
My breathing was heavy. I could feel my nostrils flaring and my nails digging into Duke’s arm. There was a huge possibility I was shaking in my combat boots, his voice echoing in my ears as he spoke so disgustingly to her.
I wanted to kill him. I had the strength to. I could do it!
Was it the way he implied something that made Mustang uncomfortable that bothered me?
Or was it the way he tried to touch her?
Called her princess, of all fucking things?
Made her so uncomfortable, she rushed down the hall with her head low?
I didn’t know what made me so angry with Duke’s behavior.
It had never changed, but now, I’d had enough.
I didn’t want him grabbing her like that.
Touching her. Quinntessa’s life was in my hands, and no one else would get between that.
I did not spend the night scrubbing myself clean of some other man’s blood with bleach and an assortment of cleaning products until my skin was raw to be so disrespected by a dude who thought he had big balls compared to me.
Quinntessa stepped toward me and shook her head, eyes flickering between Duke and me. My heart raced as her worried eyes met mine.
Assuming what she meant, I quickly stepped back from Duke. I had guessed correctly. Quinntessa relaxed when I let him go, her eyes flickering between me and Duke before she bit her lip and shyly waved.
Before I could raise my hand to wave back, Miss Sweet Face was gone, and so was my ability to remember the first number of my locker combination.