17. Chapter Seventeen
“ N ow, Miss Crux, while I know good and well what your standing in our organisation is very well, I will not accept disruption from anyone,” he says, giving me a pointed stare, “and that includes you.”
“Yes, sir.” I nod. Fucking Sonny. I’m going to kill him.
“I don’t want us starting off on the wrong foot, so I will let this one instance slide. You weren’t aware of the rules or my expectations before. Now that you do, ensure you adhere to them.” Mr Green doesn’t waver. He’s a commanding force even though he seems unthreatening standing in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest. He seems fitting to not only be our gym teacher but also be a trainer for the Thunderbirds.
He gives me one final glance. This time though it feels like he’s assessing me. Finding all of my strengths and in particular weaknesses which I am sure he could find an abundance of compared to half the school population. I stand a little bit taller and try not to bulk at the weight of his gaze. It's like a switch has flipped in my brain.
The moment it knew there was something bigger out there for me, it's been unwavering in everything I have had thrown at me so far. I’m not delusional enough to believe that this is even a smidge into what I will have to go through, much to Dawson’s disappointment. Or rather, his enjoyment. I’m sure that asshole would celebrate seeing me fail. But I’m not a quitter. That’s one thing he never got to learn about me.
In the last nine months, I’ve come to grow a lot. That girl he thinks he fell in love with at the beach is gone. After what feels like a lifetime, Mr Green finally gives me a small nod. “Fifteen laps. Make sure you're done when everyone else is, I’m not waiting.”
Thinking that I would get away from this exchange without some form of punishment is foolish. Honestly, I was prepared for hell to be rained on me but at least this is somewhat manageable. I thank whoever is watching over me that he let this one slide, slightly. I know that next time I won’t be so lucky. By now, I’m sure the majority of the class is at least five laps in.
I don’t bother wasting any time sticking around. I instantly take off in a run, following the direction of the class. I catch up to the guys fairly quickly, considering I’m at a full on sprint.
Dacre turns, gracing me with a gentle smile. I don’t react, instead keep my gaze firmly on the track in front of me. I see the hurt on Dacre’s face from the corner of my eye as I pass. I know it's unfair to be so harsh towards him considering he has been nothing but kind and considerate from the moment he saw me at Pinks’ but in the same breath, he also knowingly ghosted me, even after all we shared. Giving him a part of my soul in the way I did and having it ripped apart, and then again four times over has turned the thumping organ a shade of black. At this point, it would probably resemble whatever scraps are still left beating in Dawson’s chest. If they are even capable of doing that anymore.
By the time my fifteen laps are done, I’m near collapsing in exhaustion. While everyone else around me looks like they went on a nice little leisurely jog through the park, I felt like Makybe Diva at Flemington except I don’t have the Melbourne Cup to greet me at the finishing line. In its place, I have a stone face Mr Green who looks like he ate something sour.
“Right slackers, this morning we are going to be playing volleyball.” I hear a few groans from around the class. I watch as Mr Green’s face turns red in anger. I hold back a giggle as I watch a few students straighten under his gaze, knowing they fucked up.
“You four, set up the nets. You two, go grab the balls,” He says pointing at a few different students I haven’t had the chance to meet yet.
I’m thankful that Mr Green’s attention is at least redirected for the moment while I catch my breath. I take it as the pity that it is.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Nicky, Pike, Dacre and Sonny watch me. The latter looks like a wounded puppy.
It doesn’t take them long to make their way over to me. I keep my gaze firmly ahead, still bent over attempting to catch my breath, watching some guys as they set up the volleyball net.
“Did he give you a lashing?” Nicky asks, nodding his head towards Mr Green who currently has his back towards us.
I shrug my shoulders, feigning nonchalanc e
“He can be pretty brutal when he wants to be.” Dacre steps closer to me and I straighten, praying a cramp doesn’t bend me in half again, “I’ve been on the receiving end one too many times.” He looks sheepish at the confession. His eyes slowly dart between mine as he tries to gauge my feelings towards our teacher. I give him nothing though, allowing a cold resolve to slide into place
If I’m going to follow through with making these boys grovel, they are going to do just that.
“He could have been worse,” I begin, keeping my tone even, “could have been better if Sonny learned to shut his fucking mouth.” I aim a glare at my target who lowers his head.
He doesn’t even look up as he starts to apologise. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. I was just trying to make you laugh. I didn’t think he was going to single you out like that. I would promise I won’t do it again but I can’t do that.” I still, my body stiffening, as he finally lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine, “All I want to do is make you laugh. If I could set the sound as my ringtone, I would. Your happiness is the most important thing to me in the world.”
I scoff, crossing my arms across my chest, “Yeah, my happiness was so important to you when you ghosted me, Sonny. No explanation. Just a whole lot of empty promises.” I can’t keep the anger from my tone. I just seem to get more worked up the longer I stand there looking at them. “You know what? Fuck this. I’m not going to pretend I’m even remotely okay with anything that happened all those months ago. I had the most incredible month of my life with you guys. I have never laughed more in my entire existence.” I step closer to Sonny, Dacre, Nicky and Pike. “I fucking fell. In. Love. With you assholes.” I punch out each word knowing that the words hit their marks just by the sheer heartbreak on each of their faces.
“I was vulnerable with a man for the first time in my life. I shared shit with the five of you that not a single person has ever gotten before.” I look directly at Dacre then, watching the way his heart breaks even further. I let my eyes move over to Pike. Then Nicky. And finally Sonny.
“I trusted you. I gave you my heart. My love. And you fucking betrayed me.” They each at least have the audacity to flinch at my words.
“Scar, I…” Pike steps up, but I cut him off before he can continue any further. I don’t have it in me to listen to them anymore.
I shake my head, holding my hand up to stop him. “No, Pike. None of your excuses will ever be enough. You say you stopped messaging me to protect me? Yet all you did was break my heart beyond repair and I don’t know how you will ever be able to fix it.”
I step away, turning from four of the loves of my life. It almost feels like there is a weight lifted off my shoulders until I come face to face with Dawson. His expression is emotionless but I know him better than that. He thinks I don’t, but that’s where he is wrong.
I know almost everything there is to know about these men. They let me into their hearts after all. How could I not have devoured every piece of them I could have? Retained even the smallest details of them.
Like the way Dawson fights a smile everytime one of the guys does something ridiculous. Or the way Nicky occasionally rubs at the scar on his face, like he’s tracing it. Remembering why and how he got it. Or how Sonny looks at each of the guys for approval after making a joke. Needing validation he shouldn’t need to seek because no matter how fucking mad I am at him right now, god I love him desperately.
Then there is how Pike is constantly running his fingers through his hair. Even more when he is nervous. And Dacre, who gets a far away look in his eyes every time he flicks open and close his switchblade, a habit that should have been a massive red flag for me but it's not.
“Fuck off Dawson.” There’s no hesitation where there would have been before. He wants to hate me? He wants me to leave? Fine, I will make his life just as hard in return.
I watch as his eyes heat in anger. He should be intimidating right now but my care factor well and truly flew out the window the moment I laid out my soul for the entire class to hear.
I don’t bother to wait for a reply as I storm off, collecting his shoulder as I pass. Before I get too far, I’m yanked back into a hard body.
“Watch it, you are skating on thin ice, Scarlett.” His voice is a low growl directly in my ear. Where this sound would have sent shivers through my body a few months ago, all it does is fuel my anger. I snatch my arm from his tight grip, which I’m sure by the throbbing pain I feel would have left finger shape marks, if not bruises.
“No you listen here you pig-headed motherfucker. You aren’t in charge. You don’t get a fucking say or an opinion in anything when it comes to me. I am in charge. I am the next fucking President and if you don’t cut your male postering bullshit and pull your head from where it is so far shoved up your asshole, I,” I snarl, pointing my finger to the centre of my chest, “will fucking make you regret ever stepping foot onto that beach that night. ”
His eyes are wide but he quickly shoves his surprise down, that signature resting cunt face where it belongs. He scoffs, “I’d like to see you try.”
A sinister smile spreads across my cheeks, “Watch me.”
I turn my back on Dawson, keeping my head high as I walk over to Brandy, Maxie, Jen and Rippy who are all looking at me with proud looks on their faces. It's strange to see that kind of expression on Rippy’s face, especially when it's directed at me but I’m in no state to dive into that one right now.
Brandy meets me halfway, throwing one of her arms over my shoulders, giving a little squeal in the process. “Fuck yes, Scar! That was badass! If you weren't a Pink before, you sure are now!”
I can’t help but laugh. Her utter acceptance of me from the beginning warming a place inside of me. No one could ever replace Grace or Noah, but Brandy is going to worm her way into a spot on that top shelf very quickly.
We walk over to the group of students all standing near the volleyball net, waiting for Mr Green’s instruction. I prepare for a lashing, his warning earlier still at the forefront of my mind. I brace as his eyes catch mine. Where I thought I would see disapproval or the promise of some bullshit punishment, I see pride. He nods his head at me, a gesture I quickly return.
I don’t have to turn my back to feel Nicky, Dacre, Sonny, Pike and Dawson’s presence but even if I was unsure, the look Mr Green gives them is utterly terrifying.
“Boys, seeing how you enjoy laying out your personal lives and wasting my time, detention this afternoon. ”
It takes everything in me not to let out the laugh that threatens to escape me. But I swallow it down.
Suck shit, fuckers.