Chapter 30
thirty
Rowyn Hale
The Cafeteria
Three weeks later…
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and the last day of classes before everyone leaves to go home.
Not me. I don’t have a home to go back to.
Misti offered for me to come with her but I declined.
I think it's a good time to reflect on everything that has transpired in the last few weeks and maybe sort my own shit out.
It will be nice to be all alone and not have to deal with my bullies nagging me.
After the Halloween dance, I don’t remember getting back to my room.
I woke up still covered in whatever that rancid red shit was and no memory of anything after I smacked my head on the sidewalk.
I’m too terrified to go see the school shrink.
I don’t want to be labeled as anything, and I shit for sure don’t want them trying to put me on medication.
I’m fine, I just need to figure my shit out alone with no distractions.
Checking myself in the mirror, I nod my head in approval.
Kade's been sending me clothes, ones that actually fit, and there was a note specifically stating what to wear today along with a new bottle of perfume that smells just like watermelon Jolly Ranchers.
I head to the cafeteria for lunch and immediately want to cringe.
It's loud as ever as voices overlap and trays clatter.
I stand in line and grab some chicken noodle soup and a chicken sandwich then walk over to my usual seat.
Someone laughing too hard gets my attention and that's when I see the guys walking in, shoulder to shoulder like they own the place.
People move out of their way on instinct, because who wants to be on the other end of their wrath.
Not me. That's for damn sure. I eat in peace, listening to their conversation as if I’m not even here.
They haven't noticed me yet which is a good thing. Hopefully they eat and don’t spot me. One could only hope, right?
"Practice is cancelled until we get back," Elliot mutters, grabbing a drink from someone else’s tray without asking.
"Coach is pissed," he states, and Grayson nods.
Kade rolls his shoulder, scanning the room, and I brace myself when he spots me.
It feels as if time stops as he tilts his head looking at me.
Not blinking, just staring. He nudges Elliot who snaps his eyes up to me and they widen.
"No fucking way." His face drops and goes white, and I'm stunned.
What the fuck? Grayson looks up and freezes, then slams his fork down and stands.
No! No! No! I close my eyes, bracing myself, and I hear his shoes stomping and stopping right in front of me.
He slams his hands against the table making me jump.
"Is this a fucking game?" he snarls, but I shake my head.
"Look at me," Kade commands. and my eyes snap to his.
"Black skirt, white top, v-neck. Even the way her hair falls over her shoulder," Elliot spits, and Kade growls.
"That fucking scent!" he spits, and I jump. They are fucking angry. I've never seen so much rage radiating off them all at the same time.
"It's like someone reached into her grave and pulled her out! What the fuck!" Grayson growls.
"Who did this?" he asks, his voice low, dangerously sinister.
"You don't like it?" I ask them, looking at Kade, "I thought it's what you wanted?" I stammer, but silence greets me. Heavy and thick lingering between us. Eyes stare and whispers echo through the cafeteria. Elliot's hands curl around the table as he leans in.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he snaps as my eyes flicker between his and Kade's.
"You told me to wear it," I say. "You left it outside my door this morning with a note," I tell them, but Kade is the one I'm looking at.
"I didn't send you anything," he says, his voice void of emotion, and I blink.
"Yes, you did. It came in the same boxes with the same hand writing as all the other clothes you've bought me. Why are you—" But Grayson slams his hands on the table.
"No!" he cuts in as his graze drags over me, the look of disgust apparent over his face. "Take it off." And my spine straightens.
"What? No!" I say, and he smirks.
"You fucking heard me," he says, leaning in. "Take. It. Off!" he growls, and my bottom lip trembles, my hands shake, and the room tilts a bit.
"Do you have any idea what you are wearing?" Elliot asks, and I shake my head.
"You need to go! Right now!" Kade yells, and I jump.
"What? Why?" I ask, and his eyes snap to mine. There's no smirk, no games, nothing. He lets out a breath.
"Because you're wearing a dead girl’s clothes." My face drains, and I swallow thickly.
"Then maybe you should've told me that before," I fire back, because what in the actual fuck! Elliot lets out a harsh laugh. One I'm not used to in the slightest.
"Oh, we're past that now." Then Grayson steps closer, too fucking close, making me shiver.
"You think this shit is funny?" he asks, but I shake my head.
"I think someone is messing with me," I say.
"And you're all too busy losing your shit to realize it.
" And Kade's gaze sharpens. I know I'm going to be punished for this.
For talking back. But I didn't know, all I did was do as instructed and here we are.
Kade leans down, bracing his hands on the table on either side of me, caging me in.
"Listen to me and hear my fucking words. Go fucking change! Now!" he shouts, making me jump out of my skin, but the cafeteria doors slam and everything stops moving. What the fuck!