I laughed out loud, which turned into a squeal when hands grabbed me, and I was jerked into an empty classroom.
“What the hell?” I yelled as I was pushed forward, and catching myself from stumbling, I straightened before turning with fury to feel all my rage dissipate when I met the sky-blue eyes of a Devil. “Jett?”
“I hear you wanted to talk to me?” he asked me with an almost friendly look. I watched as his right hand reached over, lazily rubbing over the bicep on his fully tattooed left arm.
“So you thought grabbing me and throwing me into an empty classroom was the best approach?” I asked him as I shook off my shock and marched to the door. One single step, and he positioned himself smoothly in front of the door, blocking my exit.
“What did he say to you in class?” Jett asked as he leaned against the door casually.
“Don’t you know?” I glared at him. Nerves and repressed anger were causing me to be reckless. “Isn’t he yet another one of yourfriends.”
“You shouldn’t listen to rumors.” He smirked at me. “Thought you would know that.”
“Have you heard what they’re saying about me?” I demanded of him as I took another step forward. “It’shorrible.”
“I don’t listen to gossip.” Jett sneered as he spoke to me, and somehow, he made even that look sexy.
“Figures, why listen when you started the shit in the first place?” I snorted as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why am I here?” I looked around the classroom. “And how do you always know which rooms are empty?”
Jett considered me for a moment. “You came to see me last week,” he prompted.
So much seemed to have happened since then, but I still hadn’tactuallyspoken to him. “Yes, I um . . .” I twisted the handle of my book bag. “So . . .” I faltered. I didn’t know how to approach this. Where did I even start?
“Are you ready to tell me why you did it?” Jett’s look was hooded as he looked at me, and his casual consideration of me had suddenly changed to him being completely alert, and he hadn’t even moved. The guy was . . . intense. There was no other word for it. He just took up all the space and all of my focus. I had absolutely no idea how I had ended up in his bed, and now I had less of an idea of how I told him this. “You tell me the truth and the rumors stop. You lie, and, well, you won’t like what happens next.” He grinned, and I felt a sliver of fear. “I’m waiting.”
“Yeah, aren’t we all.” Running my hands over my arms, I considered him. “You’re a dick, I just want that said before I start.”
“I haven’t got all day,” he said me coldly.
“More lives to ruin?” I muttered as I felt my shoulders slump. “Okay, here goes nothing, I don’t usually drink.”
“Of course.” I heard his snort of disbelief, and wrapping my arms around myself, I looked at the point past his shoulder.
“Just . . .” I rolled my head on my shoulders. “Okay, this is embarrassing enough, just let me get through this, okay?” I didn’t want him to look at me as I spoke, so I turned away from him and walked further into the class. When I heard nothing to the contrary, I wet my lips and told him what I knew. “I don’t drink because I’m a hopeless drunk, but I can drink a lot. I mean alot. Like my friend says I have hollow legs. But the drawback is, I black out.” I hesitated, and hearing nothing, I plowed on. “That Friday, I was wasted, so wasted I have no memories of it at all.”
“What?” His voice was a ferocious whisper. “You’re telling me thatyoudon’t remember anything?”
“No. It happens. It’s why I don’t really drink. I never remember.” Staring at my feet, I fidgeted. “I know I come across as coherent and sober, but . . . I’m not.” Taking another breath, I blurted it out. “I don’t know when or how I met you that night. I remember absolutely nothing.”
When the silence was uncomfortable, I turned around only to find I was alone. He was gone, and I didn’t even hear him leave. Well, it was over. Now he knew, and the less said the better. Weirdly, I could still feel the noose hanging around my neck, an ominous feeling that this was far from over.
* * *
Slowly walking back to the dorm, I thought of what I’d said to him. Did he believe me? He didn’t seem to react well, but then I wasn’t one hundred percent sure how he should react. Had the roles been reversed, would I believe him? Or would I have walked away to process?
“This is a nightmare,” I muttered as I climbed the stairs to the apartment. As I let myself in, I welcomed the cool air inside the living room and thought about the entire mess that was mylife over the last week. It didn’t matter what I had to do or who I had to avoid; I could handle it, but what I knew I couldn’t cope with was the fact that I hadn’t been honest with Mia, and now I had no choice but to tell her.
My phone beeping drew my attention, and, dreading that Mia had already heard the news about class, I pulled it out slowly from the pocket in my book bag.
Unknown:Get your ass to my house. NOW
Me:Who is this?
Unknown:Don’t fuck with me
Me:Jett?
I bit my lip. I mean, I was pretty sure it was, because who else would be texting me this kind of demand? But still . . . better safe than sorry. I re-read the messages and laughed at myself. Yeah, because the messages were giving the impression of “safe.”
