Jackson returns and pulls out the chair next to mine. He lays the med kit on the table. My gaze snags on the small scissors in the pack. They wouldn’t do much good. The ends are blunt to cut against skin.
He focuses on my head, smearing antibacterial cream on the lump and cut before applying a bandage. “No one was supposed to hurt you. He promised, and then that fucker left that rose for you.” He shakes his head as he puts away the supplies. “Blaming it on me like I would ever hurt you.”
My heart stops. He didn’t leave the rose, but someone else did? We always knew it was impossible for him to have been there and leave unnoticed. But it wasn’t even his plan?
“I didn’t think you’d hurt me,” I say softly. But I did, and I still do.
He’ll hurt me if I’m not who he wants me to be. If I make him angry. If I don’t live up to whatever fantasy he has for us.
I don’t know if I’ll make it out of this.
He lifts his gaze to mine suspiciously, but whatever he sees in my eyes reassures him. “They’re toxic, Evan. Everyone at that school. We’re just a game to them.You’rejust a game to them.”
He takes the med kit and puts it under the sink again. He stops in the kitchen and grabs a couple bottles of water from the package on the floor. My lips are dry. But can I really drink anything he gives me?
He twists the top off and takes a quick drink in front of me, not touching the rim to his lips. “It’s safe.”
He puts it in front of me, and then opens the other one and drinks it down. I lift the water bottle to my lips and drink. It’s room temperature, which is a little cool, but it’s water and it should help.
He pushes a packet of ibuprofen from the med kit toward me. “For your head.”
I take it and tear it open, dropping the pills into my hand. I swallow them with some water and set the bottle on the table, carefully screwing the lid back on so he can’t put anything in it easily.
Maybe the pills will help clear my thoughts some. Take away some of the pulsing pain.
“They couldn’t protect you, pretty girl.” He reaches out and brushes my hair behind my ear.
I force myself not to flinch away. This is just a part I have to play to survive. I have to believe he’s my hero. That he’s rescuing me from the Devil’s trio and from my school.
“They’re as toxic as the rest of them. They don’t care about you.” Jackson leans back in the chair and looks me over.
I’m glad I’m wearing one of Hawk’s sweatshirts and a pair of jeans. We rode to rehearsal, and afterward we might have gone to our spot to talk. I even have sneakers on, so if I can get away, I have a chance.
“You know he watches you.” Jackson says it low, and he watches my face. “I saw him when we were working out. He has cameras in your room.”
I let myself feel the horror of this moment, being held captive by the same boy who forced my first kiss. Letting that horror show on my face, knowing he’ll assume I’m thinking of Damon watching me in my private time.
If he wants Damon to be the villain, I can play act that. I need to do whatever it takes to remain pliant, to appear grateful to him if not a little confused. It’s the only way to remain free.
I have no doubt he will tie me up to hold me if I resist. The head wound probably helped me out because I might have struggled when he tried to take me.
I would have fought him in the van and on the way here. Which would have forced him to restrain me so I didn’t hurt him or try to escape.
I bring my hand up to my mouth to cover it, as if the more I think about it, the more terrifying it is to me. Because the thought of Jackson seeing those private moments would be terrifying.
He shakes his head and puts his hand on my shoulder. I want to pull away, but I stay where I am. “I knew I had to get you away from them. They’re toxic, Evan. He thinks he owns you.”
I lift my gaze to his and let tears fill my eyes. He wants me helpless. He wants to be my hero. I can let him be that.
“I didn’t know what to do.” My lips tremble, and he squeezes my shoulder. “My mom moved us in. I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
“You’re safe now. I’ve got you. We don’t have to see them ever again.” He stands and goes into the kitchen. “Did you eat?”
“Yes.” I wouldn’t eat anything he gave me unless I absolutely needed to for survival. “Won’t you see Damon in hockey?”
“Hockey’s just a way to get out of this town.” He comes back and puts a bag of chips on the table between us. It’s the kind he used to bring me at the apartment building. “I’m good at it, but without a scholarship, I won’t be going anywhere. Crowne Mawr wants me, but if Damon tells them he doesn’t want me there, they’ll rescind the offer.”
“Why would they do that?” I hold my bottle of water like a lifeline. I can get away without eating, Hawk made sure I had dinner, but without water...
