Page 5 of Brutal Titan

Victoria

First day of senior year. It’s thrilling because this is the last first day I’ll have to walk through the doors of Golden Olympus Academy. My excitement is short lived as I spot Elliot walking my way. I’d already decided to make a point of avoiding him and the entire group of my usual ‘friends,’ but I have a feeling that will be easier said than done.

Elliot glances around before looking to me. “We need to talk.”

“No. We don’t.” Stepping around him, I continue walking as he falls into step beside me, a bright smile on his face as he nods to his many admirers passing us by.

“Oh, but we do.” His customary smile remains in place, but his tone is stern.

I’d spent the majority of yesterday urging all the events of the weekend out of my mind, and of course he is hell-bent on constantly reminding me of it all, bring it to the forefront once again. Stopping, I turn to face him as people push past us, not giving us a second glance. Everyone knows I’m his best friend’s little sister, so they never think twice about seeing us together. That includes the skanky bitch Belinda who rubs her hand along his shoulder, greeting him with an overly friendly hello even though she’d just seen him at the party a day ago. The only consolation is he doesn’t acknowledge her but keeps his eyes intent on me, not that it will change anything. “What?”

He hesitates for a moment before speaking in a lower tone than usual. “I want to know what happened.”

Same. I don’t understand any of it which is why I wanted to push it as far from my mind as possible. “Nothing.”

“Then why did you keep the door locked?”

“To avoid assholes, but that didn’t work.”

“You never responded to my call or text.”

“For the same reason.”

He snickers, shaking his head. “Keep avoiding me all you want, but I know something is up. You never head out early, but you were gone before anyone was awake.”

“Okay.” This isn’t a conversation we can have even if I wanted to—and I don’t—because there’s nothing I want the people in the crowded hallway to hear.

“Speak.”

Now it’s my turn to snicker. “I’m not your freakin’ pet so try again, or rather just do me a favor and leave me alone until you can get your balls out of my brother’s vice grip.”

Shock flashes briefly across his face before it’s completely replaced with fury and almost as quickly replaced with a shit-eating grin as he leans forward, his voice low. “Don’t be jealous because I refused to be balls deep inside you.”

“And yet here you are, calling, messaging, seeking me out, but you’re the one refusing me? Makes perfect sense in Bassland but it confuses the rest of us.” Stepping away before he can respond, I continue down the hallway, thankful he doesn’t follow me as he detours into the office because I can only deal with him in short spurts. The longer he’s around, the deeper I’m pulled into Bassland, and once I’m too far into that territory, I stop caring that I shouldn’t be exploring the landscape.

Ugh. Enough of that. It’s time to refocus on anything else.

“Good morning, Vicki.” Grant’s smooth voice sends a chill down my spine. I turn to face him, and though he’s a different person than I’d witnessed Saturday night, I’m no less bothered. My perception of him is forever changed—I can still feel his unwanted touch on my skin.

“Victoria not Vicki, but neither name should be in your mouth.”

“Whoa, Victoria. Bad morning?” he asks, as if nothing in the world is of concern.

“Seriously? More like a bad Saturday night with an uninvited hand up my skirt and tongue trying to pry its way into my mouth.”

“Sounds like you had too much to drink.”

“That’syour pitiful excuse? That I had too much to drink?” His smirk concerns me more than his drunken actions because he sees absolutely nothing wrong with what happened. “Don’t ever come near me again.”

“I still think you’ll change your mind soon enough.” He actually believes he still has a shot, or at least he thinks he’ll get another one. It’s not like he cares whether it’s welcome or not. My arm clutches my stomach, gripping to relieve the nauseating feeling at the thought. I don’t know how far he would go without my consent, and I don’t want to find out.

Arriving at my first class, I find the classroom dark and, unsurprisingly, the door still locked since we have a good twenty minutes before the first bell rings. Leaning back, I prop against the locker as I keep my eyes on the passersby searching for their classes. Most of the faces I recognize. Some smile, waving hello, and I put on a smile, returning the greeting even though I feel like slamming my head into the locker would be more fun. No. Scratch that. Slamming Elliot’s or even Grant’s head into the locker would make me feel better. Somehow, picturing it helps me feel better. Probably shouldn’t but it does. I chuckle to myself, making the choice to focus on getting through the first day of school and not letting either douchebag make me miserable all day. Hopefully, I don’t have any classes with either, but I doubt I could get that lucky. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

“Good morning, Victoria,” Mr. Sutton greets as he walks up, unlocking the classroom door.

Returning his greeting, I’m relieved to have him for calculus since he was my math teacher last year also. Motioning for me to enter the classroom first, he says, “Early bird catches the worm, or at least gets a good seat, right?”

“Yep,” I agree instead of saying how I’d rather sit inside an empty classroom than engage with my usual group who gather in the courtyard overlooking the lake. Sliding behind the desk, I pull out my phone, scrolling mindlessly while monitoring each person entering the room. Relief courses through me when class begins without Elliot Bass in sight. Hopefully, it’s the start to scrubbing him even further out of my life. Wishful thinking maybe, but here goes nothing.