Page 37 of The Wright Man

Boyd snorted. Gavin laughed. Theo smirked. "Damn. Still got that mouth on you, huh? You playing hard to get now?"

"No, I'm playing never gonna happen. Try dying faster."

That should've been the end of it. But it wasn't.

Before I could move, before I could even brace, Theo stepped forward and kissed me.

Hard.

Rough lips smashed against mine, forcing contact I never asked for. It was sloppy. Gross. Disrespectful.

I shoved him away with both hands, my face burning with rage and disgust. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"I thought that'd shut you u—"

He didn't finish the sentence.

Because Maleek's arm was around his neck.

One second Theo was smirking, and the next, he was gasping, clawing at Maleek's forearm as he was forced to his knees in front of the entire freshman class.

Maleek didn't raise his voice. Didn't yell. He leaned in, face calm, tone deadly.

"I'm gonna let you breathe in a second. First thing you're gonna do is apologize. Second thing—you, Pee Pants, and The Riddler over there are all gonna get the fuck on." He glared in Boyd and Gavin's direction.

Theo sputtered. Protested.

Maleek squeezed harder. Just a little.

Theo's voice hitched. "Aight! Aight!"

Maleek let go.

Theo wheezed, coughed, and dragged himself upright. He didn't even look at me when he mumbled, "Sorry."

"Louder," Maleek warned.

"I'm sorry."

Then he scurried off, Boyd and Gavin right behind him, eyes wide like they'd just seen a ghost.

And then came the crowd.

Like roaches to dropped food, everyone swarmed around me. Girls, boys, people who'd never said a word to me before.

"Oh my God, are you okay?"

"Did Theo just kiss you?"

"That was your first kiss?!"

I ignored them. All of them. My eyes were searching. Scanning.

And then I saw him.

Maleek was already halfway across the auditorium, flanked by two staff members who'd finally noticed the commotion and were rushing him to In School Suspension. He wasn't resisting. Just walking calmly, shoulders squared like he didn't regret a thing.

Right before he disappeared around the corner, he turned and locked eyes with me. He smirked, raised his arms, and flexed.