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They stare at each other, daring one another to look away first. It seems like this is bigger than just this fight. Something runs deeper than that, and they are the only ones who understand the meaning behind Max’s words. In the end, Jeanette looks away first, continuing to play with her lunch quietly.

“So Lia, how does it feel to be a senior?”

“It feels like it will take an eternity for it to be over.” I cover my mouth with hands, but it’s too late. The words are already out. The good thing is that Max doesn’t seem to think much about it, he simply laughs, like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

However, there are other eyes on me, piercing into my profile. I can feel Jeanette’s wheels turning in that super smart brain of hers, if I’m to believe Brooks words. Soon, she averts her gaze, but she’s listening to our conversation. I simply know it.

“It has just begun.” Max snaps me out of my own thoughts. “Of course it seems like it’ll take an eternity, but before you know it we’ll walk across the stage to get our diplomas and move on with our lives.”

“Yeah,” I agree, although I’m serious. The end of the year can’t come soon enough. “Anyway, the bell will ring soon, and I have to go grab stuff for the last two classes.”

“I’m finished anyway, so…” Max stands.

“Oh please, leave the girl alone, Max,” his sister groans from her seat, rolling her eyes at him. “I think she can find her way safely to her locker.”

“Yeah, Jeanette is right,” I assure him, grabbing my stuff. “I’ll see you around.”

I leave the twins, quickly walking through the hallway, keeping to myself. Taking one deep breath, my thoughts turn to Max yet again. He has a way of getting things out of me, getting the truth out of me, and I’ve known him all of a few hours. Who knows what will get out of me if he stays in my life.

He doesn’t think much about my answers. I’m probably yet another girl who can’t wait long enough to leave for college and have a life away from family. If only it was that simple. Jeanette on the other hand… she heard it. She saw behind my words for what they were.

Reality.

Need to escape.

Need to run away and never come back.

Opening the locker, I start looking for the books I’ll need next when a hand connects with the closed locker on my other side, caging me in.

“What do you think you are doing?” he whispers. But it’s more like a growl. A very silent, very dangerous growl.

Nervous shivers run down my back. And my heart starts kicking hard against my ribcage. I fight a need to shake the shivers away. Showing weakness is never good. Each weakness could be used against you.

“D-Derek,” I murmur painfully slowly. My voice is low and trembling, stuck in my throat. My eyes are looking straight ahead and my fingers curl around the edge of the biology book in my hands.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he whispers in my ear. He is so close to me that I can feel his hot breath on my skin, causing small hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

I swallow the lump in my throat before answering: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“New guy. What’s your deal with him?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I repeat.

His fingers curl around my wrist and he turns me around to face him.

He is furious. I’ve seen him angry a few times, but this is a whole new level. He is gripping his jaw so strongly that I wouldn’t be surprised if the next time he opened his mouth teeth started to fall out. His eyes are narrowed and a darker shade of blue than normal. Derek returns the palm of his hand where it’s been in the first place, so that I can’t escape. Not that I would dare to try.

“Don’t play coy with me, Amelia. What does he want from you?”

“Maybe he simply likes me, ever thought of that?” The words are bitter and filled with anger. And for a second there I think I can see hurt in his sky blue eyes, but if it was there it is gone in the blink of an eye.

Derek’s fist connects with the locker, the sound echoing through the loud hallway. For a moment I forget where we are. When you are cornered between your locker and his tall, muscular frame it’s easy to forget that there is a world behind him, a world filled with people staring and wondering what is going on. A world filled with whispers, noisy people and nasty comments.

“You stay away from him.” His voice is stone cold, blue eyes turned to hard ice. Ice blue, like the ice he skates upon. Not that I ever saw him play, but I’ve heard people talk about it. They talk about him all the time. Like he owns this place. Which he does. The king of Greyford High, that’s Derek King.

Then he turns on his heels and leaves in a hurry. People watch his retreating back and turn around, their probing eyes looking at me, speculating what happened and making up some story in their heads to tell their friends. In less than thirty seconds, the phones all around school will start beeping and there will be at least ten different versions of what happened.

Sighing, I squeeze the book to my chest and turn around to my locker to get my Spanish book before shutting the door closed and walking away, my eyes fixed to the floor.

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