Page 33 of Rebel

Since I didn’t want to deal with that right now, I waited for him to disappear around the corner of the school before I got out of my car. Grabbing my bag from the back seat, I made my way to my first class. On my way, I passed one of Rebel’s friends. The one I’d seen him with that first night outside the bar. He gave me a strange onceover but otherwise walked right past me. Okay then.

I could only imagine what Rebel had told them about me. Assuming that he’d said anything at all. Based on the look that guy had just given me, he knew something.

It didn’t matter. Rebel had dominated enough of my time and thoughts. I had a class to get to and schoolwork to focus on instead. That’s what I told myself as memories of him in my bed fogged my mind. I knew his scent would still be on my sheets when I got home. I’d have to wash them immediately. Sleeping in sheets that smelled so much like Rebel would be dangerous.

Why was it so hard to get him out of my head? Despite my efforts to focus on my professor, that strange moment with Rebel last night kept coming back to haunt me. I was proud of myself for calling him out. It had to be done. Yet I knew that it might not make a difference. Today would make it very clear where we stood with one another.

The universe smiled upon me. I made it through most of the day without running into Rebel. It was midafternoon when I had some time to kill. Feeling a little snackish, I went to the cafeteria for a bag of chips and an iced tea.

Since I thought there was a higher risk of running into Rebel outside, I opted to remain in the cafeteria. If I managed to find a free table, I would have room for my laptop. I had some work to do before my last class anyway.

Hearing someone call my name, I turned to find Luna and Ripley sitting a few tables away. As I made my way toward them, Rebel intercepted me. He seemed to appear from nowhere, like he’d been waiting for the right moment to reveal himself. Stepping out from behind a decorative pillar, he timed it perfectly so that I would bump right into him.

He wasn’t alone. The guy I’d seen earlier stood behind him, eyeing me curiously. I bounced off Rebel’s chest, almost falling on my ass. He made no attempt to help me as I dropped my open chip bag, chips spilling out all over the floor.

Deciding to face him head on instead of run for cover, I met his devious gaze. “Hello, Rebel. Nice of you to almost knock me on my ass. I don’t suppose you’ll help me clean this up.”

A frown creased his forehead, his expression souring. “Of course not. Maybe watch where you’re going next time.”

The tiny shred of hope I’d been holding onto immediately died. I needed to know where we stood with one another, and now I did. Rebel was a terrible person. Regardless of how he made me feel when he came to me at night, I would have to accept that.

“Yeah, I’ll do that.” My hands shook as I clutched the crumpled chip bag and my bottle of iced tea. “Since you’re so intent on being an ice-cold asshole to me in the light of day, you can stop coming to my room at night. I’m done with this shit.”

Rebel laughed right in my face. “That’s a nice little story you’ve spun for yourself there. Do you really expect anyone to believe that? Maybe you need help. You should see someone.”

He was seriously going to deny it right to my face? My blood boiled as the need to hurt him made my temper rise. He thought he could paint me as a crazy person when he was the one switching personalities every time the sun went down. No. Screw that.

“I don’t think I’m the one who needs help. You’re the one who can’t pick a personality and stick with it. Honestly, I don’t need this shit. I don’t need you. Stay away from me, Rebel. I mean it. Find someone else to be your pet.”

I went to shove by him as he stuck out a foot, tripping me in the middle of the cafeteria. In front of everyone. Embarrassed heat engulfed me. My iced tea bottle flew out of my hands, rolling across the floor. Thankfully, the lid was still sealed.

He’d gone too far this time. His need to humiliate me in front of others was gross and childish. I didn’t know what Rebel’s problem was, and I didn’t care anymore.

“I’m not sure why you’re so obsessed with me, Storm. It’s really getting quite pathetic.” Rebel started to walk away, leaving me in a heap on the floor.

I snapped. Shoving to my feet, I went after him. I grabbed his arm, digging my fingernails in as hard as possible. He turned to me with an amused smile.

I didn’t give him a chance to speak before my hand cracked across his face. My knee plowed into his crotch. Rebel doubled over, clutching his balls as he went to his knees. There were gasps and murmurs all around us. His friend stood there silently, a smile tugging at his lips. He seemed to enjoy this.

“If anyone is fucking pathetic here, it’s you. I don’t want to see you on my property ever again. Come to my room and I will toss your ass off the balcony. You’re a sick man, Rebel. I don’t know what could’ve happened to make you this way. I don’t care anymore. You can drop dead for all I care.”

I was almost shouting by the time I rushed away. Luna called my name, but I didn’t stop. The hot sting of tears burned my eyes. I would not allow Rebel to see this kind of emotion. Because tears began to spill down my cheeks, I ducked into the first restroom I came across. Ignoring the girls at the counter, I locked myself in a stall.

My shoulders shook as I fought back the tears. Rebel didn’t deserve this kind of reaction. He was nothing and nobody. I wished I knew why he was doing this to me. He claimed to have this draw to me, then he turned around and treated me like total garbage. Maybe he had some dark trauma in his past, or maybe he merely lost the genetic lottery. Either way, there was no excuse for this behavior, and I was done with it. I meant it this time.

“Storm?” Luna’s voice came from the other side of the stall. “Are you okay? That was pretty intense. Do you want to talk? Ripley had to go to class, but I can hang for a while.”

When I was sure the tears had stopped, I opened the stall door and emerged. Luna stood there with a sympathetic smile. Her pink and purple hair was tied into two pigtail braids. She wore a long flowing dress that looked like something a fairy might wear.

She accompanied me to the sinks so I could clean up. Mascara streaks down my face made it clear that I’d been crying. Ugh. Grabbing some paper towel, I got to work cleaning the remnants of my emotional break.

“Thanks for checking up on me,” I said. “Is this something Rebel commonly does? Picks out a girl and does everything he can to make her life hell?”

Luna shook her head, watching my reflection through the mirror. “Not that I know of. I’ve never seen him pay this much attention to any girl honestly. He has a reputation for being a bit of a player. He doesn’t date. He’s never really been a nice guy. I’m sorry he’s doing this to you. You don’t deserve it.”

“So you believe me? Rebel seems determined to convince everyone I’m a delusional nutcase.” I did my best to fix the makeup smears around my eyes before giving up.

“Of course I believe you. It’s pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that Rebel has some strange fixation with you. I’m pretty sure even Casper could tell.” Luna leaned toward the mirror, examining her own makeup.

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