Page 22 of Rebel

STORM

I didn’t dare venture out onto my balcony for the rest of the weekend. Not once did I leave the house for fear of running into Rebel. After what I’d let him do to me when he came to room, I couldn’t face him.

The memory of his hands and mouth on my body made me burn hot with humiliation. How could I give in so easily? Why did I even open the door? Why didn’t I tell him to get lost or fight him off?

Deep down I knew the answer to those questions. I just wasn’t ready to admit it to myself.

When Monday morning rolled around, I was a mess of anxiety. I left early for school, relieved when Rebel’s car was still in his driveway and he was nowhere to be seen. I told myself that it didn’t matter. It happened, but it was over now. He was nobody. Nothing to me. I was here to learn. That’s where my focus needed to be.

I threw myself into my studies, working extra hard to pay attention in class and stay on topic. When I had some free time later in the afternoon, it became much harder to push Rebel from my thoughts. I considered hiding out in the library and studying until my next class. I doubted Rebel or his friends would occupy the library. They didn’t seem like the type.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t really the type either. Unable to sit in the silence of the library, I wandered along to the cafeteria. They had really great chocolate chip cookies. I bought myself a cookie and a coffee. Small comforts. Seeking out a table, I spotted Codie sitting near one of the exits.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked, hopeful that I wasn’t intruding.

She glanced up from her phone and smiled. Pointing to her ignored text book, she said, “Sure. Have a seat. I’m pretending to work while I actually doom scroll. How’s it going?”

“Well, it’s Monday. So you know, there’s that.” I sat down in the seat across from her and took a bite of my cookie.

Codie was so pretty. So put together. From her perfect lashes to her freshly done nails, she seemed to have it all going on. Her outfit probably cost as much as my laptop and cell phone combined.

“Tell me about it,” she said. “I have an exam in an hour that I didn’t study for. I don’t suppose you know anything about legal studies.”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “Can’t say that I do.”

“No worries. That’ll teach me to spend all weekend with some idiot who can’t even get me off instead of studying. That’s the last time I hook up with a guy at a party.” Codie launched into a detailed retelling about the guy she’d met at the graveyard party this past weekend.

I smiled and nodded as she talked, happy to engage in some girl talk. Although I couldn’t keep my thoughts from straying back to Rebel. Codie’s guy hadn’t been able to get her off. I sure hadn’t had that problem. Rebel had made me come with an intensity no other guy had. Like he knew my body intimately despite never having touched me before.

As if my thoughts summoned him like the devil he was, Rebel strolled into the cafeteria. The girl that had been hanging off of him before was at his side, doing everything she could to get his attention. He barely acknowledged her.

Once he spotted me, he headed in our direction. I fought the urge to make eye contact, afraid he would see the unbidden desire written all over my face. No, goddammit. I did not want Rebel. He was a vile human. Total trash. Being good at licking pussy didn’t change any of that.

He ambled toward a free table a few tables away. As he passed, he flashed me a cocky smirk and said, “At least you’re good for one thing. It’s going to take a lot more than sucking me off to win me over. Nice try though. Maybe next time I’ll actually come.”

My entire body went cold. What just happened? Was I having a horrible nightmare? Because if so, I needed to wake up. Right now.

Both Codie and the girl tailing after Rebel wore similar expressions of surprise. I didn’t dare look at those who sat close enough to overhear him.

The girl recovered faster. As she passed me, she hissed, “Do you really think you need that cookie? Probably should have sized up on that outfit. You’re looking a little snug today.”

There was nothing wrong with my outfit or my body. I was comfortable in my skin. My jeans and top fit perfectly fine. This girl had to be insecure as hell to take a shot like that at me. And yet, I found myself looking at the rest of my cookie with regret. What did I ever do to deserve this?

“Seriously, Hailey?” Codie piped up, raising her voice for all to hear. “Are you talking about someone else’s outfit while wearing that dress? Looks like you found it in your grandma’s closet. Did she make it out of some old curtains?”

Hailey glared hard at Codie as she sat down with Rebel, but she didn’t say another word. Like she knew that she’d never win a war of insults with Codie. I shot Codie a grateful smile.

“Eat that damn cookie,” she said, her gaze locked on Hailey. “Or mash it in that bitch’s face. Whichever feels better.”

I expected her to ask me about what Rebel had said. She didn’t. Part of me wanted to tear out of the cafeteria without a backwards glance. Rebel didn’t deserve that kind of success. So I stayed.

As Codie and me continued our conversation, I heard Hailey angrily whisper to Rebel, “Did you fucking hook up with her? After you turned me down?”

That shouldn’t have made me feel as good as it did. That feeling only grew when Rebel replied, “That’s really none of your damn business, Hailey. You and I are not a thing. We never were and we never will be. Now cut the shit.”

“You’re a dick, Rebel. I don’t know what I ever saw in you. Enjoy your trashwhore.” Hailey stormed from the cafeteria. I watched her go, wishing I could pop her in the mouth.

Since I couldn’t do that, I opted for the next best thing. Deciding that I would not be treated like shit by my arrogant as hell neighbor, I excused myself from Codie. Picking up my hot coffee, I approached Rebel with my head held high.

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