Page 166 of The Forbidden Note

“I think it was this way.”

Footsteps pound in the opposite direction.

I grab the walkie. “Rick.”

He answers. “Where are you guys?”

“We need you to sneak into the security room and disable the cameras.”

“What?”

“Just do it! You’ve got three minutes.”

I cut the walkie in the middle of his spray of expletives.

In the darkness, I feel Sol looking at me.

“What?” I grumble.

“You think I’m crazy too, don’t you?”

I run a hand over my face. “I think you’re even more reckless than I am. And that’s saying something.”

He snorts out a laugh.

I bristle. “Idon’t go around setting fires.”

“No. You just grind on our Lit teacher in front of everyone and then screw her in a classroom.”

I stand to attention. “Did you see—”

“No, I didn’t.” His voice sounds disgusted. “Unlike you, I don’t fantasize about my teachers being naked.” Sol digs his fingers into the box. “But anyone who saw you two dancing knew what was going to happen next.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and let out a breath.

“You like her that much?”

“Screw you, Sol.”

“You plan to marry her?”

I stiffen.

“Date her? Ask her to be your girlfriend?” His voice is taunting. “You can’t, can you? What do you plan to do with her? Keep dragging her into classrooms after dark and bending her over tables? Then what?”

“Shut up.”

“She’s going to be your private little whore while you date girls your age?”

“You got a death wish?” I growl.

“Stop treating me like I’m fragile. I’m not the only one with issues.”

“Why are you trying to start a fight?”

“Why do you keep looking at me like I’m broken?”

“We’re all broken, Sol.” I make a sound of annoyance. “Every single one of us. But you cracked in a way we could see.”

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