Page 11 of Unbidden

“Teach said we needed to partner up. I decided you’re my partner.”

“You’re a pompous prick, you know that, right? I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Ms. Miller, are you looking to fail this class?” Mrs. Bonovich says from behind me. “The assignment is to have an appropriate conversation with appropriate topics. Calling your partner foul names is not appropriate.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Bonavich. She’s a peasant. She doesn’t know any better. I’ll make sure she understands by the end of class.”

I whip my eyes to his. I’m about to refute him, but she speaks instead. “See to it that you do, Mr. Yates. Commoner or not, I won’t pass her with the behavior I’ve seen today.”

I take in the chuckles coming from behind me. I know my face is flaming red. They probably assume I’m embarrassed, but they would be wrong. I’m furious.

After Mrs. Bonavich walks away, I turn to Reed. “You have no right to speak for me.”

“I just saved your ass. You should show some appreciation, Sage.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I have my ways of finding things out.”

“Stalking me already?”

He laughs. “You aren’t worth stalking. You’re just a bottom dweller attempting to make an appearance in my world. With time, you’ll disappear like all the other vermin.”

“Glad to know you think so much about us bottom dwellers. You’re wrong about me though. I don’t want to be in this world. So how about we just go back to where we don’t know the other exists?”

“You think you can manage that? I mean, I saw you this morning watching me get off like a voyeur. Dreaming about me means acknowledging that I exist.”

I scoff. “You think you’re so important, don’t you?”

“Think? No. I rule this school. You stepped into my world, sweetheart, not the other way around. I think you need to learn your place before you end up hurt.”

I place my hand over my mouth and mock gasp. “Oh, I’m so scared! I better go cower and cry in a corner. The big bad wolf is going to eat me.” I don’t know what it is about this guy, but he brings out the worst in me.

“I wouldn’t eat you even if you begged me to. I don’t take trips to the fish market.”

“You’re disgusting. Why did you even want to be my partner in this stupid activity? It’s obvious our feelings are mutual.”

“Our feelings are far from mutual. Your act doesn’t fool me. I’ve seen it all. I was going to warn you about what’s to come, but since you want to be such a cunt, I’ll just let it take you by surprise.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see.” I can feel the malice and danger in his cryptic words.

The bell rings before I can respond. Without another word, he stands up and leaves me sitting there.

After putting my desk back, I gather my things and exit the room. I’m halfway down the hall when a body rams into mine. I catch myself before falling to the floor.

“Watch it, skank. We don’t want your kind around here.” Ingram, the plastic Barbie from class, stands a few steps away with two girls who look match her appearance.

“Youwatch it. You know what they say about us skanks, right? We can be dangerous.” I turn and find I have an audience, including the Yates brothers.

“You mean you’re trash,” mini Ingram number one says.

I step up and get right in her face before speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “I might be trash, but at least everything on me is real, unlike you. Don’t forget that skanks can sleep with your boyfriend and give him all the fantasies you could never dream to give him. Keep that in mind the next time you want to come at me.”

I go to step back, but Ingram steps in the space I just vacated. “You can’t talk to Blair that way. Besides, none of our boyfriends would come near you with a ten-foot pole. They wouldn’t want to catch whatever STD you have.”

I chuckle at her predictable insult. “You live in your fantasy world. While you’re over here thinking your men would stay loyal, they’re over there checking out my very real ass.” I jerk my thumb toward the Yates brothers and the other boys gathered with them. A few are indeed checking me out. Not Reed though. His eyes are fixed on mine. I raise my brow in question. “Seems a few of them wouldn’t mind a ride.”

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