Page 11 of Deafened By Silence
The three of them stop in the entrance, barring my reentry. I nod to the guys, familiar with them from ball practices when they deem it worth their while to join in. They don’t nod back. In front, their petite dancer girlfriend plants her hands on her slender waist, swishing her long blonde ponytail with the pop of her hip.
“You leave that girl alone,” she snaps, jabbing a finger hard into my chest. I take a dramatic step back, hand flying to my heart like I’ve just been shot and blink in mock confusion.
“Girl? What girl?”
“Harper Addams,” she spits. “Isawyou talking to her just now.” Ignoring the three looks of accusation, I file that name away for a little cyber stalk later. For now, I have a ballerina with the attitude of a feral feline who seems to have all the answers I need.
“And what do you know of her? Maybe she likes my attention.” I raise a brow, letting the edge creep in. The two men behind stiffen, not taking nicely to my teasing tone. Blondie narrows her eyes, fury curling her glossy lips.
“I was her tour guide the other day. The last thing any new student needs is someone like you dragging her down to your level. Especially when she can’t even hear a word you’re saying.” Crossing her arms dramatically with an angry flounce of hermicro-skirt, Blondie remains oblivious to the trip my mind is taking.
Can’t hear me?A weight in my gut shifts. Harper ignored me until I was right in front of her. She stared at my mouth, keeping close when I expected her to pull away. Holy shit, she’s the charity case. I keep this revelation locked behind a mask of indifference. I take a slow breath, dialing down the flicker of something I don’t recognize. Guilt? Definitely not. Curiosity.
“For your information,” I say smoothly, “my father is the reason I’ve been searching for her. He’s named me her personal mentor.” Blondie gapes, wanting to say something, but her dark-haired boyfriend mutters in her ear and manages to shift her along. The three pin me with death stares as they pass, an attempt to intimidate me. As if that’s what will keep me away from Harper now. She’s been hiding in plain sight, flying under my radar whilst being at the forefront of it. Sneaky little minx.
I promised my father to look out for her, and promised myself to do whatever it took to sabotage my father’s every whim. I’m not certain how those two things will play out, especially since I can’t judge how Harper will act or what she’ll say. But one thing is for sure. This academy just got a hell of a lot more entertaining.
Chapter Eight
A spoonful of granola is halfway to my mouth when I realize everyone is staring at me. As in,everyone.A whole cafeteria’s worth of eyes focused on my face, some with open mouths, some with bitchy stares. My receivers are safely tucked away in my jacket pocket, but even without them I can tell the atmosphere in here is deafeningly quiet. What did I miss?
Placing the spoon down, I ignore the blush igniting on my cheeks and silence the podcast streaming into my implants. I spot a notification on the screen just before a flash of fuchsia catches my attention across the table. A panicked-looking Addy signing ‘Cum Stain knows about you,’a moment before Rhys shoves his way through the crowd. Oh shit.
He stops right in front of the table, his light blue eyes assessing me as if seeing me for the first time. For some inexplicable reason, his thick parka jacket is wide open, framing a bare chest inked in sprawling tattoos. The longer I’m unable to look away, the clearer his defined abs become visible like a hidden illusion. Remembering we are not alone, I force myself to refocus on his face.
His hair is ruffled as if he’s either barely slept or rolled out of bed late. The blonde rushing up behind to cling onto his arm suggests that he didn’t wake up alone. I’m not surprised by his actions, but I am surprised by the punch of jealousy I feel in my gut.
The moment stretches on under the weight of everyone watching, my fingers fidgeting beneath the table. Chewing on his lip ring, Rhys finally speaks, although the words that leave his mouth are ones I loathe more than anything in the world.
“You don’t look disabled.”
My teeth grit instantly, my appetite vanishing. This is it, the moment I knew would come. Everyone is watching, waiting for me to show the cards I’ve been holding close to my chest. As if the second I’ve been publicly called out, I’m going to become the incompetent deaf mess they expect. Slurring my words and fumbling with my fingers, no thank you. I’ve spent far too long working myself up to be here, and the last person who is going to make me doubt myself is Rhys.
I stand on a long exhale. Narrowing my eyes on his, I speak as clearly as I am able without hearing myself.
“And you don’t look like a judgmental cock but here we are.” There’s a collective inhale around us. I don’t have to hear it to feel it. In my mind, I can picture the sharp clatter of cutlery dropping. The wide-eyed, open-mouthed whispers.
The blonde clutching his arm shoots daggers at me but her companion doesn’t seem to notice she’s even there. Instead his smile is widening, until his whole face has lit up like a psychotic Christmas tree. I hold my nerve, no matter how long Rhys holds my stare, smiling like a damn clown.
Suddenly, he throws his head back and laughs. His entire chest rumbles, his shoulders shaking as he shrugs out of the blonde’s grip. I glance back to Addy, who shrugs with the same confusion I’m feeling. That everyone in the room is feeling. Myeyes fall back upon the man still laughing at his own joke, creating an atmosphere that starts and stops around himself, and that’s when I realize what he’s doing. What he always does. Rhys is putting on a show.
Ignoring the hundred or so gawking spectators and the girl with designer nails still trying to stake a claim, Rhys steps towards me. I brace myself, for what I’m not sure, but not for the heavy arm he drops around my shoulders. His rich scent wraps around me instantly. The fur of his jacket hood tickles my face, the warmth radiating from him lighting me on fire. Pushing through the gawking crowd, Rhys drags me along in his hold, strings of laughter still rumbling through his chest.
It doesn’t occur to me to dig my heels in, wanting to be out of the public eye in any way possible. Thankfully, Addy has her brain switched on. She intercepts us near the open doorway, swiftly planting herself in the way. She jabs a finger into Rhys’s chest, venting at him whilst I use the distraction to sneak my receivers beneath my hair and snap the magnets softly into place.
“-needs to be in Peterson’s class in ten minutes so save your bullshit until later.” Addy pops her hip and reaches out to grab my hand. I’m surprised Rhys allows her to pull me out of his hold so easily. Trying not to dwell on the sudden loss of his warmth beside me, I brave a glance up to his humored expression.
“Don’t forget you’re my date for tonight’s party, Babygirl.” He winks. A fresh wave of heat colors my cheeks as Addy pulls me away. We escape into the crisp morning and follow the building round to a hidden alcove at the back.
“Holy shit, that was incredible!” Addy bops up and down, shoving my forgotten backpack into my arms. “I don’t think anyone has ever spoken to Rhys like that before! I didn’t know if he was going to kiss or strangle you.” I blink several timesas those images get crossed in my mind and force out a shaky laugh.
“Yeah well, I’m not going to stroke his ego like everyone else around here. Although, I do actually have to get to class,” I go to take a step but Addy yanks me back. The flicks of her pink waves brush my cheeks as she leans into me, her voice dropping.
“Before you go, just let me say this. Do be careful. Rhys may seem impressed this time, but I’ve heard stories. Apparently in fresher’s week, he trapped a girl in a coffin and sat on top of it all night while she screamed to be let out. He can be a real nasty piece of shit when he wants to be.” Her chocolate eyes level me with an even stare, no trace of humor in her tone. My stomach flips but I manage to nod easily.
“I plan on staying as far away from him as possible, but thanks for the heads up.” Releasing my hand, Addy blows me a kiss and heads towards the drama block across campus while I slump back to the science building.
Students fill the corridors, bustling by to get to class but I don’t miss the curious glances thrown my way. So much for staying under the radar. Heat begins to crawl up the back of my neck, the urge to run away from prying eyes growing. Slipping into the girl’s bathroom, I duck into a cubicle and lean against the closed door.
