And, heaven forgive me, Madeline.
Hers is the betrayal that hurts the worst.
“You’ve been really quiet recently, little cunt. Care to share what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Quinn catches up to me in the hall, which isn’t hard to do, since everyone else gives me a wide path as I walk to and from classes. Before I can even turn and look at him, he thumps me on the side of the head like he’s checking to see if I’m ripe.
“Just biding my time,” I tell him, cutting through a group of students who immediately step out of my way so I can take the shortcut through the quad and avoid being in the halls for much longer. The air is brisk outside and I shiver, pulling my jacket a little tighter around my body. What I don’t expect is Quinn to put his arm around my waist and pull me to him.
Immediately I pull away. There’s no way that I want to be close to him. Not after all of the things that he’s done and said to me.
“You’re not giving up yet? I have to admit, Abigail, I’m a little surprised. I thought that by now you’d turn tail and run. Anything I can do to help?” His voice is light and sounds innocent, but I squint at him from the corner of my eye. There’s nothing innocent about Quinn, and I don’t trust a single word that comes out of my mouth.
“You want to help me?” Spitting the question out at him, I stop and turn around, making him drop his arm from around my waist. “What’s the deal now, Quinn? What big bet do you have going on?”
He shrugs, looking casual, but his eyes are on fire as they look at me. “No bet this time, little cunt. I just thought that maybe you were tired of not having any friends, of being late to class because you can’t eat with everyone else, you know. That sort of thing.” He smiles at me, but when I don’t return it, the smile fades off of his face.
“Fine, little cunt. You don’t have to take me up on my friendship, but don’t you dare ever say that I didn’t do something to help you.” Turning, he starts to walk away from me, but my arm darts out before I can think and I grab his sleeve.
“Tell me the rules. I know that you have an ulterior motive, Quinn, so just let me know what it is.” I don’t care that I sound desperate. I have to get to the bottom of this game he’s playing. First he turns everyone in the school against me. Now he wants to be friends? It makes no sense.
“No ulterior motive. I’m just bored.” Quinn sighs and turns to face me, pulling his jacket so that my hand falls from his sleeve. “I honestly can’t believe that you’ve lasted this long, little cunt. But you look like shit, did you know that?”
I do know that.
I’ve known that for a few days now. My hair looks limp and lifeless and is even starting to fall out in the shower. It used to be bright and bouncy, and now I hate washing it, because long strands get stuck to my fingers and wash down the drain.
And I have circles under my eyes that no amount of makeup can hide.
My ribs are showing, and my skirts and jeans all sit lower on my hips than they did when I first came to Trinity Prep. I’m falling apart and everyone knows it, but nobody seems to give a shit.
Except Quinn, apparently, which makes no sense.
“I’ve lost a little weight since I came here,” I admit to him. “But that’s just because I’m not getting into the cafeteria at a decent time.”
“It’s probably also because you’re not sleeping,” he adds.
My gaze jerks back to him when he says that. How in the hell does he know about that? I can’t seem to get a full night’s sleep and it’s starting to wear on me. Each night I’m up until the wee hours of the morning, trying to paint with my left hand, but it’s not been working.
Seeing the look on my face, he continues. “I can see your light from the quad.”
“That means that you’re not sleeping either,” I point out. I’m not going to be the only one here who obviously has problems. There’s something wrong with Quinn, but I just haven’t figured out yet what it is or how I can use it against him.
He shrugs. “Been thinking of what it’ll be like to finally drive my dick into that tight little pussy of yours. You have no idea how fun it’s going to be, do you, little cunt? Or do you think about our time together in the art room like I do?”
I’m holding my breath, and I force myself to let it out as he walks up to me. “You’re a sick fuck, Quinn,” I tell him.
There’s no way that we could ever be friends.
There’s nothing good in Quinn, and for me to think that there may be is just because I’m desperate for someone to take care of me.
“Have it your way. Let me know when you want a real good meal, little cunt, and I’ll make sure that you get fed.” The bell chimes softly from the buildings around us and he turns from me, walking off to the art room.
I follow him, because what other choice do I have? Even though Mr. Stanfield isn’t letting me paint in class right now, if I don’t show up then it’s a clear sign that I’ve given up, and I’m sure as hell not going to do that.
Besides, I want to be there when Quinn sees my little gift for him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As usual, I’m the last
