“I will,” Arc promised with a smirk, and I rolled my eyes with a sigh. “If she doesn’t have to save my ass from the evilness of high school, anyway,” he added with a laugh. Chuckling, I led him to my first class keeping my head down, so I didn’t have to see everyone staring. I felt their eyes, and that was more than enough discomfort for me.
The warning bell rang when we were right outside the door. I took several deep breaths to calm myself before we entered the first classroom where I had to sit beside Kyler. “I don’t know if you’ll have a seat,” I warned Arctic to stall further. Chuckling, he kissed my forehead before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Darlin’ I once served as Ryker’s security, so I assure you standing won’t kill me. Especially if I have a wall on which to lean,” Arctic replied tenderly. After another kiss on my forehead, he indicated that we should enter the classroom, and I swallowed nervously. Dear God, how would I survive this day?
Painful Truths
I mustered a weak smile for Mr. Hicks, who welcomed me back with genuine warmth in his eyes and voice. His slight frown warned he knew Marcus didn’t know, and he’d warn him. However, I believed Miss Brines or the principal might have given the alpha a call or text, so I wasn’t worried. The only thing that remained to be seen was how long it took Marcus to face me. I wonder what he’ll make of Arctic.
Mr. Hicks told me to not worry about making up homework, because how could I be expected to do classwork when I was kidnapped? I risked a glance towards the table in the back of the room. Kyler stared at me intently, albeit I avoided meeting his eyes, and my seat was open. So there was that. Mr. Hicks apologized to Arctic for the lack of a chair, but the shifter shrugged with an easy smile.
Swallowing nervously, I walked between the row of tables while keeping my eyes low. I didn’t risk seeing any expressions for fear of the contempt I might find. Shock is what I sensed from the students surrounding me, and I left it at that. I didn’t want to know what they felt under their surprise since the last they saw of me was that damn video.
Even though I walked calmly, I dreaded every step I took and fought an inner war with myself over what to do once I sat. Do I greet Kyler or ignore him? Should I even look at him? No. Why bother? I hated that my heart was excited to be near him, as was my soul, albeit not like before. Perhaps I imagined it, but the desire to be around Kyler felt halfhearted at most. Was it because of what Ryker did? Or Was it because of Arctic’s presence?
With trembling fingers, I pulled out my chair, only for tingles to dance across my skin when Arctic lay his hand over mine. “Manners, Angel,” Arc murmured in a low drawl that caused my heart to flutter. It took a moment for my brain to unscramble what he meant, and my cheeks burned once I understood. To his credit, he didn’t laugh, although amusement danced in his eyes. Clearing my throat, I released the back of the chair while trying to pretend I wasn’t embarrassed. Chuckling, Arctic waited until I was ready, then, like a gentleman, he pushed my chair in as I sat. God, I thought my cheeks might melt since they burned so hot.
I knew the moment Arctic looked at Kyler because the air turned so cold I shivered. Still, I didn’t glance at either of them, pulling out my notebook once Arc set my backpack by the table where I could reach it. I kept my eyes on the front of the room and didn’t give in to my desire to look at Kyler and…? Would I sneer or smile? Glare, or look away? Either way, I didn’t want to find out.
Dutifully I took notes, even though I wouldn’t need them, albeit Kyler kept trying to get me to look at him. He tried sighing several times, clearing his throat, and even kicked the leg of the table at one point, which caused it to become skewed. However, I never glanced in his direction even though my curiosity begged me to look for just a second. Right. A second would become two, then three, and before I know it, I’m staring. Or, Kyler will spout some cruel insult, and wants to see my expression when he does it.
Towards the end of class, I had my right arm beside my notebook, and Kyler scooted his chair closer, so his left hand nearly touched mine. Every hair on my arm stood, and I stopped breathing for a second while I tried to understand what he intended. Would he break my wrist? Speaking of, I haven’t looked at the mark on my hand since we left Ryker’s territory. I wonder what he did to it when I was unconscious. Hell, I haven’t glanced at it since he brought me back from the border when Matty and I ran.
Curiosity burned in my veins, and I was tempted to pull the glove off to look at it, but I refrained. The last thing I
