He screamed. Oh, how he screamed. Mrs. Decker nullified the chemical within a second, but he still cried while she led him to the sink and rinsed his hand. “This is why we don’t play with chemicals, children. And why Angel warned you on the dangers of it touching your skin. Heather, you will come with me to the principal’s office and explain to your mother why you tried to murder another student. I hope you have a good reason, although I don’t see how you could. I almost feel sorry for you because your mother will rake you over the coals. Jack, we’ll drop off at the nurse along the way. He needs to go to the hospital because he will have what looks like a severe burn, and they can help it heal faster. Neither of you will step foot in my classroom again. Angel, I leave you in charge of the lab once you calm down. I’m sorry these little heathens are so terribly behaved.”
Shuddering, I hid my face against Marissa’s shoulder while our teacher had Heather grab her and Jack’s backpacks and led the subdued students out of the room. I couldn’t stop seeing in my mind what would have happened had even a drop fallen on my head and whimpered. Shaking my head, I pulled myself together after a moment and appeared calm while I gave quiet instructions. But my heart was pained while what happened terrified my soul. What did I do to that girl? Was I so horrible, so terrible, that I deserved to die? And what did these poor teenagers do that made them deserving of watching someone die that way? It would have been ghastly, and everyone in the room would have required intense therapy to function.
I kept my eyes down, refusing to look at anyone, albeit I answered their questions and helped them with their labs. But I didn’t get close to anyone. I didn’t care to discover that Heather’s friends decided to finish what she started. When Mrs. Decker returned a few minutes before class ended, she told me to step outside and breathe. Taking my backpack, I did as I was told, surprise filling me when Riff awaited me with open arms.
Without thinking, I threw myself into his embrace before I broke down sobbing in his arms. Riff said nothing, just held me while I purged my fear, horror and pain from discovering someone I didn’t know hated me that much. I was glad she wouldn’t be returning to this class, but sorry that her hatred of me got her in trouble. It was my fault her mom was mad at her because I’m so terrible she wanted me dead.
“It’s easy to lead Heather. Someone put her up to it, and I can guess who,” Riff murmured when my self-loathing rose to choke me. “I will beat him within an inch of his life, the fucker. This isn’t funny. But come, let me walk you to your next class. I know you’ve been looking forward to it because of how your eyes lit up when we talked about sketching at lunch. Maybe this class will be good, and you’ll feel better, hmm?” Nodding, I sighed with relief when he put his arm around my shoulders. It felt right, like this was how we should walk. I felt safe and like I mattered to someone. Riff stopped outside my art classroom, annoying a bunch of students since the bell rang on our way.
Snapping insults at anyone who dared to glare, he reminded me of a guard dog, and I couldn’t stop the soft chuckle that escaped my lips. With a bright smile, Riff kissed my forehead, and I sighed, meeting his gaze with a grateful smile while peace filled my soul. “If you need me, call upon me, Angel,” he decreed, tapping my nose with his forefinger and a playful frown. Grinning at my snort of surprise, Riff chuckled and waved before joining the throng of teenagers to head to his class. Sighing, I shook my head and turned to go to art, although a slight smile curled my lips.
My feet faltered when I walked in, only to find one of Kyler’s friends from the gas station sitting at an otherwise empty table. He and I were the only ones here so far, and his gaze met mine as soon as I stopped in the doorway. Swallowing nervously, I shakily moved out of the way with my eyes on the ground, feeling like an ant under a microscope.
“My apologies, Angel, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was trying to check you for other injuries. Kyler and I broke up, I guess you could say,” the boy murmured. The sorrow in his voice had my eyes flicking up on their own, checking his while I instinctively stepped forward to offer comfort. Shaking my head, I quashed the urge, and a slight smile tugged at the boy’s lips. “My name is Dakota, and I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m sorry about the gas station. Kyler… well, my father works for his, and he can make life uncomfortable if he is a dick. Which, as I’m sure you might have noticed, Kyler walks that path while whistling a cheerful tune. If you meant that move you stopped, I wouldn’t protest.”
I blinked at the ground while debating what to do. Sighing, I berated myself for pretending I had a choice. If I did not comfort the boy with the sad, dark blue eyes, I would lie awake tonight wondering if he
