The next few seconds play out like a bad movie. The group shifts all of their attention on me and suddenly they’re moving my way. I back into my locker, wishing I’d made a run for my class instead of standing here waiting.
He stops in front of me and they all check me out like I’m the lab specimen up for dissection.
“This is the new girl,” Hot bastard says. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Raf Barron. Stay the fuck away from me and we’ll be all right.” He points at the dark-haired guy and backs up. “Henry, let’s go.”
“Hello, new girl.” Henry has the slightest hint of a British accent. My eyes widen. I’ve always loved a delicious accent. “Ashton, you coming?”
Ashton smiles at me as he passes. He seems like the nicest of the bunch, but who knows? I’m sure his asshole side will make an appearance.
I clear my throat. “I’m Gabriela. Nice to meet you guys.”
Raf turns around, his brow furrowed in the middle, as if the sound of me talking grates on his last nerve. “Let’s get one thing straight, you’re nobody here. You keep your head straight and your mouth shut…don’t speak unless you’re spoken to…and maybe you’ll survive Longlake. Have I made myself clear?”
“Wow, for someone so good-looking, you sure are a dick.”
I shouldn’t have said that out loud. But my biggest regret is acknowledging that I think he’s good-looking. The dick part, he needed to hear loud and clear.
Chapter Two
Raf’s cheeks tinge with pink. Embarrassment? No, I doubt he knows the meaning of embarrassment. Rage? Yes. He stalks toward me in the next second and you could hear a pin drop around us. He has the attention of everyone in the hall and it’s crowded because the bell is about to ring.
“What did you call me?” His voice is deadly calm.
My insides quiver and his eyes trail down my body like he can hear each flutter of my nerves. He gets caught on my chest for a few extra moments and it makes the butterflies flap even harder. Damn him and the way my body responds to him.
“You heard me.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but I take a deep breath and stare up at him defiantly.
“Come on, Raf,” Ashton says. “Let it go.”
“Back off, Ash.” Raf glances at Henry and the two of them chuckle. Can you believe this girl? I can only imagine the other things they’re saying with their ESP, but I’m pretty sure I read that look loud and clear.
“I’ll let it slide for now,” Raf says, his face inching near mine again, “but try it again…” He knocks my books out of my hands and steps back when my notebooks slide across the floor. He lifts both hands up, attempting to appear innocent, but his smirk is too obnoxious to pull that off as he walks away.
I bend to gather all my things then sag against the locker. This could be harder than I expected. Senior year might be the longest one yet.
Henry is in my first hour and he seems less intimidating without Raf. Ashton is in my next two classes, and he smiles tentatively when he sees me. I appreciate him trying to help me out before with Raf even if it didn’t change anything. He seems harmless enough, but I don’t bother testing that theory. I stay out of his way.
I sit at a table by myself at lunch, keeping my eyes down and my attention focused on my food.
And what a lunch it is.
This is fancy dining at its best. I dig into the lasagna and my eyes roll back in my head. My mom doesn’t let me have carbs when she’s around, so this carbfest will be worth every calorie.
A tray clatters across from me, and I groan mid-mouthful, when Raf, Henry, and Ashton sit across from me.
“You having a foodgasm, Gabi?” Raf asks, elbows on the table as he watches me nervously swallow.
I wish he wouldn’t insinuate the word orgasm to me in this setting. All mean and vicious instead of how exquisite an orgasm can be otherwise.
Instead of responding, I take another bite.
“I asked you a question.” He leans forward and dumps my tray of lasagna all over my white shirt. I stand up, gasping, looking down as the food drips onto the floor.
I’m momentarily stunned and then I jump into action, leaning across the table and pouring his drink all over his head.
He seems surprised for a second and then he grabs my wrist, holding it in place.
“We’ve got a fiery one, boys,” he says. “She’ll be fun to tame.”
No one bothers to come to my defense this time, but I know everyone’s eyes are on us. I look around and notice that a group of students have the attention of the few staff members in the room…not to help me out, but to provide the perfect distraction for Raf to get away with this.
Raf nods when I turn back around. “No one to save you here.” He grins a panty-melting grin and I feel it all the way to my bones. They get up and walk away, Raf’s swagger making me sick to my stomach.
I hurry to my locker, grabbing my blazer before my next class. I don’t know what these guys are trying to prove, but they’ll learn soon enough that I don’t scare easily. Even when I’m shaking everywhere…
My mom is cheerful when I get home. I eye her suspiciously when she smiles at me and motions for me to take a piece of fruit out of the elaborate fruit basket sitting on the counter. One, I still can’t get used to her being
