CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT

ELLA'S POV

"Such a bitch," one of Amelia's girls spat, her voice cutting straight through me.

I raised my head slowly and Trent's gaze met mine. I searched for a look of support- of understanding, but his expression was utterly unreadable before he finally looked away. A knot formed in my throat as humiliation burned through me.

My legs suddenly felt like jelly, threatening to give way beneath me. I had to get out of there. Now.

Pushing back from my desk, I half-stumbled, half-ran towards the classroom door on wobbly legs. As soon as I burst through into the hallway, a firm hand gripped my arm, pulling me up short.

"Trent, you really don't have to—" I whirled around, the plea dying on my lips when I found myself staring into Ryan's concerned eyes instead of Trent's.

"Why are you following me?" I demanded, trying to tug my arm free from his grasp. "We just met each other for Christ's sake. You can't possibly care what's going on."

Ryan's brow furrowed as he held firm. "I don't get you,