14. Anne Jacobs

This school was literally a shit show. I didn't know exactly what happened, but Katy and I saw Craig being wheeled away on a stretcher, his face blue. Everyone saw it happen. Word was spreading that he collapsed in the weight room, and I would bet all the money I had that it was because of his steroids. And I wasn't the only one thinking that either.

If anything, people sounded relieved. The halls even seemed brighter, like the school itself was breathing easier without him.

I almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

"Ay, you!" Aaron's voice cut through the air. Katy and I turned as he and Walter stomped toward us. Aaron looked puffed up and furious. Walter, as usual, was just following along with a vaguely confused look on his face.

"You think you're real funny, don't you?" Aaron growled.

"I've been told I know my way around a joke. Glad it's finally being noticed," I said dryly.

"Shut up, bitch! Craig's in the hospital and I know you did something to him!"

"What the fuck are you talking about? I was in class."

"Don't fucking play innocent!" Aaron snapped. "Why wouldn't you have done something?! You think I haven't noticed?!"

'This stupid bitch thinks she's clever, but ever since she's been around Victor, bad things have started happening!' His thoughts were loud and hot. 'She wanted attention and now she's got it!'

I barely had time to brace myself.

"She didn't do anything!" Katy snapped beside me. "We were both in class when whatever happened happened! Don't blame us because Craig's on dope!"

Aaron shoved her hard. Katy slammed into the lockers with a yelp. The hallway exploded with whispers.

"You fucking asshole! If you care so damn much, why didn't you stop him from shooting up?! You were there, weren't you?!" I shouted, helping Katy up. "You think pushing girls is going to help?! Grow the fuck up!"

"Seriously, they pushed Katy first..."

"That was so messed up..."

"I can't even with this group..."

"Craig's heart attack isn't even her fault."

Aaron looked around, realizing the tide was turning on him. Still, he stepped forward, raising his hand—and that's when Victor appeared, sliding between us like it was choreographed.

"What did I say about messing with my girlfriend?" Victor asked, smiling. But the thoughts in his head were anything but calm.

'If he tries this shit again, I'll make sure he ends up right next to Craig.'

It wasn't a confession. It was close enough though.

"We just—" Walter started.

Victor held up a hand. "Try this shit again and you'll find out exactly how far your reputation can fall. Craig's not here to protect you anymore. Piss me off if you want to."

Aaron's chest puffed up, but he didn't move again.

Victor turned to me and Katy with that same soft smile. "You guys okay?"

Katy wiped her face. "I'm fine... I just didn't think he'd do that."

Once the crowd cleared out, I sent Katy to the nurse's office, and I stayed behind.

Victor was still hovering near me, calm on the outside—but I could feel something off. His thoughts were too quiet. Focused.

'She cares too much about other people. When is she going to just look at me?'

I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into a stairwell.

He followed easily, eager.

'Oh, is this where we go to make out? I'm so ready!'

I let go of his arm and turned to him, ready to talk—but before I could say anything, he reached for me and leaned in too close.

"Out of sight from everyone else is a good idea," he murmured.

It was immediate, the flames that had flickered through me when he was near fucking roared as soon as his lips met mine. Instantly, my hands were gripping his shirt, Vaguely, as his tongue entered my mouth, I felt his hands pulling me closer to him. I pulled him closer, trying to get more of him.

Trying to get anything.

I couldn't help myself.

I stepped back before things got out of hand. My pulse was racing and I felt my thoughts scatter like marbles. His presence was suffocating and magnetic all at once, and I hated that I didn't know what part of it was real anymore.

I had come here for a reason. To ask something. To push back. But I was completely thrown off.

What had I wanted to say again?

And why did it feel so hard to breathe around him?

Right.

That's there's a reason I dragged him into the stairwell in the first place. I took a breath, grounded myself, and hissed, "What the hell was that?"

"A kiss—" Victor started, that same maddeningly calm expression on his face.

"Not that!" I snapped. "Craig's friends nearly jumped me and Katy, and like always, you come to the rescue right before I get hit. It's like you're waiting for something to happen."

Victor didn't flinch. He didn't frown. He just smiled like he always does—like I'd said something sweet, not accusatory. He wasn't even thinking about it. He was deliberately distracting himself, shuffling his thoughts with other crap—Power Rangers, my hair, lunch.

I understand Katy now, when she said Victor gave off serial killer vibes.

"I don't see the need to step into something until it escalates," he said simply. "It's not like you can't handle things on your own. Besides, they know better than to mess with you, Anne."

"Why are they so scared of you?" I asked, heart pounding.

"How should I know?" he said with a shrug. "You're not alone. You have a friend, and people are on your side. They're all talking about how fucked up those guys are. Isn't that what you wanted?"

I didn't like the way he asked that—like I'd planned it. "No. I just want people to stop targeting me and leave me alone, not be afraid of who's standing in front of me."

Victor tilted his head slightly. "You're safe now. That's all that matters, isn't it?"

'Everyone who's a danger to my sweet Anne can finally see that she's not alone anymore. If they all know she's mine, they'll definitely stop bothering her now.'

I wanted to scream. Shake him. How could he not understand I was talking about him? But every time I spoke, he twisted my words until they made sense to him. This wasn't a crisis to him. It was a victory. In his mind, we were having a romantic moment.

And I had no clue how to pull him out of that fantasy—or if I even could.

***

I waited until last period—when I knew for a fact Victor wasn't anywhere near me—and walked straight to the guidance counselor's office. I couldn't keep pretending this was normal. If I talked to someone with authority, surely they'd get it, right? Ms. Linton was a mandated reporter.

I skipped knocking and barged in.

'What the hell?'

"Hello there!" Ms. Linton smiled warmly, pushing her chair back from her desk.

"I need to talk to you about someone. Another student—Victor Blackwood," I said quickly. But the moment his name left my mouth, her entire face lit up.

"Oh, Victor! Such a lovely young man, isn't he? So respectful. His grades are just excellent. I've even met his mother recently—interesting and eccentric woman, but just as impressive."

I blinked. I hadn't even finished a sentence, and she was already pouring out compliments.

"He volunteers for the peer mentorship program too," she continued. "So mature. I can tell he's going to make it very far."

I felt my stomach drop more.

"He's not like that at all! He's weird and obsessive and scary! He keeps doing things I never even agreed to and—" I stopped myself, because I saw it. The look. The smile had softened into something almost pitying.

"Anne," she said gently, "are you sure this isn't just a misunderstanding? High school relationships can be a rollercoaster. I'm sure, with time, you can sort out your feelings."

But I saw it in her mind. Victor had already been here. He'd talked to her. Repeatedly. He'd planted his version of our story—and she believed it. She thought I was just another teenager confused about love.

And then came the lecture. "Emotions can be scary but beautiful," she said. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed."

Meanwhile, my hands were trembling in my lap.

Victor had covered all his bases.

"Honestly, Anne," she said, still smiling, "it's okay."

'This is the best a girl like her is ever going to do in life with that eye. She might as well embrace it instead of making things up.'

I stood up, fury bubbling in my throat. "You know what, Ms. Linton? You are just the world's biggest pick-me bitch."

Her mouth dropped open. I didn't wait to see if she choked on it.

I stormed straight to the nurse's office.

When I walked in, she was wiping her eyes and stood up quickly. "Are you hurt again?"

"No," I said flatly. "I'm tired."

"The bed's free," she said, gesturing.

'That student's death can't affect the rest of the school day. I knew this school needed more medical supplies. Well—it's not like I could've stopped a steroid death.'

I laid down on the cot and closed my eyes.

Craig was dead. Victor may or may not be behind it. But how the hell could he cause a heart attack? How could he attack Lara and be at my house at the same time?

And if he really had attacked her, why weren't there any signs of it on him?

...Fuck if I know.