Chapter Six

I was about to pick up a drink when Xavier spoke up. “Come on.” He got up and grabbed my hand. “I’m fine with it. Let’s do it.”

My head was racing and my heart was pounding as he led me toward the small and dimly lit cupboard.

He closed the door, and we were all alone. 

The air was tense, the space between us too small,l and his smell was going directly into my nose—intoxicating me.

“We don’t ha—“ I started, moving as far away as I could get from him. 

“You think so?” He asked as he moved closer and tilted his head. “Did you truly think it was a good idea to pretend with me? You think I don’t know you want to kiss me, Kiara?”

The way he said it, like he was hurt that I didn’t want to kiss, sent goosebumps spreading all over me. 

“What?” I asked in confusion. “I didn’t…”

Before I could finish my sentence, he moved even closer and crashed his lips against mine. And my mind went blank.

I couldn’t believe what was happening. Xavier’s lips were on mine, soft but demanding, and my mind went blank. What was this? I didn’t even know how to respond, my hands trembling as they clutched the fabric of his shirt. His kiss was overwhelming, igniting a heat I wasn’t prepared for. I tried to push him away, but he only pulled me closer, deepening the kiss as if the only thing he had ever wanted was this.

Heat. I felt heat all over, unable to think as his kiss became more demanding. His body pinned mine against the wall and his hands were everywhere, cupping my cheeks, gripping my waist, slightly grabbing my ass.

I let out a gasp as he bit my lips, and he took that as a cue to deepen the kiss, his tongue plunging into my mouth, teasing me and finding my tongue. 

I felt so hot and… turned on. 

My hands curled into his shirt desperately as I tried to find something to calm me. I had never done any of this before nor felt anything like it.

Suddenly, he wasn’t just kissing me anymore. His fingers slid up and found the zipper of my dress. 

“Xavier—“ I tried to protest, but he cut me off with a kiss.

He undid my zip. And he slowly kissed his lips down my cheek, neck, and collarbone. His mouth was hot as his open mouth sent tingles all over my body and down to pool at my core. 

I gasped as he placed his lips on one of my nipples, sucking on it gently as his other hand found its way to my underwear, stroking me and my body arched against him. 

“Oh… fuck.”

A moan escaped my lips before I could stop it, my knees becoming weak as my body shook. 

Then the door burst open.

Laughter echoed through the air. For a second, I was frozen in place, just staring. My breath caught in my throat as the bright flashes of cameras blinded me. 

My blood ran cold. What was happening? 

I regained myself and scrambled to cover myself, but I fumbled with the buttons as my fingers trembled badly. Heat of humiliation crawled up my neck. My heart was pounding wildly as the sounds of their mockery filled my head. 

“Stop,” I said, my voice barely audible. My eyes widened as they looked around desperately. “What… What is this? W-why?”

But they only laughed louder. 

Xavier pulled away like he was repelled by me as he stared at me with disgust. “God, you’re so stupid,” he spat. “Did you really believe—“ he let out a cruel laugh like I was some kind of clown. “—that I’d actually be attracted to a whale like you?” 

His words hit me hard like a punch to the gut. My heart clenched painfully. 

More people raised their phones and took pictures of me, the flashes making me dizzy as they swarmed around me like vultures. I hugged my body with lighter as tears welled up in my eyes. 

“Kai?” I called desperately as my eyes landed on him. I wanted someone to tell me this was nothing more than a joke. He had been smiling at me earlier, teasing me, making my heart race, but now…

He was laughing. It wasn’t just a chuckle, it was a cruel and mocking one. He sighed in pleasure as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes like he was watching the funniest things ever. “It was too easy. I thought you would put up a greater challenge.”

My stomach twisted. 

Cassie's laughter rang in my ears, and next to her, Aurora smiled with triumph, not bothering to pretend anymore. 

“Oh, stop, Kiara. How are you so gullible?” she rolled her eyes, turning into a stranger and not the Aurora that became my best friend in a day.

Realization washed over me. This hadn’t been a dare—they had set me up. From the minute I stepped into the school…

“Why?” I repeated, my voice choked and trembled. “Why are you doing this to me?” 

No one answered. They didn’t care if I was hurt; I was just for their amusement. 

Xavier grabbed me roughly, looking at me like I irritated him. “Isn’t that simple?” He said. “Girls like you are only good for jokes.”

My heart fell, a stray tear falling down my face. My eyes darted to Zade, my last hope. Surely he wasn’t part of this, right?

But I was wrong. He looked at me with blank eyes and an unreadable expression, but a smirk was plastered on his lips. No pity. No kindness. 

Nothing. 

My heart was pounding, the walls felt like they were closing in on me.  

I had to get out. 

I didn’t think. I couldn’t. 

Tears poured down my face as I shoved past the bodies, their laughter echoing in my head and the flashes burning my skin. Everything blurred—the laughter, the flashes, and even the demeaning looks. 

“Run, whale girl!”

“Make sure to suck in your tummy for the pictures.”

“Bet she thought she had found love.”

I wiped away my tear-streaked face and opened the door to my room, craving some kind of comfort.

But I froze, my eyes widening, my heart clenching at the sight. 

No. No. No. 

My room had been destroyed. 

My bed had been turned over, my clothes had been torn and my books were scattered all over the floor. The framed picture of my mother and I had been slammed against the floor and broken. 

I stumbled into the room, my knees giving out as I fell to the floor. I tried to gather my books and my clothes. I even tried to piece back together the picture of my mother, and I didn’t know when I started crying again. Why? Why were they doing any of this? What did I do…?

But there was no answer, it was just the echo of my pain. 

I couldn’t sleep here. In this wreckage. 

I grabbed my uniform and ran out of my room, desperately knocking on doors and begging. 

No one answered, they didn’t even care about the curfew and the fact that I could get in trouble. 

Having no other place to stay, I made my way to the classroom. 

The air was cold but quiet. 

I curled up on the chair and pulled my infirm over me as a makeshift blanket.

In the safety of the empty room, I allowed my tears to fall freely.