chapter 5

Knox’s Pov

It is hate at first sight.

For him, for everything that surrounded him.

“I have what you need,” Ace said, his smile eager as he dropped the folder beside me. I smirked as I stared at it, “That was a nice touch with the bander, how did you get that information?”

He smirked, perking up at the attention, “Not hard,” he said.

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the file. Of course he would say that, his father was a corrupt politician who showed his kids the crooked path. That sounded obnoxious. But it's true.

“Why are you interested in him?” I could hear the curiosity in his voice as he waited for my reply.

Why was I interested?

Did it have something to do with the fact that he had defiled me? spoken out of turn? Or was it the fact that his blue eyes crashed through me like an ocean?

He defiled me, that was the best answer.

My body stiffened, a reaction that I know only comes with a certain someone. I turned, my eyes instantly finding him. I liked how easy it is to find him in the crowd, the way his eyes always search for me.

Calista scoffed, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, “I don’t get why we have to let all these people here. They make the school look tacky with these low lives,” she huffed.

There was something about the way she said that word. But I knew better than to react, my father taught me better. You watch, you learn, you find a path.

“I can have a few guys from the football team shake him up, that would make him leave faster,” Ace said.

Anger surged through me, “No one touches him,” my voice was a growl, dark, sending silence through the table.

Otis stared at me, his eyes measured, analysing my actions. Ace spoke up, “You don’t care before, we always do this, why shouldn’t….”

I slammed my hand against the table, “I tell you what to do and you follow, don’t make me say it again,” I hissed.

My eyes found him again, he was laughing with the boy beside him, his head thrown back as he laughed at whatever joke he said. Something fluttered in my chest. Anger, too much anger.

Not at Finn, that was the shocking part.

“We should throw a party, it has been a minute,” Calista said, trying to quell the tension at the table.

A party. That sounded like a good thing, the chaos would be a distraction. My eyes drifted back to Finn, he was smiling, unaware of how drowning this school could be.

“Do it, invite everyone,” I said. Especially him, the words burned at the tip of my tongue.

LATER THAT DAY

The music was loud enough to drown my thoughts, Apex Crest’s finest, dancing around, acting like they weren’t rotten on the inside. My hand tightened around the bottle I had been nursing, eyes fixed on the door, watching, waiting for the one figure to show up.

“What is going on?” Otis asked, his voice muffled by the loud music.

I shrugged, “What are you talking about?”

His eyes narrowed, “This isn’t a game, what is it with the boy?” he asked, more forward this time. I could see the disproving glare in his eyes. Most shenanigans weren’t his thing, but he was my best friend, and I guess he had no other choice but to endure.

“Nothing, just teaching him a lesson,”

“And rooming with you is the biggest lesson?”

I must admit,  that had been an ill-thought-out plan, but it was easier to know I had him where I needed him, close, rattled and scared.

“I need a roommate,” I shrugged.

He opened his mouth to say something, but my eyes caught sight of him, walking into the house, his eyes wide, dripping with fear.

Ladies and gentlemen, the lamb is ready for slaughter.

I didn’t look back at Otis, didn’t care if he was interested in what I was doing, my attention was on one thing, Finn.

I stalked him slowly, watching the way he tried to hide from the crowd, he was stupid to come here, I must say, but there was a part of me that fluttered, excited that he was here. That was the thing, he brought feelings that shouldn’t exist.

I control people, not the other way around.

I waited for a breath, giving him a second as he walked into the room. This was my chance, I shut the door, hard before he could think about running. His eyes widened, and he looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Wh… what are you doing here?” he stuttered.

I grinned, I liked this version of him, scared, uncertain… It was thrilling to unravel. But that wasn’t the only thing, under that fear, there was defiance, a heated glare, anger that made him a worthy opponent, not like others.

If I told him to jump, he wouldn’t. But they would.

“Tell me, why are you always hanging around Zale so much?” I asked, I hoped he didn’t catch the anger in my tone.

He crossed his arms over his chest,  my eyes taking in the action, “Why do you care?”

I moved closer, and he shuffled back, his back hitting the wall. He was trapped, “not care, just curious,” I hummed.

He smelled different, flowery, soft, delicate. Made me want to rake my hands through him.

Dangerous.

He looked flustered, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be out there with your friends and girlfriend?” he hissed.

“I like it here. You are fun to be around,” I said.

Truthful, but not entirely.

He sighed, “Knox,” he paused, staring at me as if he was thinking through his actions. “Look, I am sorry that I challenged you in front of the whole school, I shouldn’t have done that. Can we go back to how things were? You ignoring me, like I don’t exist?” he huffed.

I laughed, “It is a little too late for that. You wanted my attention, now you have it.”

I turned walking to the door, “and Finn, did you tell the school board that you had been arrested for shoplifting?” I smirked, taking in his frozen state. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” I opened the door.

“What do you want?” his voice stopped me in my tracks.