Chapter 6

I couldn’t breathe.

One second, Dwayne was dragging me through the packed crowd with his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist, and the next, Chris punched him so hard his head could have snapped sideways.

Girls screamed.

A table crashed over.

I stood there frozen, staring at Chris Kane. I thought they said he left already.

His chest rose heavily, his fist clenched at his side, eyes dark with rage as Dwayne stumbled backward into a pile of cups and bottles.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dwayne barked, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

Chris didn’t even look at him. His green eyes were locked on me. Then suddenly, he grabbed my hand.

“Chris!” I snapped as he dragged me through the crowd. “Are you insane?”

People moved out of our way instantly. Voices followed us through the house.

“That’s her…”

“Why is Chris holding her?”

“She’s definitely hooking up with him too.”

“Wait, she's so ugly?”

Chris shoved open the front door, dragging me outside into the freezing night air. I yanked against his grip.

“Let go of me!”

He ignored me completely. I hated how strong he was.

The parking lot glittered with expensive cars and flashing lights from the party house behind us. Chris marched straight toward his black Mustang and unlocked it.

“Get in.”

I stared at him, “You’ve officially lost your mind.”

His jaw tightened. “Get. In.”

I should’ve walked away. I should’ve told him to go to hell.

But everyone inside the house was probably watching us already, and the last thing I needed was another public scene.

Fuming, I climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door so hard the car shook.

Chris got in moments later and drove off.

Streetlights flashed across his face as he drove too fast down the empty road, one hand gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Why the hell did he punch Dwayne and what message did they all receive?.

“What is wrong with you?” I finally snapped. “You embarrassed me in front of everybody.”

He said nothing.

“Oh, wow. So now you’re mute?”

Without warning, Chris pulled his phone from his pocket and tossed it onto my lap.

“Watch it.”

I frowned at him. “What?”

“Just watch it.” His voice came out cold and sharp.

Annoyed, I grabbed the phone.

A video was already playing. At first, I didn’t understand what I was looking at. Then my stomach dropped.

It was me and Dwayne walking out of the boys’ bathroom together.

My chest tightened instantly.

The video zoomed in dramatically before transitioning into some stupid edited animation with flashing pink text splattered across the screen.

SLUT PRINCESS.

Another caption appeared underneath.

IS THE NEW GIRL ALREADY HOOKING UP WITH ADDICTS IN THE BOYS’ BATHROOM?

Dwayne's an addict?.

The comments blurred together beneath it.

‘Knew she was easy.’

‘Slut princess is wild.’

‘Dwayne and her? Gross’

‘She’s literally been here for five minutes.’

Heat rushed to my face so violently it burned.

“Oh my God…” I barely recognized my own voice.

Chris suddenly slammed his hand against the steering wheel.

“I told you to stay away from Dwayne!”

I flinched before anger immediately exploded through me. I turned toward him sharply. “Excuse me?”

“I warned you,” he snapped. “But you never listen. I said stay in the shadows.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You don't get to tell me what to do. I was only in bathroom with him because your girlfriend spilled that stupid drink all over my uniform.”

Chris threw me a heated glance, shaking his head. “You seriously don’t understand how this school works. There are certain people you shouln’t fuck with, especially Dwayne.”

“I don't care about the stupid rules in that school. I will be friends with who ever I want!”

“You have no idea who Dwayne is.”

“And you think punching him makes you some kind of hero?”

“At least I was fixing your mess.”

“My mess?”

Chris glanced at me, eyes blazing. “You’re reckless. If mum finds out..”

“Oh, screw you and your controlling mother. she won't control me like she does to you.”

Chris suddenly swerved the car toward the side of the road and slammed the brakes.

I jerked forward. “What the hell?!”

He turned toward me slowly.

“Get out.”

I blinked. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am.”

I looked around through the windows at the dark empty road. “You’re joking.”

Chris leaned across me suddenly and shoved the passenger door open.

Cold air rushed into the car. “Out.”

Anger flooded through me so fast I almost screamed. “You are actually insane.”

“Maybe,” he said coldly. “But at least I’m not stupid.”

That did it. I grabbed his phone and threw it hard against his chest. “I hate you.”

His expression didn’t change. “Get in line.”

My chest tightened painfully.

I climbed out of the car before I did something violent.

The second the door slammed behind me, the Mustang sped away into the darkness without hesitation.

I stood there breathing hard, arms wrapped around myself against the cold.

I hated him. God, I hated him.

The road stretched endlessly around me, silent and empty beneath the dim streetlights.

Then headlights appeared behind me and I saw a car.

It stopped right beside me and the tinted passenger window rolled down.

And when I saw who was inside, every drop of blood in my body turned to ice.