Coming to my Rescue

“You there, get over there,” she ordered. I could feel my annoyance building up. Every time I encountered girls like her, it made me super mad because they reminded me how much of a chronic cheat Atlas was and how foolish I was to waste a whole year of my life on him.

I took a step forward.

“A little birdie told me that you've been eyeing my boyfriend,” Charlotte crossed her arms. “Care to explain?”

No, I don't. There's nothing to explain.

My eyes shifted to Emilia who was hiding behind the girls. So she spilled my secret and couldn't even bear to look me in the eye. Other bestfriends fight for their girls but her, she stabs me in the back and even spreads the news.

I wondered if Charlotte knew that she was sleeping with Atlas too. Probably not, because that cute little face of hers would have been rebranded.

“I have nothing to explain,” I told Charlotte.

Charlotte’s glossy pink lips curved into a smirk that made my skin crawl. “Oh, you have something to explain, sweetheart. Because I don’t like it when little nobodies think they can circle my territory.”

Her “squad” tightened the semi-circle around me, the smell of body spray and synthetic vanilla closing in. Emilia’s eyes darted between us like she was silently begging me not to say something that would make Charlotte angry.

Too late for that.

Charlotte took another step forward, lowering her voice so it was just loud enough for her posse to hear. “Word is… Evans Thorpe’s got you on speed dial now too. Busy little bee, aren’t you?”

I mentally face-palmed. That was one thing about Blackridge, you could never keep anything secret. Now I was on everyone's hit list for something I wasn't even interested in.

There was a ripple of laughter behind her. Someone muttered, “She probably thinks she’s special.”

I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste iron. “I’m not interested in Evans or Atlas,” I said flatly. “So if that’s all, I’d like to eat my lunch without the circus act.”

Charlotte’s smirk didn’t falter. “Aw, look at her. Acting like she’s too good for them.” She tilted her head. “Tell you what. I’ll believe you… if you do one thing for me.”

Her eyes flicked toward the main hallway, and two of her girls immediately grabbed my arms before I could react.

“Charlotte…” Emilia’s voice was small, uncertain.

“Shut up, Em,” Charlotte snapped without looking at her. Then she leaned in close enough for me to see the shimmer of her highlighter. “Atlas and Evans might like playing with their toys, but I like making sure those toys know their place.”

“How about knowing your place, instead? You can see others are toys but you somehow don't consider yourself one? What kind of twisted logic is that?” I didn't even realise I said the words aloud until Emilia gasped.

“Tamine! You're making things worse!”

I bkinked in shock, startled by the redness of Charlotte's face.

Shit! Now I'm really dead.

Someone explain how I went from thinking I was about to die… to sitting in the cafeteria, eating lunch with a bunch of hockey players.

“You’re coming to watch the game today, right?” one asked.

“I can get you a ticket if you’re interested,” another said.

“Okay, calm the fuck down, y’all,” Evans snorted. “Nobody’s asking you to spoil my girl.”

My girl.

I choked on my Sprite. “Your girl?”

So… how did I end up here? Let’s rewind.

Charlotte’s claws, disguised as manicured fingers, dug into my arm while her squad pinned me to the lockers. The hallway smelled like perfume and popcorn. Students slowed to watch, some smirking, others holding up their phones like they were filming a blockbuster. My pulse pounded in my ears as I shut my eyes, waiting for the slap.

But the slap never landed.

A smooth, lazy voice cut through the hallway noise. “Let her go.”

I opened my eyes slowly to see the crowd shift like a ripple in water, parting just enough for Evans Thorpe to stroll into the scene. Hands in his pockets, that stupid smirk plastered on his face, like this was all just entertainment for him.

“Evans,” Charlotte said in surprise, her tone softening instantly, “this has nothing to do with you.”

He stopped in front of me, his gaze flicking over my face, then down to Charlotte’s grip on my arm. “I said,” his voice dropped lower, colder, “let. her. go.”

Charlotte actually hesitated, but the second his eyes hardened, she released me, her fingers leaving faint crescent marks in my skin.

Before I could say anything, anything at all, Evans threw an arm casually around my shoulders and turned to the crowd. My Brian short-circuited as his scent engulfed me. I was almost tempted to lean into him.

Almost.

“She’s with me,” he announced, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “So unless you want to start beef with me and the team…” His gaze swept the room, daring anyone to speak. No one did. “Get lost.”