All Chapters of A TASTE OF SIN: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lunch time.A time for grotesque meat pies, mushy vegetables, and watered-down milk that tasted faintly of soap.The cafeteria buzzed with noise, a constant, maddening hum of chatter, laughter, and the occasional clatter of trays on tables. But Lunch time at school, is the only time I could actually sit alone and think without anybody coming up to me, asking me how I was doing, or Sophie to disturb me.I was seated with Rose.She sat across from me, knees angled toward mine under the table, her tray untouched except for the milk carton she kept twisting between her fingers. Every now and then she glanced at me, then away, then back again, like she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the right opening.I stabbed at the chicken and dumplings on my tray with my spork, more out of habit than appetite. The clumps of doughy chicken squished together with a wet, sticky sound that made me grimace. Across the room, the sounds of loud laughter from the girls annoyed my ears, but not

“What the hell was that, Corbett?” I snarled, my voice low and venomous. “Huh? Did I hit a nerve? Was I annoying you? Answer me.”The blonde brute animalistically growled at me. Hudson said a round of swears before trying to push us apart. "Shut the Hell up, Carter!" So I was back to a last name basis? Good."You're being a fucking smart ass, that's what you're doing!" Ross barked, his voice shaking with barely leashed rage. As Hudson was trying to intervene again, he pushed Hudson away from him, causing him to fall back against the table, before catching my shirt in his hand. He brought his fist back again, and then bam! Straight into my cheek, just narrowly missing my eye. His sharp, dagger-like knuckles split the skin.And to just top it all off, I started smiling. Smiling. Laughter bubbled up from my stomach, only peeving the beast even more. I couldn't stop it, though. I had officially gone mad. Blood was running down my wounded flesh, flesh that was turning black and blue, swell

"Ah, Mrs. Carter, you're here! please, have a seat. Thank you for coming so quickly", Principal spoke.Mom's eyes zeroed in on me first, taking in my bandaged face, the dried blood still faintly staining my shirt collar, and her expression softened just for a moment before hardening again as she turned to the two men behind the desk."Who's the kid that beat the crap out of Liam?", Mom asked as she sat down with Sophie.The principal cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses as he sat back down. Coach Matthews remained standing, arms folded, like he was ready to back up whatever was said. "Well, Mrs. Carter, earlier this afternoon in the cafeteria, Liam was involved in a physical altercation with another student. It escalated quickly, punches were thrown, and both boys ended up injured. The nurse has already tended to Liam, and he's been cleared of any serious harm, but we take these incidents very seriously here at the school." He explained.Mom's eyes flicked to me, a mix of worry

I lay there staring at the ceiling, the faint throb in my cheek from yesterday’s fight syncing up with the low buzz of anger still humming under my skin. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Sophie’s lazy grin, heard her casual “Watch and see, Liam,” like she was planning something petty just to prove she could get under my skin.Hudson.Of all the lines she could cross, that one felt personal in a way the weed never could.I rolled onto my side, wincing as the movement pulled at the bruise along my ribs. My phone sat facedown on the nightstand. I hadn’t checked it since the principal’s office yesterday. Part of me hoped the team group chat had blown up with people asking where I was, maybe even some of the guys saying Ross deserved the punch. The other part of me was terrified it would just be radio silence or worse, memes about me getting benched.I reached for the phone anyway.Three missed calls from Coach Matthews.A string of texts from teammates:Jaden: bro what happened?? ross sa

"Liam wake up! Hurry up! We’re gonna be late!" Sophie screeched. I groaned loudly and I didn’t bother responding to her.Sophie pounded on the door again. "I'm in the shower!" I yelled over the sound of running water."We need to go to school right now and your girlfriend is here!" Sophie replied with a teasing tone lacing through her voice. I sighed immediately when I heard girl friend. It was Rose.l hopped out the steamy shower as my body glistened with water. I toweled off quickly, ran a hand through my damp hair so it stuck up in messy spikes instead of lying flat, and yanked open the bathroom door. Cool hallway air hit my skin and raised goosebumps.In my room, I threw on a white polo and a pair of my old jeans as I shouted to Sophie from my room that I'd be down in a minute. I grabbed my team jacket and book bag and jetted downstairs. I fake smiled as I approached Rose in the living room. She was standing next to Sophie in her usual skirts and wedge heels. Her long, brown hair