Jumper walks over and points to the schedules in my hand. “We need to move on to those, but karma’s punishing Jonah for being a dickwad. He can’t open his locker.”
I glance over and see him fighting with it. I struggle with the good voice and bad voice in my mind. I want to make him suffer for being a prick, but my feet are already moving me toward him because I’m a good person. “Do you need a hand?”
“Are you offering to stroke me off?” Jonah asks, with frustration heavy in his tone.
“No.” I push him from his locker, grabbing his slip. “But I will see if it’s your charming personality that the lock is put off by or if the combo is just wrong.”
The rest of the guys chuckle and a second later, I spin the combination and the door opens. I look at Jonah and arch an eyebrow. “It’s not it, it’s you.”
“Good to know. Keep the slip, stalker. You can open my locker from now on.” He slams it shut and moves to the other guys.
“Aren’t you worried about me snooping through it and selling your stuff on auction sites?” I ask full of snark.
“I don’t plan to put anything in there, so no.” He looks at me over his shoulder like I’m a bug.
“Whatever, asshole. Let’s get this tour over. I need clothes for tonight and an excuse for not having my school work done.” I power walk by all of them.
“Nice going, Duke of Douche. Our tour guide is getting the impression that we are all assclowns because of you,” Jumper says.
I don’t slow down. Over my shoulder I say, “The library is just up here. It’s two stories. Study rooms have no windows or locks. IF you plan to do anything in those rooms, lean against them or put a chair under the knob. Don’t try to make out in the stacks. Someone is always watching. And I’m not talking about your notoriety. I mean that people here at PHS are hungry for gossip. Nothing stays secret forever.”
“Why do you need clothes for the night?” Raiden asks.
“I have a father that believes homelessness is a punishment. So I can’t go home tonight,” I answer, before thinking better of it. Of course, all they would have to do is ask around and someone would tell them. As I said, there are no secrets here.
“Now…” I continue. “The cafeteria is further down this hall. The taco bar is to die for. Don’t bother with the buffet. The roast beef is disgusting, but the taco bar is an A+. Develop a taco obsession and love yourself for it.”
“That’s what she said,” Trace coughs.
“I’m really good with a fish taco.” Jumper wiggles his eyebrows.
I cringe and spin around. “You know, if it smells like fish it’s not fresh. You should pass and find one that isn’t so old and nasty.”
Raiden chuckles, his eyes are hot looking. “I hear that when it’s fresh, it smells like lilacs.”
I blush. I’m wearing an essential oil that smells like lilacs.
I turn away from his lusty look. “The cafe is, of course, seated by cliques. You will have to weigh out your options later today. I don’t see you sitting with the jocks. But any one of the chicks that sit in this room are going to want to be all over what you have going on there.” I circle my finger in their general direction. “It’s going to be a regular old feeding frenzy.”
“Where do you sit?” Jumper asks.
“Vivi and I sit on our own, back on the left, fourth table by the window. We aren’t part of any of the cool kids. Well, she is the coolest kid in this school. I don’t know why she hangs out with me. You will like her. She likes… males.” I bite my lip and taste the split part reopen and bleed.
Trace’s head tips to the side, seeming to catch something in my voice. “Does she?”
“Vivi’s sweet. She’s sensitive. She’s really easy to take advantage of though,” I say with steel in my statement.
Jumper nods.
Jonah snorts. “Your friend’s a slut, we got it.”
EXCERPT 2
The band launches into a metal version of “Barbie Girl” by Aqua that flows into Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse,” and we laugh. I like Lizzy. She feels like a long lost friend, a missing piece.
Raiden drops the mic, and it makes a squealing noise before Trace moves to turn it off. My guy beelines for me and grabs me under the arms lifting me until my legs are around him. He buries his head into my neck. The bite he made left four puncture wounds, which all the guys were pissed about. None more so than Bane, who took a punch at him. He told him that I was a princess and should be handled with respect. With the context I had now, it made infinitely more sense.
“I have a song for you.” Raiden licks me from collarbone to chin and then takes my lips in a filthy kiss.
I pull away. “All your songs are for me.”
“All of me is for you,” he corrects me and then takes my mouth again until we are both unsteady and breathing heavy. Then he peels me off of him and into Bane’s arms, smirking at my weak kneed state.
The music starts and it’s heavy, all drums and bass. The guitar wails. Trace starts screaming the open lines.
I won’t look away.
I won’t look away.
Then Raiden starts.
It all started with a glance
I knew you were everything.
The warnings and threats
Didn’t mean a thing.
I hid my eyes and hid my fangs
I wouldn’t watch you bleed.
I’ll take this love to the grave
You're all that I need.
Trace steps in again.
I won’t look away
I won’t look away
Raiden holds out his hand to me and waves me to him.
I’ll take you once
I’ll have you twice
Or it will be every fucking time
That I have you on your back
Or just in my mind.
These aren’t just my memories
Trace screams
That choke me, I can’t breathe.
Then Raiden sings and Trace screams the next line together and Vivi, Lizzy and I swoon.
I’m begging you, please don’t ever leave.
When the song is over, I run up to a sweat dripping Raiden and throw my arms around him. “I love you!”
“I love you too, Lilac,” he says, catching his breath.
“Want a drink?”
“A water would be good.” He combs his damp hair back, and I kiss his lips.
“I’ll be right back!” I run into the kitchen, grab some water and pour a shot of tequila, putting the salt shaker between my cleavage and grabbing a lime wedge to put it in my mouth. I scamper out to where he’s talking to Bane. He turns to me, his eyebrows raise and he grins.
“Well, well, well. Looks like I’m doing a shot too?” He bends down and licks my neck and sprinkles some salt on it. Then takes the shot and tips it back, licking the salted part of me and biting the lime still in my mouth. He pulls it out and drops it on the floor before he moves back. “Mmmm, delicious.”
“Yeah, princess. But next time, if you don’t have enough to share with the class, don’t bring just one” Bane teases, looking at my mouth.
I look back at him scandalized. “Bane! Inappropriate!”
Raiden laughs.
Because it’s my night, we get to do anything I want, which to Jumper’s disappointment, isn’t truth or dare. We all gather on the couches to watch movies.
“It’s my birthday, my choice!” I reiterate.
Trace sights. “I’m just sayin’. Scary faces at night are a bad idea.”
Raiden Playlist
● agoraphobic - Corpse
● Dear Maria, Count Me In - All Time Low
● when the party’s over - Billie Eilish
● Teardrops - Bring Me The Horizon
● Another Life - Motionless in White
● Loved You A Little - The Maine (with Taking Back Sunday and Charlotte Sands)
● My Demons - STARSET
● Gods & Monsters - Lana Del Rey
● Barbie Girl - Aqua
● Dark Horse - Katy Perry, Juicy J
● parents - YUNGBLUD
● Caraphernelia - Pierce the Veil
● How It Feels to Be Lost - Sleeping With Sirens
● Drag the Lake - The Amity Affliction
● Product of a Murderer - Of Mice and Men
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