Only it’s not.
Unknown number:Curious about your scholarship? Start digging.
I frown, goose bumps rising on my skin. How—?
Me:Who is this?
Unknown Number:Someone far less clueless than you.
Chapter 17
Iarrive at Rosehaven early, hoping to get to my seat in English as inconspicuously as possible before the hoard of football players arrives. Hurrying down the hallway, I note there aren’t many people here yet, so I have a good chance to slide in unnoticed.
Aunt Liz and Uncle David had fussed over me after seeing my bruised knees when I got home yesterday. When they’d asked, I’d been too humiliated by how it had really happened to tell them. Besides, what purpose would it serve?
Those douchebag boys think they can get away with whatever because they are ruled by bro code and will back each other up, no matter what.
And Xander’s comment to me before he walked out of the training room—was that an admission that he was the one outside of my shower? The blurred figure had been indistinguishable outside of the fact that they wore dark clothing and hadlight-colored hair. I have so many questions, but I’m too exhausted to search for answers. I’d even gone to bed early again last night, but it hadn’t helped much. I kept having nightmares that someone was chasing me through the woods, and I think I only slept about three hours total.
The best thing I can do at the moment is shove every bit of it to the back of my mind and forget all the bullshit for as long as I can.
That’ll be quite a challenge, because sitting through English today after yesterday’s events might possibly end up being the most mortifying thing I’ve ever had to do. Worse, probably, than tripping and falling in front of the football team. At least I’d been able to get away from them yesterday. Today, I’m stuck in class for the next ninety minutes surrounded by them. I wonder if any of the dicks on my phone are going to be sitting in class with me. Ugh, it’s so disgusting to think about. My only hope is they don’t have the balls to say inside the classroom what they’d yelled on the field yesterday.
None of that factors in the whole thumb-sucking incident. How am I going to deal with Xander sitting behind me for an entire class period? I have no idea what had come over me in the training room. Not at all. Classic out-of-body experience. It was almost like I’d watched myself do it. I’m going to blame the football team for that, too. I’d clearly been out of my own head after falling.
My mouth drops open ever so slightly as I walk into the classroom. Not only are the usual early birds already seated, but every single football player enrolled in the class is already here, along with a few extras who must have shown up for shits and giggles. They break out into applause as I stop, frozen in place a few paces inside the doorway.
I swallow hard, determined to show them I’m not bothered by their assholery, and quickly school my features as I give a deep bow. That makes them cheer even harder, but I hope it gives them the idea that I’m cool with everything so they’ll back off. It’s all going as planned until I have to step over Micah’s long legs to get to my seat. I don’t know how it happens, but the next thing I know, I’m facedown in Xander’s lap.
From behind me, I hear a muffled, “My bad. Me and my fucking long legs, sorry.”
“There she goes again!”
I squeeze my eyes shut. This is not happening. Xander’s big hands touch my upper arms. He rasps next to my ear, but loud enough for everyone to hear, “Damn, baby, if you wanted to suck it, all you had to do was ask. I didn’t send you a dick pic, though. Just so everyone is clear on that point.”
Laughter erupts.
I’m utterly humiliated.
Slowly, I stand. With his cool gaze leveled on me, I can’t stop my voice from coming out shaky. “Ihateyou.”
From the other side of the classroom, some jackass snorts and then says, “You might hate him, but it sure looks like youlove his junk.”
I flip that asshole off, which makes everyone laugh harder, and rush out of the room, slamming into Max’s shoulder by accident on my way out.
“S-Sorry.” I continue out even though he tries to stop me.
A boisterous shout comes from inside the room behind me, “Slow down, honey, you don’t want to fall again!”
I race down the hall to the girls’ bathroom, half-blinded by the pissed-off tears in my eyes.
Daphne’s at one of the sinks washing her hands when I burst in. Her eyes go wide. “What happened?” Her voice is stern as she grasps me by my elbows.
“Those fuckers,” I hiss. My chest squeezes so tight it hurts. I feel like my insides are folding in on themselves.
Someone pounds on the door outside. “Scarlett! Are you okay?”
It’s Max, and his voice is full of worry.