Page 45 of Inseparable
Without warning, he’s ripped off me, and I stand there, blinking, confused, dazed, watching as Devin shoves Ayden up against the wall. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Dev demands, his nostrils flaring.
“What I do withmygirlfriend is none of your business.” Ayden pushes him off.
“You were practically dry humping her in front of everyone. Show some respect.”
Ayden throws back his head, fake laughing. “Oh my God, this is priceless. You think you can lecture me on respect? What a fucking joke.”
A heated flush travels up my chest as I notice the growing crowd of gossip-hungry bystanders. I step toward the boys. “We’re not getting into this in front of everyone again.”
“Back up, Ange,” Devin says, his eyes darting to my swollen mouth. “This is between Ayden and me.” Emotion burns red-hot in his eyes as he stares at me. Ayden growls, and Devin whips his head around, shoving Ayden again. His eyes narrow to slits as he puts his face all up in Ayden’s. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” He glares at his former best friend. “You planned this all along. That’s why you told me to do it. You wanted her all to yourself, and I’m the fool because I didn’t see it.” Devin slams his fist into the locker right by Ayden’s head, and I jump.
“Stop talking crap,” Ayden snaps. “If you want to blame someone, point the finger at yourself. Your inability to keep your dick in your pants is the reason you lost her, and trying to pin this on me is pathetic. I love her and I’m taking care of her, and that includes keeping her away from you and that skank you call a girlfriend.”
“Fuck you, man. She was mine, and you knew it, but you took her anyway.”
“Not my fault you didn’t stake your claim when you had the chance.”
“You know why I didn’t! You’re a fucking asshole.” Devin thrusts his fist into Ayden’s face, and I scream. Ayden charges Devin, pushing him across the corridor as people scurry out of his path, slamming his back into the wall of lockers. The metal rattles and shakes as they trade blows, punching and swinging and knocking the shit out of one another.
Mariah sidles up to me, hooking her arm in mine. Cody sends me an apologetic look. “Do something,” I beg him. “Please.”
Devin’s head jerks back and blood sprays from his mouth. Ayden punches him full force in the stomach, and Devin tumbles to the ground. Ayden jumps on top of him, landing blow after blow, and I watch in horrified shock as Cody and Josh try to haul him off.
A loud, shrill whistle erupts in the corridor, and the crowd disperses, leaving room for Coach Arnold and Principal Wells to make their way through.
“Go home,” the principal shouts, flapping her hands about as she gestures to the nosy bystanders. “The final bell has rung, and there’s nothing to see here.”
Coach drags Ayden up by the scruff of his neck, shaking his head in disappointment. Blood seeps out of his nose, and the top of his shirt is torn and bloody. Cody helps Devin to his feet, and I gasp. His nose has doubled in size, and blood gushes out of it, dripping over the cut in his lip and the bruising along his jawline. His cheekbones are swollen, and one eye is half-closed and puffy. He looks worse than he does after an official fight, and I can’t believe Ayden did that to him. He’s like he lost all control.
“In my office. Now.” The principal is furious as she stomps in the direction of her office.
Coach has a firm grip on Ayden’s elbow as he steers him after the principal. “Can you take Lina home,” Ayd calls out to Cody, deliberately not looking at me.
“Sure, man.”
Devin rips a strip off the end of his shirt, shoving it into his nostrils in an attempt to stop the bleeding, and then he hobbles down the corridor after the others, completely ignoring me too. Mariah tugs on my arm. “Come on, let’s go.”
I shuck her arm off. “I’m not leaving without Ayd.”
Cody crosses his arms. “Ange, you heard him. He wants you to go home.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “I don’t care. He doesn’t make decisions for me. I’m staying and that’s that.”
I stalk off, dropping into a seat outside the principal’s office to wait it out.
Shouts and the sound of arguing trickle from the room, and I know the guys are in deep shit for this. Principal Wells has a strict no-violence policy, and there will be hell to pay for sure.
About ten minutes later, the sounds of approaching footsteps prompt me to straighten up in my seat. My eyes pop wide as Mr. Morgan appears in my line of sight. He’s wearing dirty khaki work pants and a white shirt that’s smeared with grease. His handsome face is drawn in a hard grimace, and his fists are clenched at his sides. He stops in front of the door, glancing down at me. Recognition dawns on his face. “It’s Angelina, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
An amused smile curves up the corners of his mouth. “I haven’t seen you in years.” His green eyes, so similar to Devin’s, roam up and down my body, and I squirm in my seat as my palms grow sweaty. “Look at you.” His eyes narrow and darken, and he pins me in place with a look that sends chills creeping up my spine. “All grown up.” His gaze darts to my chest, and, instinctively, I bring my bag against my body, hugging it to my chest.
The door swings open, and the principal looks from Devin’s dad to me, frowning. “Mr. Morgan. Were you planning on joining us?”
Racing footsteps approach. “Stop looking at her!” Devin yells at his dad.
Mr. Morgan slants a venomous look at his son. “Shut your mouth. You’re in no position to make demands.”
