Page 52 of Quiet Obsession
The signal umbrella is now an almost-permanent fixture outside our door, making me wonder whether I should follow her lead, pick a cute guy, and let loose, or maybe ask for a different roommate. Hyde would make it happen, I’m sure, but despite her hoarding our room every evening, I like her. She’s cool.
Who knows what kind of girl I’d land with next?
“Millie,” Mateo prompts, closing the distance between us.
He catches my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tipping my face up, his dark eyes boring into mine.
My heart skips a beat and body locks in place, every muscle harder than stone. He searches my face, tilting his head to the side like a curious dog. I hate that I’m blushing. My breath comes out shallow and judging by his slow smirk, I couldn’t be more obvious if I tattooedvirginacross my forehead.
His gaze drops to my mouth. “Fuck,” he breathes, tracing a line along my jaw with his thumb. “Adorable, shy,innocentlittle thing.” His voice hits a hoarse register. “Let me know when you’re ready. I can pop that cherry for you.”
“How long have you been dreaming about me, princess? How long have you wanted me to pop that cherry?”
I bite my cheeks hard enough to taste blood and force the memory into a small box at the back of my mind.
“Enough, man,” Jasper says, failing to sound casual. “You’re making her uncomfortable, and you know how Hyde gets.” He throws an arm over my shoulders. “Ignore him, Millie.”
Mateo steps back, his hand falling to his side, and Jasper leads me toward Abby, who’s sitting with more seniors, their laughter growing louder the closer we get. My legs move against my will, a string puppet in Jasper’s hands. A tremor passes through me and my vision tunnels, the memories I keep a tight lid on spilling and bleeding into reality.
Instead of Abby’s beaming smile, I see mockery twisting the faces of my high school peers.
Instead of easy, melodic laughter, I hear crude cackling.
Instead of the weight of Jasper’s arm, I feel the weight of humiliation when I cried, half-naked, on Evan’s bed.
My heart pounds so hard it makes me dizzy. Nausea twists my stomach, hot and cold flushes whipping me into a frenzy.
Hyde. I need Hyde.
Everything he promised before we set off for Gravemont bounces around my head.
“If someone makes you uncomfortable, come to me, okay?”
“Don’t push yourself, sis. You don’t have to be strong.”
“Confrontation isn’t your forte, Millie. You’re too fragile.”
“Call if you need me, okay? I won’t let you down again.”
“Trust me to keep you safe.”
I twist from under Jasper’s arm, backing away, wide eyes jumping between him, Abby, and the others. Jasper frowns, exchanging a puzzled look with Mateo, his lips parting, but I don’t wait for whatever he’s about to say.
I turn and leave, my chest tight, legs eating the distance across the cafeteria. Every instinct I have screamsrun, but I walk, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me sprint out. I did that too many times when I went back to school.
And everyone only laughed harder.
I shove the cafeteria door open, stumble outside, and damn near hyperventilate in the crisp air.
Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.
Leaning my back against the wall, I turn my face toward the sky. My skin erupts in goosebumps under the misty rain, helping me crawl away from the overwhelming memories.
It’s lunch time, Hyde should be around here somewhere. So should Dash and Noah. They’re always here when I don’t need them, and the one time I actually do, they’re MIA.
I count my breaths until the pounding in my ears fades but before I’m fully calm, big hands grab my shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Creed asks.
