Page 154 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Amelie,” that fucker Jasper says, and winks at her before walking off. Frost watches us carefully while Jasper leaves.
“You two looked awfully cosy already,” I snap. I’m trying to reign in my temper, I really am, but someone else besides my brothers touching her does something to me. And I don’t like it.
When I thought she was using my mum for her vendetta against Laura, I was fuming. I reminded myself that I can’t have feelings for anyone besides my brothers, because everyone I get close to leaves, and she only solidified that when she ran back to Australia. Those I love always get hurt, usually because of me. Everything that happened to Slate was my fault because I never stood up for him. I was too weak to put myself in the way and cop some of the abuse.
“What is your problem? You all force me to participate and Jasper was helping me train because you assholes didn’t show up on time. He stayed behind on his own time…”
“He had his hands on your ass,” Kalen throws back at her.
“How else would he have pushed me up huh, by the twat?” she counters with a smile. “I’m not yours, Kalen.”
“No, but you are mine and the next time he puts his hands on you, I will cut them off, finger by finger and make him eat them,” Sawyer states, and Amelie doesn’t look pleased. She may be five foot nothing, but she has fire in her bones. I’m glad. I hope Sawyer pisses her off with the overprotective bullshit we all seem to feel for her, so that she gets mad at him too.
“That’s a tad over the top. You’re starting to sound like Baxter, and we all know he’s a sick fucker.”
“You think he’s sick, baby? You really don’t know that much about us. Your bodyguard won’t see out the weekend if his hands are not kept to himself,” I add.
She really has no idea what we are capable of, being part of The Snaidhm comes with getting your hands dirty. Bloody.
She frowns at me.
“I think this is one of those cultural things again. Where I come from ‘sick’ means crazy or awesome.”
“Well here it means twisted,” I tell her.
She squirms uncomfortably. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if she is cut out for this life.
“Ugh, I’m not your baby!” she snaps, walking away from us and moving back towards the start of the course. “Hurry up, some of us have better things to do tonight.”
We all follow her and I note that something has changed in her today; all this week she has complained and whined about having to run the course, and now all of a sudden she is about to go through for a second time? Game on, baby, I’m about to make this run a little less fun.
Chapter Twenty
Amelie
Every damn muscle in my body hurts. I have run that stupid damn course every day for the last three weeks and I’m glad it’s finally Friday. One last run and I’m free after the weekend. Nerves sit high in my gut because I’ve been told Monty’s dad will be attending family dinner this weekend, and he doesn’t come across as the nicest person. Kalen tried to fill me in during our SELF class. He seems like a pompous old asshole. Laura even made a point to call me and tell me she is sending over a dress and shoes for the occasion. I’m glad she has learned her lesson about shoes, and for once I’m actually grateful that she’s helping me out with my attire. Apparently, Harold gets a fancy dinner and guests when he shows up.
“Ready for music today?” Elsie asks with a laugh as we leave the lunchroom.
“As I’ll ever be. My performance has to be believable,” I say. Jasper walks out behind us and I wonder how long he will have to follow me around.
“You know, asking me to push you up by your ass could have gotten me killed,” he suddenly pipes up, his tone clipped.
“Well, Baxter did say you were at my service, and you did offer to join me,” I reply with a sickly-sweet tone and smile to match. We’ve had this conversation numerous times over the last few weeks, and it always goes the same way. I don’t even know why he’s still grumbling about it. Sulky, much?
“Don’t even lie, Jasper, you loved it,” Elsie teases. She has an extra spring in her step today. I wonder why?
I groan and tell Jasper to fall back. He does what I ask and follows a few steps behind. Elsie stops at the corridor that will lead her to her next class and me to mine.
“Why are you so happy?” I ask, and her smile gets wider if that’s even possible.
“Marcia asked me to go to a party tonight! You know...the one you keep saying you're not going to.”
“If you told me you had a date, I may have been more inclined to turn up, and now I might. Sawyer moved our date because he has some work to do for his father, so I’m free as a bird.”
“This is going to be good,” Jasper says, and we look back at him. “Frost is on duty tonight. He hates parties and he hates drunk girls even more. Please, as a repayment for me touching you up, make sure he has extra fun tonight. Get sloppy.”
Elsie and I laugh. She waves as she walks away.
