Page 10 of Ignition

I jumped, fingers brushing the fabric, but finding no purchase.

“Really? Cause from where I’m standing, you’re a jerk!” I seethed, making a mockery of his voice.

My eyes speared daggers at him, at that stupid, goddamn smirk. I wanted to claw it off his face.

“What’s wrong, Mia? Come on, get it,” he cooed, wagging the blazer a little closer to my face, like I was a dog and he was holding a bone.

My teeth ground together.

Another jump.

My fingers almost closed in on the fabric.

Ugh, why is he so goddamn tall?

A grunt escaped me, closer to a growl, as my feet hit the floor again. He was just standing there, with one hand in his pocket and a delighted expression on his face, while I—

My lip curled and my palm tingled with the familiar urge to slap him.

I sucked in a sharp breath—

“Check out those water balloons,” someone droned, the leer slithering along my spine.

Time slowed and stretched, a conspirator to my misery.

The culprit was staring at the front of my shirt.

The weight of more gapes settled on my chest, and ice doused my insides, jagged shards that cut deep. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I didn’t glance down, didn’t want to see the pale white lace standing out stark against transparent fabric.

As if the words had compelled him to finally look past my face, Josh’s gaze dipped in slow motion, scorching down my neck, before pausing for a heartbeat on the swell of my chest.

I swallowed, so hard, my throat hurt.

A muscle jumped in his jaw. A split-second later, his eyes narrowed on mine, something dark and smoky blazing in their depths.

Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my goddamn fault!

My rage funnelled through me, until I wanted to scream—or slap him.

I didn’t get to do either.

My blazer hit my face with a soft thump as he tossed it at me, like I was trash.

“Cover yourself up,” he sneered, turning his head away as if he couldn’t bear the sight of me.

Screw you.

My eyes stung, before my fingers curled around the fabric, and relief and gratitude flooded my veins.

He kept his gaze averted, peering over his shoulder instead, until the crowd deflated and stilled.

Seizing the opportunity, I shoved hard past someone whose expression had frozen solid, and made a beeline towards the dormitories, pulse drumming in my ears, blazer clutched to my chest like armour as I took the stairs two at a time.

Even the spider plant on the bathroom windowsill mocked me as I peeled off my clothes and patted myself dry, movements jerky and frantic as tears burned my eyes.

I hate him!

I hate them all!