Page 16 of Reign of the Queen
It's an angry, violent kiss, teeth clashing against teeth, lips hard and unrelenting, A soft moan escapes me. His grip on my hair releases, and he pulls back from me, taking a step away. Both of us are breathing hard, chests rising and falling chaotically. I can feel the blush rising across my neck and cheeks from our frantic kiss, yet neither of us speak.
He gives my face a once over, then nudges me out of his way with his shoulder, walking into the tunnel, never once looking back. Fierce longing fills my body, begging me to call him back.Have you lost your goddamn mind, Mia?I ask myself.
Raegan approaches me. I glance up at her face and see a look of pity spread across her features. "Let's go home, girl; this has been one rough night."
Nodding, we walk off the field together in the direction of the parking lot. When I get to my car, the parking lot is pretty much empty, just a few players' vehicles left. With one last look back at the stadium, we get in the Range and drive home. My head and heart are equally confused by these kings of Casbury.
The following day, the boys don't show up in the parking lot when I arrive. I frown when I get out of the Range, already used to the habit of them waiting for us in the parking lot every day. Spying Theo's and Finn's cars parked in the lot, I shrug. Raegan and I walk into school and head to our lockers without seeing any of the kings. A few football players are wandering the halls, looking rough, but apparently in good spirits. I check on a few that sit with us at lunch to make sure they’re doing alright and don’t need anything. Guilt still eating at me that I was the catalyst for the brawl.
First period comes, and Mateo and Theo don’t show up. When I wander into second period and sit, I notice that Finn's seat is conspicuously empty and remains that way for the class duration. Worry starts to plague me; maybe they were hurt, perhaps something happened after we left. Maybe they got in trouble with their parents or administration for the fight.
Why do I even care? Get it together Mia, I berate myself. The consequences of their actions, regardless of the reason for those actions should have no impact on you. Destruction is what you seek. Yes, but guilt still eats away at me.
I enter third-period biology, wave to Elizabeth, but don't see any signs of Carter. My mind starts doing terrible things even though I repeatedly tell myself that I don’t fucking care what happens to them. My nerves are on edge, and I am ready to bolt out the door and look for them.
Jessie walks by my class with a black eye and a swollen face, my eyes bug out of my head. Holy shit the boy looks rough! He seems to be moving a little stiffly—and slowly, too. I jump out of my seat and gravitate toward the door, making excuses to use the ladies' room to the biology teacher.
"Jessie!" He turns around at my call, the movement making him grimace for a second. Then he sees it's me calling him and tries to smile, but his face must hurt because all I get is a semblance of a smile.
"Hey, Mia." He waits for me to approach him.
"Are you okay? Jeez, that looks like it hurts.” I reach out and run my fingertips lightly along his jaw.
He pulls away from my touch, a small, pain-filled moan leaving his lips. "Just a little bruising; pretty sure the other guy looks worse." He tries to laugh but ends up grimacing.
“I’m so sorry Jessie.” I wrap my arms around my body, trying to push off the guilt that is strangling me like a python.
“I’m good Mia, you have nothing to apologize for. Those asses needed a good beat down, running their mouths the way they were.” He tries once again to smile.
“Thank you Jessie.” I give him a small smile.
"I haven't seen Carter or the other three this morning; did something happen?" I frown; I'm totally overacting.I need to get myself together. Who cares what happened to them?They're twats, but that little niggling at the back of my brain tells me they were defending me against those ogres, and that's why they got hurt. As much as I want to hurt them, I don’t like the idea of them being hurt trying to defend me from other assholes.I know, I know. I’m one confusing bitch.
"Huh? What do you mean, they were at practice this morning at five, looking a little worse for wear but still there, even Mateo showed up to run the laps, something about his baseball coach hearing about the fight."
"Well, they haven't been in their classes all day." A mixture of anxiety and anger starts to sizzle through my veins.
"Not sure then; I have to get to math class, but I'll see you at lunch?" he questions with an eyebrow raised.
I give him a little smile and a quick pat on the arm. "Of course, I'll see you at our table."
Turning to walk back in the direction of my class, I spot Finn down the hall at his locker, looking like he's putting something away. I glance back at my class door to make sure no one noticed I'm still out here instead of in the washroom and jog down the hall toward Finn.
"Hey," I lightly call as I approach him. He stares back at me from the door of his locker and nods. Nods, that's the only acknowledgment I get from him while I stand there awkwardly cursing myself for even coming over here.
"You, okay?" I try to sound like I don't care, but it still seems to ring like I'm concerned. "You weren't in American History," I point out.Like no kidding, dumb-ass, pretty sure he knows he wasn't in American History earlier. What is wrong with me?
"Nope, had things to do." He turns his attention back on his locker, moving items inside and paying me no mind.
"The others, are they okay too?" I inquire, frowning hard now that I see my worry for the kings was apparently unnecessary and unwanted.
"Yup, all good, just shit to do, ya know." He closes his locker, gives me a brief smoldering look that feels like he's stripping away all of my clothes and has my core clenching, then turns and walks away, not even bothering to say goodbye.
"What a fucking douche," I say out loud, heading back to my class, confused at the hot and cold he's blowing.
Lunch rolls around, Raegan and I join Jessie, Evan, and the football players that usually sit with us. I try to convince Spencer to join us but he’s too shy and refuses, before I can drag him, he scurries away with a grin on his face. I’m hoping one day that will change and he’ll want to sit with us. Spencer is such a nice, witty guy, I’m convinced if I can just make others see him the way Raegan and I do they will see it too.
I'm forcing my soup and salad down, my stomach threatening to revolt with every bite. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday, and I know with my previous eating issues that I can’t go on like this and avoid food. I barely slept last night, thoughts racing through my mind and anxiety wiring me up tight. I'm nervous and anxiously waiting for the kings to arrive.
