Page 29 of Hateful
“Is that what this is all about?” I ask, suddenly, taking another step away from him. I glance over my shoulder at the empty courtyard. “You just want to make sureI’mgoing to keep your secret now?”
My voice has gotten low, dry, more like a dangerous hiss of a viper than my own voice.
“No,” I say firmly. “I won’t promise that.”
A desperate look flashes across Jasper’s face. “Please. No one can know.”
I shake my head. “Me being a girl is my business to tell whoever I want. And what you did was awful. That’s my story to tell, too … should I choose to tell it.”
“You can’t tell anyone!” he croaks, and he reaches for me.
But I duck underneath his arms, dance around behind him, and shove myself through the door to the school. I hear him call for me, but I take off running to the dorms.
All this running lately, I know he won’t be able to keep up.
I take the stairs two at a time just in case. I don’t hear footsteps behind me, but I don’t stop running until I stumble through the doorway to my own room and slam the door shut behind me.
Rafael looks up from his phone. “What’s up with you?” he asks, frowning.
“Long story.” I tug off my oversized hoodie. “I’m going to bed.”
He shrugs and goes back to his phone. I change into my pajamas and lay on my side with my back to Rafael’s bed, staring wide-eyed at the wall.
What is happening with The Brotherhood?
And more importantly, what is happening with me?
Chapter Eleven
I pushmy way through the busy hallway to get to class. Everyone seems to be clustering around the flyers posted here and there along the hallways, but I’m just grateful that that means no one is paying any attention tome.
“The next event’s a debate,” Neville says excitedly as he catches up to me and Rafael in the hallway.
I snort. “And Jasper, Beck, and Heath are doing it? Yeah. The girls have got this one.”
Rafael laughs. Neville eagerly begins speculating about what, exactly, they’ll have to debate about—just as I look up to see The Brotherhood passing us in the other direction.
Beck’s eyes are on me. He looks very much like he heard me from the way his eyes glow with murderous intent.
“Isn’t your next class with them?” Rafael asks quietly after they pass.
“Yep.” I sigh. “It shouldn’t be that bad, though.”
“Sure,” he says sarcastically. “I saw what happened at the puzzle thing.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “You sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m sure.” I look away. I haven’t told him about Jasper kissing me—not yet, at least. I’m not sure how to feel about it yet. I’m still processing. Plus, Rafael already said he doesn’t want to be my sexual shaman.
But deep down I just feel guilty. Rafael is my only real friend here, and yet I find myself keeping more and more from him. At this rate, we won’t know each other at all soon.
Not really, anyway.
The three of us head to the dining hall to grab a snack before I split off from them and head to class. The Brotherhood is already there; all three of together. Some other students are seated, too, but the professor is nowhere to be seen.
That’s when I know I’m in trouble.
Beck grins at me as I walk in, but it’s nowhere near friendly. “So, you don’t think we’ll do well in the debate, huh?” he asks.
I pretend not to hear him and just keep walking. He can’t bother me if I don’t let him, right?
