Page 49 of Hateful
I look down at him and he’s staring back up at me with an intense look in his eyes that I can’t quite name. I don’t know what to say. His face is so perfect and sincere that part of me wants to just give in.
“Just consider it?” he asks. “I’d rather it be you.”
My resolve wavers. “I don’t know,” I say, tugging my arm halfheartedly, not quite taking it from Heath’s grasp. His fingertips linger on the back of my hand. “What’s in it for me?”
“I could get Beck to stop bullying you,” he says immediately.
I snort. “If you’d just do that, then I probably would’ve said yes the first time.” But I do think about it. If Jasper can’t stop it on his own, then maybe when Heath’s on his side … both of them together might be able to do it. “There have to be faster people,” I still add.
“Not people who can run really consistently on a curve,” Heath replies crisply. “We’ll need someone for the third leg. You’ve been running on curving hiking trails and keeping a good, consistent speed the whole way.”
“You’ve been judging how I run?”
It’s his turn to blush, and I can’t help but think it’s adorable. “I’ve been thinking of asking you ever since we were told about the relay race. You’re my first choice.”
Warmth blossoms in my stomach and flows up to my chest despite me trying to stifle it. Damn Heath and his flattery. I look away. “I’ll think about it.”
He squeezes my arm and gets to his feet.
“Awesome. I’ll tell the guys tomorrow.” He takes off running toward our usual leg of the trail.
“Wait!” I yell after him; I pull my gloves back on and start chasing him. “I saidI’ll think about it! That doesn’t meanyes!”
He throws a laugh over his shoulder and I grin and speed up, overtaking him, and we race each other to our next break.
I win.
At least it’s something.
Chapter Seventeen
“It’s a relay race!”Neville says giddily, his face flushed with the rush of getting to be the first to announce it.
I rub my aching calves silently while he prattles on about it to Rafael. I’ve known the last event would be a relay race for weeks now. The more I run with Heath, the more I’m persuaded to actually take him up on his offer to run the race with them.
I don’t really know why. Something about running silently while he begs me from a couple paces behind really appeals to me; plus, I’ve noticed Jasper and Beck looking a little jumpy, speaking in low whispers about who’ll run the race with them. They seem scared that they won’t be able to find anyone, completely unaware that Heath has already asked me.
I get a little rush myself at the thought that they haven’t been able to find a suitable replacement. There are plenty of boys here that would do the job better than me.
I just can’t help but wonder if I’m not the only one who’s given them a no for an answer.
Maybe the rule of The Brotherhood is ending, even without Headmistress Robin’s interference.
I glance up as Jasper passes by our table. Neville continues on obliviously, speculating on who The Brotherhood will get to run the race with them. As he walks by, Jasper’s eyes meet mine for a brief second. I look away. I don’t want to think about him right now.
He’s already toyed enough with me. He knows what he has to do to get in my good graces, but as far as I can tell Heath is the only one making any effort to stand up to Beck.
Rafael watches our little exchange without comment, but I can tell by the way his lips twitch that he noticed. I bite into my banana with a shrug.
“What if they don’t find a fourth runner?” Rafael asks, interrupting Neville’s rambling.
He pauses, frowning. “I think they’ll be disqualified. You can’t have one person run two legs of the race.”
I see Jasper’s back stiffen as he walks to his table. He heard. He and Beck must really be worried about finding a fourth runner if it’s got them this worked up.
Maybe my speculation really isn’t too far off. No one wants to run with The Brotherhood.
It sends a shiver of pleasure up my spine.
