What?

Her urgency to pass on the latest gossip was amusing, but all I
wanted was to walk into school without wearing my invisible body armor.
"Whats the big deal? So what? People think I look nice today. Today! What
will they think tomorrow after Jared gets to them? I hadnt told her about
Jareds party and what Id done. If she knew, she wouldnt be so optimistic
about my chances.

You know, he wasnt that bad after you left. Maybe were worrying about
nothing. All Im saying is that K.C. was cut off.

Hey, Tate. Ben Jamison came up behind K.C. and reached behind me. Let
me get the door for you.

I stepped aside, giving him room to swing the door open. Having no choice
but to end our conversation, I pursed my lips and waved at an open-mouthed
K.C.

Its great having you back, Ben whispered as we walked into class, me first
and him close behind. I widened my eyes and had to stifle a nervous laugh.
The reality of Ben Jamison engaging me in small talk was too surreal.

He starred on the football and basketball teams and was one of the best
looking guys in school. We had been in French I and II together, but hed
never spoken to me.

Thank you, I muttered, keeping my eyes downcast. This was out of my

comfort zone. I slipped stealthily into a front row seat. Weird!

It was great having me back? Like he ever cared before? This was probably
one of Jareds tricks. I made a mental note to apologize to K.C. for trying to
warn me about the unusual attention. Cute guys talking to me equaled
unusual.

Madame Lyon, our actual French French teacher, started launching into a full
blown lecture right off the bat. Aware of Ben sitting right behind me, I tried to
concentrate on the lesson, but even studying Madames cute, bobbed haircut
couldnt take my mind off the stares boring into the back of my head. Out of
my peripheral vision, I noticed several students around the room glancing my
way. I shifted in my seat. What was everyones problem?

Thinking back to what K.C. had said when I first got back, I didnt really think I
looked any different. After all, my year abroad hadnt consisted of any great
makeovers or shopping trips. My skin was a little darker, my clothes were
new, but my style hadnt changed.

I wore skinny jeans tucked into mid-calf high black boots with no heels, and a
white, flimsy boat neck t-shirt long enough to cover my butt. I loved my style,
and no matter what anyone thought, I stuck to it.

After a painfully long fifty minute class of smiles from unexpected people, I
retrieved my phone from my black messenger bag.

See you outside for lunch? I texted K.C.

2 windy! She shot back. Always about the hair.

Fine. Heading in now, look for me.

As soon as I stepped in line in the cafeteria, goose bumps crept over my skin.
I grabbed a tray and closed my eyes. He was in here somewhere. I didnt
need to turn around or hear his voice. Maybe it was the climate of the room,
the way others traveled or the polarity of his presence in relation to me. All I
knew for sure was that he was definitely here.

In elementary school we played with magnets that clash together when you
flip them to the positive side, but if you flip them to the negative side, then the
magnets will repel each other. Jared was one side of a magnet, never flipping
over to accommodate anyone. He was what he was. Everyone else either had
a pull to him or was pushed away from him, and the flow of a room reflected
this. There was a time when Jared and I were inseparable, like the positive
sides of the magnets.

My lungs ached with a breath I didnt realize Id been holding, and I exhaled.
After choosing a salad with Ranch dressing and a water bottle, I handed the
cashier my card to swipe and found a seat near the windows. The bustle of
the room was an entertaining distraction from meeting his eyes. Several
students nodded in passing and offered a welcome back. My shoulders
finally relaxed after the swirl of greetings.

Jess Cullen waved to me from a few tables over, and I reminded myself about
practice this afternoon.

Where are you? K.C. shot a text.

By the north windows.

In line now!

K. I texted back. Twisting around in my seat, I spotted her in line. I gave her a
little wave to signal my location and quickly turned back around before I gave
in to the urge to scan the room for him.

Twisting the cap off my water bottle, I took a long swig, relishing in the relief. I
felt like my heart had been beating a mile a minute for the last hour. Hydrate,
hydrate, hydrate.

My relaxation, however, was cut short by the voice of Madoc Caruthers.

Hey, baby. Madoc placed his hand on the table to my side and leaned into
my ear. As I replaced the cap on my water bottle, my shoulders slumped
slightly. Not again! Didnt the little f**ker ever learn a lesson? I stared straight
ahead in an effort to ignore him.

Tate? He was trying to goad me into acknowledging him. Non-

confrontational me was still not making eye contact.

Tate? I know you can hear me. In fact, I know every part of you is very aware
of me right now. Madoc ran the knuckles of his left hand down my arm. I
sucked in a breath, and my body jerked at his touch.

Mmmm, youve got goose bumps. You see? He toyed with me.

Goosebumps? If I werent so sickened, I would laugh. Yes, you do make my

skin crawl. But you knew that, right? My disdain couldnt get any thicker.

I really missed you last year, and I would actually like to call a truce. In fact,
why dont we put everything behind us and you let me take you out this
weekend?

He had to be dreaming if he thought

His hand glided down my back and quickly descended to my rear. I sucked in
another breath.

Son of a bitch! Did he really just grab my ass? Without my permission? In

public? Oh, no.

Then, he squeezed.
Everything after that point happened in a rush of reaction and adrenaline. I
popped out of my seat like my legs had springs. The muscles in my thighs
were taut with tension, and I clenched my fists.

As I faced Madoc, who had raised himself to meet my gaze, I grabbed him by
the shoulders and lifted my knee into his groin. Hard. The amount of pressure
mustve been a lot, because he yelped and fell to his knees, moaning while
holding his crotch.

I had been manhandled my Madoc enough. There was no way I was going to
be able to turn the other cheek anymore. Breaking his nose a year ago clearly
wasnt the end of my rope. It was the start of a new one.

With my heart pounding and a cool heat surging down my arms, I didnt stop
to think about where this would put me tomorrow or next week. I just wanted
him to stop.

Jared had been threatening for years, but he had never crossed that line. He
had never touched me or made me feel physically violated. Madoc always
crossed the line, and I wondered what the f**k was his problem! If what Sam
had said was true, that I was off limits, then why did Madoc mess with me so
much? And in plain sight of Jared?

Dont touch me and dont talk to me. I hovered over him, sneering. Madocs
eyes were closed as he breathed hard. Did you really think I would go out
with you? I hear the girls talk, and contrary to popular belief, good things do
not come in small packages. The entire room erupted in laughter, and I
crooked my pinky finger to the bystanders. I spotted K.C., tray in hand and an
oh, my God expression on her face.

Thanks for the offer anyway, Madoc, I sang with mock sweetness. Grabbing
my tray, I headed through the ocean of eyes and threw away my food. The
only thing that mattered was making out of the lunchroom before I crumbled.
Everything felt weak with tingles, and I was afraid my legs would give out.
What had I just done?

But before I reached the doors, I threw caution to the wind. Oh what the hell,
Ive developed a death wish lately. May as well drown in it! I turned around
and immediately locked eyes with the one person that made my blood boil
more than Madoc.

Jareds full attention was focused on me, and the world in my peripheral vision
stopped as we stared at each other.
He wore dark distressed jeans and a black t-shirt. No jewelry, no watch, only
his tattoos as accessories. His lips were slightly parted but not smiling. Those
eyes, however, seemed challenging and too damn interested. He looked like
he was sizing me up.

Fuck. Shit.

Leaning back in his chair, he had one arm hooked behind him on the back of
his seat and one arm resting on the table. He was staring at me, and
unwanted heat rushed to my face.

There was a time when I had all of his attention and loved it. As much as I
wanted him to leave me alone, I also liked how he seemed surprised. I liked
the way he was looking at me right now.

And then I remembered that I hated him.

Chapter 6

The rest of the day unfolded as one surreal moment after another. I had to
constantly tell myself that I was in a dream and this wasnt really the first day
of school. I received mounds of admiration over my lunchtime rumble, and I
felt like this couldnt really be my life.

After my high dissipated, it occurred me that Id hit another student on school

grounds. I could get in troublea lot of troublefor that. Every announcement
or knock at a classroom door had my hands shaking.

I texted K.C. after leaving the lunchroom, and apologized for ditching her.
Since I hid in the library for the rest of lunch, I had time to try to figure out what
the hell was going on with me. Why hadnt I just walked away from Madoc?
Had it been fun to knee him in the balls? Yes. But I was losing control lately,
and perhaps I was taking K.C.s advice of fighting back too literally.

Hey, Jackie Chan! Maci Feldman, a fellow senior in my Government class,

sat down next to me. She immediately reached into her purse and pulled out a
tube of glittery pink lip gloss, applying it while eyeing me happily.

Jackie Chan? Raising my eyebrows, I pulled a new notebook out of my

messenger bag.
Thats one of your new nicknames. The others are Super Bitch and Ball
Buster. I like Jackie Chan. She smacked her lips together and slipped the
gloss back into her purse.

I like Super Bitch, I mumbled as Mr. Brimeyer handed out the syllabus with a
questionnaire attached.

Maci whispered, You know, a lot of girls were happy about that scene in the
lunch room. Madocs slept with half the senior class, not to mention some
juniors, and he deserved what he got.

Not knowing how to respond, I just nodded. I wasnt used to people being on
my side. My responses to Jareds and Madocs antics might have changed,
but my goal to keep my head focused on school remained the same. My first
day had included too much drama already. If Id kept my head down, I
mightve escaped notice for the most part. But it was almost as if I had no
desire to be silent anymore, and my actions were inviting more trouble. What
was I doing? And why wasnt I stopping?

***

Catching up with Madame Lyon after school, I was able to get my mind off the
days events. She expected me to speak to her entirely in French now, and it
irked me that the German I learned during the summer was getting me
flustered. I kept saying things like Ich bin bien instead of Je suis trs bien.
and Danke instead of Merci. But we laughed, and it wasnt long before I got
my sea legs back.

Coach Robinson wanted us on the bleachers by 3:00, so I ran to get changed

for cross-country practice. After a year away, my spot on the team didnt exist,
but I had every intention of earning it back.

Have you had any backlash from what happened at lunch? Jess Cullen, our
captain now, questioned me as we headed for the locker room after practice.

Not yet. Im sure it will come tomorrow, though. Hopefully the Dean will go
easy on me. Ive never been in trouble before, I replied hopefully.

No, I mean from Madoc. You dont have to worry about the Dean. Jared took
care of that. She glanced back at me as we walked down the aisle to our gym
lockers.