Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,57

go back on your word, I'll be the one you have to watch out for at school, you hear me?” she threatens. And just like that, Tatum's back in bitch mode.

I can't resist riling her up, because I'm not the little mouse she thinks I am. “I have a feeling that if I did go back on my word, you wouldn't be able to touch me,” I muse. Roman and Khristos would never allow it. At least I don't think. Not if I go by what she just told me.

Her eyes narrow.

“It's not fun being on the other side, is it?” I ask as I deliberately smirk the way she has a tendency to smirk at me.

Recognition flares in her eyes. “You might start to grow on me. You have a long ways to go before I upgrade you to 'like' status, though.” She shoots me a look before she turns and saunters off.

I fight back a grin. I have to admit, I kind of like our banter now that I know she's not a complete bitch. She just put herself on the line by being honest with me. It's something I won't forget. And ironically enough, I'm coming to realize that I feel more alive here in Cherry Creek than I had back in Missouri. Back home, everything had been just a routine that I'd grown accustomed to. Wake up, go to school, go home, go to work, maybe hang with Brad, go to bed. I hadn't done anything exciting, and Brad had been the type who was always playing football or video games. We spent a lot of time at the apartment or at his house. We didn't even go to parties. Well, he did, but I didn't, because I worked a lot. Not that I'll ever admit it to Khristos, but every day here is a new one, and I'm always curious as to what the day will bring.

Unbelievable.

I'm actually starting to like it here.

***

My conversation with Tatum haunts me the rest of the evening during my shift, and slowly my mood begins to darken. Why would the other teenagers at school not like me? It has something to do with the Deveroux's, but what? Now that I know I won't be easily accepted at school, I feel anxious to contact my mom. My life with her might have been a bit boring and repetitive compared to the life I lead now, but at least no one had issues with me at school. I have my entire senior year to get through. I can't imagine being stuck at a school where people openly dislike me.

As if my conversation with Tatum isn't enough to dampen my mood, Selena asks me to stay late and help her with some inventory. Around nine she sends me on my way while she decides to stay another hour.

By the time I step out of the store and walk across the now empty parking lot, my head is pounding horribly. My car is the only car left in the back of the lot except for Selena's little, white car parked two spaces down. I can't help but wince as my temples throb intensely. Why won't it stop? Nothing I take for the headaches help anymore. I'm halfway to my car when a sharp pain in my right temple causes me to clutch my head as I stagger, then I drop to my knees as an imaginary knife seems to tear into my temple.

A whimper escapes me as I kneel in the parking lot, unable to do anything but cradle my head. Small rocks from the pavement dig into my bare knees as the pain in my head grows debilitating. I can barely function as I huddle there, drawing in jagged breaths as the pain continues on and on.

“Livvy.” I hear Trace's voice from out of nowhere, and his arms wrap around me, drawing me up against his solid chest. “It'll pass soon. Just try to relax,” he says grimly.

I'm in so much pain that it's impossible to enjoy the feel of his warm arms around me or his body pressing into mine. “Hurts,” I mumble as I cradle my throbbing head in my hands.

“I know,” he says as he rubs my back. “It'll fade, I promise. Just don't fight it. The more you fight the pain, the longer it lasts.”

I try to pull my thoughts together, because the things he's saying bother me, but my mind is a jumbled mess thanks to the