I’ll deal with you later.”
Michael lets out a huff and pulls his phone out of his pocket as he walks to the door. He’s clearly not worried at all.
Probably because they’re not going to do anything.
“You can’t beat up another student, no matter what the reason,” Mr. Davis says to me.
I glare at the man, my insides boiling. “Just give me my punishment so I can go make sure my friend is okay.”
“You need to meet with Dr. Montgomery to talk about that temper of yours.”
“Okay.”
“Next time you pull a stunt like this, I’m suspending you.”
“Fine.”
“Get to class.”
Not a chance in hell.
I get up, and as I leave the office, I glare at Michael. “We’re not done.”
“Aww, are you asking me on a date?” Michael taunts me, an egotistical smirk pulling at his bloody lip.
“After school,” I mutter.
“Michael, get in here,” Mr. Davis calls out.
“Devil’s Bluff,” Michael says, way too confident after the beating I just gave him.
I hurry out of the building, and pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call Brie’s number, but it goes to voicemail. I notice her bag at the foot of the steps and pick it up.
Glancing around the area, I don’t see her anywhere, and I rush to my truck. When I climb in, my phone chimes with a message. Seeing it’s from Brie, I open it quickly.
Thank you for everything.
My phone vibrates again as another message comes through from her.
I’m sorry.
“No.” I start the engine and drive as fast as I can while I keep calling her number. “Don’t do this, Brie.”
Don’t let me be too late.
Fuck, I should’ve gone after her immediately.
God.
Not again.
Please, not again.
I speed down our street and almost roll the truck when I turn into Brie’s driveway. I hope she didn’t go somewhere else.
Shit, I don’t know what I’ll do then.
Luckily the front door isn’t locked, and pushing it open, I dart inside. When I reach the foot of the stairs, I hear Brie’s mother tauntingly say, “Put me out of my misery and do it already. It will be quick.”
I rush up the stairs and follow the sound of Brie’s mother’s voice. “Just tie it around your neck. You’re so goddamn pathetic you can’t even do this right.”
I dart into the room, and the world is ripped from under my feet when I see a belt tied inside the closet, and Brie’s gripping the end of it with both her hands. She’s sobbing uncontrollably, and her mother is standing behind her.
“Get out!” I shout, and grabbing hold of the hideous woman, I drag her to the door and shove her so hard she falls into the hallway. I slam the door shut, and when I turn to Brie, her eyes are on me, fear and shame, making her look devastated. “Brie.” Her name is nothing but a plea on my lips.
“L-l-leave,” she stammers through the sobs wracking her.
“No.” I move closer, and it makes a pained look flash over her face.
The door slams open, and Brie’s bitch of a mother glares at me. “How dare you! I’ll call the police.”
I walk back to her, and not caring that I’m threatening a woman, I growl, “Call them. We’ll show them the cuts on her head and tell them what an abusive bitch you are. I’m sure you’d look great in orange.”
My words hit the spot because she steps back from me, sneering, “You’re both so damn dramatic. It’s not like she’ll actually go through with it. God give me strength!”
I shove her out of the room, growling, “Get the fuck out.”
I turn back to Brie and see that she’s still holding on to the belt. I slowly inch closer until I’m right outside the closet and hold a hand out to Brie. “Please don’t. I can help you.”
Brie shakes her head. “You s-saw it.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I keep my hand stretched out to her. “Please, Brie.”
“It matters to me,” she whispers, tightening her grip on the belt.
God, what can I say to make her calm down?
“Remember what we spoke about last night? You have me,” I remind her of the moment we shared. “You’re not alone anymore.”
I see the hesitation in her eyes and take another step forward until I can reach her hands. Wrapping mine around hers, I pull them away from the belt.
Her sobs grow harder as I pull her out of the closet, and the moment I’m able to wrap my arms around her, the suffocating hold that was crushing my heart eases a