Saint (Angelview Academy #1) - E.M. Snow Page 0,100

about it. That means he knew I was here. Did he intentionally seek me out? Apply for this job, knowing I’d be a student?

So many questions are running through my mind that I almost miss what Laurel says next. Her words manage to latch onto my attention, though, with her last piece of advice.

“All right, everyone. Have a safe Winter Break, and remember, stay away from drugs.”

My entire body stiffens. It’s such a random thing for her to say. Such a random warning to give. It doesn’t make sense in the context of the rest of her speech, talking about winter sports schedules and test make-up opportunities. There are no other warnings about alcohol or unprotected sex.

Just drugs.

I know where this is going even before she turns her cruel, triumphant glare towards me.

“Doing drugs can have terrible consequences, as Mr. Porter is tragically all too aware of.”

I turn my eyes to Saint, but he’s still not looking at me, and now I can see that it’s intentional. My heart begins to crack at the realization of what’s happening.

“A year ago, Mr. Porter’s younger brother tragically died in a fire caused by a drug lab exploding.” With each word Laurel speaks, I go a little number inside. “James Porter was the quarterback of his high school’s winning football team. He had a bright future ahead of him, and it was sadly stolen because of drugs.”

Look at me, Saint. Goddamn look at me!

Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Laurel is going on with her talk, and I ready myself for the coming blow because I know I can’t stop it now, not even if I try to leave. She wants her pound of flesh, and she’s about to claim it.

“But James Porter did not die because he himself was using drugs. No, he died a hero.” Laurel is upping the drama. Making it hurt so much more as she slowly twists the knife in my heart. “He was trying to save one of our own, Mallory Ellis, and her unborn baby from the unsafe living environment her mother had created for her. With the grace of God, though, the entire Porter family has chosen to forgive Jennifer Ellis for her crimes.”

The room goes very still as the information is absorbed by the masses. Slowly, people begin to turn to stare at me in shock. Then, a low murmur begins to fill the room as the whispers start up. I ignore them all, though. Their pettiness and disgust don’t matter right now.

I just keep staring at Saint, who hasn’t flinched, hasn’t moved a muscle the entire time he’s been up there.

He did this. He caused this all to happen. I trusted him with my secrets, and he betrayed me worse than anyone has in my entire life.

Worse than Jenn.

Worse than Dylan.

My heart is shattering, and I can’t stop it. I don’t feel the pain because my body is shutting down. It knows I can’t handle what’s happening. Knows I’ll go insane if I feel everything my mind wants me to feel right now.

He and Laurel had done some digging. I told him about James and the fire, but that was only hours ago. I hadn’t spoken a word about the baby. My baby. My baby that I’d barely had time to come to terms with before he was lost.

I tear my gaze from Saint to look at Dylan, and he’s still staring at me. He doesn’t look satisfied or vindicated. Doesn’t look furious or hateful.

He looks cold.

Emotionless.

As if nothing fazes him anymore.

I suppose I can’t blame him for hating me. After all, James wasn’t the only person I took from him.

That’s my worst secret. The one no one knows. Not even Carley.

She always assumed the baby was James’, but it wasn’t.

No, the baby that I lost, the baby that I dreaded even having, was Dylan’s.

32

I hold my head high as I hurry from the auditorium. I need to get the fuck out of here.

“Let’s see the track marks, meth slut!”

“Did you overdose and kill your baby?”

“Trailer trash bitch!”

“I wish you’d have died in that fire.”

The taunts of my fellow students chase me out in the cool evening air. I can’t let them see how shaken I am. I can’t let them think I’m weak. Moving forward, I ignore their jeers and cruel words as best I can, though I can feel tears burning the backs of my eyes, trickling down my numb face, falling to