Saint (Angelview Academy #1) - E.M. Snow Page 0,84
“What’re you doing?”
He doesn’t answer my question, just shrugs and mumbles, “Whatever.” Turning his attention back to his book, he tries his hardest to ignore my presence.
Well, two can play at that game.
I pull out my books and spread them out in front of me, focusing in on my study materials for my upcoming test. We work in silence for some time, but I can feel the tension boiling just beneath the surface between us. He wants to say something. And he wants to say it bad.
“You know, I had a lot of respect for you when the semester started,” he finally breaks the silence, looking up at me. “You were one of the only people I’d ever met who didn’t immediately fawn over Saint like he was the goddamn prince that was promised.”
Folding my hands together on top of my books, I level him with a steely gaze.
“So, you used to have respect for me, and what about now?” I ask.
His nostrils flare with clear irritation. “Now? You’re just another bitch who sold herself out to someone who’s only going to use you to find out what makes you bleed.”
My annoyance flares and I hiss, “You don’t know anything about me and Saint. I don’t know what your problem with each other is, but you can just leave me out of it—”
“You know what my problem is?” he growls. “Fools like you who convince themselves he’s not that bad of a guy after all. That he doesn’t do terrible things to people just to get his rocks off. Not too long ago, he was torturing you for shits and giggles. Remember that?”
“I could never forget that,” I say through gritted teeth.
He chuckles, but it’s not because he finds anything funny. His laughter is dark and cruel and full of accusations. “You’re stupid for wanting to be with him, you know? All those fuckers kissing your ass right now think so too, and the moment he drops you, they’ll turn on you like rabid dogs. You thought you had it bad before? Wait until Saint gets whatever it is that he wants.”
He starts packing up his stuff, as though getting ready to leave. I’m so stunned by his words that I can only stare at him for several moments with my jaw hanging open. When he begins to storm away, I snap out of my stupor and shove to my feet to follow after him.
“I’m stupid for wanting to be with Saint, am I?” I spit, pointing at him, not giving a damn that we’re in a library. “You were his friend. If I’m stupid, what does that make you, huh?”
Stopping, he turns to glare back at me, then shrugs. “Just another fucking pawn.”
With that he circles around and storms away from me, and I stop chasing after him.
I don’t try to talk to Liam again at all before fall break. Screw him. If he’s going to be an ass, I’m not going to deal with him. I’m so ready for the break, and for campus to be empty and quiet. While I’d love to go home to visit Carley, there’s a longer winter break that I’ll return to Georgia for, and it’s simply too expensive to try and go back for both.
While I’m sure to miss Loni, and if I’m completely honest, even Saint, I’m looking forward to the time alone. I have plans to catch up on schoolwork and to begin my intensive swimming drills. And truthfully, it’ll be such a relief not to walk around and have everyone’s eyes on me. I haven’t been glared at nearly as much since it became known that Saint and I are hooking up, but people still stare at me like I’m some kind of oddity. Something they don’t quite understand but are too curious to ignore.
The first real day of break, I wake up to absolute silence, and it’s blissful. Loni and Henry both took off yesterday, and Saint’s supposed to be on a plane to New York, where he’ll be spending the break at their Manhattan home. I get out of bed and decide to head straight to the pool. Moving to my dresser, I begin digging through one of my drawers in search of my swimsuit when suddenly, my phone starts to ring. I frown, wondering who could be calling me first thing in the morning on day one of break.