Chapter 30 BACKED INTO A CORNER
MERRIELYNN.
I was thinking about joining the school paper, hoping it would help me focus more on my...education.
Graduation felt so far away, and I wanted to get there without any bumps in the road.
As Emorie and I loaded up our trays in the busy cafeteria, I sighed and told her, “The headmaster suggested I get involved in more extracurriculars anyway.”
Emorie raised an eyebrow, teasing me a bit. “Oh wow. What’s next, you gonna join the cheerleading squad next?”
I rolled my eyes, but inside, I felt a bit bitter. It seemed so unfair that someone like Cormac, could be part of the football team so easily—The most revered extracurricular this school had to offer.
While I was struggling to find my niche.
My heart was all about my books—they took me to another world—but here I was, trying to fit into whatever space I could find, just like I had been doing since my first day at Pinnthorpe.
“Maybe the school paper isn’t such a bad idea,” I muttered, trying to convince myself. “At least I’d be doing something that actually matters.”
Emorie nodded.
“And as for the committee, you know,” I told Emorie, trying to sound casual as I grabbed a fork. “They roped me into it without me even signing up. It’s ridiculous.”
Emorie chuckled, “Well, at least you’re not alone. I’m part of the school paper, and I just found out I’m doing volunteer work too. It’s like we’re both overachievers now.”
I felt a pang of inadequacy. Come graduation time, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d pale in comparison to everyone else. “Yeah, but you actually enjoy that stuff,” I said, frustration slowly creeping into my voice.
“Mere, you might not even like working at the paper,” Emorie pointed out gently.
“Forget about it, I’m joining,” I snapped, cutting her off. I was determined, even if it was just to prove to myself that I could fit in somewhere.
Once we got our food, we headed outside to eat. We never really ate in the cafeteria; it was always too crazy in there. Plus, that was where Cormac and his crew sat every day, and I didn’t want to deal with that.
As we stepped outside, I looked around for a table, realizing it was busier than usual today. “Looks like we’re not the only ones trying to escape the chaos inside,” I noted, still looking around.
“Beats me!” Em exclaimed as she looked around too. “I mean, where did all these people come from?”
While walking around, we saw a table with four girls, and in the middle, Juniper was sitting, tears streaming down her face. She hiccuped between sobs, saying, “He didn’t even ask for an explanation, he just ended things. Again. After everything we’ve been through.”
Her cries grew louder, and Emorie and I exchanged glances.
My mind was spinning as I tried to make sense of it all. I didn’t even need to ask; it was clear who she was talking about.
Cormac.
And I was guessing he dumped her.
I pursed my lips, refusing to let myself consider why.
Overwhelmed by the emotions in the air, Em and I decided to eat inside to avoid the drama in the courtyard.
“I’m not sticking around to find out the details,” I said under my breath as we went back inside.
“Honestly, I’m curious,” Em muttered, stifling a laugh.
After lunch, we ran into Valtor.
He greeted us with that same bright smile he had at the party, his eyes lighting up when he saw us. “Funny to see you guys around,” he said, but then his words trailed off as his gaze dropped down to my chest.
I felt a mix of embarrassment and confusion as I wondered what he was thinking.
His eyes narrowed, and he fell silent, his gaze slid up back to my face. Before I could react, he grabbed my arm in a firm grip and pulled me into the nearest classroom.
“Hey!” Emorie called out, but I was gripped with fear, unsure what was happening.
The door slammed shut behind us, echoing ominously in the empty space. And Valtor shoved me against the wall, the impact jolting me as I struggled to process what was going on.
“What game are you playing?” he demanded in a low and threatening voice. I could hardly breathe, still reeling from the sudden turn of events. Rubbing my arm where it had hit the wall, I looked up at him, shock and worry swirling in my chest. What the hell was happening?
Valtor strode toward me, his eyes burning with an intensity that made my heart race. He reached for the pendant hanging from my necklace, his fingers wrapping around it with a force that sent a shiver down my spine.
In one swift motion, he ripped it from my neck.
I gasped, a sharp cry escaping my lips as the sting radiated through my skin. I instinctively gripped my throat where the pendant had been, my heart pounding in my ears. Valtor held it up, the metal shining under the fluorescent lights. “You’ve been playing us this whole time, haven’t you?”
Fear replaced my shock as I watched him, the absolute rage on his face gave me the creeps. I opened my mouth to protest, but no words came out.
The confusion must have been evident on my face because he laughed, though there was no humor in it. “How did you get this fucking necklace then?” he pressed.
Still clutching my neck, a tear slid down my cheek. The students at Pinnthorpe were crazy, and Cormac might just be the worst of them, but it seemed like his best friend wasn’t so far behind.
“Answer me!” he shouted, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife.
My voice shook as I said, “I can’t remember.”
“You’re a liar!” he roared in anger. He stepped closer, making me press my back against the wall. He dangled the necklace in front of me, seething with rage. “Tell me who gave it to you! Stop pretending and just tell the truth!”
I cried out, squeezing my eyes shut, my voice trembling as I repeated, “I don’t remember.”
Then, there was silence. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the worst. I could hear his heavy breathing while all I did was tremble.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw him studying me, his expression shifting a bit.
“Take it back,” he said, holding out the necklace, a mix of anger and something else in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place.
I looked between him and the necklace, my heart racing. In that moment, I pushed away from the wall and bolted from the room.