Chapter 104 Why can not you just admit it? That you want me too?"
The silence hangs so heavy you could choke on it. Out of the corner of my eye I catch both Alex and my mom staring like they just watched a car crash. Not that Liam did anything truly insane like shove his tongue down my throat or grab my ass, but still. What he did was completely out of line.
Who the hell rips a tag off with their teeth?
I force the words out sharp. "Let us go."
Alex follows me out of the yard. I can feel him watching me careful like he is waiting for me to crack. I know he probably wants to ask what is going on between me and Liam. I do not blame him for being curious. But I am praying so hard he just drops it.
For the first few minutes of the drive neither of us says anything. Just sitting with our own thoughts. Then he opens his mouth.
"Sop, what is wrong with…"
"Nothing." I cut him off before he can finish.
Irritation burns in my chest. Great. My ball night is ruined before it even starts. I know Alex is not the one to blame here. This is all on Liam. He knew exactly what he was doing pulling that stunt in front of them. He wanted to mess with my head. Wanted to sabotage me.
"Okay." Alex shifts in his seat nervous. Eyes still on the road. "If you do not want to talk about it that is fine."
"It is not that. I just do not know where to start. It is complicated."
He glances at me quick. "We have time. Long drive."
I open my mouth but nothing comes out. I do want to talk about it. About how awful my stepbrother is. How he plays games with me. But I can not do that without explaining everything. Without dragging up memories I have been trying so hard to bury.
"I am sorry Alex." It is all I can manage.
Awkward silence fills the car again. Then he speaks up voice tight. "It is okay. Do not worry about it."
That is it. That is the moment any hope I had for a good night dies. We do not talk for the rest of the drive. When he finally pulls into the student lot I am almost relieved to escape the car.
We get out and join the crowd heading toward the Great Hall. Everyone is dressed up like they stepped out of a magazine. Fancy gowns. Expensive suits. You would think this was some charity gala instead of a high school dance.
Right at the entrance Alex stops me. "Wait Sop. I have something for you."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a corsage. A red rose fully bloomed. His face goes red as he clears his throat. "I know this is not prom and it is probably dumb. But I got this for you. I want you to have it."
I am genuinely shocked. My only real relationship was with Jordan and he was a selfish jerk. I am not used to anyone being nice to me.
"Wow." I swallow hard. "I mean thank you. Really."
He grins sheepish. "Is it too cheesy?"
"A little. Yeah." I smile. "But I love it anyway."
His smile gets bigger and he steps closer to help me put it on. But right then someone calls his name from behind.
"Hey Alex!"
We both turn. A tall Black girl is walking toward us fast. She wears a bright yellow tube-top gown and silver heels. Unlike me she moves in those things like she was born in them.
Alex's eyes go wide. "Andria? What are you doing here?"
She grins. "I promised I would come to the ball with you remember? Would not miss it."
"But college…"
"I flew back for the weekend. Made it just in time." She looks at me. "Unless I am interrupting something?"
Alex looks overwhelmed. He waves between us. "Andria this is Sophie. My friend. And Sophie this is…"
"Andria." She holds out her hand. "His ex-girlfriend. I am a year older so we probably never met. Unless you are new?"
I shake her hand. The warm feeling from the corsage drains right out of me. Replaced by something heavy and sad and humiliating. I glance at Alex. He looks nervous. Like he has no idea how to handle this.
I take off the corsage and hand it back to him.
"You should go with her Alex."
"But…"
"I mean it." I force a smile. "She flew all the way home to see you. Go. I will be fine."
Before any of us can stand here being awkward I turn and walk away.
When Alex agreed to come with me I thought the worst that could happen was we would not click and have a boring night. But life always finds a way to hit harder than you expect. Guess I was always meant to be alone tonight.
The Great Hall is packed. I spot Rossi and her friends near the drinks. They are surrounded by boys eating up their attention. They travel in packs like animals. Then I see Ms. Dave talking to Mr. Thorne by the stage. I should go say hi but I am too messed up inside to pretend to be social. So I grab a drink and look for some place to hide.
My eyes land on the space behind the big velvet curtain. Far from the dance floor and food. No one will come back there. Well maybe drunk kids looking to make out but I will be gone before that happens.
I pull open the curtain.
Someone is already there.
The boy on the floor looks up like a scared bird. Then he squints at me. "Sophie Bennett?"
I blink. "Eddie?" I remember him. The guy from the Front Office my first day.
"Yeah that is me."
He scoots over quick making room. I close the curtain behind me and sit cross legged on the floor next to him.
"What are you doing back here?" I ask. I thought he found his place by now.
He sounds bitter. "My date ditched me. Or she was not my date. I do not even know. She smiled when I asked her so I thought that meant yes. But maybe she was laughing at me. Like making fun of me."
"Tough break." I say flat. "You have to be sure next time."
"Guess treating you like garbage on my first day did not win me any points either."
We sit there in the dark listening to everything on the other side of the curtain. Mr. Thorne gives a speech. It is really good actually. When he finishes everyone claps like crazy and I clap too without thinking.
Eddie yells over the applause. "Your stepdad is amazing!"
I nod. He is a good man. So how did he end up with such a terrible son?
Music starts. The ball is officially happening.
Eddie looks at me nervous. "Hey Sophie?"
I turn.
He licks his lips. "Do you. Maybe you want to dance with me?"
I almost laugh in his face. "No. Not really. That is a hard no."
"Come on! I am sorry okay? I should not have been rude to you before. But we could go out there now. Dance together like a protest. What do you think?"
"Not great." I sniff. "Nobody cares about your protest. And you will become the next target. Stupid loser dances with the school freak. You want that?"
Instead of backing down he sits up straighter. "I am not scared. I figured out who I want to be friends with. I picked wrong before. I want to fix that."
I study his face. After a few seconds I shrug and stand up brushing off my dress.
"Fine."
His face lights up. "Really?"
"One dance. This does not mean I forgive you or support your protest. I just do not want to sit here wasting time with music playing."
He jumps up nodding like crazy. He looks like a lost puppy who finally found his way home. I hide my smile.
"Let us go."
I take his arm and pull back the curtain. Before I can even see the dance floor someone blocks my path.
I look up. Liam stands a few feet away staring at us. His eyes are cold and dark. They move from my face down to where my arm hooks through Eddie's.
His lips barely move. "Sophie. A word."
The way he looks at us makes my skin crawl. But I shake my head.
"No. I am done talking to you."
His mouth curls into something ugly. Then he looks at Eddie.
"Leave us."
Something in Eddie snaps I guess. He steps between me and Liam. "She said she does not want to talk to you!"
Bad move. Liam's face goes even colder. A muscle jumps in his jaw. He looks at Eddie like he is garbage on the sidewalk. Like he is nothing.
He looks so much like Mr. Thorne right now. Powerful. Scary.
I sigh and touch Eddie's shoulder. "It is okay. You can go."
"But—"
"Go." I say it firmer this time.
He gives me a worried look but finally walks away. Once he disappears into the crowd Liam grabs my shoulder and shoves me back behind the curtain.
I do not think. I just swing.
My hand connects with his face hard. Leaves a red mark. He does not even react. Just looks at me with that intense stare and smiles crooked.
"Alex and now that pathetic loser? You have really lowered your standards Sop."
I explode. "What do you want?! It is none of your business who I come to the ball with! Who I talk to! Who I like! Who I kiss! Just stay the fuck out of my life!"
His grip on my shoulder hurts. Fury flashes in his eyes. "It is my fucking business! You already walked away from me once! You think I will let that happen again? I will destroy anyone who gets in our way!"
I am so confused. What is he talking about? Walk away from him? When? Has he lost his mind?
"Get off me!"
I try to push him but he is too strong. He pins my wrists above my head with one hand. Grabs my chin with the other. And kisses me.
Hard.
He tears at my lips. His tongue forces against my teeth. I bite him. Taste blood. It does not stop him. He pries my mouth open and kisses me deeper.
And slowly I feel myself giving in.
Not just because he is stronger. Because I want this. Because even though I keep telling myself he is my stepbrother. Even though I know he plays games. Even though he will probably hurt me. I still want him.
Everything changed between us. I can not fight it anymore.
He is poison and I want him anyway.
My eyes fill with tears. His hot breath leaves my lips. Trails up my cheek to my ear. He bites my earlobe. Whispers rough and low.
"Sop. Why can not you just admit it? That you want me too?"
I suck in a shaky breath. Close my eyes. Because deep down I know he is right.