Chapter 24

**Winter**

I had a wonderful rest of the morning with Nev. We hung out until my next class which he walked me to. After the class, we walked to our class together and sat next to each other with Sofia in front of us. It felt so good. I couldn’t wait to have this be my normal and not have to worry about the boys anymore. I wanted to be a normal college kid for once.

I had to make sure this plan was better than the last. I had to make it bulletproof. No way they could find out what I have done until it’s done. I couldn’t get caught in the act before it happened. I knew I had to act soon though if I wanted to keep this bliss. I could still feel Cryus’ eyes on me during the whole class. He was burning holes through my back. I knew he wasn’t happy with me. I knew more when he stopped me outside of class.

I was walking out of class. Sofia, Nev, and I had split off going in different directions to our next destination. I was headed to use the restroom when someone pulled me to the side. I was pushed hard against the wall. Two arms coming up to my head blocked me in. I looked up and it was exactly who I thought it was. Cyrus.

“What do you want?” I asked pushing against his chest. I didn’t know why I was so stupid to think that he would answer me. This wasn’t a time he was going to speak to me. Maybe I hoped I could just one time break his silence, but if people hadn’t gotten to him before I doubt I could.

He looked down at me. I was on the short side, but the boys always made me feel smaller than I was. I want to go into myself around them.

I pushed against him trying to knock him off me, but he wouldn’t budge even an inch. I moved to kick him in the shin or something. I wasn’t mean enough to kick him in the balls. I wished I was. I should be after all the things just he had done to me. He moved to the side anyway before I could hit his body. He shook his head looking at me.

“What is the point of cornering me if you aren’t going to speak to me?” I asked. “It seems really stupid you know.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. Even I knew, I was wrong. It was enough to scare me. Scare me into trying to figure out what I did wrong. I knew what I had done wrong though. It was talking to Nev. It was the same reason that he used to be upset when I talked to Rex. But why? Why would they be upset at all? Why did they want to have this weird claim over me anyway? I didn’t belong to them. I was free to do as I wanted. It was their fault I had never had a real relationship.

He moved to grab my arm, but I quickly fought back. He wasn’t going to take me anywhere. If I knew him, he was going to try and teach me a lesson. While I wasn’t going to go like this. He would never get to treat me like that ever again. I pulled back, wishing someone would pass by but of course, no one did. Of course, no one would ever catch them in the act.

“Stop this, Cyrus. I am free to do whatever I please. You shouldn’t stop me from anything.” I said, putting my foot down. I wasn’t going to keep letting them bully me around like this. He wasn’t even talking to me so how could he control me? I knew his looks were something to fear though. He had a history of violence in the past. It wasn’t pretty either. I had heard stories about it. It was before I had moved here when he was the worst. Before he had become friends with Zander and the rest of them. He was bullied pretty badly for not speaking. Who knows what would have happened if Zander and Royal hadn’t stepped in and helped him out. I always wondered if he trusted them enough to speak to them.

He shook his head as his eyes narrowed on me. “No?” I asked, confused. “I don’t belong to you. None of you. You will learn that soon enough. You all will.”

He chuckled, finally letting me go. It sent chills down my spine hearing him laugh at me. I took my chance though and finally ran off. His laughter is still echoing in my head. What did that mean? Him laughing at me like that. He didn’t think I could do it. That I could get out of their hold. I wasn’t sure if I could either. I had to try though. I would be a loser if I never tired at all. Even if I failed every step of the way. I had to think of my next move of action. This time in a way that wouldn’t get me caught until I wanted to be caught. Blackmail. I needed some good blackmail. Like they had done to me. A part of me didn’t want to sink down to their level. I knew I would never go as far as they did. I needed to do something though. I needed to get my revenge on them. Besides, do men even get the same amount of heat as women do for nudes? I don’t think they do.

I kept thinking of my plan as I walked down the hall. I was barely paying attention to where I was going when I ran into what felt like a wall. I should have known though it wasn’t a wall. It was Zander. Who decided to make football players like concrete walls