Chapter 26 Against Her Will
Mayzie let out a heavy sigh as she dropped her backpack onto the stairs and pulled out her sandwich. She stared at the large tree in the distance, feeling a wave of anger wash over her. She took a big bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chewing fast and hard. She hadn’t been able to focus on class all morning, and right now, she wasn't in the mood for anything — especially not her schoolwork.
She felt guilty for leaving Clyde to fend for himself at his classroom door, but she couldn’t hold his hand all day. She had felt that same protective streak for Bellatrix when she first started, even walking her to a few classes to make sure she was okay.
"Hey."
Mayzie's head snapped up. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was the very person she was mad at. With her mouth full of bread and peanut butter, she couldn't even tell him to get lost.
Dalton grinned, clearly realizing why she wasn't answering. He shoved his hands into his pockets and climbed the stairs toward her. He sat down across from her, leaning back against the railing with a sigh. Mayzie tried to stand up to leave, but he quickly hooked his legs around hers, forcing her to stay put.
"Sorry," he muttered.
Mayzie looked at his bruised cheek and split lip — the only signs he’d been in a fight. She remembered that Clyde's face looked much worse, and her temper flared again.
"You're a jerk!" she snapped the moment she swallowed her food.
Dalton didn’t look angry; he actually looked surprised that she hadn't tried to kick him yet. "I know," he replied.
His honesty caught her off guard. "What part of 'stay away from me' don't you understand?"
He turned his head to look through the railings at the building across the quad, watching students come and go. "I won't stay away. No matter how much you push me."
"You don't even know me!" Mayzie yelled. She shoved at his legs, and when they didn't move, she reached down and gave his leg hair a sharp tug.
"Ow!" Dalton growled, pulling back.
Mayzie jumped up and grabbed her bag, but Dalton was faster. He stood up and caught her wrists, pinning her against the wall with her hands above her head. In the scuffle, Mayzie's lunch slipped and tumbled down the stairs.
"Crap," she whispered, watching it fall. For a second, she completely forgot he was holding her.
"I’ll buy you lunch in the cafeteria," he said quietly, looking at the ruined sandwich.
The reality of the situation hit her. She looked at Dalton, remembering the last time he had her pinned like this. "Let go of me," she hissed.
"No," he growled back. "Not literally, and definitely not metaphorically."
She tried to knee him, but he blocked her with his thigh. He leaned his forehead against hers, keeping her trapped.
"Get off me!" she screamed.
"I said I was sorry!"
"Sorry doesn't fix anything! Clyde is covered in bruises because of you!"
"I already apologized to him!" he shouted back.
Mayzie went quiet. "What... what did he say?"
"He forgave me."
Mayzie stared at him, her eyes full of doubt.
"Don't believe me? Ask him yourself." He looked deep into her eyes, and her disbelief slowly began to fade. "I won't hit your friends ever again. I’m sorry."
"Sorry isn't enough."
He nodded, his forehead brushing against hers. "I know. I'll make it up to you. Tell me what you want, and I'll do it."
"I want you to leave me alone."
"No. Something else."
She shook her head. "I don't want anything else."
Those words seemed to hurt him. Mayzie felt his grip on her wrists loosen. Just as she thought he was about to step away, his hold tightened again. "Then I'll give you something you don't want."
"What do you mean?" her voice cracked.
"Clothes, jewelry, all that stuff you said you didn't need. It’s yours. Consider it an apology."
She sighed in relief. "Oh, that. No, thanks. I don't want your gifts, and I don't want your attention. This isn't sweet or charming, Dalton. You're just a spoiled brat who throws a fit when things don't go his way. I'm not one of your toys." She started to struggle again.
He grabbed both her wrists with one hand and used the other to tilt her face up. "I don't think you're a toy," he hissed. "And don't lump me in with every other rich person you hate. I haven't done that to you."
She stopped moving and stared at him. "You're... you're right. But so far, you've acted exactly like the people I'm talking about."
"I'm not great at expressing myself," he admitted, his voice softening. "And you aren't exactly easy to please."
His grip on her jaw loosened, and he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. His gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth.
"Don't even think about it," Mayzie warned.
Dalton smirked. "Has he kissed you yet?"
"Yes," she snapped, trying to scare him off. "We've done way more than a kiss." She realized too late she was thinking about Alonso, while he was definitely talking about Clyde.
He looked back at her eyes. "Doesn't matter. Eventually, you’ll be mine."
She snorted. "In your dreams."
His lips brushed against hers — a ghost of a kiss — before he stepped back with a cocky grin. Mayzie dropped her arms, annoyed and too embarrassed to say anything. He pulled out his wallet and offered her some cash.
"Here. Go get something to eat."
"I don't want your money!"
"I ruined your lunch," he said, nodding toward the stairs. "It’s not a gift; it's just me paying for my mistake."
Mayzie glared at him but snatched the bill. She was too hungry to keep arguing. She watched him start to walk away, feeling like he had won this round. But just as she accepted defeat, he turned back, grabbed her face, and kissed her again; much deeper this time. Before she could react, he was jogging down the stairs, laughing.
"Ugh!" she yelled. She picked up the ruined sandwich and chucked it at him. It missed as he turned the corner. She grabbed her bag and chased after him, smacking him in the back with it.
Dalton stumbled forward, still smirking. "What? Miss me already?"
"No!" she screamed. "Don't kiss me! It makes me want to barf!"
"If you missed me that much, let's just eat together." He walked toward her, but she jumped back.
He started chasing her around the small grassy patch by the stairs. Every time he got close, she darted away. Mayzie realized she was starting to giggle and tried to stop herself. While she was distracted, he looped an arm around her waist and hoisted her up. He carried her like a piece of luggage toward the quad.
"Put me down!" she yelled, though the laughter in her voice gave her away. She swiped at him with her backpack.
"No," he laughed back, and for the first time, they were both smiling.