Chapter 13 Chapter: 13
SHEPHERD
Brighton Academy was a hub for the affluent kids to make a lifelong connection with each other. It has a sixty year old history. Half of its students are alumni kids.
Meaning their parents and grandparents had once walked the hallways and lived here until they finally graduated.
Brighton’s Saturday night parties weren’t just parties. They were statements. Who you arrived with. Who you drank with. Who you left with. Every move was a message to the rest of the school, power disguised as fun.
Usually, I didn’t mind it. I liked the noise, the music, the chaos. I especially like the sex with the girl of my choice.
It made it easy not to think. Just distractions, girls, booze and music. But tonight, all I could think about was her.
Shrimp.
The HUB was a place me and the guys had advocated for a year ago. As the student President, I'd demanded we get one day in each term where we can party and relieve the stress of school life.
I'd rally up the students and we'd all protested about the lack of social life for weeks. The school management had finally relented but with a few caveats put in place. No sex, no drinking of alcohol and at least two staff will act as chaperones.
I'd of course accepted and then I'd made a deal with the staff behind closed doors. They let us do whatever the fuck we wanted and I pay them handsomely for that. It's amazing what money can buy you even at a place like this.
As always the HUB was already packed when I walked in bass thumping, disco ball lights flashing gold, blue and red against the marble walls while certain corners were shadowed.
Girls and boys grinding, half drunk and lost to the music. I spotted Nathan almost as fast as he spotted me.
“Finally! The Pres is here!” the DJ yelled. Everyone shouts, before they get back to whatever they were doing.
Nate handed me a glass of whiskey. I took it, scanning the crowd. “Who’s here?”
“The usual,” he said. “Everyone, half the cheer team,…” He followed my gaze, smirking. “And your favorite maid and her cute friend.”
My jaw tightened. “She’s not my…” I started.
Nathan laughed. “You’re right. She’s just the only girl you’ve looked at for longer than five seconds and have been tormenting for weeks.” I ignored him, but my eyes had already found her.
And fuck I couldn't look away.
Addison stood near the back, laughing with her roommate Jess and some girls I barely spared a glance.
I didn't expect her to be here.
She wore a simple silver dress that hugged her in all the right places and somehow managed not to look too flashy, or loud, but enough to make my pulse trip and my dick to twitch.
She didn’t belong in this world of wolves, she was Bambi and I'm the wolf.
And right now I'm not the only one staring at her like she's a fucking dessert. For the past couple of weeks I'd kept the boys at bay.
Obviously now that I'm healed they all assume our deal was over which to them made her approachable. And that pisses me the fuck off. Because I'm not even close to being done with Addison.
I already hate how all the guys were staring at her. Talking to her and eye fucking her. And clearly she didn't even know what she was doing to half the guys here.
My eyes narrowed on Jake, the guy everyone knows was a man whore. This might feel like a case of pot calling the kettle black but it's not.
I never gave the girls hope, they already know I don't date but Jake dates every girl that gives him the time of day.
I try to stay away, pretending I didn't see her lest I prove the guys were right about me. Drinking and listening to the guys while the girls hang around us like bees to honey.
I brought my drink to my lips and I couldn't take it anymore. My eyes flicked to where she was standing near the patio door.
That fucking bastard Jake was leaning a little too close to her for my liking, whispering something as he put his hand around her.
My pulse hammered and I fisted my hand as he leaned even closer. Where the fuck are her friends? I looked away for a moment and suddenly she's left a lone with that fucking asshole. Addison tried to move away but he wouldn't let go.
Fucking asshole! I was already moving before I realized it.
“Pres,” Cole muttered behind me, “Where are you....” He followed my line of sight and scowled. “Shepherd don't, let me handle this.”
But it was too fucking late.
“Having fun?” I asked smoothly as I reached her, dragging her to my side. My voice was calm, my grin was all teeth.
Startled, her eyes widened with my territorial claim. “Um….” she swallowed. “What are you doing?”
“Isn't it obvious, I need my maid,” I flash her a grin. She blinked, eyes wide and confused.
“Hey, Pres,” the dumb asshole started. “we were just talking.” I look him dead in the eye.
“And now you're done,” I growled. “Take your friends and get the fuck out of here.”
Jake looked confused, “Are you serious, man?”
“Do I look like I'm fucking joking? Leave now!” The music has stopped everyone staring in silence.
“Look man, I wasn't doing anything wrong, we were just having a conversation, right Addison?”
“Shepherd…” I glared at her, my hand tightening around her small waist and instantly she clamped her mouth shut.
“Leave. Now.” One glance at my murderous expression and Jake decided the conversation wasn’t worth dying over.
“Sure whatever.” He talked to a couple of guys before they finally walked off, Addison yanked herself from me and crossed her arms on her chest.
“Really? What the hell was that?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“What?” I asked, before taking another sip of my drink.
“You didn’t have to kick him out, you know. And his friends, what did they even do to you?” Is she fucking serious?
“I didn't like their ugly faces.” She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“Is that why you glared at him like you were about to set him on fire, just because you don't like his face?”
“Yes and because they have no sense of style.” I smirked as her mouth parts and closes as she tries to find the right words.
“You're an asshole,” she hissed and stormed off. I couldn't help chuckling as I followed her tight little body with my eyes.
“Hey Pres,” a redhead I was sure I'd had sex with greeted, her hands tracing over body. “Want to go upstairs? You look like you're stressed.” I flash her a grin.
“You got something new for me?” I arched my brows. “Cause if not, let me remind you I don't do seconds.” Her smile was instantly gone as she glared at me then stormed away.
“Fuck’s sake, don’t ruin the night for me and the boys. You don’t throw a party if you’re not planning to get laid. You just crush that girl, now it's one chick less,” Asher snapped beside me.
He was dressed to party, his hand holding a glass of whiskey. I ignored him and soon enough he was dragged away by a blonde girl.
For the next hour I drank and I tried not to stare in her direction or pay her any mind. But somehow my eyes always go back to searching for her in the crowds.
The next time I saw her was in the direction of the kitchen so I followed and found her in front of the refrigerator.
Opening a bottle of water before she starts drinking. She didn't notice me watching her standing right behind her.
Drawn I didn't know when I tucked back a clump of hair that fell over her eyes as she was drinking. Her eyes flew up, widened and instantly she choked, spraying water.
“Fuck!” I swore clapping her back until her cough subsided
“What is wrong with you? How could you sneak up on me like that?”
“I didn't, I own this house. I don't have to sneak around.”
“Right, of course. Listen I didn't want to be here but since I was I'm going to have fun and you're not going to ruin it for me understand?” She didn't wait for my answer, just turned around and left me frowning.
So I stayed away, but kept her in my peripheral vision. I watched her drink and dance with her friends like some fucking creep while pretending to ignore her.
Then I saw her with Asher and her friend Jess laughing about something I couldn't hear.
My eyes narrowed on Asher, I need to keep an eye on that asshole. I can keep the others away easily but Asher is a whole other problem unless I take drastic action he won't give up easily.
It was sometime later that I saw her going upstairs. She was mumbling, probably cursing my name and what a horrible person I was. Could be.
I trail after her in the hallway, stalking, watching her stumble a little.
I hurried up when she neared my bedroom door and pushed her right inside the room pining her so fast against the door she screamed.
I slammed my hand over her mouth, cutting her off before she brought people here. Her brown eyes were so wide with shock as she stared up at me.