Chapter 113 113
“How did he find out?”
Jacqueline’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as she turned to Gilles. There was something almost murderous in her expression, enough to make him instinctively take a step back.
“How am I supposed to know?” he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets while watching the dramatic parade of emotions cross her face.
“You’re sure no one was there when we did the deed?” she pressed, arching a brow suspiciously.
Gilles’ jaw dropped. He stared at her, scandalized, then slowly lifted one eyebrow and leaned closer with a ridiculous, flirtatious look.
“When exactly did we ‘do the deed’?” he asked in an exaggerated deep voice.
She frowned for half a second then realization dawned.
She slapped her forehead. “Oh my God.”
“I meant when we were executing the plan, idiot. Was there anyone who saw us?” she clarified, forcing her tone into something resembling calm.
Gilles tapped his finger against his jaw, pretending to think. Each passing second stretched her patience thinner.
“Nope.” He popped the ‘p’ smugly.
Her eyes narrowed further.
“Are you sure you didn’t tell him?” she ground out.
“WHAT?” Gilles practically screeched, his voice echoing down the hallway. Students nearby paused and turned to stare.
If rage could produce smoke, Jacqueline would’ve been a chimney.
“Don’t you people have lives?” Gilles snapped at the onlookers until they scoffed and turned away.
Then he faced her again. “Listen, sweetcheeks. I value my life. Do you seriously think I’d walk up to that guy and say, ‘Hey man, my psycho friend and I put itching powder in your uniform so you’d embarrass yourself in front of the coach, but I’m feeling generous so I’m warning you’? He would’ve rearranged my face.”
He exhaled dramatically. “God, talking nonstop like you is exhausting. Next time, warn me before I go on a rant.”
She punched his arm.
Hard.
“Ow! That actually hurts!” he whined, rubbing the spot.
“That arrogant jerk walked straight up to me,” she hissed, “dropped his powdered uniform at my feet, and then just walked away like some victorious villain.”
Gilles stared at her for a beat.
Then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered, slamming her locker shut and marching toward class.
She hadn’t gone far when Thérèse intercepted her mid-hallway.
“Don’t tell me you lost again,” Thérèse gasped theatrically.
Jacqueline stopped.
Slowly.
Her jaw clenched as she turned her head toward Gilles, who suddenly looked like a deer caught in headlights.
“You told them?” she growled.
She yanked out her phone and opened the group chat.
Two minutes ago, Gilles had sent a detailed recap of yesterday’s humiliation.
Followed by a storm of laughing emojis.
“YOU!” she roared.
Gilles bolted.
Jacqueline sprinted after him without hesitation.
“Guys! I’m in heels! Slow down!” Thérèse shrieked from somewhere behind them.
They tore down the hallway like lunatics.
Gilles suddenly tripped and fell face-first onto the floor, unleashing a colorful string of curses.
Jacqueline doubled over laughing.
A group of girls nearby began giggling. Gilles, quick-thinking as ever, immediately flipped onto his hands and started doing pushups.
He sprang up smoothly, winked at the girls.
They blushed.
Jacqueline scoffed loudly.
He shot her a glare. She returned it with equal venom.
“You!” he growled, preparing to charge again.
Jacqueline didn’t wait. She dashed toward her classroom
and suddenly someone grabbed her arm.
She was yanked sideways into an empty classroom before she could react.
Her back slammed into the wall, knocking the air from her lungs.
“Well, well… where are you running, little girl?”
That voice.
Cold. Amused. Dangerous.
Benoît Rousseau.
A senior.
A bully.
A menace who had taken an unhealthy interest in her.
He pinned one of her wrists against the wall in a bruising grip.
“Move,” she snarled, like a cornered lioness.
He tilted his head, a slow, sinister chuckle slipping from his lips.
“My, my. Feisty, aren’t we?”
He leaned closer.
Every nerve in her body trembled, but she refused to let fear show on her face.
“Let me go, Benoît,” she warned in a low, lethal tone. “Or I’ll report you.”
His smirk only widened.
“Go ahead. Tell them, babe.”
He moved even closer, his breath fanning across her skin. It made her want to crawl out of her own body.
She struggled harder, but his grip tightened painfully around her wrist.
“Guys,” Benoît called over his shoulder, “what should we do with this little girl?”
Her heart plummeted.
He wasn’t alone.
Two figures stepped out of the darker corner of the room.
Her legs began to shake.
“We could touch her,” one of them suggested.
“Or maybe see her naked,” the other added.
Ice flooded her veins.
Her breathing grew erratic as she fought to hold back tears. Her body trembled despite her effort to stay composed.
“HELP! HEL”
Benoît’s hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her scream.
The other two moved closer.
She shoved against him with everything she had, but he barely budged.
Her body felt frozen.
Her thoughts frozen.
This was it.
This was how everything would shatter.
The classroom door suddenly burst open with a violent bang.
A tall, imposing figure filled the doorway like a storm given human form.
“Get the fuck away from her.”
The deep, furious growl echoed through the room.
Jacqueline’s heart stopped.
Her eyes widened.
She knew that voice.