She looks down at her plate. “Fine.”

Yup. That’s the most I’m going to get out of the girl.

I twirl my spaghetti around my fork. “You should join student council.”

Truth is, I’m desperate for more members. Hell, I’m pretty sure the only reason I got voted in as president is because no one else wanted it.

And if I’m being honest with myself, I only wanted the position because it looks great on college applications.

Brie shakes her head, and that’s the end of that.

Sighing, I bring my water bottle to my mouth. “I swear it’s not as bad as you…” My sentence trails off when Brie’s blue eyes widen with fear.

Instantly, I know who’s behind me.

I spin around in my seat. “What do you want, Knox?”

My stomach rolls when I see Shadow—the freak he’s rumored to be hooking up with—draped around him.

I take in her heavy black liner, black lipstick, combat boots, the blue-green hair she’s wearing in pigtails, and the multiple piercings on her face. Why she doesn’t get in trouble for violating the dress code is anyone’s guess.

The hand Knox has curled around Shadow’s hip tightens. “Be at my jeep at three.”

“No can do.” I give him a sugary sweet smile. “I have a student council meeting after school.”

His nostrils flare with annoyance. “Of course, you fucking do.”

Slinging an arm around Shadow’s shoulders, he stalks off, but not before I hear Shadow mutter, “Nice pearls, prude.”

You’d think someone like her would understand what it’s like to be ostracized…but apparently not.

Before I can stop myself, I utter, “Isn’t it time for you to go back to your coffin, Morticia?”

Snarling, she bares her teeth at me.

I make the sign of the cross with my fingers. “May the power of Christ compel you.”

To my surprise—and delight—a few people in the cafeteria laugh.

Until Knox strides back over.

It happens so quick, I barely have time to register him picking up my plate of pasta before dumping it over my head.

Embarrassment floods my cheeks as the red sauce seeps into my hair and clothes and laughter echoes throughout the cafeteria.

Since I don’t have a spare uniform, I’m going to be stuck like this all day.

I peel a few strands of spaghetti off my skirt and throw it at him. “Asshole.”

He plucks it off his shirt and licks the sauce from his thumb. “I suggest you stop running your mouth, Stray.”

I’d rather swallow glass.

I’m about to tell him so, but he seizes my chin. “Or it will get a lot worse. Trust me.”

My eyes burn with anger as he releases his hold on me and grabs Shadow’s ass before heading for the exit.

Brie gives me a sympathetic smile. “Let’s go to the bathroom so you can clean up.”

As if my day couldn’t get any worse, the student council meeting ended up running late and the treasurer quit.

Groaning, I take my phone out and text Leo. The late bus left a little while ago, so I’m hoping he has a free minute and can give me a lift.

Aspen: Can you give me a ride home? I missed the bus.

He’s usually quick to respond, but after five-minutes pass without an answer, I head outside.

Seeing as the weather isn’t bad, I’ll just walk home.

Granted, it will take me at least an hour on foot.

I freeze when I spot Knox’s red jeep in the empty parking lot.

That’s…weird. I figured he would have left already. Especially since he has an appointment at the recruitment center.

Even though I probably shouldn’t, I walk over to his jeep anyway. The way I see it, giving me a ride home is the least he can do after dumping my lunch over my head.

I stop mid-step when I hear the sound of someone moaning, followed by, “Jesus, Knox. Your dick is so fucking big. My jaw hurts.”

Yeah, file that under things I could have gone my whole life without knowing.

A rough grunt breaks free. “Less talking, more sucking.”

Gross.

Heat rises to my cheeks and I’m about to walk away, but piercing eyes hold mine in the side mirror…almost daring me to watch.

I shouldn’t. This is disgusting.

And yet…I find myself unable to move.

I see his lips curve into a smirk before he sticks his arm out the open window and adjusts the mirror ever so slightly.

Shadow’s head bobs up and down in his lap, and the muscles in his arms flex as he threads his fingers through her blue-green hair.

I can’t see her face, but it’s obvious what she’s doing to him given the movement and all the gagging sounds she’s making.

Knox adjusts the mirror again, and all I can see is him.

His dark eyebrows pinch together before he tilts his head back against the seat and closes his eyes. His mouth parts ever so slightly, the thick vein running along the column of his neck bulging as he forces her head up and down his cock.

Suddenly, his eyes open, pinning me to the spot.

I tense, shame flushing my skin as his gaze burns a hole right through me.

He grips the side of the jeep, the vehicle now rocking as he fucks her mouth.

I swallow hard, my heart hammering in my chest.

A desperate whimper cuts through the air.

I stop breathing, humiliation rolling through me like a boulder picking up speed when I realize it wasn’t from either of them.

It was from me.

I see the corner of his mouth curve…like he knows he’s got me right where he wants me.

Fuck that.

I turn away, squeezing my eyes shut.

A moment later, I hear the jeep door open.

“What the hell, Knox?” Shadow shrieks.

“Get out,” he barks.

Jesus. Not only is he a ruthless asshole to me, he’s that way to everyone.

Shadow slinks out the passenger door, looking mad as hell.

Only her anger isn’t directed at Knox like it should be…it’s aimed at me.

“Pearl clutcher,” she hisses before she walks over to her beat-up Toyota.

I flip her the bird. “Cock sucker.”

“Get in,” Knox grunts, banging his fist on the side of his jeep. “Now.”

I should tell him to go fuck himself, but I really need a ride. Not to mention, I’m enjoying the look of contempt Elvira is giving me as I climb into the passenger seat her boyfriend just kicked her out of.