Heather

"I’m so sorry, Heather," he whispered. "It was an accident. I didn’t mean to do it. God! Please know that I—"

Music spilled out from the house as the screen opened behind me. Bella, Carlos, and the other guys that I’d taken the shot with came outside.

"Heather. Where’d you disappear—" Carlos stopped mid-sentence as he looked back and forth between Brent and me. "Is he bothering you?"

"I don’t know," I said.

I really had no clue what the hell was going on. My mind was stuck on one thing. It had been an amazing kiss. The best I could ever imagine a kiss being. Even now, in pain, I’d do it again. No doubt. Something in the core of me needed him, and from the looks of him right now, the feeling was mutual.

When it came to Brent, all I had were questions. And attraction. But mostly questions.

Carlos and his friends were closing the distance. I pulled my glove back on before any of them got closer. The last thing I needed was another vision.

I glanced back to Brent unsure of how he wanted to play this off. Tears shimmered in his eyes. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The sight took my breath away. I was hurt and pissed, rightfully so, but there was nothing to cry about here.

At least I hoped there wasn’t.

"I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t mean...I can’t..." Then he melted into the darkness.

What the hell. Why would he do that—kiss me like that—and then just run away.

"That guy is one fine piece of meat," Bella said.

Her words brought me back to reality.

Suddenly I was jealous, and I didn’t like that one bit.

"Bella," Carlos said sharply. He really didn’t like the St. Francis’s guys.

This was a nightmare. Now I was standing there, bleeding, hurting, and any hopes I had of a good reputation were destroyed. These guys were going to think I was a slut.

Bella scoffed as she walked over to me. "What? I’m not allowed to look just because he’s one of them?" She stopped short. "Oh my God. Are you bleeding?"

"It’s no big deal. It’s only a scratch."

She took a couple of steps back.

"There’s blood on her shoulder too," Carlos said. He turned a sickly color of green and swallowed.

This wasn’t the reaction I was expecting from them. Why were they freaking out about the blood?

"Holy shit. That was one of the guys from St. Francis’s," one of the other boys said, clearly a bit slow on the uptake. He took a step away from me.

"Kind of," I said, trying to downplay it. "Look I know the people from there are supposed to be dangerous, but he’s already graduated, so I’m sure he’s all reformed or whatever."

The boy smirked. "It’s not a reform school. It’s a school for—"

"Shut up," Carlos said and glanced at Bella. "Take her home. She’s not welcome here anymore."

There was no stopping the gasp. "I don’t understand. I’m hurt here and you haven’t even asked if I’m okay or offered up any sort of first aid."

Carlos and Bella didn’t even acknowledge me. "I don’t want that in my car," Bella whined.

"I’m not a that. I’m a person!" They’d lost their minds. And I had apparently become invisible since no one was paying attention to anything I said.

"Tough shit. You brought her." Spit flew from Carlos’ mouth as he yelled. "You’re responsible for her. Take. Her. Home. Now. And don’t you dare think about making her walk. If she changes tonight out in the open, it’d be on your head." He strode back into the house, the other boys close on his heels.

"Hey! I’m right here!" The sound of the door slamming shut made my stomach knot. That was the sound of my social status at Cedar Ridge High going from cool to freak in no time flat.

"Let’s go." She stormed off toward the cars.

I broke the uncomfortable silence as we got in the car. "I don’t understand. Why is it such a big deal?"

"You don’t understand." She rolled her eyes.

"Weren’t you told to stay away from St. Francis’s guys?"

Mr. Langdon did say that. "But Brent is totally normal."

Her laugh was harsh. "No. No, he’s not."

I shivered. I was missing something, something huge. "What aren’t you telling me?"

"You’ll find out soon enough." She pulled over at my house. "Get out," she said without even looking at me.

"Fine. Thanks for a great time. Really cool, Bella." I hopped out and slammed the door.