Enforce(37)

“I listen to Chase.”

“Ha, Chase likes your girl, so I think those days are long gone.”

My gut twisted. She was so right it was scary. “I’ll see ya, sis.”

“Later, loser.”

Ten minutes later, and I still felt like the loser she’d called me. I was leaning against the wall, waiting for a girl to walk by. Right. My world had officially crashed and burned. What the hell was I doing?

Trace was staring at the ground, slowly making her way down the hall, her face pale and tired.

Slowly that face lifted. She met my stare with ice, like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to punch me in the face or just set my pants on fire.

“There were rumors you didn’t get lunch.” Yeah, that was the best I could do.

Her eyebrows arched. “Rumors, huh? Well, alert the authorities. Oh wait, I forgot. You’re what? The judge, jury, and—”

“Stop.” I said it so low my voice cracked. With a sigh, I walked toward her until she had nowhere to go but against the wall, exactly where I wanted her. She tried to sidestep me, but I moved in the way, our faces nearly colliding. “I’m speaking to you.”

“And I’m leaving,” she hissed.

“Just…” I scratched my head and tried to conjure up any sort of game. Normally, girls just threw themselves at me. The ones who were afraid didn’t need nice words or smiles. They just wanted the power behind my name. I was at a complete loss. The thought made me smile. Hell, it made me want to break down in chaotic laughter. I was afraid of nothing — but her. I was afraid of her.

Trace’s mouth dropped open. She took a step toward me, probably not even realizing that she’d lifted her hands as if she wanted to cup my face.

Slowly, I reached behind her and gently pushed her into the alcove, pinning her against the wall, willing my eyes to stare at her brown depths rather than her plump lips. I wanted to taste them so bad I hated me for it. I hated her, and I hated that life had given me someone like her at the worst possible time.

“Eat,” I urged softly.

Her mouth snapped open, tempting me further, so I did the next best thing. Rather than kissing her, I shoved the granola bar in her mouth.

Yeah, I was a regular lady killer.

Her stomach growled loud enough for me to hear.

I smirked. “See? I knew you were hungry.” Right. Like music to every girl’s ears.

She moaned a little.

I died a little more.

“Of course I was hungry, you ass! I was in the Red Cafeteria! I half-expected to be eaten myself in that place, and they don’t serve meat. NO MEAT, Nixon! Some cow gets to live another day because the people in there eat tofu! Do you even know what that stuff is made out of?”

Shocked, I could only stare at her open-mouthed. Then her little finger poked me in the chest, causing blood to surge in all the wrong places. Holy shit, was she reprimanding me? And why the hell was it so damn hot?

“And let me tell you something else. I did not sleep with Tim! Well, I may have slept, but I definitely didn’t touch his— And, and… I—”

My eyebrows rose. I had no idea what she was talking about, and why the hell would I care about our lame-ass quarterback, but this side of her? The one with spunk? Yeah, I freaking craved it, so I licked my lips and leaned forward. “Oh, do continue. I love getting reprimanded. You gonna spank me later too?” Dear God, please say yes.

Her nostrils flared, and, just on cue, her stomach growled again. She closed her eyes as if trying to disappear altogether.

“Good Lord, woman! Just eat the damn granola bar and say thank you!”

Her eyes narrowed. “Where were you last night?”

The smile froze on my face. Oh, you know, committing murder — no big, though the stains gonna be a bitch to get out of my favorite henley. “I gotta run.”

“Wait.” She grabbed my arm.

It was enough to make me pause, to make me want to stay firmly planted in front of her. Hell, it was enough for me to want to ask her for a hug and never let go. When had I become that person? The type that was so starved for human affection that I was basically ready to push myself into the arms of a girl who deserved so much better than what I had to give.

Unable to control the tremble in my arm, I jerked away. “Please.” I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t see the hurt on her face. “Don’t touch me.”

I walked away before I blurted out everything.

Killing my father.

Hating my best friend for the same reason I hated myself.

War between families.

Life.

I wanted a friend.

For the first time in my life, I wanted a friend who was a girl.

A girl like Trace.

The memory rushed forward. Unable to stop the pain as it swirled in my chest, I let myself remember a similar girl, a girl who was so much like Trace.