Runaways by Nicole Dykes
Iwant to talk to Rae. I hate how we left things last night. She didn’t talk to me this morning before school. She’s avoiding me, and it’s obvious I’ve messed things up between us.
Seventh period is Art, my favorite class. My teacher gives me free reign to do whatever I want, so I go into one of the empty studios off the large art room and spend some time with my bare canvas.
I find a dark purple, reminding me of Rae’s arm and swirl my paint brush around in the offending color. When I close my eyes though, I only see red. He put his hands on her. He hurt her, and I wasn’t there to stop it. I can’t stop it.
Even Nash can’t or won’t try to stop it.
“You going to paint or stand there like you’re afraid of it?”
Oh, no. He’s not here. I open my eyes and drop the paint brush, turning to look at Da Silva. “I’m not afraid of much.”
The douchebag creeps closer to me, trying to intimidate me, but I wasn’t kidding. Not much scares me. I’ve stared down much worse than an aging pretty-boy jock who needs to push women and students around to make him feel like a badass. “You should be.”
“I’m not.”
He glares at me, but I don’t flinch. I hate this motherfucker. “You need to stay away from Raelynn.”
We’re really going to do this. Here, on school property. Fine.
I move closer to him. “You really need to stay away from Rae.”
The asshole laughs. “I live with her. She attends my school. There’s no way I’m staying away from her.”
I take another step toward him, knowing I can’t touch him. Keeping it in the forefront of my mind. Me going to jail or getting suspended will be no good for either Rae or me. “Don’t touch her again, or you’ll be sorry.”
“That sounds dangerously close to a threat, Davis.” My jaw ticks as he moves closer, only a foot away from me now. “I’d be careful with that. You’ll end up just like your loser brother.”
“Nash isn’t a loser.”
He scoffs, his smirk vindictive and hateful. “He’s a nobody. You all are. Rae is too damn good for you, and you know it. Her mother will never allow you to be more than a high school fling.”
“Fuck you.”
His eyes flash with rage as he looks behind him into the classroom off the studio. It’s full of students bustling around, and I know they can’t hear us. But if he touches me, that would grab attention.
Maybe I’ll let him take a swing.
Hang himself.
“You better watch that mouth of yours.”
“You better watch your hands and keep them off my girlfriend or I’ll fucking end you.”
He tries to intimidate me, but he only has about thirty pounds on me, and I guarantee I hit harder than his privileged, spoiled ass. He’s gone soft after being married to a socialite over the past couple of years. “It’s cute you think she’s your girlfriend when I’m the one with access to her bedroom.”
I feel sick instantly, and I know he sees me flinch, which, goddammit, I didn’t want him to see. No signs of weakness. Guys like him feast on it. “Stay away from Rae.”
“She wants me. Always wearing provocative little clothes and flirting. Playing hard to get.”
“You really are a stupid son of a bitch if you believe any of that. Rae can’t stand you.”
He only laughs again, seeming so damn sure of himself. He leans in, keeping his voice quiet. “I’m sure she tells you that. But I can’t get the sight of her dusty pink nipples out of my head.”
My fists clench at my side, and I fight every instinct inside me to keep from lunging at him. I want to kill him. It would be worth it. I’m beginning to believe that.
“And damn, that cute little birthmark on her hip.”
My nails dig into the flesh of my palm, and my hands are clenched so tightly, I think I’m drawing blood. “Fuck. You.”
“Careful, Davis.” He stands up straighter and backs off. “I’ve heard from Mrs. Moran that she’s recommended you to that art school a few towns over. That she thinks you’ll be just great.” His glare is ugly. “But I happen to know the admissions counselor there. We go way back.”
Fuck.
“So I’d watch it if I were you.”
I don’t say anything. He wants me to, and I won’t. I won’t beg him.
“See? You’re just a nobody, like your brother. Stay away from Raelynn or you’re as good as working construction and barely making ends meet for the rest of your life.”
He leaves, and I try to steady my breathing, hating the fucking world and almost everyone in it.
Everyone except Rae.
