Dragged Away
286 Words
Chapter Eleven
The cafeteria buzzed in stunned silence as his words hung in the air. Then whispers erupted, rising into a tidal wave of gossip that would flood the school by the end of the day.
Before I could even process what had just happened, his hand closed firmly around mine. “Let’s go,” he muttered.
I stumbled after him, tray forgotten, as he pulled me out of the cafeteria, ignoring the stares, the laughter, the outrage. He didn’t stop until we were outside, the autumn wind whipping through my hair.
I yanked at his grip. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He turned on me, eyes blazing. “They were humiliating you. Did you want me to stand there and do nothing?”
“Yes!” My voice cracked, louder than I meant. “I wanted you to do nothing. I wanted you to let me handle it. Now the entire school thinks—”
“That you’re mine.”
The words hit like a blow. His chest heaved, his jaw clenched, and for a heartbeat, I saw something raw flicker in his gaze. Not arrogance. Not playfulness. Something deeper.
My throat tightened. “You can’t keep saying that. You don’t get to decide what I am.”
He stepped closer, his shadow swallowing me whole. “You’re right. I don’t decide. Fate already did.”
My breath caught. Fate? What was he even talking about?
Before I could ask, a voice called from behind us.
“Hey, lovebirds! Want me to tell the whole school what you’re doing out here?”
I froze.
Sabrina stood at the top of the steps, her phone raised, a wicked smile curving her lips.
- Writer
