He stepped toward her and even as she tried not to, she took a step back, which only served to make her hate herself for her own weakness. With every step he took, she kept trying to escape, but soon, the bathroom wall was behind her and she had nowhere to go. His hands slammed against the wall, trapping her against him.
“Will you stop?” she asked, needing her space.
“What’s wrong, Pru? Am I scaring you?”
She didn’t like how he wasn’t calling her names. What game was he playing at? She preferred it when he called her names like Trash, Fatty, Ugly, all the taunts she was used to and didn’t care about. They all melded into one. Hearing her name on his lips, it felt wrong.
“What are you after?” she asked, throwing his question back at him. He’d followed her into the bathroom for no reason.
“I want to know if I’m scaring you. Are you afraid, little girl?”
She wasn’t afraid. She was fed up, angry, and just wanted to go home. Putting her hands on his chest, she glared at him. “I’m not afraid of assholes. What are you going to do now? Kick me? Hit me? What else you got, Drake?”
Shut the fuck up! What are you doing? Why are you even trying to irritate him?
She was beyond bored and irritated. She wanted him to stop his bullshit and to leave her the fuck alone. After this summer, they had one year left and when it was over, she intended to go to college and never look back. They both wanted out of this bullshit town.
Just as she was about to shove him back, Drake did no more than wrap his fingers around her neck, taking her completely by surprise as he began to put pressure on her windpipe. This was the closest he’d ever gotten to being scary. Even as she tried to calm her nerves, it didn’t help.
She was so fucking afraid right now. So scared. The venom in his gaze was easy to read, and she wanted to scream at him, to beg him to stop. She kept her lips firmly closed, waiting for him to have his fun so he could just leave.
“You think you know me, Pru. I suggest you be very careful. You’re afraid now, and if you’re not, you will be. I will see fear in your eyes again. Keep on pushing me.”
She sank her nails into his wrist. “You’re the one who came here. Not me. I have no wish to push you or to do anything.” It was the truth. Drake kept pushing her and she didn’t know why. He was really pissing her off, and yes, it was scaring her a lot. Choking her went above bullying. It was more threatening, more long-term, especially if she couldn’t get away from him. No one would believe her if she told on him. “Get out of my way.” With one forceful shove, Drake stumbled back.
Pleased she caught him off-guard, she stepped over him, not paying him any more attention. She hated how her heart raced and the lick of fear traced down her spine. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Drake, not now, not ever. There really was something seriously wrong with him.
No one stopped her as she rushed out of the high school. For the entire summer, she didn’t need to come back here, and that was how she wanted it to be.
Sean was already waiting in the car.
Ree wasn’t in sight. For now, Prudence was more than happy with that. After sliding into the passenger seat, she buckled her seatbelt and leaned back in the chair.
“You okay?” Sean asked.
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She didn’t need to tell him about her latest encounter. Clearing her throat, she sat up, playing with the radio and turning on a channel with loud music.
“You seem a little … flustered.”
“Big words, Sean. I’m good. Come on. Let’s kick off his summer without the twenty questions. You think we can do that?”
“Yeah, we can.” Sean let out a loud whoop as he pulled out of the parking lot. Staring in the rearview mirror, she saw Drake as he exited the school. She didn’t look him in the eye. His narrowed glare scared her.
Tapping her fingers on the doorframe, she let the wind run through her hair and she tried to relax.
School was out.
Life would be good.
More than good.
It would be spectacular because she had Sean. Her parents spent most of their time working. She didn’t mind. The less time they all spent together, the less arguments they had. This would be a good summer as it would be her last one spent near home. Next year, after graduation, she intended to leave town and start a whole new life away from this place. Make new memories and dreams. None that even had the vaguest hint of this town attached to it.