He sees me, but I see him. We’re two different types of monsters, but both monsters all the same.
“So… I saw Britt yesterday,” he says with a smirk.
My entire body goes rigid. That sick piece of shit was with her?
In three long steps, I’m standing in his space, towering over him. Max’s confidence wavers and I watch him swallow nervously.
“What did you say?” I growl, inching closer.
To his credit, or maybe his sheer stupidity, the idiot stands his ground. “Yeah, I had dinner with her at her place. She looks good.”
Motherfucker. He knows I can’t hit him or I’ll be thrown out of the league. My hand itches to wrap around his skinny throat and squeeze.
“What’s your point, Max?”
I tilt my chin down, giving him a clear view into my eyes, my empty, heartless soul. Only, he doesn’t react and I sure as fuck don’t feel empty. I feel angry and defensive. The need to claim Britt as mine courses through my veins hot and electric, waking those buried emotions again.
I feel… alive.
“Fuck off!” I hiss, stepping around Max, “accidentally” bumping him with my shoulder on my way to see Roxie at the front desk.
She’s chatting with someone, but I could give a fuck. “Roxie!”
The tall woman startles, spinning to face me. She doesn’t flinch either, her gaze steady and somewhat annoyed.
Am I losing my touch?
“Yes?” Roxie puts her hands on her hips. Her bright blue hair is slicked back today, making her look like a comic book heroine.
“I need Britt’s address.”
She puckers her lips, having an internal debate over whether or not to give it to me.
“Please? I’m worried about her.” I push the hood off my head.
Roxie’s eyes bulge. Certainly no one here has ever heard me ask for anything, let alone say please. Dumbstruck, she reaches under the counter, producing a small address book.
“You better not make me regret this,” she says as she scrawls the address on a scrap of paper, pushing it across the counter.
“Thanks, R
oxie.” I snatch it up and hurry outside.
The oppressive summer heat has me instantly dripping with sweat. I punch the address on the paper into my phone and realize Britt only lives a few blocks away. As I start to jog in the direction of her apartment, I try to figure out what exactly I’m going to say when I get there.
Britt
Why did I agree to this? I stir my sweet tea with my straw, watching the ice cubes dance around the glass.
“Britton Shelton Reeves, I’d appreciate it if you’d at least pretend to pay attention when I’m speaking to you.”
“Yes, Mother.” I sit up straighter and grab my fork, poking at the food on my plate.
“So have you given it any more thought? The city is closing government businesses for the day so everyone can come to the school, and Mayor Cheetham will be speaking. Plus, Robin Bateman, the daughter of the principal is going to speak in his honor.”
I stare at my food, unblinking, until my vision goes fuzzy.
“Britton? Did you hear me?”