“I, uh, well, kinda. I mean —”
Duke moves closer to me. Not so close as to call it inappropriate but closer than he’s ever been to me. “Come on, Evie. It would mean so much to me if you came.”
“I —”
Suddenly, I’m pushed back and Sky’s in front of Duke. “Cut the shit out, asshole. She doesn’t wanna go. So leave her alone.”
“Hey.” Duke lifts his hand in mock surrender. “I’m just asking a question. I’m sure Evie can speak for herself.”
“And she said no, didn’t she? You need to get lost.”
He leans against the locker and crosses his arms across his chest. “I don’t understand why you’re being so aggressive, Skylar. I wasn’t even talking to you.”
Sky scoffs. “Fuck you weren’t. You were trying to get my attention and you know what, asshole?” She pokes him in the chest. “You got it.”
Duke smirks before straightening up. I swear in this moment, his spiky hair and that pale complexion and cold blue eyes make him look like the devil.
“Skylar, I think you’ve gone over to a very dark place.”
She shoves him, but he doesn’t budge. “Don’t make me hit you, Duke. You know I can do it.”
Duke lowers his voice so only Sky and I can hear his next comment. “Are you jealous I asked your friend and not you? Is that what this is all about? I mean, you can come to the party if you want. I’m sure we’ll be needing a maid. I tip very generously.”
All hell breaks loose after that. Sky shrieks and puts her entire weight into pushing at his chest. Duke wasn’t prepared for that, I guess, because he stumbles back. His eyes turn really hard and glint like glaciers as he charges toward her.
I try to pull Sky back but it’s no use. She has wicked strength and she isn’t backing down. Not even when Duke gets in her face and mutters something that I can’t hear over the shouts and noises. She takes a swing at his face but he blocks her hand. So she relies on her legs and stomps on his foot, all the while screaming at him, calling him names.
Oh God. She’s really gone over to a dark place. What the heck happened to set her off like this?
I get my answer when in the middle of all the cursing she says, “How dare you kiss me? I’ll set your cock on fire, you fucking asshole.”
What?
I’m momentarily stunned at this revelation, my fingers losing their grip on Sky’s t-shirt where I’m trying to hold her back. Duke kissed my best friend? When did that happen? Why didn’t Sky say anything?
Turns out I don’t need to worry about the whole Duke and Sky thing at all because I’ve got bigger things to worry about now.
Like my boyfriend. Abel is here and he’s standing between Duke and Sky, his expression thunderous, and it’s all focused on the prince of the town.
This is so not going to end well.
I come out of my shock and pull Sky back, who’s panting, still shooting daggers at Duke. “Stay put, okay? You’ve caused enough trouble,” I snap and she turns her murderous eyes on me. I shake my head at her, telling her with my eyes that we’re going to talk about the whole kiss thing later. If there’s a later.
Then I turn to Abel when he says, “Get out.”
Duke’s panting; there are a few scratches on his jaw and along his neck. Wow, Sky got him good. “You need to stay out of this,” he addresses Abel. “For your own good.”
“What I need is for you to get out.” Abel’s voice is thick, edged with violence.
Duke wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him do something unpolished. “You really don’t want to do this.”
“Just get out before I do what I really wanna do.” Abel takes a step forward, all threatening-like.
Okay, enough. I can’t stand here and watch. I need to intervene. I need to pull Abel back and tell him to stop it. Only, if I do that then people will know my secret. Or at least, they’ll know that Abel and I aren’t strangers as they all thought we were.
I still remember what happened last time I talked to him. I can feel the bruised skin on my thighs and waist. I’ve been good at avoiding going close to Mom, so I’ve been bruise-free. But this will ruin all of that.
Duke lifts his chin and steps closer too. “Yeah, and what’s that?”
Fuck it.
Did I just curse in my head? Well, there’s no time to analyze that. Saving Abel is more important. Teachers are running toward the chaos, but they can’t see Abel in the thick of it.
I dash to where these two idiots are facing off. Thankfully, I can wedge between their hard bodies and facing Abel, I put a hand on his chest where his heart is beating wildly. “Let it go, Abel.”