Brutal Boys

by Nora Cobb

  Dinner ends quickly. The night is perfect for dancing under the stars, and we slowly drift out onto the campus green. While we were inside, the campus was transformed into an open-air ballroom. The gymnasium doors are opened, and the balloons fan out into the open air across a wooden dance floor. In the center is a wacky-looking Christmas tree, all done in black with purple lights.

  “I want that for Christmas,” smiles Luna.

  I feel the looks before I can see them. I slip my hand into Chase’s as he pulls me along to the edge of the dance floor and we sit in two empty chairs. I’m content with just hanging out. The boys may stick together, but it’s obvious they are not joined. I glance over at Dom, and he’s watching me. He’s lost interest in Luna. She doesn’t care to play games and is happily dancing with a group of girls near Dom.

  I lower my eyes, then raise my lashes to Chase. He smiles.

  “Are you serious,” he pulls me close, “or are you playing?”

  I frown a little. “What if I’m just trying to figure out how I feel?”

  Smiling, Chase looks over to where Dom is glaring. Chase looks back at me. “That will work as long as we understand that it’s just tonight.”

  I smile, leaning my forehead against his shoulder. “I’m into it being tonight. What’s the safe word?”

  Chase glances at Dom, who has grabbed a Nicki Minaj lookalike. He presses his hips into her ass as they move across the dance floor. The music is no longer the classics as pop music blares out of the speakers. People are singing along to some raunchy music. So much for a classy ball.

  Chase lifts my hand to his lips. “One-off.”

  I start to laugh but stop as the smile dies on my lips. Casually, I glance over, expecting to see Dom watching us again. But it’s Marcy, who is acting as chaperone. The faculty are paid to chaperone because no one expects the parents to stick around. Dad slipped away after the show.

  Chase follows my gaze. Marcy looks furious as her eyes narrow on me. She’s not even trying to act like she’s not interested in Chase. He coldly looks away. With his other hand, he brushes my hair off my face and leans in.

  I turn slightly toward him, and our lips almost touch.

  “Damn,” he whispers. “Are you sure you don’t want to be in front of the cameras?”

  “It’s just pretend, right?”

  He nods. “No hurt feelings, no accusations in the morning.”

  I smile. “Do you need a safe word? Just in case I don’t want to break your heart?”

  He stands up and pulls me to my feet. “I’ll whisper heartbreaker when you’ve gone too far, but I’ve got a high threshold of pain.”

  I trail my hand across his chest, feeling those tight muscles underneath. My fingertips stop where his shirt’s open. And I raise my eyes to his. Chase grabs my hand, and we walk out onto the dance floor. Marcy watches with envy all over her face.

  We start to move together on the floor. Dom is ignoring us as I hold onto Chase’s shoulders, and he pulls me against his body. I feel the heat of his skin underneath our clothes, and if we’re only having a night, I just might. I inhale and take a step away, accidentally brushing against Dom.

  “Hey.” He looks over me at Chase. “Enjoying your date?”

  “Only a coldhearted man could feel nothing.”

  Dom gives Chase a look that raises my eyebrows. This has nothing to do with me.

  “He looks pissed,” I whisper. “Maybe I should say the safe word.”

  “For Dom? You’re going to waste it on him?”

  The look in Chase’s eyes tells me that he’s not interested. He’ll play only if it is to piss off Dom.

  “No, it’s okay. I don’t want the two of you to get in a fight.”

  “Over you?” asks Chase.

  Now, I feel stupid, and I take a step back. Chase yanks me toward him and I’m pressed hard against his chest.

  “I’m not stupid,” I whisper as we dance toward a corner, “and because I’m not, I know that this is not about me. What is it with the three of you? Are you keeping your enemies close? I didn’t realize how competitive you are.”

  Chase finds humor in what I just said. He grins as we walk off the dance floor and hang out in the shadows, watching the faux celebrities dance across the floor.

  “I didn’t realize that your dad knows Dom,” says Chase.

  “They met over the summer. But that’s it. They’re not in each other’s phones.”

  “What about his father?” Chase asks. “Is he in your dad’s phone?”

  “No, my dad ran into him during the parent weekend. Mel was interested in Dad but not vice versa.” I look at Chase, who’s watching the floor. “My dad seems down-to-earth, but he will crush money out of a rock. He doesn’t scream threats or flaunt muscle. Dad’s cerebral. He uses his brain to go after people. He reads their psyche and goes after their spirit. There was only one person he couldn’t control.”

  Chase frowns as he raises his brow. “Who was that?”

  “My mother.” I look out onto the dance floor. “He made the mistake of falling in love.”

  Chase sighs. “Dom won’t fall in love with you, Vicki. Not the way you would want to be in love.”

  I fold my arms. “I don’t want to fall in love with him.”

  “Then why waste your time making him jealous?”

  “I’m not in love. Or like.” I shake my head. “Is barely tolerated an option?”

  Chase leans back, casually draping an arm over my shoulder, and it’s weird because it’s not sexy. It’s weirdly comforting. He’s always the one I thought I could be friends with, and it’s happening. I lean into him gently. And knock the toe of my shoe into his. He watches our feet, and we’re comfortable in our own space. Maybe that’s why we’re sharing our thoughts.

  “That look Dom is giving you?” whispers Chase. “The fucked-up jealous look? That’s the way his dad looks at a woman before he charms her, claims her, and fucks up her life.”

  I shake my head with conviction. “That won’t happen to me.”

  On cue, Dom looks over and glares at us. He has no interest in the girls dancing in a circle around him. Scowling, his body is sweaty as he moves to the beat. His body is unaware that his eyes are on me. I tense up and slowly lean away from Chase.

  But Chase grabs me tight. His fingers dig into my shoulder as he pulls me against his body. I glance over at Chase, and he doesn’t care if it’s me. All he cares is that Dom is watching us like he wants us both sprawled across the floor in pieces, dead. A sick chill takes hold of my head. Am I a prize, and they’re competing to win?

  I yank myself off Chase as the shouting starts.

  Chapter Seven

  Theo is standing in the center of the floor. The LED lights display a changing rainbow over his shearling vest in the dimly lit space. His contorted face changes colors, highlighting his pain. His chest is moving up and down as he holds his fists tight. Silas stands a few feet away, but Theo isn’t shouting at him. He’s screaming at Rhys, who has been slow dancing with Rosemonde for almost the entire night.

  “You don’t love her,” his words slur. “You don’t even want her,” Theo weaves a few steps and then straightens himself up. “Are you fucking her, Rhys? Are you fucking your beard?”

  I’m moving away from Chase and running toward Theo. He’s committing social suicide by calling out Rhys, but then I’m racing toward oblivion too. Theo pulls the table away from Silas and flips it over. It lies upended on the floor. Everything on it—the glasses, candles, drinks, and the award—crashes into pieces and scatters across the ground.

  A startled Silas stares at the mess at his feet. He’s taken off his Freddy Mercury wig, which must have been burning hot. He sits exposed in his white T-shirt. The mask is ripped off as he stares at the mess on the floor. Eyes wide, he quickly tries to regain his icy composure. He’s weirdly become the third wheel in a love triangle.

  “You’re the whore, you whore.” Theo points to Silas. “What is it with you
anyway? You can’t tell the difference between real life and the movies? This is real life that you’re fucking with. You can’t win an Oscar for being the biggest prick.”

  Oh God, Theo, leave him alone.

  Theo smiles wickedly. “Or maybe you can fuck your way to fame.”

  I’m almost there. Blindly, I reach out for Theo, but it’s too late. Silas punches Theo in the face. I shout as we tumble backward. The ground races up, and I cover my face. But I don’t feel the hard ground. Dom is underneath me. But I don’t stay on top of him long. Chase grabs me and pulls me off him.

  But there’s no time to respond to anything else as Silas walks over to Theo, who’s cradling his face in his hands. Silas grabs Theo viciously. I try to reach for Theo, but I can’t move. Chase has me tight in his arms as we watch Silas shake Theo in a rage. Theo breaks free and curls his body into a ball.

  “Stop it. Stop it!” I scream. “Why won’t you stop him?”

  I turn on Chase, who meets my gaze with a cold look. I realize he’s not holding me to protect me. He’s holding me so I can’t protect Theo. Silas is burning red with anger. I elbow Chase in the ribs, and with a gasp, he lets me go.

  I fling myself onto Silas, knocking him off balance. Talia and Luna grab Theo and pull him out of the way as I do this awkward dance with Silas. Our bodies totter and weave as if we are in a strange modern dance movement. I try to catch my balance without touching him. But I end up grabbing ahold of his T-shirt. I almost go down, but then the strangest thing happens. Silas grabs my arm and pulls me up.

  I’m breathing heavily through my mouth, my eyes wide like a frightened rabbit whose paw is caught tight in a trap.

  “Let me go,” I whisper.

  “This is your fault,” he hisses.

  “How is this my fault?”

  “They’re no longer afraid to speak up. I had it all under control until you showed up and decided you want to be in control.”

  “I never wanted to,” I squirm.

  “Then who ran against me?”

  I shut my mouth, and the tent is frozen in quiet. Dom takes a step forward and places a hand on Silas’s arm.

  “I’m not done,” growls Silas.

  “This isn’t the place,” says Dom calmly.

  “Should I try the woods then?”

  Dom scowls and moves away. Luna moves forward, but he catches her arm. Theo moans pitifully on the ground as Talia helps him up. I’m the only one Silas wants. He’ll let them go if I sacrifice myself.

  “I won’t back down to a bully,” I hiss.

  “Then be watchful, Victoria,” Silas says softly. “Bullies aren’t born. They’re created the second we learn we can abuse our power.”

  “I’m not a bully.” I toss my shoulders.

  “Not yet. But you’re too sensitive to let cruelties go.”

  His hand lets go, but it still feels as if it’s tight around my wrist. Silas watches me walk away alone, then he leaves the tent. He just punched a kid, and no one, not the students or the faculty, tries to stop him as he stalks off. Silas doesn’t head toward the town houses but into the woods.

  Chase’s hand slips into mine and tugs me out of the tent. The second we’re out of sight, I yank my hand out of his.

  “You took your time,” I hiss. “Did your horse stumble as you came rushing to my rescue?”

  “Stay hardheaded and see what it gets you!” he almost shouts. “I told you to stop getting in his way.”

  “I’m supposed to watch him kick my friend on the ground?”

  We glance over at Theo, who sits drinking a glass of water. A few random students sit near him and Talia. Obviously, they don’t belong to a clique. Nobody wants them. Luna and Dom sit down at another table.

  “I’ve told you not to make an enemy of Silas,” says Chase. “What he did to your friend was minor.”

  “Minor? He punched him the face.” I take a step away. “I have to go back to Theo.”

  “Leave it, Vicki.” Chase moves close. “It was a stupid fight until you interfered, and then it flared up. Leave him alone. He’s okay.”

  I glance through the opening in the tent, where the flaps don’t quite meet. Through the crisscross of heavy cords, Dom is watching us. He looks away as I meet his gaze. This is worse than before. Flirting can be blown off, but it turned ugly. Chase put his back to Silas to help me. Dom didn’t—he stayed with Silas, or he’s avoiding me.

  Chase looks inside. “He’s dangerous because he knows what you’re doing.”

  “What am I doing?”

  “Tonight, you played us off one another,” he replies. “We both used sex to get ahead.”

  “I didn’t use sex.”

  His gaze starts at my chest and slowly draws a line down to my legs. If I didn’t have on a leotard, the dress would hide nothing underneath it. I flirted with Chase as if he were mine and I was his.

  I sigh. “I guess the bullying will start up again.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, but I have no control over Silas’s clique.”

  Chase ducks his head and slips back into the tent through the gap. He walks over to Dom, who is one table over from Theo. In a weird way, he’s almost guarding Theo, but I doubt it’s for Theo’s sake alone. Jagan keeps mentioning the need to be a community during his talks in the woods. It’s obviously a hidden warning that the bullying is getting out of hand. If it’s that bad, why doesn’t Jagan do more about it? The thought circles my head, and then I jump when I feel a hand on my back.

  “Vicki, are you okay?” Marcy is running her hand up and down my back. It’s not comforting. It feels like she could move her hand quickly to my throat and choke it.

  I step away from her. “I’m okay. I’m just concerned for Theo, but I don’t want to cause a problem.” I almost said another, but I caught myself.

  Marcy’s gaze tracks my body. Our outfits are almost identical, except hers is a teal color and opaque. I’m not sure if she’s supposed to be somebody, and the neckline is a bit low for a high school chaperone.

  “I saw the commotion.” She steps closer, and I back away. “I wanted to check on you.”

  “Why me? Theo was the one who got punched.”

  “Boys will fight. It’s in their nature. They crave things more than women. Don’t you think? Especially here at Redwood; it’s so competitive. The way people go after what they want.”

  I stare at her because she’s talking some crazy shit. Chase returns and stands between us. Good, because this odd conversation needs to end.

  “Chase?” Marcy slips between us and turns her back on me. She places her hands on his vest and pretends to straighten it. “Are you okay? Did you see what happened? Who started it?”

  I scoff loudly. Is she kidding or blinded by lust for a teenage boy?

  Chase grabs her wrists and pulls her hands down to her sides and away from him. “I’m not involved anymore. I told you that. It’s being taken care of.” Chase glances over at me. “I’ll speak to Jagan Monday if he asks for me.”

  Chills race down my arms and I don’t know why

  I clear my throat then awkwardly step toward the gap in the tent. “I’m going home.” I point in the direction of the town houses. “I mean that home. Not my real home.”

  I sound stupid, and they stare at me for a bit too long. Chase lets go of Marcy. “You shouldn’t walk alone after dark, even on this campus.”

  “It’s okay.” I stumble over a cable staked to the ground. Chase reaches for me, but I regain my balance. Slowly, I look up into his eyes. He’s very strong. And I’m ashamed of how my body is responding right now to his.

  “I’ll walk you back.” Chase looks at Marcy, but she’s too absorbed in giving me a dirty look. I sigh. I used Chase to make Dom jealous while Chase used me to send Marcy a message. I should tell him no, but I don’t. I’m afraid if I do leave alone, she’ll offer to walk me into the woods and leave me there.

  “Okay,” I whisper, and we walk toward the town houses.

  Chap
ter Eight

  After we leave the green, the tension weighing us down lifts. A mild breeze blows across the walkway, and we’re alone as we walk back home. But I don’t feel threatened or scared. I know Silas is off somewhere, probably with his gang, and Dom is still inside the tent. I’m alone with Chase, and his bad temper dissolves the further we walk.