by Mae Doyle
Oh, I understand. I understand that I made a deal with a fucking psycho and that all of the students at Trinity Prep have lost their damn minds. “I do.”
He grins again. “I’m so glad that we’re finally on the same page. Now, bow to me. I’m your god, Abigail, and I can take from you whenever I want to. You want me to be benevolent, don’t you?”
“You want me to…?” There’s no way that I heard him right, but when I blink and look at him again, he merely smiles and spreads his arms out wide.
“You heard me, you little virgin. Prostrate yourself before your god. Now. Get on your knees like a good little girl and let me see the view I’m going to enjoy when you’re sucking my cock.”
Quinn sounds calm, like he’s giving directions to get to the store. Turn right at the light, go straight, and then finish me off in the middle of the class. Nervously, I glance around me, trying to see if anyone’s there to stop this. If anyone is going to suddenly burst out of a corner yelling “surprise!”
Of course, nobody’s there. My knees feel weak and I fall down to the ground. Even if I wanted to, I’m not sure that I could stay on my feet. Gasping when I fall, I can’t help but look up at him. He’s staring down at me, a wicked smile on his face. Before I can move, he reaches out and wraps his hand in my hair, jerking my head to the side.
“Holy shit, you do look good on your knees, Abigail. I had a feeling that I would like what I saw.” He lets go of my hair and lifts my chin with his finger. I’m trembling, but I feel like I’m stuck in place. I can’t move. Quinn is everything that I can see.
I can’t breathe. I’m sucking in air, but he doesn’t even seem to notice that I’m struggling. After a moment, he traces my jaw with his finger, gripping my chin and tilting my head up so that I’m looking at him. We lock eyes, my heart beating so hard and it’s difficult for me to focus.
“You can get up now, Abigail.”
As soon as he tells me this, it’s like the spell is broken. I stand up so quickly that I get a little lightheaded and I reach out for something to hold onto before I black out. The darkness on the edge of my vision will go away quickly, but I know that I need something to keep my stable.
My fingers brush his arm but he steps back, leaving me searching in the darkness for something to save me. Bending over, I grab my thighs and breathe deeply until my head clears. When I look back at him, his head is tilted a little to the side like he’s curious, but he doesn’t say a thing.
“Please go. Unless, of course, you want go let me fuck you right here by your painting.” His eyes locked on mine, he reaches down to his zipper, but I back up. “Not yet, then? Then I suggest that you leave, Abigail. I’m done with you. For now.”
Giving him a curt nod, I sidestep him and sweep out of his art space, stepping over the curtain he dropped on the floor.
Just as I suspected, most of the class has been listening in. They all stare at me was I walk out, none of them moving to come over and say anything.
I dare them to say anything. Quinn may think that he has me backed into a corner, but that’s where I do my best work. I’m a great underdog, and there’s no way in hell that I’m going to bow to him again.
***
Madeline’s room looks like she had a personal decorator come in and work for her, which is probably why it’s so hysterical that I’m covered in paint stretched out on her floor and she has a fine layer of dust on her from sculpting. It’s only been one week since I came to Trinity Prep, but the workload has been ridiculous, and I can already see how they turn out such amazing artists and designers.
It’s because we all live, breathe, eat, and sleep our craft.
“Remind me again why you made that bet with Quinn? If I remember correctly, I told you to stay the hell away from him. He’s bad news, Abby.” We’d brought our dinner up to her room and now she has lots of questions about me and Quinn. I didn’t have to tell her about what happened in art. Everyone in school knew about it before I’d even made it to the cafeteria for dinner, so when she told me we could eat her in her room, I took her up on it.
I’d do just about anything to get out of there and to keep people from staring at me.
Rolling over on my stomach, I prop myself up on my elbows. “I know you did. It’s just that…I just…I know guys like him, you know? And I honestly didn’t think that someone who looked like that could possibly be a good artist.”
“You mean because he’s so damn hot?” Madeline laughs and throws a pillow at me, which I catch and use for my elbows.
“Yeah, exactly. It just doesn’t seem like the real world that someone who looks like that would be able to paint the way he does, you know? It’s…insane and highly unfair.”
“Unfair is right. And you know his little cronies?”
I remember back to the stylish friend and the sculptor he hangs out with during meals. “Yeah, what about them? You can’t possibly tell me that they’re not only gorgeous, but also talented, as well, right?”
“Sorry, that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you. Blaine is the designer, and he’s a total asshole, but he’s brilliant. His work has already been featured on runways around the world, so you can imagine that he’s a bit unsufferable. And Michael is the sculptor. He was named after Michelangelo, of course, so his parents pushed him to learn sculpting. And, of course, he’s my biggest competition. I’m going to kick his ass though, you’ll see. I’ve got this shit locked down.”
“The world’s not fair,” I sigh, reaching out and grabbing another cookie from my plate. Madeline had told me that I’d get tired of the food here, but I haven’t. It’s all incredible.
“Yeah, it’s really not. At any other school, we could just…hang out with the hotties, you know? But here? They’re just as willing to stab you in the back as they are to try to bang you.”
I’ve noticed. Suddenly I want to turn the talk away from Quinn and his friends. “Hey, what do people do for fun on weekends here? Surely we actually do things and aren’t always working on art, right?”
She rolls her eyes and I feel my stomach drop. “Sorry, girl. As the year goes on, you’re going to live in the art wing. But I do have good news. We don’t do this very often, but we’re actually having a party this weekend.”
“We?” This is the first that I’ve heard of a party, and I’m curious, although a bit sceptical of who may be throwing it.
“Well, not you and me, but we can totally go. I normally don’t. Usually there’s a fight and someone gets caught boning in the quad. Sometimes someone finds beer and often there’s a bonfire. Actually, though, they usually steal marshmallows from the kitchen, so I know you’re going to want to go.”
“So my sweet tooth hasn’t gone unnoticed, huh?”
She laughs and stands up to stretch. “Not at all. But if you want to do this tomorrow then we need to start getting ready.”
“Now? What time is the party?” I stand up and walk over to her closet with her. When she opens the doors, I can’t help but gasp. The clothes she has hanging in it probably cost more than anything I’ve ever owned. I knew that most of the students here were rich, but I had no idea how much money they really had.
“It’s not until tomorrow night, but, in case you hadn’t noticed, we go to school with fashion designers and the hottest of the hot. We have to look good or we simply won’t be allowed in.” Leaning in, Madeline starts flipping through dresses.
“Wait, there’s someone at the door?” This is getting more and more ridiculous. As much as I want to hide my excitement, I can’t help but smile. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She turns around, holding out a tiny black dress. It has cutouts all along the sides and rhinestones sewn along the neckline. The neckline plunges so low that I’m pretty sure my belly button will be on full display, as will my ass, since it’s so short.
“Is that lingerie?”
She rolls her eyes. “That may be your dress for tomorrow. Strip. Let’s see how it looks.”
&nb
sp; Chapter Seven
I don’t recognize the guy standing in the gate, but the way his eyes slide over my body is beginning to feel familiar. He looks at me the way that Quinn looks at me, but with one difference. Quinn knows that I will be his. This guy just wants me to be his.
After a moment, he nods and steps out of the way. Madeline and I walk past him, making sure to give him enough space so that we don’t accidentally brush up against him.
“Who was that?” I keep my voice low and lean close to Madeline so she can hear me.
Without breaking her stride, she whispers back. “Mitch O’Neill. He’s a fashion student. Obviously. He’s also a bit of a letch, so just keep your distance tonight. Although, honestly, I doubt that he would try anything with you since everyone knows that Quinn has claimed you for his own.”
Her words make me cringe, but I don’t have a lot of time to think about them. After we cut through the gate, we’ve been walking down a small path through the woods. I didn’t know that this place even existed, although I have been spending all of my free time working in the art department.
“Where exactly are we going?” It’s not that I’m worried, not exactly, but I do like to have a general idea of where I’m going, especially when I’m dressed like a hooker and wearing heels that are so high I feel like I’m tottering with each step. I have no idea how Madeline wears these things without falling over, but then I remind myself – this is how she grew up.
“There’s a clearing back here.” Madeline pauses and points, and through the woods I see the flicker of a bonfire. “The teachers don’t really like us coming back here, but they know better than to stop us for our after break party. It’s an annual tradition. Everyone comes together for one night of fun before we all try to crush the competition.”
Her voice sounds heated and I’m really glad that we’re not working against each other. In fact, she sounds a lot like Quinn, but there’s no way that I’m going to tell her that. I have a very good feeling that she wouldn’t appreciate the comparison.
“Are we almost there?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, we turn a small bend in the woods and the path opens up into a clearing, just like Madeline had said. In the center of the clearing is a huge bonfire, with lots of students standing around talking. Someone has brought a stereo system and they turn on the music while we stand there.
Immediately, I feel the beat pumping through my bones. I love to dance, but with my luck and these heels, I’d probably end up in the fire tonight. Ignoring the way I want to move, I keep looking around.
Some of the students have noticed that we’ve walked up and come over to say hi, but I can’t help but search the crowd for Quinn. I know that he’s going to be here. I can’t imagine that he would miss any opportunity to be the center of attention. It takes me a moment, because he’s off to the side of the clearing, but when I see him, I suck in a breath.
Of course, he would look amazing.
Gone is the stressed-out Quinn that I sometimes see in passing in art class. Tonight he has on low jeans that cling to his hips. His button-up shirt is undone so I can easily see his strong chest, and his hair is mussed up. He looks…normal, and relaxed, and like someone I’d want to talk to, if I hadn’t already gambled away my virginity to them.
At first, I can’t tell what he’s standing by, but then he takes a step back and I can see more clearly. While the clearing has been packed down by years of parties and countless footsteps, he’s standing close to the edge of the woods. A dark path leads away from him, but I have no way of knowing where it goes.
Nudging Madeline, I get her attention. “Where does that path go? The one by Quinn?”
She doesn’t have to look before she answers me. “The swimming hole, but I really advise you to stay away from there. It’s not the best place to be if you want to…stay a lady, if you know what I mean.”
I’m pretty sure that I do, and I shiver before turning my back on Quinn and inserting myself in Madeline’s conversation. She takes one look at my face and introduces me. I know that I look stressed out, which is what happens whenever I think about the fact that I owe Quinn my virginity.
“Natalie, Vincent, this is Abby. She’s a painter and just transferred in.”
Madeline’s friends are both sculptors. I can easily tell by their muscled forearms. Vincent has on a plain black t-shirt and dark jeans, but Natalie is as dressed up as I am. Before I can start to feel nervous, she grins at me.
“We know who you are, Abby. You’ve caused quite the stir since coming to Trinity Prep.” Raising her cup, she gives me a toast and then takes a long sip. I can smell the beer on her breath when she continues speaking. “I would have thought that Madeline here would warn you away from Quinn. He’s bad news, you know.”
“Yeah, I’m beginning to figure that out.” Even though I’m not looking at him, I swear that I can feel his eyes boring into the back of my head. Quinn is well aware that I’m here, and I’m starting to wonder if I made a mistake in coming.
“Too bad, too. I’ve always thought that Quinn looked fun.” Vincent shrugs and then leans forward conspiratorially. “Once you make good on your end of the bet, you have to let me know how it is. I’ve been dying to know for years now.” He winks, and I can’t help but laugh out loud.
“I’m not making good on the bet, sorry,” I tell him, but before I can say anything else, someone comes up behind me and loops their arm around my waist.
“I was wondering when you’d show up. In fact, Abigail, I’m a little hurt that you didn’t come right over and say hi to me.” Quinn pushes a cup into my hand. “But to show you that there’s no hard feelings, I brought you this.”
I don’t even lift it to my nose. “What it is?” Knowing the relationship that the two of us have, it’s probably strong liquor.
“Lemonade. You didn’t strike me as the kind of girl to want a beer.” He gestures at my cup and I sniff it. It smells like lemonade, so I take a tiny sip, keeping my eyes on him to see if he reacts. All he does is raise his eyebrows. “You like it?”
“It’s fine.” I clutch the cup hard, bending in the sides with my grip, but there’s no way I’m going to drink more of it. I can practically hear my mom yelling at me now about taking drinks from strange boys.
“Great. Why don’t you and I dance then?” He angles his body so that he’s cutting Madeline off. I see her move towards me over his shoulder, but he shifts position. It’s like he knows exactly where she’s going to be and how to make sure that she can’t get to me.
I’m a bit unnerved.
“I don’t dance.” It’s a lie, and he can see it written all over my face.
“With a body like that? I’m going to call bullshit. Come on, Abigail. Let’s see you shake your ass for me. I’d like to know what I won with the bet.”
The bet. For just a moment I’d managed to forget about the stupid fucking bet, but as soon as he brings it up, I feel my stomach twist. I don’t want to think about the fact that I made a bet with my virginity and lost, and when he brings it up, I want to be sick.
“Not a chance. Let me go.” Pulling away from him, I try to get him to let me go, but he just snakes his arm tighter around my waist.
“Don’t be such a prude, Abigail. I want to see you dance.” Any humor is gone from his eyes. They’re now darker than I’ve seen before. I was wrong to compare them to the ocean. They’re murky and with unfathomable depths that give me chills. I can only imagine how many people have lost themselves in his eyes and I don’t want to be one of them.
“Back off.” When he doesn’t let me go, I do the only thing that I know will work. Without really thinking about it, I reach up and tip my lemonade over his head. It splashes down around his shoulders, dripping down his face. There’s a look of shock written all over his face, but it quickly disappears.
“You bitch.” He lunges for me and I step back, my ankle twisting a little in the high heels Madeline convinced me to wear. Even though I know that there are oth
er people at this party, I can’t tear my eyes away from him.
Quinn is gorgeous, no doubt, but right now he looks downright murderous. I have to get away, and I turn, looking for the path that brough us to the clearing.
The music has stopped and everyone stares at us, but nobody moves to help me. Madeline calls my name, but I ignore her, kicking off my heels and running for it. The ground is cool under my feet and, for the first time since I came to the party, I feel grounded.
I have no idea how fast Quinn is, but I’m not looking over my shoulder to find out. He’s going to catch up to me if I’m not careful, and if he does, then I’m really and truly fucked.
In more than one way.
There’s a rock in front of me, but I leap over it easily, trying to ignore the way my dress pulls up around my ass when I do. There’s a whoop behind me and cheering, but there’s no way that I’m turning around now. Not when I know that Quinn is probably fast on my heels, and gaining.
As fast as I am, my feet are no match for the hard ground. I step on a hard rock and wince, almost falling as the point digs into the bottom of my foot. I have to figure out where I’m going or he’ll be able to easily chase me down as I run around the clearing.
Panting hard, I look around me, trying to tell at a glance which way I should go. I know that we came down one path and that there was another that Quinn was standing by when we got here, but now I’m turned around.
Dammit. Both of the paths off of the clearing look the same. Pausing, I consider my options, but I don’t want to wait long. I’m barely dressed as it is, and I’m sure that right now I’m just temping fate, especially considering the stupid bet that I made with Quinn.
Crossing my fingers, I choose a path and dart down it. Almost immediately, I know that I’ve made a terrible mistake. The path doesn’t flatten out and get wider like the path we came in on. Instead, it drops steeply down and I feel my feet slide from under me.
