of the hallway filled her lungs. She felt the heavy, rhythmic

e loud chatter died down instantly. Students parted like the

through the crowd and locked onto the ta

n his pocket. His eyes were cold, rebellious, and completely unappr

icked over her pale face for a fraction of a sec

cker right next to Bryn's ear. The loud bang made the students ne

faint tobacco washed over her face. He lowered his voi

umed the school tyrant was just starting his d

ve bristled like a cornered cat

tilted her chin up and looked directl

aw the broken man kneeling in the mud, cr

e lifted her hand. Her warm fingertips lightly b

A flash of absolute, naked panic s

d like he had just touched a live wire. A dark, furiou

, trying to sound vicious, but his voice ca

ile broke across her face. She looked at him

e hallway. The whispers instantly died, replaced by th

His Adam's apple bobbed hard. He spun on his heel and pr

silent vow to herself right then and there: in this

ry

ent voice called out

gold varsity football jacket. He flashed his trademark

ter. Now, a wave of hot bile rose in the back of h

out to drape his heavy arm over her shoulders, movin

sharp step to the right. Keifer's ha

o immediately kicked in to protect him. He assumed

, a smug grin playing on his lips. "Are you playing hard to get because I didn'

age of his twisted, violent expression as he sh

ping him across the face. She slowly lowered her gaze, staring p

r arms over her chest and looked Keifer up and d

was loud enough for every single person in the h