pte

ine'

sso, Hardin's father asked as we sat d

pset the most because she was trying her hardest t

r one of his friends had lied and said I could sit w

e and thinking that the order had come from him directly wh

ok in his eyes when he saw me there before

n Alex, his friend who had invited me to the table could stand up

the king of the school. E

Russo said, giving my mother a sympathetic

had. And I wished Hardin could see how sincere t

eplied, kissing his cheek and squeezing

re to not li

ted to be serenaded and have my happi

ot giving you so much trouble?" Russo asked a

this without lying? Beca

ld tell him about what Har

ake my life a living hell d

ht girls home to h

had seen his

eld Dahlia down with so much control, it was ob

at me with concern and I cleare

She asked and

much?" Russo asked and I shook my head so

d, biting the inside of my cheek t

I knew Hardin had plans for

yet, but with time, I'm hoping

been a hard headed kid but he'll

e one bit but I

lcoming me into the family was waiting for me on

til I realized that if I didn't stop shouting, my moth

wondered how he had gotten in becau

ad I

was possibly the rat's, that said 'Welcome to the family' w

ck from the dining hall, so it had

tered the

seen me

d. Hardin hated me. He wouldn't want to s

ards from ten to one continuously, all in an attempt

't confr

nd I had learned more than once, that I would never

why the word intim

ne so handsome

ialed Nadia and she pick

d?" She sounded like

din kept a dead rat on my

you serious?

o video, I tiptoed closer t

he get into your room? Y

I did" I replied, moving

in my bedroom, wearing nothing but a tow

asked, her eyes wide and looking very f

nough to stir

whispe

was to report Hardin and

ed and the last thing I wanted was t

t out of your bed or do you not p

, but I doubt I'll be slee

e sleeping there, if at all I was able

to request that the lock on my roo

eep with one eye open. That boy's a menace." She said and w

ock on my door

find a paper bag when I heard my mo

t timing in the h

ream more as I removed the rat and the bloodied paper, then hid it inside a nylon ba

a robe, I took a deep breath

back later." She said and I shook my head with a smile that was probabl

d and she looked at me,

to your bed c

at her step son dropped a dead rat and a blo

be." I blurted and when she nodded, I heaved

e and I'm so glad that you have been so understanding. I feel like we have not hung out much since we moved. You

er and reminding myself that no matter what Hardin

opportunist and

" I told her and she n

l leave you to it.

y I turned around, my smile faded because I knew t

t was going t