Chapter 48

    Chapter 48: You don’t get to ask that

    After class, I went back to ignoring him.

    His phone buzzed, but instead of responding, he let out a quiet sigh.

    "Lyric," he said, barely above a whisper. "Please wait—"

    I ignored him. Grabbed my bag. Stood up.

    I was halfway out the door when he caught my wrist. I froze for a full minute.

    His touch wasn’t forceful. It wasn’t rough. But it sent a jolt through me, like my body still remembered what it felt like to be held by him. What it felt like to tremble under him, how he tasted. How badly I had bitten into his back to stifle my moans.

    This was messed up. I didn’t need him anymore.

    Slowly, I turned back.

    He released me the second our eyes met.

    I expected him to look cocky, maybe even amused. But he looked… lost. Like he didn’t know what to say.

    Like he wasn’t sure if he should say anything at all. It was a first for the great Gavin Hawkins. His shoulders slumped, his eyes pleading. '' Please talk to me. ''

    I shook my head, my grip tightening around my phone. He might have seen through me, but that didn’t mean we were friends.

    "You don’t get to ask that."

    I wanted to scream the words at him, but my disability held me back. Instead, I turned away before I could see his reaction. Before I could let my resolve crack.

    Before I could let myself remember how badly I wanted to stay.

    The bell rang, signaling the end of class, but I was already at the exit.

    ---

    The Next Day

    I arrived at school feeling unusually excited. Wren had told me she’d be attending today. Without her, everything felt emptier. She was my best friend.

    The moment our eyes met, she beamed and waved enthusiastically.

    "Hello, gorgeous!" Wren called out, practically bouncing as she ran toward me.

    She wore an off-shoulder blouse and a pleated black skirt. Her hair, though clearly a wig, cascaded down her shoulders so naturally that it was almost impossible to tell. She threw her arms around me, squeezing me into a suffocating hug.

    "Oh my God, how much I’ve missed you, bestie!"

    I smiled, blinking away tears. <<I have missed you too.>> I signed.

    She hugged me again before launching into an animated story about her weekend.

    Suddenly, a sleek car pulled up at the school entrance.

    It needed no introduction. Gavin Hawkins.

    I wanted to look away, but then a female hand pushed open the passenger door from inside.

    Her.

    The same woman I had seen at his house. The one he had kissed.

    She stepped out gracefully, her slim, thigh-length dress hugging her curves. The fabric was so sheer that her nipples were faintly visible beneath it. She looked like a living Barbie doll—perfect, polished, the kind of beauty that never had a bad hair day in her life.

    On the other side of the car, Gavin stepped out. He didn’t wait for her. Instead, he walked ahead, his strides purposeful. She struggled to keep up behind him, her heels clicking against the pavement.

    Wren scoffed.

    "I guess Gavin’s already found a new toy."

    I didn’t say anything.

    Wren must have realized how her words sounded because her face crumpled in regret. She grabbed my hands, kissing them apologetically.

    "I’m sorry, Lyric. I didn’t mean it like that. He lost a gem when he let you go. I am—"

    Feeling uncomfortable, I gently pulled my hands away.

    She wasn’t wrong.

    I had been a toy to him.

    But not anymore.

    ---

    Lunchtime

    Classes passed in a blur.

    I couldn't shake the memory of them kissing. It clung to my mind like a parasite, feeding off my emotions. And I hated myself for it.

    During break, I sat at my usual table when Emilia and her clique strutted toward me.

    "If it isn’t little Miss Mute," Emilia sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "I heard you were in someone’s bed over break. How was it?"

    My jaw clenched. I gripped my tray a little tighter than necessary.

    I didn’t want this drama.

    Wren, however, had no such restraint. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, nearly smacking me in the face.

    "Can you bounce away like a basketball, please?" she said, her tone sickly sweet. "We don’t like flies near our food. It spoils the appetite."

    Emilia’s smirk didn’t waver. "There you go again, speaking for your psychic friend. You’d be perfect by my side, you know. An angel for my little empire. We could rule this school together."

    Wren snorted, blinking heavily. "Yeah, no thanks. I’m not interested in joining your cult, Emilia."

    Emilia’s expression darkened, like she could not believe someone has said ' NO' to her. Sweet Daddies little princess. "Fine, Katniss. Enjoy burning in hell with your mute sidekick."

    "Sorry, we can’t," Wren shot back. She looked over to Emilia's little gang, "It’s already overcrowded with you and your floozy minions."

    Emilia’s nostrils flared. Her pupils dilated with rage. She pointed her sharp, freshly long dip-powder manicured nails at us. Breathing heavily, "You—"

    Then, she raised her hand to slap Wren, but I was quicker. I caught her wrist and shoved it aside with force before delivering a sharp slap across her face.

    The crack of the impact echoed through the cafeteria.

    A collective gasp rippled through the students around us. Whispers filled the air. The tension thickened. Everyone stood up at the cafeteria to get a better view of the scene.

    Emilia’s head snapped to the side. She turned back slowly, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    "You mute nothing," she hissed. "Did you just slap me?"

    I didn’t respond. Instead, I slapped her again.

    Harder. I felt adrenaline rush through my blood stream, it was fulfilling. I finally could stand against his witch. My palms scratched to hit her again. This time even harder.

    Blood pooled at the corner of her mouth.

    One of her minions lunged at me, but Wren stepped in, blocking her path. Another girl rushed forward—this time, Aaron intercepted her. I hadn’t even noticed when he entered the cafeteria.

    Then came Janice.

    I barely had time to react. I braced myself, expecting her hit. But it never came.

    A familiar cologne filled my senses. My breath hitched. It couldn’t be.

    "Gavin?" Emilia’s voice sharpened in disbelief. She yelled, "Why are you siding with her?"

    His jaw tensed, he flicked his gaze at me then her "Stop this, Emilia, before I do something worse."

    She laughed mockingly, folding her arms around her chest "Like what? Report me to your daddy?"

    For a split second, I let my guard down. And in that moment, Emilia lunged.

    Her nails slashed across my skin before I could block her. I drew in a breathe in pain, my eyes rolling to the back of its socket.

    Pain radiated through my body. Blood staining her pretty nails.

    "LYRIC! " Gavin called out, pulling me into his arms. His cold hand when down my wounded arm and I felt a chill. His worried eyes searched my face, "We need to get this treated. "

    The next thing I knew, we were being escorted to the principal’s office.

    For the first time I cursed.

    Fuck.