Page 33 of Make You Beg

“I do.”

“And you’re still offering to help me?”

“Yep.” She looks forward and hugs her legs. “I’d help you find a place far, far away from me.”

I cackle at that.

Would she still offer her help if she knew everything I did? The monster I’m keeping hidden?

“Enough about me. What about you, Little Demon?” I direct the whole focus to her. “What’s your dream?”

I’ve never had a conversation like this with her. Never wondered. Never wanted us to talk until now. Too busy making each other’s lives hell.

“I’m going to be a teacher.”

I tilt my head to the side and grin.

“I can see that. You, in a tight little skirt and shirt, being all strict on kiddos and threatening them to do their homework. Kinda hot.”

She shakes her head. Her cheeks flush.

“I won’t be like that. I’ll be gentle.”

“Gentle? You?” I scoff. “Please, Madelyn.”

She gives me a delicate push, and I almost stumble.

“Stop it,” she says. “I want to teach kids. I want to inspire them. I want to help them become better human beings. Not feed into some disturbing fantasy.”

“That’s cheesy as fuck.”

She shrugs. “I don’t care. It’s something I always wanted to do.”

It’s something that’d fit her just right, but I don’t say that.

An idea crawls to the corners of my mind.

“Where are you going?”

She bites her bottom lip. “Nothing is set in stone. I’ve got another year of school first. But if it all goes according to plan…” She pauses. “I’ll be going to NJ State. It’s a reputable school, and close to home, so I could commute. It also has the major I want. It’s affordable, and it doesn’t have a strict quota or requirements. The whole package, basically.”

“Sounds good.”

Really good, if I’m being honest. Do they have a hockey team, too, by any chance?

“Yeah.” She rests her palms on her ankles. “I’m a bit nervous, though. I’ll have to get driving lessons and a license, otherwise, I’ll have to take public transportation every day. Which wouldn’t be bad, but everyone’s nagging me about driving.”

“Nothing wrong with not driving,” I say. “Don’t sweat it. You’ll learn when you learn.”

“Yeah.” She nods. “The sooner, the better.”

“Hey, Little Demon?”

“Yeah?”

“I know this isn’t our dynamics at all, but…” I pause.

Should I even suggest this? The alcohol in my veins says yes.