Page 16 of Cruel Titan

“Love you too.” Elliot leans forward, plopping his head on the desk. “Wake me up when something interesting happens.”

A laugh sounds from Grant as he stands from the desk beside Elliot. “I have a few interesting stories if you want to hear them.”

Elliot jumps up, moving towards Grant as he quickly backs away.

“Have a seat, Bass,” Coach Reed says as Elliot watches Grant, looking like he wants to rip his head off just as much as I want to do the same to Reed. “It’s the last weekend of your two-month sentence, do you really want to extend your visit?”

Grant resumes a seat in the desk behind Quinn, turning his attention to his phone as Elliot unhurriedly sits back down beside me.

“What was that about?”

Elliot remains tense as he answers, “Nothing.”

“Okay,” I mock the sarcastic response he’d given me earlier, knowing that he’s full of shit too. Looking to the giver and receiver of my torment, I wait for the next moment when I can make things more entertaining.

13

Quinn

I swear the clock on the wall is at a standstill. Or maybe it’s moving backward. Glancing down at my phone again, it’s only two minutes later than the last time I’d looked. Less than an hour and I’ll be free to go—until I have to do it all over again tomorrow. Principal Huntington really has something going here because this is the longest, most painful punishment ever. Included is my own form of torment courtesy of Hades himself. He is looking my way every time I make the mistake of glancing in that direction, mostly when Elliot yells something ridiculous across the room. The latest was the party update for tonight. I didn’t need to know it’s been moved to Wade’s house since Elliot’s parents are back in town because I hadn’t planned on going, no matter the location, but Elliot can’t seem to take the hint, much like his best friend.

Shoving a textbook in my bag, I give in to the boredom. I’ve caught up on all the work I’d blown off during the week while helping out at Vast Perception. I even did a few assignments that aren’t due anytime soon, looking for anything to occupy my mind and make the time pass by faster. I make a mental note to download some movies on my phone since I can’t seem to get a signal in this room, taking away my option for plan B for today.

“How’s it going over here?” Coach Reed sits on the edge of the desk.

His boldness takes me by surprise, but I’m assuming he’s playing the game just as I am. Asher made it evident with his outburst that Coach Reed so much as speaking to me gets under his skin, so maybe I’ve gone out of my way to further his torment … it’s his fault we’re in this situation too. Him and that stupid photo of Nathan and my dad. It’s still as clear as day in my mind.

I don’t have to look back to know he’s watching, so I lean back against my chair, smiling up at Coach Reed.

“Good, since it’s almost time to get out of here.”

“Any fun plans for tonight?” Coach Reed asks nonchalantly, but the question doesn’t feel innocent.

“Nope.”

“That’s a shame,” he gives me a sly smile. “Some friends of mine are getting together at Dusty Corral later tonight.” He shifts, rubbing his palm down his jeans. “Ever been there?”

“No.”

“Well, if you’re ever in the area, you should swing by. You’re old enough to get in, right?”

“Yep.” Eighteen or not, I doubt the academy would approve of a student and teacher hanging out together at a dance hall.

Coach Reed pushes off my desk, eyeing Grant who’s walking back into the classroom after his exceptionally long bathroom break. As Grant resumes his seat behind me, Reed taps his fingers on the hard surface of my desk. “Check it out if you get a chance.”

I have no intentions of checking anything out, but I’m sure Asher is straining to hear every word. “Maybe, I will.”

Coach Reed takes a seat at his desk, continuing the conversation as he asks me random questions about music and things I’m interested it. The conversation seems innocent enough and I’m bored out of my mind, so I spend the remainder of the class conversing with him, pushing Asher and everything going on in my life as far out of my mind as possible.

The relief from the mindless conversation doesn’t last long. As I’m digging my key fob out of my bag, just stepping out of the school doors, the voice I can always count on to torment me speaks up, “You really can pick ’em.”

Casually, I continue walking to my car, hoping he will just give up … at least for now. No such luck because as I reach for my door handle, solid arms press against the doorframe on both sides of me, pinning me in his unwavering hold. Remaining silent and still, I wait to see what he’s got planned this round. He shifts forward, his stomach pressing against my back as I lean forward against my car.

“When are you going to learn?”

The laugh that comes out of my mouth surprises me. I’m so over his shit. I shake my head, pressing back against him enough to allow space to rotate around, facing him as his arms remain at my sides, his body still pressed against mine. “What? Are you going to get Reed to screw Allison now and save me a front row seat? How about use my dad to hurt me again? What’s it going to be this time?”

His face remains tense as he looks at me, eyes intent on holding me hostage under their mesmerizing stare, but all I can see is the pain that follows the lustful seduction. I wish I knew what he was waiting for because I don’t know how much more I can take.