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It was the last day of that year when I realized just how cruel my fellow classmates were. Anticipating the two weeks of moving - which rarely took that long and ended up more like a vacation - I headed to the courtyard for a little summer sun. I had one of Amerlee's books in my hand, a blanket tossed over my shoulder, and couldn't think of anything better than lying in the grass to read about some woman being swept off her feet.
But then I heard it. "Kiss him!" someone taunted, but it didn't sound like encouragement.
"No! Ugh!" That came from a girl.
"Maybe he just needs a boy."
"No way, I wouldn't kiss that."
"How'd you get into the Temple of Temptation anyways? No one would be tempted byyou."
Curious, I stepped onto the grass to see Wraythe pinned in the corner by a group of at least ten kids. His hands were clenched into fists at his side, and each time he tried to move, a few of them blocked him. That meant the only way for him to escape was to hurt someone, and that could get him thrown out.
"I dare you to kiss him," a girl teased, pushing a boy toward him.
The kid resisted, pushing back against her as hard as he could. "No, you can't make me!"
"Bet no one else has."
My heart stalled. Flashes of that day in the bath, when my things had been destroyed flickered through my mind, and I remembered the tears. I'd been so hurt, but also angry, and I hadn't known how to deal with it. Thankfully, Anver, Jamik, and Amerlee had stepped in, but twisting my head from side to side, I didn't see Eladehl anywhere. Wraythe was alone, and while words weren't supposed to hurt, that didn't make it true.
"He probably doesn't even know how to kiss," Ciella sneered.
That was all it took to make up my mind. Dropping my book and blanket in the grass, I stormed into the mess, pushing my way through. "Leave him alone," I snapped. "Who he kisses is none of your business. Saval taught us that."
"Oh, soyouknow who he's been kissing?" Ciella taunted.
I looked back to Wraythe and met his eyes, aware of the sparkle that had nothing to do with amusement. His jaw was clenched, and the look he'd turned on me was a warning. Right now, he hated anyone and everyone, but none of this was right. I reached out to grab his hand, my fingers encircling his fist.
He didn't move, so I figured I'd just go with it. No, scratch that. I was going to lie my ass off. "He's been kissing me. I learned better than to do it where you can see. It makes you too jealous, Ciella."
She smiled at me, and it looked like she was made of poison. "Then prove it."
I had no idea if Wraythe would be ok with that. I knew he was always with Eladehl, so maybe he didn't evenlikegirls. Besides, we'd just been through a year of consent lessons. I wasn't about to put him in that position.
"It's ok," Wraythe whispered behind me. "I won't let them pick on you for it..."
He was begging. I wasn't sure how I knew that, but he was. Maybe it was the way his hand had softened under my fingers, relaxing slightly. Maybe it was how his eyes hung on mine like he was seeking a lifeline.
"Fine," I told Ciella, then stepped into his massive chest, stretching for his mouth.
Wraythe's arms wrapped around my back, and he bent, his lips finding mine easily, but when my mouth parted, he did nothing else. I knew they were all watching. I was sure we were being judged, so I decided to take over. My tongue slipped inside his mouth to encourage him, and Wraythe's hands tightened, sliding up my body like he couldn't help himself.
But I liked it. There was something about being crushed in a man's arms that I needed more of. A soft moan slipped out, but he drank it in, following my lead perfectly. When I reached up to wrap an arm around his neck, he lifted, hauling me onto my toes.
"Fuck me," a boy breathed behind me. "I need a man to kiss me like that."
"Guess you were wrong, Ciella," a girl laughed.
And Wraythe sighed, gently easing me away. "You ok?" he asked.
"Yeah," I assured him.
But a slow clapping interrupted us. I turned to see Eladehl making his way across the grass proudly, creating a production with his snide applause. His eyes were locked on Ciella. Those eyes of his were dark and oh so dangerous.
"Congratulations, you simpering littlebitch. Aren't you so proud of yourself now? I mean, here you have been convinced that you're the most beautiful girl in our class, completely unaware that Nariana dethroned you months ago. And now, everyone else knows it too."
"She isnotprettier than me," Ciella hissed.
