Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
“No,” he says, almost sounding disappointed. “Not even a little bit.”
There’s a slight pause, and I’m about to haul ass out of here when he goes on, keeping me pinned in my chair. “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen,” he says. “You and I both know that I’m not buying your bullshit. You’re either going to give me a name, or you’re going to spend every lunch period for the next week right here in my office. But be warned, a week’s worth of detention puts a mark on your record. Earn a second one and that’s grounds for suspension.”
I arch a brow, not exactly pleased with my options. Protect Zoey or risk my enrollment? What a stupid fucking question. Where Zoey is concerned, there’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do to protect her, even if it means giving up my future. “Then I guess I’ll see you at lunch,” I tell him, not even a hint of hesitation in my tone.
“Very well,” Principal Daniels says, watching me with suspicion. He holds my stare a moment longer before taking a deep breath. “You’ve barely been here a week, Noah. I don’t want to see you getting in trouble. I’ve had nothing but good reports from your teachers, and even Coach Martin seems to be impressed by you. That’s no easy feat. You’ve stuck to your counseling sessions, and as far as I’m aware, you have had full attendance to every class. I’m not foolish enough to believe that this will last, but I am hopeful that it will. I don’t want to see you fall behind. You could be a great addition to this school, a role model to the younger students, and your football endeavors could put this school on the map. However, I stand by what I said; one fuck up, Noah, and you’re out on your own. I understand you are protecting someone, and as noble as that is, I will not allow it to pass again. You said you’re the kind to look out for only yourself, and while I am no longer sure that is entirely true, I want to see you put your money where your mouth is. I want to see you look out for yourself. Look out for your future and stop selling yourself short.”
Fuck, why does his judgment seem to sting so badly? It’s almost as bad as the judgment I saw in Zoey’s eyes when I first saw her in the halls of this very office.
“I’ve got it under control,” I tell him, needing to look away. I haven’t had a damn thing under control in three long years.
Daniels lets out a sigh, watching me through a narrowed stare before pressing his lips into a hard line and finally nodding. “Alright, Noah. Get to class,” he says, waving toward his office door. “Let’s hope I don’t need to call you into my office again.”
“Let’s hope,” I repeat, and with that, I throw myself out of the chair and back through his door, more than ready to get my ass out of here.
22
Zoey
This week has sucked.
It’s the first Friday night football game of the season, and the whole school is buzzing with excitement—Tarni being the most excited of them all after Noah accidentally bumped into her in the hall and caught her by the waist so she wouldn’t break her nose against a locker. She’s been crushing on him since the moment he arrived at East View High, but these past few days have been intolerable. If only she knew that he had me up against the wall of my closet with his tongue down my throat and his body pressed so tightly against mine that I couldn’t tell where he ended and I began.
Yeah, I think I’ll keep that little adventure to myself.
I can only imagine how the cheerleaders of East View will react if that snippet of information accidentally ends up in the wrong hands. They’ll turn that beautiful, passionate moment between me and Noah into something filthy, and I refuse to allow that to happen.
It’s been four long days since our kiss, and not a damn thing has changed. Well, I suppose that’s not entirely correct. While Noah has continued to watch over me from afar, it’s no longer done with hostility in his eyes. He doesn’t openly try to despise me, but he’s certainly still keeping his distance. I can only hope that this is the start of his walls beginning to crumble.
He’s starting to come back to me, and I’m terrified of the hope that surges through my chest every time I think about it, knowing that if he pulls back now and shuts me out, this time it’ll be for good. At least I’m prepared now. If he tries to shut me out, I’m going to hold on until he’s able to see that he’s right where he belongs, just like he would have done for me.