Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 30: Beaumont Doesn't DO Crushes

Tatum felt like a stalker.

He knew Emilia had surely caught him staring more than once in class, but after Arabella went missing, his paranoia had surged back towards new heights.

He couldn't let Valentine senior get to her.

Nikolai's jackass of a older brother was coming for him, his first victim already being Ara. Tatum just knew he would continue to pick off every single person he cared for one by one.

It was in these moments, that he was thankful that there weren't many.

The dark haired teenager was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice he had bumped into a short freshman girl. Upon seeing him, the girl turned a profuse shade of ash white, immediately apologizing on the spot.

Beaumont waved her off absentmindedly and with a little squeak, the underclassman disappeared. His thoughts then drifted back to the topic he had been thinking about all day. His ex girlfriend's position in the Valentine's residence.

As sickening as it was, Tatum knew the reason why Ara wasn't already dead. Dante Valentine lived to play with his prey. Have fun with them. Tease them.

He was a sadistic prick in that way.

Tatum smirked. Although, Nikolai definitely would have a fit when he discovered that she was under his nose the entire time. He was whipped when it came to his Ara.

The boy suddenly stopped in the hallway upon the realization of something. A factor that he hadn't considered. What shape Ara would be in when Nikolai found her. And also the fact that unfortunately, he was the one who had to tell him the news about Ara's location. Which he was currently on his way to do.

The boy frowned thinking about Ara's possible condition. While Tatum Beaumont still very much hated Arabella's guts, he didn't want her to become a shell of her former self or get mentally abused. Or knowing the twerp, both.

Especially because if she got injured in any way, he wouldn't be able to handle the guilt that she was collateral damage of his father's past actions.

The boy continued his walk, this time at a faster face, more brisk like.

If his calculations on Valentine's thought process was correct, Emilia was next.

Even if he would deny it if asked in public, he has slowly started to.....slightly care for the girl.

Plus, it didn't help that she was very pretty. With her brown eyes, that in sunlight seemed to shift to almost a hazelnut-gold, bronze flecks dancing in her irises like a never ending sparkler. Her perfect almost doll like skin, unblemished, acne free, close to the color of white marble. And her hair. Her ebony long tresses of hair, almost always swept up into a ponytail, showing off her bare neck.

And her spunk. He loved her fierceness.

Tatum blinked.

Okay maybe. Just maybe a little more than slightly care. A small crush.

No.

Tatum Beaumont didn't crush or gush over anyone. More like he found her endearing and was fond of her. Yeah, that's it.

The teen ignored the recent flush that had appeared on his cheeks.

Definitely NOT a crush.

As he began to approach his destination, his feet, involuntarily started to have slowly progressed into an almost drag like movement, his legs feeling alarmingly like it was sticking to the floor. A bit of dread creeped up his back, as he faced the open cafeteria doors, apprehensive about what he had to do.

The one last thing, before going to save Ara.

Telling the brother of her capturer.

This ought to be fun.

He was now in the cafeteria, his blue eyes immediately zoned in on where Tatum knew he'd be.

However, Volcanic bronze eyes were already looking straight at him.

Beaumont knew that look all too well.

Tell me who to kill.

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Okay so I've been like a horrible and really inconsistent author to you guys lately. I know it's no excuse but ACT's, a lot of stress inducing essays, getting my license, track season starting, and a new job takes up a lot more time than I thought.

But thank you for all who have stuck around. Anyways I finally dragged my butt to write another chapter after being on a tired, uninspired spree of two months. I really enjoyed writing about this chapter cause I love making any male be in denial about their feelings, *cough* Tatum Beaumont *cough*.

Anyways I really hoped you enjoyed. And any feedback or comments would be welcomed.

Don't forget to vote and share!

If I am good, I will have the next chapter up by next week! If not, on the weekend of the next!

Thanks for reading guys!

Love ya,

~Jaderunner