King of Havoc - Dark Romance

Chapter 16 - Jess

    I'm a mess. I've been replaying what happened over the weekend—the bathroom, the moment he told me I was his, my claim on him, all of it.

    It's Monday; I walk down the hall like a druggie experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. My head pounds, and my fingers are twitchy. Students gather in groups, chatting among themselves. It sounds way too loud to my ears. I have an urge to turn around and go home.

    Damon isn't the only reason I'm a mess. Last night I had a nightmare, a bad fucking nightmare. It was a dream about that black night. The screams that won't leave my mind thundered louder than ever, but more importantly, I saw a black figure.

    A figure I could barely make out, but one thing stood out: his smile. A smile that's still haunting me. A smile that had me running to the toilet to throw up the alcohol I had consumed the night before.

    Questions keep pounding through my head in tune with my raging headache. Who is he? Why didn't he help us? Why was he fucking smiling? Is it even real or a screwed-up part of my imagination?

    I don't know the answers. I don't remember anything about the crash or the moments that led up to it. Since having that dream, a sick feeling has been twisting my gut. I'm really hoping it's just the hangover. That can't be real. It can't.

    This morning was the first morning Damon hadn't come to my house to give me a ride to school. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Damon sent me a text the night before. I still have no clue how he got my number. He either got it from Ace, or his surname could get him anything he wanted, including my private information.

DAMON

I'll dream about my cum on your pretty pink lips, Princess.

    After I didn't respond, he sent me a picture of himself, half-naked, showing his cut abdomen. It would be a lie if I said I didn't ogle him. I may have stared at it for fifteen minutes straight. The view triggered memories of the night before, me on my knees for him, bringing him as much pleasure as he'd given me. He's triggered parts of me I didn't even think existed.

    "Jess, Jess, hey," Annabelle's voice filters through the noise surrounding me.

    "Hey, Annabelle," I smile.

    She smiles widely as she comes to stand before me.

    "You don't look so good, Jess. Are you all right?"

    It looks like the concealer did nothing to hide my appearance. Great.

    "I'm fine, running on fumes, that's all," I shrug and bang my locker shut.

    You're a liar. You lie to everyone.

    Before my thoughts could spiral downward, I change the topic to something more important.

    "Where did you go on the night of the fight? I looked for you. You haven't replied to any of my texts. Are you okay?"

    "Ah, yeah, I lost my phone on my way home. The violence wasn't for me," she says with a short laugh, averting her gaze for a beat. "I've got a new phone now," she pulls it out and shows me.

    "Good, you had me worried."

    Her face turns a deathly shade of white as she stares in the direction behind me. Ace and Storm stroll in our direction. 

    Ace has his signature grin as he waves and flirts with anyone in a skirt on the way past. That guy's got too much confidence.

    Storm is looking straight at Annabelle, his brows drawn. I don't know what his problem is with her, but it's starting to get under my skin.

    "I... I have to go," Annabelle rushes out.

    Before I could say anything, she was already turning and bolting the other way. Great, she's left me for the wolves. Something tells me Storm scares her, and that pisses me off.

    The boys stop in front of me. Storm leans with one foot on the lockers. His gaze is locked in the direction Annabelle had fled. What's this asshole's problem? I'm about to ask when Ace cut me off.

    "What's up, New Girl? Where did the little mouse run off to?"

    I elbow him in the side. "Don't call her that."

    "She is, though." He puts his hands to his chest like he's wounded. "Can't believe you'd assault me. I thought we were friends."

    I roll my eyes at his antics. Over the last few weeks, he's been growing on me. I wouldn't admit that out loud, though, as his ego would inflate to a dangerous level.

    "Come to my party. We can have fun like last time," he says, waggling his eyebrows at me.

    I chose to ignore the last part.

    "Are you having another party? Seriously?"

    "That's what he does," Storm deadpans.

    I go to respond when a dark shadow appears. His arm shoots forward and surrounds my waist in a steel hold. I don't get a chance to react as he yanks me towards him. I'm flush against his chest. His muscular chest. The chest I keep staring at in that damn photo.

    Damon.

    "Princess," he says. "Sorry I couldn't pick you up this morning; something came up."

    My cheeks flush in what I imagine would be the deepest shade of crimson. I'm scared to lift my chin in case he sees my embarrassing reaction to him, so I shamelessly keep my head down and smell that spicy, masculine scent only he has.

    His chest presses my breasts flat, causing my nipples to harden beneath my bra. These feelings he brings out in me aren't natural. Are they?

    "Buddy, you're cramping my style. I was inviting the New Girl to my party."

    "Haven't you heard? The New Girl is my girlfriend," Damon growls.

    I twist in his hold, looking over at Ace. He has his brow raised.

    He smirks, "Cheater."

    What does he mean by that?

    "Cheater?" I repeat.

    Damon growls, and Ace throws his head back, laughing.

    "Yes, New Girl. Damon's cheating on me."

    Oh, he's making a joke. Well, I'm sure he is. Neither of them swings that way.

    "We're not really..."

    "You don't want to finish that sentence, Princess," Damon whispers in my ear.

    He's serious; he actually wants to be my boyfriend. I freeze, stunned in place. I don't know what he sees in me, and I sure as hell don't see it. I'm a mess, a liar, and a killer.

    My head is still pounding, and this onslaught of emotions is making it hard to breathe.

    "Meet us in the cafeteria for lunch," Damon says. "Bring Annabelle with you."

    He smirks at Storm, who sneers back at him.

    "Welcome to the Inner Circle, New Girl," Ace says.