Raphael
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLkj6Atl3F
All I can see is red.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJDyaRKkVR
Gabe's checking out Zeke's shoulder while that little redneck bitch walks away without even looking back. There's still a knot of spectators whispering and giggling, fingers flying over their phones. I know without looking I'll have dozens of notifications when I check mine.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl33fUoL5VO
Some of the braver ones have started gravitating towards us. Taylor Bennett is cooing over Zeke, flipping her long red hair and batting her eyelashes at him. Gabe looks at me, his grey eyes stormy, and I nod back. We've been best friends since Montessori school, words aren't necessary.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd3xWEzRMK
Whoever this bitch is, she's going down.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9tjwUi8iR
We make it to class, eventually, Zeke still muttering under his breath. His eyes light with unholy glee when he sees who's sitting at the back of the classroom, head down over her books like a good little girl. He makes a beeline for the empty seat next to her. Gabe and I take the two seats on her other side, hemming her in.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDbeege3D0
She glances up, rolls her eyes, and goes back to her notes. I take my time studying her.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuVYk7mu0i
She's not my type, obviously, but I have to admit she's cute. She's curvy in the classic pinup way, bouncy in all the right places. The braid of her dark hair brushes her hips, and her skin is clear and creamy with a sprinkle of golden freckles over her nose. She flicks her eyes towards me again, aggravation darkening their blue-green depths. She drops her gaze, her full lips tightening.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz9L65xhy5
I have a sudden flashback to the way my cousin- because of course the fucker would have to be my cousin- wrapped all that hair around his fist and pulled her head back to kiss her. The way she arched into him and just let him take what he wanted. I shift irritably in my seat. My phone pulses against my leg and I pull it out.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQJoqqnft9
Gabe's sent me a link, and I thumb it open. It's a video, taken in the parking lot, of little miss redneck putting Zeke on the ground. Someone tagged all three of us already, and I skim the comments, my molars grinding. I put my phone away and notice Zeke doing the same. A dull flush is creeping up his neck, then fades as he takes a deep breath and relaxes back into his chair. He taps his phone, and Gabe's buzzes when mine does. I open our group text to read his message.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6VTSMlAyk
I'm going to fuck her entire world up.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiALHSHVJXJ
I'm not fooled. Underneath his golden boy looks and charming, carefree façade, Zeke's fucked up. I love him like a brother, but I'm not blind. I've seen what he does behind closed doors, when he drops the act and the real Ezekiel Stone comes out to play. If he's decided to destroy this girl, there's nowhere for her to hide.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXZHsjrRiu
Gabe and I are just along for the ride.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoXVRcNkmt
***
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhSSD5AMUk
We don't get a chance to talk until soccer practice. Zeke slams his bag into his locker, his icy blue eyes blazing with fury as he strips out of his uniform. Our teammates give us a wide berth, filtering out to the field. Zeke pushes his hands through his hair, then punches his locker closed.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eXrxcP5Gg
"What the fuck, man?" He smacked the locker again, fist meeting metal with a dull clang. "Who the fuck does that bitch think she is?"
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIhvzyHix8
He rubs his shoulder thoughtfully. Gabe stands on my other side, arms folded over his chest. His gray eyes meet mine, full of concern.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhLCdiqtIU
"I have no idea," I admit. "Fucking bitch is fast, though. You okay?"
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA6b8iuPIm
Zeke flexes his fingers, then shakes out his hand and shrugs, his anger stuffed back down into its cage. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Come on, we're already late."
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8i6reEMaU
Not that it matters. We could blow off practice for the rest of the fall and no one would say a word. We're the Angels, and Sullivan Prep has belonged to us since the day we set foot on campus. No one defies us.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82mMDn8SIj
Until now.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogdgI5cRdt
I look at Zeke, his smiling mask back in place as we head out the door, and wonder what he's planning. Whatever it is, it won't be good.
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90DddAf7nu
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxWOJehFbl
