Nero (Made Men #1)(12)

After a second, she retorted, “Fine.” Elle tried to make it seem as if she allowed him to sit there, but she knew she hadn’t won that one by the way he was smiling. Arrogant asshole.

Shutting out the boy next to her, Elle was finally able to begin filling the paper with her words. She had always loved to write; it helped her escape everything that troubled her, and Elle had a lot of troubles.

Every now and then, she could sense Nero staring at her. She thought it was a strange feeling to have a boy look at her the way he did. She couldn’t describe the sensation because she had never had it before. No boy had ever looked at her or paid her any attention in high school. Now, within one day, Nero was talking to her and choosing to sit beside her. She didn’t know how to feel about it.

Her emotions had been all over the place the last couple of days. As a result, Elle kept doing what she was doing—writing.

“Can I use your pen a second?” Nero held out his hand.

“Yeah, sure.” She gave him the pen and saw him outline something on his poster, although she couldn’t make anything out.

“You know, in the supply closet there are much better writing pens. The words will stand out better with a nicer pen.”

Elle could see Nero might be a while with her pen, so she got up and headed for the closet in the back of the class, which had several shelves; Elle had no idea where the pens would be.

“Here.” Elle felt Nero’s body lightly at her back as he reached over her and grabbed something out of one of the top bins, bringing a pen down and handing it to her. Elle gave him a half smile and started to walk out of the closet, but something had been bothering her; she needed to know something from him because, right then, it didn’t make any sense why he was talking to her.

She decided to turn around and ask him, looking right up at his face. “Why now? Not one time have you ever spoken to me, and now you’re acting like we just met or something.”

“You really want to know?”

Elle swallowed hard. She probably didn’t; however, she needed to. She nodded and looked down at his chest.

“All right.” He shut the closet door then took a step toward her.

“W—what are you d-doing?” With every word she spoke, she took a step back. Nero took one more step toward her until her back hit the door and she was pinned.

“Yesterday, I saw you staring at me and Cassandra, and later, I caught you again in the parking lot with Stephanie.” He took a step closer, closing the small gap she had placed between them. “Usually, people feel too uncomfortable. They won’t even look in my direction.” As Nero leaned down, Elle thought he was going to kiss her for a second; instead, his mouth came close to her ear. “But you couldn’t pull your eyes away.” His words made her ear warm, causing the rest of her flesh to become heated.

He grabbed her chin to make her finally look in his eyes. “There is something dying to come out…” His finger traveled down her neck and stopped right above the swell of her breasts. “And I want to be the one who brings it out, Elle.” Hearing her name brought her out of the trance he had put over her.

He knows my name?

He moved his hand beside her waist and turned the doorknob, backing up to give her room to come forward so the door could be opened. Elle scooted free, her body no longer warmed by his. She didn’t understand why she instantly regretted moving away, though.

When he opened the door all the way so she could exit the closet, Elle grew embarrassed with all the stares she was getting. She was sure Cassandra’s sidekicks were thinking of a thousand ways for her to die by the looks on their faces.

She headed back to her table, but before she could sit, the bell rang. Time to go, thank God.

Elle picked up her bag and darted out the door, flying out so fast she never saw the look on Nero’s face. He was completely dumbfounded.

Elle ran down the halls without being aware if she was running to Chloe or away from Nero.

Definitely to Chloe. Elle thought a second more. Yep, Chloe!

She reached Chloe’s classroom, anxious to get out of there. “You ready?”

“Yeah, you okay?” Chloe looked concerned.

“Uh, yes, why wouldn’t I be? Okay, let’s go!” Elle almost grabbed Chloe’s hand, stopping herself before she made contact. Chloe brought her hand up to her chest and looked down to the floor.

“I’m sorry, Chlo-”

“It’s okay. Let’s go.” Chloe walked past Elle and started heading for the doors.

Elle watched Chloe walk right past her. Shit.

Every now and again, Elle would forget about Chloe’s past and problems, right until she was about an inch away from touching her, and then the memories would all come back. Elle knew they not only showed up for Elle, but for Chloe, as well.

They reached the parking lot and Elle thought she had déjà vu. Times two, apparently.

The two bimbos were leaning against Nero’s car. A sick feeling grew in Elle’s stomach while she walked as fast as she could to Chloe’s car, passing Chloe and reaching her car first. She rested her hand on the door handle, desperate to get in the car.

She looked up, only seeing Nero’s back as he talked to the girls. The girls’ faces she could see, however, and she really wished she couldn’t.

When Chloe unlocked the doors, Elle threw herself in, keeping her face straight forward. There was no way she was turning her head. Elle’s sick feeling started to move up ever so slightly from her stomach.