Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(12)

“No,” I said. “I’m good.”

He stepped toward me and I stepped back.

“I didn’t fucking ask,” he finally spoke.

His voice sliced through me. A bold and dominate voice that could shake the building into rubble.

He opened my locker and gently placed the cigarette down on the edge so the smoking tip stuck out.

I hurried to grab the cigarette. “What the hell is this?”

He smirked. He winked.

Then he turned and started to walk away.

His back was built wide and strong.

He screamed temptation and danger.

He turned down the hallway and I stood there holding the lit cigarette.

I shut my locker, my eyes staring forward, my mind telling me to put the cigarette out.

Yet my heart begged to smell the smoke for a few seconds longer.

Because that smell and the look of that boy…

I let out a soft ‘oohhh’ sound like a complete fool.

“Tinsley Ditkiss.”

I turned, my eyes going wide.

There stood Principal Jacobson.

And there I stood with a lit cigarette.

Fuck.





Bad enough I was caught standing there with a lit cigarette.

Bad enough the sound of my name made me cringe.

Tinsley Ditkiss.

Bad enough I watched as Principal Jacobson took the cigarette from me and held it out like it was a lit firecracker.

Now I was in his office (again) and I was told to sit in a leather chair, only to endure him pacing back and forth behind his desk. Part of me wondered if he had once dreamed of becoming a lawyer or a judge.

The way he walked in silence for so long left me feeling tired.

And on the tip of my tongue was ‘it wasn’t mine!’ which was something he probably heard all the time.

So I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Finally, he stopped and folded his arms.

“Speak,” he said.

“All this suspense makes me actually want a cigarette,” I said with a smile.

Stupid, Ti. Really stupid.

“Is that funny to you?”

“It kind of is,” I said. “That wasn’t my cigarette. I don’t smoke either.”

“Of course. So you were holding it for a friend?”

“Actually, no.”

“Then who were you holding it for?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“That’s the truth. There was a guy in the hallway smoking. He gave me the cigarette and walked away. It was weird.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

I let out a sigh. “Okay. So no matter what I say here you’re going to have a response. So do whatever you would do to someone you caught smoking. Fair enough?”

Principal Jacobson just stared me down.

Nothing about him was threatening at all. He looked skinny enough to be blown away in the wind. But his eyes were beady and smart. That was what made him look scary.

“I know who you are, Tinsley,” he said. “Everything about your life.”

“Meaning?”

“I told Claire I wasn’t sure what the point of you being here was. But she is very convincing.”

The way he said convincing I pictured Claire on top of him, riding him, getting her way.

So. Fucking. Gross.

“I’m sorry about your mother,” Principal Jacobson said.

“Okay.”

“My understanding is she is getting the help she needs. Which is good. And my understanding is that’s the reason you’re here. So I’m going to forget about what just happened. I guess I’m going to believe you. You say that the cigarette wasn’t yours, then fine. My advice is to watch who you associate with.”

“Of course,” I said.

“You may go now.”

I stood up. “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I don’t know. I just felt like I should say that. Seems logical. Apologize and leave.”

“How about you just leave?”

I shut my mouth and got the hell out of there.

I cut down a hallway and saw a gold color door. That seemed to be the colors of Bay Falls High. Everything was gold, black, luxurious, yet rustic.

Whatever.

I pushed the door open and found myself in a garden type thing. But at least I was outside. I was out of that damn building for now. First days were the worst. Always the worst. Which was probably the same stuff people were telling Mom.

The walkway was made up of smooth, misshaped stone. It twisted and turned through an array of greens, flowers and smells that were really soothing. It was probably the most beautiful part of Bay Falls High.

I caught myself smiling as I put my hands out and felt the touch of the greens.

Suddenly things weren’t so…

I sniffed the air.

No.

I opened my eyes.

I sniffed the air again.

Fuck. No.

My feet stopped moving and I slowly started to back up.

“No use, love,” a voice said. “I already know you’re there.”

My heart picked up its pace and I told myself I wasn’t going to run and hide.

Not from this guy.