Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(58)

Bbrriinngg.

The bell signaling the end of class rang, denying her the opportunity to ream the cocky boy. Rip stood up and casually walked out of the classroom. Like he hadn’t spent the past ten minutes harassing her.

Katherine seethed in her chair a full minute before forcing herself to get up and follow Melanie to the gymnasium. “Are you okay?” the girl asked, eyeing the no doubt surly scowl painted on her face.

“I’m fine,” she muttered.

But when they entered the brightly lit gym, Katherine’s day got even worse.

It was Markus. There. In the gym. Wearing blue athletic shorts, a gray t-shirt, and a whistle wrapped around his neck.

“What are you doing here?” Katherine demanded rudely, unable to stop the question from flying out her mouth.

Melanie glanced wearily from Markus to Katherine, obviously confused by her outburst.

Markus’s responding grin was borderline demonic. “What? Didn’t Bastian tell you? I’m the P.E. teacher.”

Katherine was going to kill him. Them. Both Bastian and Markus.

Though this did explain why it was Markus who would be driving her home at four.

The man in question threw a pair of black shorts and a gray shirt similar to the one he was wearing at Katherine’s head. She fumbled to catch them. “What’s this?”

“Gym uniform,” he answered before jerking his head in the direction of a door with a female stick figure painted on the outside out it. “Now get into the locker room and change. I don’t stand for tardiness.”

Katherine ground her teeth together, doing her best to stomp down the irritation that speaking to Markus always seemed to cause. Begrudgingly, she clutched the uniform to her chest and allowed Melanie to show her to the girls’ locker room.

Quickly picking a locker, Katherine stripped and tugged on the clothes Markus had flung at her. The shorts were a little big, but the elastic held around her waist at least. She borrowed an extra pair of sneakers from Melanie. She couldn’t exactly run or do much else in heeled boots.

She was shoving her boots into her locker when she felt someone tap her shoulder. Assuming it was Melanie, she was a bit shocked to turn around and come face to face with Priscilla. Much like earlier, she was wearing a phony smile.

“Do you need something?” Katherine asked when the girl didn’t say anything.

A few snickers sounding behind Priscilla alerted Katherine to the fact that the locker room was still full. Most of the girls were looking on in interest. Melanie, standing near the door, looked furious with the platinum blonde cornering her against her locker.

“Look, Katie…” Priscilla began.

“Katherine,” she immediately corrected, crossing her arms over her chest.

Her smile only widened. “Katherine. You seem like a,” she paused, “nice girl.”

The way she said nice made Katherine suspect she meant something a little more not nice.

“It’s because of that that I’m going to give you a fair warning, but keep in mind that I’m only going to tell you once.”

Katherine raised an eyebrow, utterly unimpressed with the girl despite the fact that she had a solid six inches on her. “What?”

Priscilla’s smile slowly contorted into a sneer. “Stay away from Rip.”

Katherine was flabbergasted. Of all the things she’d expected to come out of the blonde’s mouth, that was not one of them. The small brunette didn’t need to be told even once to stay away from that arrogant boy. She’d sooner spend the day with Markus, for God’s sake. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I don’t kid,” Priscilla assured Katherine, condescendingly patting her cheek. “You’re new here so I know you didn’t realize, but Rip and I love each other. We’ve been together for years. So don’t be getting any ideas.” Flicking her hair behind her, she sauntered out of the room.

Oh. Oh. Rip was Priscilla’s boyfriend.

Well, wasn’t that just dandy? Priscilla reminded Katherine even more of Mallory now. Though Rip was nothing like Brad.

Katherine scolded herself as soon as her mind conjured his name. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking of him or her parents today.

Realizing that Melanie was waiting for her by the door, a seemingly apologetic grin on her face, Katherine hurried to join her.

“Sorry about that,” Melanie said, opening the door for Katherine, “Evil witch seems to be a genetic condition around here.”

Katherine smiled at that.

When they exited the locker room, however, something that had nothing to do with Priscilla or Rip caught Katherine’s attention. Not only were Markus and her classmates in the gym, seven or eight men – the youngest perhaps in his mid-thirties and the oldest well into his fifties – were scattered along the wall opposite the locker rooms. Some were chatting quietly to each other while others were merely observing silently.

Noticing where Katherine’s eyes had been drawn, Melanie gently elbowed her in the ribs to get her attention. “Those are some of the alphas of Haven Falls,” she explained. “Usually only a handful show up on any given day to watch P.E. They do it so they can see our physical strengths and weaknesses. Someone’s explained recruiting to you, right?”

Katherine nodded jerkily.

Smiling conspiringly, Melanie leaned over to whisper in Katherine’s ear. “Three guesses as to why they’re so many here today.”