Raphael
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH8CPJkCLZ
All I can see is red.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXIccjFr05
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcn4TVoi8I
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnycuMA7WT
Whoever this bitch is, she's going down.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOqUNdm9Mo
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPedhpowA3F
She glances up, rolls her eyes, and goes back to her notes. I take my time studying her.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18suSoNTBQ
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFClePvvgyw
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqyeTYFJa2
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3e1CwaAxi
I'm going to fuck her entire world up.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCJVlWb8wz
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjCeVQVkYw
Gabe and I are just along for the ride.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UHvbCFSxd
***
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCagZoxf5Vw
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5E4oIHwhf
"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?"
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Y7aqYy4K
He rubs his shoulder thoughtfully. Gabe stands on my other side, arms folded over his chest. His gray eyes meet mine, full of concern.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi5Vc7uRwE
"I have no idea," I admit. "Fucking bitch is fast, though. You okay?"
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKb6ckQ6ky
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."
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbSqlBsys8
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3FwVQ2QJn
Until now.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA7NXrmCNM
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.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhhahCCUN1
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAqGhhSbM9
