Page 9 (1/2)

Screw it

Throwing off a sweaty, black T-shirt in exchange for a clean, black v-neck, I snatched my keys off the bedside table and bounded down the stairs

"I’ out for a while," I said as I passed my mother in the kitchen "See you Monday"

My hands shook, even though I’d been co the fker in the face, especially when he ot special privileges for cooperating, but I had no doubt that he enjoyed every sick word that came out of his mouth, too

"It’s Friday I’ru room

I forced myself to look hiain It stops now"

He laughed me off "That’s what you said last time, but you’re not in control, Jared"

Yes I Am

"You’re not even allowed to make calls" After I reported it to the warden last ti unsupervised trips to the phone

Shrugging his shoulders with palms up, he answered, "And yet, I find a way"

It was only a moment But in the time it took for my chest to sink and for ht, and that I was powerless Maybe it was the guards letting him make calls for favors, orhi I could do to stop him

I could never stop him

"Leave him alone" My lips s you more?" He leaned in and narrowed his blue eyes "That I call hi you, Jared, you have no power Not really It may seem like you’re the one in control, because you’re out there and I’m in here, but I’m the one that haunts you Not the other way around"

I stood up and stuckthe fossil necklace so hard that I thought it would break

"Fuck you," I growled and walked out

Chapter 9

"Oh, Jared," Piper gaspedher head back, I tried to get lost in her perfume and her body

"I told you not to talk," I whispered softly against her skin "Do as you’re told"

Hats off to the Bull pounded downstairs, and I could hear voices co from all sides, both inside and outside the house

Piper had come over to my party, uninvited, and I took as offered Noise, activity, distraction

Distraction from the pull next door

Distraction froht after all The nightmares that keptpills just so I could get through the night? All of it was led "That just feels so good"

I had one hand buried in her thick, dark hair, andinside of her as she squirrappled at Piper, looking for the ether brsts, kissing her lips, but none of it brought otten all abouther to the bed The peace would come when I was inside of her Then I would be happily lost

"Jared!" I jerkedon the door

"Go away!" I shouted as Piper unfastened irl? Tate?" et down there"

And I halted what I was doing and sat up

"What the hell?" I mumbled

Why was she at ht

"Tate?" Piper said, still laying back on the pillows "I thought you said she was still gone"

I cliet dressed, Piper," I bit out

"What?" she screamed, and I looked over at her Her lips and nose were scrunched up, and her chest rose and fell with her hard breathing

Piper was no attachment and no complications I appreciated that about her

But she was pissed, and I didn’t stop to explain I never did She knew better

I never let on that I wanted , and she’d either roll with it, or she could leave

Yanking the door open, my friend Sa uncertain

"Sorry, ot his hands all over her Thought I should get you"

Fucking little shit I barreled past Sam and down the hallway, ready to stick my best friend’s head into the toilet to wake hi for Tate, but he was told, years ago, that she was off li down the stairs, I rounded the corner and i in from the loss of breath

Jesus Christ