Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

grinning, and I move my hand to my head. It’s sore all over the back and the side where that bitch clocked me. A little blood comes away with my fingers, and I groan. How am I going to explain this?

I quickly pull my ponytail out and brush my fingers through my hair, hoping that Miss Dice isn’t going to have a problem with my hair being down. Hopefully, I have earned the right to do a little rule-breaking.

When I walk into English, I throw an apology to Miss Dice, who has the rare ability to teach both Math and English. She nods and smiles before turning her attention back to a student she is helping. Making my way to the only seat left, I ignore Marcus and Jared’s glares as I sit between them and glance to the board at the front of the class. Shit. I didn’t even bring my books or laptop. I left them in the Library. Fuck, I’m totally losing it.

“Wanna explain where you’ve been?” Marcus demands under his breath, and I shake my head. “Let me rephrase that. Where have you been?”

My brows reach my hairline at his tone. He’s speaking to me like I’m a fucking child!

“Wanna tell me why you think you have the right to speak to me like that?” I hiss under my breath, hoping Miss Dice doesn’t hear.

“I’ve been worried, Lexi. For all I knew, Mike or your dad had taken you again.” His words cause instant guilt at my stubbornness. Yeah, I probably should have messaged Marcus back instead of dodging him. Does it give him the right to speak to me like that, though? Hell no!

“As you can see, I’m fine. I needed some space, if you must know. Don’t forget, I’m hormonal right now. I’m not opposed to eye-gouging you if you keep speaking to me like that!”

Jared chuckles, and Marcus sighs.

“Sorry, Lex. I was worried, that’s all.”

“Well, worry in a nicer tone!” I hiss, and Jared chuckles again, so I shoot him a warning glare.

Marcus just nods and turns to his work, giving me a brief reprieve.

Phone's start chiming throughout the room, and when Bianca Tact pulls hers out, Miss Dice practically pounces on her snatching up her phone.

“If I see any of you take out your phones to see whatever it is you all just received, I will confiscate every phone in this room and have them held in the school safe for the rest of the week!”

Grumpy mumbles filter through the air, but no one moves to get their phone out.

“Shit Lex,” Jared leans forward, brushing my hair back off the left side of my head, obviously eyeing the damage Tasha did. I flinch away from his touch. “What happened?” He whispers in my ear.

When I don’t answer him, I feel his hand slide into mine under the table, and he gives it a gentle squeeze. “Lexi?” He pleads, and I can’t help but turn to him. I want to tell him to bugger off and mind his own business, but the concern in his blue eyes breaks me, and I cave.

“Tasha happened,” I whisper.

“Shit.” Jared says too loud, and Marcus mouths a “What?” in question over the top of my head.

“What did she do Lex?” Jared asks in a whisper, and I just shrug, not wanting to talk about it, because holy shit. Did that really just happen? Did Tasha really just hit me?

“I’ll tell you later,” I whisper before snatching up his English novel and opening it to chapter nine. Jared takes the hint.

I can’t believe what happened in the girl's toilets. I’ve never been in a fight with anyone before. Well, that is, anyone other than fighting to free myself from Mike or my dad. I can’t believe that Tasha is behaving the way she is. More than anything, though, I can’t believe the way Abbey is acting. What in the hell have I done to her to make her turn against me so brutally?

I completely zone out for most of the lesson until Mr Matthews, my new counsellor, comes into the classroom and asks me to go with him to the Principal’s office.

For fuck's sake! What now?

I continue to ignore Marcus and Jared as I stand and leave their sides. Miss Dice, my fierce protector, joins me just outside the classroom with Mr Matthews.

“Stephen, what’s going on?” For a small petite lady, she sure as shit can be scary when she directs her wrath on you.

“Yeah, Stephen, what’s going on? The last time I was asked to leave class and go to the Principal’s office was when my dad kidnapped me.” It’s a low blow to the school, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care.

“That won’t happen again, Lexi.” Mr Matthews responds sternly and then directs his attention to Miss Dice, “It seems that Lexi has been in a bit of a scuffle with another student.”

Miss Dice doesn’t look surprised. She chews on her bottom lip, looking very much like she wants to say something in response, but instead, she turns to me.

“Would you like me to come with you, Lexi? Or perhaps one of your friends?”

I shake my head, “No need. It’s all good.” I lie.

“Principal Rogan just wants to have a discussion with Lexi. Nothing more.” Mr Matthews sounds convincing.

Miss Dice looks between the both of us before choosing him to address this time, “Lexi is not to leave this campus with anyone but her current Guardian. Not her mother, not her father, and absolutely not her brother!”

“Of course, Amy. That won’t happen on my watch, nor Cynthia’s.” Mr Matthews declares, his blue eyes looking fiercely at Miss Dice, and then her face goes red.

Oh, what do we have here? Do I sense something more between Miss Dice and Mr Matthews? When their eyes meet, I can tell they are very familiar with each other. I try to hide my smirk, which is in no way appropriate for the current conversation.

Miss Dice nods,