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

land each punch, Tasha's face morphs into something else. Someone else. It’s no longer Tasha I see. It’s Mike.

He must die!

Strong arms come around my waist, reefing me away from my assault. I kick and scream in fury when I lose sight of my victim as I’m dragged out of the room. My screams don’t stop, and neither do my fists as I punch at the strong male arms carrying me down the corridor towards the school hall. I try to kick my legs into the shins of whoever is carrying me, and I hear a deep grunt when one makes contact. Marcus runs past us and pushes open the stadium doors right before I’m dragged inside and carried deeper into the open space, my yells echoing through the empty building.

The arms holding me let go, and I tumble to the ground, still enraged from being manhandled. Leaping up, I spin to see Ayden looming over me, sucking in deep breaths and looking dishevelled.

My fists clench, and I scream, throwing a punch at him too. It meets his nose, which surprises me but also satisfies me, and I watch as he stumbles back a few steps with his own surprise evident on his face. Then, his eyes darken.

“Do it again.” He growls. I don’t know if it’s meant as a command or warning not to do it again, but I do it anyway, this time making contact with his cheek.

Ayden steps forward, his chest rising and falling, “Again, Lexi!”

I do as he demands and hit him again. I hit him over and over on his chin, his shoulder, his chest, all while he stands before me just taking it until my arms weaken and a sob slips free. I try to swing again, but my punch is powerless, and I crumble to the floor in defeat. My girly emotions take over, and I clasp my hands into my hair and pull, letting out a scream much like I did the day I went to visit my mum in hospital.

Strong arms come around me, and for a few weak moments, I fall into them, needing the comfort they offer. Then, Ayden’s scent engulfs me, and my senses kick in, making me stiffen.

“No!” I yell, pushing him off me and kicking myself back across the stadium floor to get distance between us.

“Lexi!” Mr Matthews booms across the hall, surprising me, “You need to come with me.”

I hear Ayden curse, and Marcus comes into view, reaching his hand down to help me up. I don’t move for a few moments, air struggles to get into my lungs, and I heave a few times before I get relief.

What have I done?

I’m a monster, just like my brother.

From my place on the floor, I look up to Marcus. The concern contorting his face matches Ayden’s when I glance at him. They know now. They know who I am. What I am. They will choose now. Choose to walk away and rid themselves of me, of my darkness. They are better off without me. They know that now.

I wipe the tears from my eyes before taking Marcus’s hand to help me stand up but drop my hold as soon as I’ve righted myself. I ignore the shame and embarrassment that heats my face. I deserve this. Tasha may be wrong about her insinuations, but she is right about one thing. Fox Pines Catholic College should have never let me come back.

More tears fall, so I give up trying to hide them, knowing that my whole Media class just witnessed me lose my shit, followed by taking it out on the guy that stole my heart. I am truly the scum of this earth. The school is probably about to kick me out, and rightly so. They don’t need the likes of me here.

“Lex.” Ayden reaches out for my hand as I go to move past him, and I let him take it, selfishly needing one last chance to feel his love before I’m kicked to the curb.

I look up to his deeply concerned gaze wishing for the thousandth time that I wasn’t me, that I was someone else who is worthy of him.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper on a sob and release his hand, walking over to Mr Matthews, too ashamed to look up and see the shame in his eyes as well.

“Where are you going with Lexi?” Ayden asks, and I can feel both he and Marcus at my back.

“She’s required at the principal’s office.” Mr Matthews gestures to move through the doors, and I step past him to make my final walk through my school.

“You’ll understand if we need to come with you and stay with Lexi after what happened a few weeks back.” Ayden’s voice sounds stern and commanding, and not for the first time do I think of him more as an adult than a naïve teenager like the rest of us.

“You want to go with her after what she was just doing to you?” Mr Matthews asks, sounding surprised.

“She was doing what I asked her to do. Maybe the school should invest in some punching bags so students can take their anger out on those instead of other students.” Ayden hisses.

“You have a good point. I’ll bring it up at the next meeting.” Mr Matthews sounds like he likes the idea. It’s a good one. It’s just a pity that I won’t be around to see it happen.

We walk the rest of the way in silence, and as we pass my Media class, Tillie rushes out and hands me my books. She doesn’t say anything but pulls me in for a hug before returning to class. I will miss seeing her when I’m gone.

We keep walking.

I imagine how terrifying it must be for a prisoner to walk on Death Row in America. I’m kind of terrified now, and all that’s happening to me is getting kicked out of school. Hell, maybe the cops will be involved this time. If they are,