When Summer Ends (46 page)

Suddenly I heard a gasp. “Oh my god!” a girls voice cried.

I gulped, and Will and I both turned to see Erika Dennison
standing there in the doorway, her mouth hanging open in shock, staring at us
attacking each other on the desk like a couple of animals.

Chapter Thirty

I felt the colour drain from my face as I looked at her. Why
her? She categorically hated me. If we had to get caught by someone, why did it
have to be her? My heart sank as a slow smile started to stretch across her
lips.
Oh God, please let this be a dream! Please tell me that his class was
so boring that I fell asleep and am just having a nightmare right now, please!

“What the hell?” She shook her head, frowning, as if she was
trying to work something out.

Will hadn’t moved, he was still pressed against me, pinning
me to the desk, his hands exactly where they were two seconds before she
entered the room. What on earth do we do? Will was going to get into so much
trouble, I was going to be expelled, our lives were going to be ruined, and it
was entirely my fault! Why did I have to wear a stupid skirt and tease him? Why
did I have to want his attention and be such a freaking tease in the middle of
school? I’m so stupid, and everything about this situation was my fault!

I gulped again and opened my mouth to try and speak; I had
no idea what I wanted to say so I was hoping something coherent was going to
come out of my mouth. Instead, what came out was, “I’m… we… no… it’s not… no
way…” I wanted to punch myself. Will still hadn’t moved, it was like he was
frozen. I wasn’t even sure he was breathing, but I knew one thing for certain,
he needed to get the heck off of me and start thinking of excuses for why he
was kissing me and why his shirt was almost off!

I shoved on his chest, making him stand up straight, but he
was still between my legs, his mouth just hanging open. His eyes were wide and
his body tense.
Jeez, snap out of it, Will!
I sat up quickly, tugging on
my skirt and top, righting myself as I blushed like crazy.

“Miss Dennison, it’s not what it looks like,” Will defended,
shaking his head as he snapped out of his frozen state and started to button
his shirt.

She laughed quietly. “Oh this is priceless. I came back to
get my book, and I see this. This is too good,” Erika mused, smirking at me. “I
really think you could have done better though, Mr Morris. I mean, look at her,
it’s Chloe for goodness sake!” She looked me over slowly, a disgusted look on
her face and I felt my eyes prickle with tears, but there was no way I was letting
them fall in front of her.

An angry expression crossed Will’s face. “Enough!” he
snapped.

She smiled sweetly and turned to grab her book that was
lying on the desk. I had no idea what to say or do; all I could think about was
that this was entirely my fault. Will was going to jail because of me.

She grabbed her book and turned for the door. “Well, it was
nice knowing you,” she chirped, laughing quietly to herself.

I swallowed the lump that was rapidly forming in my throat.
She was going to tell someone, she was going to go and cause a shed load of
trouble for both of us! I briefly considered my options. I could let her go,
and we could pretend that she was lying. I could grab her, beat her to a pulp, and
then chop her up and hide her somewhere. I could beg her not to say anything. Or
I could just admit the truth, and we’d just pretend that this was a spur of the
moment, one time indiscretion.  

Personally I didn’t like the sound of any of those options.
I was leaning towards the cutting her into little pieces plan, but I didn’t
think Will would go for that. So I decided to go for the begging and try and
appeal to her compassionate side, if she even had one.

“Erika, please!” I cried desperately. She stopped and looked
at me, raising one eyebrow as I continued. “Please don’t say anything; this is my
fault, all of it.”

Will shook his head. “No, Chloe, I was the one-” he started,
but I pretended he hadn’t said anything and carried on speaking.

“I started it, I just kissed him. It was my fault,” I lied,
begging her with my eyes.

“Tell it to the Principal.” Erika shrugged and wrenched the
door open, storming off.

I turned to Will; my heart was in my throat, my eyes prickling
with tears. He cupped my face in his hands. “Don’t you dare try and take the
blame for this; I swear to God, Chloe, if you do I’m going to be so mad at you.
If anyone’s getting in trouble, it’s me!” he said sternly.

I gulped and pushed his hands off of me. I wasn’t giving up yet;
maybe I could convince her not to say anything. I shoved him away and ran out
of the door, ignoring how he shouted my name as I ran. I knew he couldn’t
follow me immediately; he still had to button his shirt and couldn’t go tearing
down the halls with his shirt off like that.

I streaked out and spotted Erika sauntering confidently down
the hallway. She wasn’t rushing; she had her head held high as she walked in
the direction of the Principal’s office.

I ran up to her and grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop
as I looked at her desperately. “Please? Please don’t get him into trouble! It
was entirely my fault, I just threw myself at him, none of this is his fault.
Please don’t make him suffer for something I’ve done, please?” I begged. I felt
sick, my hands were shaking, and my whole body was cold.

She smirked at me. “It’s your fault?”

I nodded quickly, and swiped at the traitor tear that fell
down my face. “Yes,” I whispered.

She tapped her finger on her chin, her long blood red nail
touching her lips as she pursed them, thinking about it. “What’s it worth
then?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

What’s it worth? Is she going to want money or something
to keep quiet?
I mentally counted up how much spare money I had, and how much
was in my bank account. “I… I don’t know. I guess I could scrape a couple of
hundred?” I offered, shrugging awkwardly. I could always get the money from Will;
he was bound to have more than that.

She burst out laughing. “I don’t want your money, Ice
Princess. What else do you have to offer?” she hissed, sneering at me.

I frowned and shook my head.
What else is there to offer?
“I… I don’t know. What is it that you want?” I asked quietly. I flicked my eyes
around. Thankfully the corridor was empty because people had already left to go
home. Amy would be waiting for me around the corner.
Maybe I could shout for
her, I bet she’ll help me with the chopping Erika up into little pieces plan!

She looked me over slowly. “Well I definitely don’t want the
rags that you call clothes,” she mocked with a distasteful look on her face.
“I’m not totally sure. How about I have a think about it?” she offered.

I did a mental happy dance that she wasn’t going to turn us
in straight away, at least that would give me more time to come up with some
more cash or something if she wanted to think about it. “Please don’t say
anything to anyone, Erika. I’ll do anything that you want, just don’t get him
into trouble, please?” I whispered, trying not to cry again.

She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were hard. “You’ll do
anything?” There was a wicked, nasty tone to her voice that made a tickle run
down my spine. I gulped and nodded in agreement. Somehow I knew I’d live to
regret that comment. “For starters, I’ll take that cash you offered, bring it
in tomorrow with you.” She reached into her schoolbag, pulling out her history
and English books; she shoved them into my chest. “Do my assignments, they’re
due tomorrow, and I don’t want less than a B so don’t be trying to be cocky
about it and make me look bad in class!” she hissed, waving her hand
dismissively.

Money and homework, okay I can do that.

“I won’t say anything because I actually like Mr Morris,
he’s a good teacher. But just know this, Chloe; I really dislike you and your
cocky little understated good looks that draw attention from the popular guys.
One step out of line, one thing you refuse to do for me, and I’m heading
straight to the Principal’s office to report you.”

I gulped and nodded. “Okay, just please don’t tell anyone, even
your friends, please?” I requested, looking at her hopefully.

She smiled at something behind my shoulder. I turned to see
Will walking up the hallway, his face was hard, but he was obviously trying not
to show any emotions. She leant in closer to me. “He’s so hot. How did he kiss?
Maybe I’ll give him a try,” she whispered, with her eyes still firmly fixed on
Will.

I felt my hands tighten on her book that I was holding. The
mere thought of her anywhere near him made my blood boil.
What on earth do I
do if she blackmails Will and makes him kiss her or something? She wouldn’t
though, would she?

Will stopped next to me. “Can we all just talk about this?”
he asked, looking at Erika hopefully.

She smiled and shrugged. “It’s all sorted. Chloe and I have
talked about it, and I’ve decided not to say anything about it… for now.” The
mischievous glint to her eyes showed that she was enjoying having the power over
both of us.

Will looked between us, clearly shocked by her revelation.
He actually looked like he’d already accepted his fate and that he was in big
trouble. He was looking at her like she’d just suggested that a pig flew past
our heads or something.

“Really?” he gulped.

She nodded. “Yep. Just so you know though, Mr Morris, from
now on I ace your class and don’t need to turn in assignments,” she said,
raising one eyebrow challengingly.

He frowned and looked at me accusingly, as if this was
something I’d agreed; he clearly didn’t like the idea of that at all. I nodded
encouragingly, begging him with my eyes to go along with it. He sighed heavily
and rubbed the back of his neck, looking extremely annoyed about it. “Fine,” he
grumbled eventually.

“Will?”

We all turned to see Miss Teller walking up the hallway, her
perfect locks swaying as she sashayed her way over. Erika leant in close to my
ear. “I think his girlfriend would be especially pissed if she found out what
you two were doing on the desk, don’t you?” she whispered.

I cringed away from her, glowering and trying to kill her
with my eyes. One good thing about that statement though was that she believed
me when I said that I’d just kissed him, she hadn’t worked out everything. I
was incredibly grateful for that.

“Er… hey,” Will mumbled as Miss Teller stopped at our group,
smiling sweetly.

“Hi girls, what are you two still doing here? Not sick of
this place already?” Miss Teller asked, smiling.

I shrugged and opened my mouth to answer, but Erika spoke
first, “We were just talking to Mr Morris about the extra tuition that he’s
been giving to Chloe after class. I was wondering if I could maybe get in on
those, you know, boost my grades and all that,” Erika said, twisting her hair
around one finger, a knowing smile on her lips.

Will frowned in her direction; I smiled inside at how much
he hated that suggestion. “I don’t think you need extra tuition, Miss Dennison,
you’re already acing my class, as you well know,” he chimed in uncomfortably.

Miss Teller smiled, turning to Will. “Are we about ready to
go? I know you have somewhere important to be, you said that you needed to
leave as quickly as possible.”

I bit my lip. ‘Somewhere important to be’, that was me. Will
looked between me and Erika hesitantly, silently asking what he should do. “I’m
not sure if we’re done talking. Maybe you should wait in the car, Caroline?” he
suggested, digging in his pocket and passing her his keys.

Erika shifted on her feet. “We’re done talking. I need to go
anyway. See you tomorrow, Mr Morris, Miss Teller,” she stated, gripping my arm
and turning me around quickly. I smiled and nodded a goodbye to Will and
allowed Erika to guide me up the hallway. “Keep Saturday free. I have chores
that you can do. My car needs valeting, and I have some shoes that need
cleaning.” She shrugged and let go of my arm, looking at her hand
distastefully, as if she’d just touched something dirty.

I almost choked on my disbelief.
Cleaning her car and
doing her chores? Is that some kind of joke?
“Really?” I asked, praying she
would just laugh it off and tell me she was kidding around. She didn’t though.

“Absolutely.”

What a witch!
“Fine, but then that’s it, right?” I
asked.

She laughed. “Oh no, Ice Princess, your ass is mine now. You
want me to keep your secret then you’ll do what I say, when I say it. You’re like
my own personal bitch now.”

My hand curled into a fist, and I could feel my temper
rising. I wasn’t a violent person usually. I grabbed her hair and smashed her
face into the lockers as hard as I could, hearing the satisfying crack of her
nose as she screamed and cupped it. Blood overflowed her hand and ruined her
slutty top.

“Chloe?”

I blinked a couple of times and looked at Erika; she was staring
at me as if waiting for me to answer something.
Huh, was I daydreaming?
She clicked her fingers in front of my face a couple of times, looking more
pissed off with each passing second.

“I said, give me your cell phone number, I’ll text you my
breakfast order in the morning!” she growled, impatiently shaking her cell
phone in my face. I took the phone she was offering and punched in my number.
I
really should act on that daydream and smash her face.

I handed the phone back to her. She immediately turned on
her expensive stiletto heels and marched off, leaving me standing there
watching her with a scowl on my face. I had never wished anyone harm in my life,
but if she stepped out of the building and a herd of stray cattle stampeded her,
I would laugh my ass off.