Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

It was ridiculous. He’d seen all of me—kissed all of me—yet there I was, blushing furiously at one simple greeting.

No, it wasn’t simple. Nothing about Blake was simple, and the thought that he was so close to me, his knee touching mine and his hand resting so close to my thigh…it was impossible not to want that hand on me.

I tried to focus on anything else but him, listening to Marcus and Kev on my other side talk about whether Kylo Ren was hotter than Anakin Skywalker, but it was pointless. My mind was all about Blake. Blake, Blake, Blake.

“You look strange. Are you okay?” he asked, his breath fanning my face because he was leaning toward me. It was difficult not to look back at him when he was this close. Of course I look strange when all I want is to kiss you and get those clothes off you—

“I think that’s the question I should ask you.” I tugged at the hem of my shirt. “I was worried about you.”

“Why?”

I stared at the loose thread on the seam of my jeans. “You know why.”

“It’s something I’ve dealt with for four years now,” he said quietly, so only I could hear him. “I went through much worse than what you saw, so don’t worry about me.”

“I have to worry about you.”

I could feel him smile. “Because that’s what you do. You worry about people and want to help them.”

“It’s impossible not to worry about the people you care about,” I let out, my face warming.

I saw him watch me out of the corner of my eye in a prolonged silence that caused my pulse to go wild.

“How about you?” he asked.

“Me?”

“Who’s going to help you?”

I stifled the strangled sound that wanted to come out of my throat and finally looked at him. His lips were curled into a tiny smile, and I found myself staring at them. I wanted to kiss him. A lot.

“What’s with that sudden question?”

“I was thinking about it last night. I thought about how I’ve never helped you with anything.”

“You helped me when that guy pushed me in the hallway.”

“That’s nothing.”

“That’s everything.” I looked away from his suddenly fervid gaze and tucked my hair behind my ears. “Besides, you don’t have to help me. I can help myself. It’s high time I stop relying on others to help me.”

“Yes, but still…”

“Still what?”

His eyes darted between my lips and eyes. “I want to be there for you. I wish I could be there for you.”

I closed my eyes. “But you can’t.” I didn’t add the word that was hanging between us like a guillotine blade: revenge.

He opened his mouth to say something, but one of the teachers tapped the microphone and called for our attention. The whole gym went quiet, and I tried to focus on her and not on Blake’s eyes that didn’t leave my face.

She made an introductory speech, and then Mel took her place behind the mike and started her speech, talking about how important bystanders were.

“They can make a difference,” Mel said in a strong, unwavering voice. “It’s extremely important to help people in need instead of just ignoring it. Bullying can scar someone for life. Just imagine what it’s like to be bullied every single day. Just imagine how it feels when bystanders just watch the abuse and do nothing to stop it.

“Do you know that suicide and bullying are closely connected? Do you know that suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults? Most often, our help can make all the difference. It can change lives and give hope to people who need it the most. So, let’s help. Let’s show those in need that life is more than days filled with hopelessness and cruelty.”

The applause spread through the room, and I smiled with pride at Mel. She was so inspiring.

Blake shifted closer to me, and I grew still. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you last night,” he whispered directly into my ear, causing tingles to explode all over my skin. I dug my nails into my palms and willed myself to breathe evenly. “I couldn’t stop thinking about your smile. Your kisses. Fuck, those kisses…”

I bit my lip. His hand was even closer to my thigh now, his pinky almost touching me.

“I thought about how I want to be that person who will take care of you.”

I turned my head to look at him, but it was a mistake because his face was only inches away from mine, and all I had to do was just tilt my head toward him and we would be kissing. It was too tempting, which was why I had to snap my head back and fix my eyes on Mel.

“It’s not fair, Blake, because you won’t ever be that person. You have your priorities settled.” I didn’t want to sound bitter, so I said this in a neutral voice, wanting him to know I wasn’t accusing him of anything.

“I know.” His whisper carried so much pain.

“Then what are we doing now? What are we? Friends? Acquaintances? Nothing?”

His fingers slipped over my thigh in a feathery touch and stopped. “Just two people who are trying to figure out how to go on with their feelings.”

I looked at him. “That’s not good enough, Blake. I…I don’t know how to act around you. I don’t know what to expect from you.”

“Don’t expect anything. I can’t give you anything.”

“Then why is your hand on my thigh?”

He pulled it back as if he’d been burned and looked away. I willed myself to breathe evenly. This was bad. It was becoming torturous to sit next to him and know there would never be anything between us. I’d thought I would be able to handle it, handle his nearness and act like everything was okay, but right now, I couldn’t. I couldn’t get rid of the constant fear that reminded me of how limited our time together was.

I needed to get out. I