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

but before she could react, Masen slid in between them, surprising us all.

“Don’t do it, man,” he told him. Mel’s eyes widened and went down Masen’s arm, which was now placed against her waist and holding her behind him. She inched away from the contact, but she kept looking between his arm and the back of his head, her lips parted.

Steven moved to stand next to Masen as he finally decided to side with Mel. “Yeah. Don’t mess with my lil’ sis.”

“You’re defending this chick?” the ginger asked Masen through his teeth.

Masen snorted. “I’m defending you from her. Ending up in the ER because of this nutcase isn’t worth it.”

The confusion on Mel’s face was replaced by fury, and she spat at Masen’s feet. “Go to hell and drown in the hottest pits of fire.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me away from the hollering group.

“Oh yeah? I’ll make sure to drown you in those pits first,” he shouted, his murderous glare following us all the way to Mel’s car.

She let go of my hand and hit the hood of her car with her fist. “Jackasses! They are all jackasses.”

Worry sprouted in my chest as I observed her quietly. She was so full of anger. It was almost tangible.

“Don’t take it to heart.” I placed my hand on her shaking shoulder. Her white-hot rage wasn’t healthy at all. “They’re not worth it.”

She pressed her fists against the hood, clenching them so hard her knuckles turned white. “It’s just that…it’s not fair. I hate that kind of people. I hate all of them. The world would be a better place if people like them didn’t exist.”

I flinched at her venomous tone. “It’s just that they don’t know any better.”

She snorted. “They don’t want to know better. They just enjoy living their miserable lives and bullying others.”

“Don’t be so judgmental, Mel.”

“I’m not judgmental. I’m a realist.”

She was more like a pessimist, but I didn’t tell her that. The truth was that sometimes she had to back off and refuse to engage, but she never considered that possibility. She could be too explosive, and her anger issues got the best of her far too often.

“Anyway.” She took a deep breath and exhaled it before she faced me with a gigantic smile. “I’d have totally broken that guy’s nose if I’d gotten the chance. I’d have made pudding out of him!” She swung her fist around in the air, going for a comical effect.

She was back to old Mel pretty quickly, too used to putting a mask on, and it only made my heart ache for her more. I wanted to help her get rid of her demons, but how could I help someone who refused help? Whenever I tried to talk about it with her, she dismissed me and said she was completely fine. She always told Sar and me to open up, but she never opened up herself.

A few cars parked nearby, and I raised my head in time to see Blake stop his red Dodge Challenger Hellcat about fifty yards away from us. He hadn’t even gotten out of his car and a group of girls already flocked around his car, half of them wearing black leather skirts and leather jackets that fit their perfectly proportioned bodies like a glove. I pushed my envy aside and willed myself to remember I should embrace the differences between our bodies and stop being so bitter.

Blake got out of his car. He looked immensely attractive with his spiky dark hair, the sides shaved close, and black clothes that added to his appeal. Two girls attached themselves to him as if pulled by a magnet.

Before I could look away, he glanced over and caught my gaze, and even with the distance between us, I could see he was surprised to see me here. I dragged my gaze back to Mel, definitely feeling like I was here chasing him.

“I’m surprised a good girl like you is here. You look nice tonight,” a voice said into my ear, and I jumped back. I came face to face with Steven, who had left his friends to join us.

“She always looks nice, moron,” Mel told him.

I stepped away from him, but he closed the gap between us immediately, and my stomach coiled. He reeked of what I assumed was weed.

“But tonight, she looks even better. Wanna have some fun with me after the race?” He put his hand on my shoulder as he leaned close to my face. “I feel all lonely, and I need someone to warm my car seat. So what do you say, doll?” He winked at me.

I shifted away from him once more, breaking our contact. “I’m not interested.”

Mel scowled at him. “Last time I checked, junkies don’t score high on the attractive-boys scale. Maybe you’d stand a chance with her after you clean up your act, but for dating, not fucking, you jerk.” She smacked the back of his head for the second time this evening. “Although, I wouldn’t suggest she date you even then, considering your horrible personality.”

“Will you shut up already? You’re yapping all the time. And what’s with the hitting? I’m not a punching bag, so chillax.” He flashed me a smile that gave me the creeps. “So, doll, what’s it gonna be?”

“I’m really not…” My voice trailed off as I met Blake’s glare from where he stood only a few feet away.

“So?” Blake cocked his head to the side, not taking his eyes off of me even once. “Are you with Brooks too?”

Anger choked off my reply, but still, my heart missed a beat or two because of his obvious jealousy.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mel asked him, placing her hands on her hips.

“It means I’m not talking to you, clown face,” Blake told her, but his eyes remained on mine.

“What the hell did you just call me now?”

Steven burst into chuckles. “Clown face! I like that. I’ll be using that often from now on.”

“Go back to those girls