The Bad Girl's Bites

Chapter 4

Belle

At our teacher’s words, he shifted his gaze over to me. Our eyes met for a brief moment and I felt my breathing hitch slightly. What the hell? His impassive stare sent shivers down my spine. Normally, boys gazed at me with passion and interest. Why was he looking at me like that? It was almost as if my mere presence made him feel irritated.

As he shuffled over to take his window seat, Mrs. Katherine said, “Damien. Don't forget to take the career path form with you.”

Damien stopped and turned to take the paper that she held out to him. He looked down at it as if he would like nothing more than to wad it up and toss it into the nearest trashcan.

“Thank you,” he mumbled.

Taking the side route, he approached his assigned window seat, slung his bag down, and flopped onto the space beside me. Glancing over at him, I saw that he hadn’t moved to take out a pen. Actually, he wasn’t doing anything except just sitting there—motionless. Why wasn’t he filling out the form? If I had to do this bullshit, everyone had too. Sunny, who had been chewing on her pen, gazed back at me and raised her brows at my disgruntled expression. Glancing over at Damien, she shrugged her shoulders and whispered, “Maybe he didn’t bring a pen.”

I nodded. It was probable. I dug through my bag and took out an extra pen. Looking around to make sure no one would notice, I poked Damien’s arm and laid the pen on the desk. I carefully settled back into my chair while glancing around the room to make sure that no one had seen me. If word got out that I was helping a guy out, my reputation would be ruined. After a few seconds, I looked back over at Damien. He hadn’t even moved! I coughed lightly in an attempt to gain his attention. Finally, his eyes fluttered open. He looked down and saw the pen lying beside the form.

Without touching it, he abruptly stood. “I have to use the bathroom,” he said without even asking permission.

Mrs. Katherine just nodded in acknowledgement and let out an awkward chuckle as he passed by her desk. What the actual f**k? He ignored me and didn’t even accept my help. Heat rushed to my face as I felt a wave of embarrassment and anger wash over me. No one had ever brushed me off like that.

“Wow,” Eve snorted with disdain. “What the hell is his problem?”

Through clenched teeth, I said, “I have no idea. But, I’m going to find out.”

Sunny, who had also witnessed the whole exchange, nodded. She knew that I wasn’t just going to let this go. Why did she have to know me so well? It was damned annoying.

Raising my hand, I asked Mrs. Katherine in my most polite voice, “May I go to the bathroom?”

It seemed like the whole class stopped writing and looked over at me. Even Mrs. Katherine was looking at me as if I had suddenly sprouted horns.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Of course.”

Walking to the door, I heard Sunny mutter under her breath, “Well, that was quick.”

Stepping into the hallway, I let out a disgruntled sigh as I began to make my way to the restrooms. Why couldn’t they have constructed just one building instead of splitting it all up? It didn’t make sense to me. The time and energy was a complete waste in my opinion. I jerked open the door that led to the restrooms—which, of course, was in another building. Crossing over the small bridge, I looked over the expanse of Empire High and chuckled at how ridiculous it looked. The whole school was comprised of seven two-story buildings situated in a circle which were linked together by small bridges or walk ways. Two classrooms were assigned to the top level of each building and the lower levels housed the music rooms, gym, aquatic center and etcetera.

After about a five minute walk, I found myself in front of the bathroom doors. Knowing that I wouldn’t find Damien in the girl’s restroom, I inhaled a deep breath before I shoved the boy’s restroom door open. It looked like he had just finished splashing his face with water. Droplets of water were cascading down his face as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. I sucked in a breath. He really was so handsome. Surely, it had to be a crime against nature to be that good-looking.

Swallowing hard, I stepped forward and loudly cleared my throat. “Ahem.”

I expected him to turn around. Or at the very least, ask what the hell I was doing in the boy’s bathroom. But he didn't. He just stood there—his eyes fixed on the mirror.

Okay, Belle. He probably didn’t hear you. Yeah… that’s it! Just try again.

I stepped closer and said emphatically, “Excuse. Me.”

Nothing. He just continued to stand there, ignoring me entirely.

“Hey! I am talking to you, Damien,” I all but shouted at him.

Staring at him with disbelief, I clenched my hands into tight fists. I hated being ignored. My temper was reaching its limits. With determined steps, I walked over to him and grabbed him by the arm. Forcing him to turn and face me, I shoved him against the wall.

“How dare you ignore me?” I asked through gritted teeth.

I lifted my eyes to glare at him. As soon as my eyes met his, I felt my stomach flip. He was so close. Crap! What is going on? I felt my anger deflate as I realized how close I was to him. Immediately, I took a step back. Damien, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered by my actions.

“Who the hell are you?” he asked with an even voice.

I blinked a couple of times in confusion and asked, “Do you really not know me?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Should I?”

This didn’t make any sense. Everyone in this hell hole knew who I was! Well, it’s not like it actually mattered, but still—I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at his question.

“Even if you don't know me, you should have at least accepted my help and not ignore me,” I said while crossing my arms.

His right brow arched in a supercilious manner. “Help?”

“I-I gave you a pen. I was just trying to help you and you brushed me off!”

He didn’t even notice? My hand itched to punch him in that ridiculous handsome face. This was stupid. The first person I ever have tried to help was acting like I didn’t exist. But, that’s not exactly right either. He wasn’t the first one I have tried to help—he was the first person to refuse my help and, for some reason, that made me feel worse.

He shook his head and said without inflexion, “That wasn’t helpful.”

My mouth fell open. “Huh?”

This bastard… just what was his deal?

“You gave me the pen to write, not what I needed to write.”

With that, he brushed past me and left. I stared at the door. What did he mean by that?