CHAPTER 132: THE HICKEY SCARF

By the time I got to school, I’d finally convinced my legs to work like normal again. Sort of. The ache in my body was still there from last night’s pleasure, but I told myself it wasn’t obvious. No one could tell.

Except June.

The first thing I saw was her cornering Marcus near the lockers, her voice echoing down the hallway.

"Why didn’t you reply to my text last night? I literally sent you a picture. A picture, Marcus!"

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I was babysitting Alia, June. Do you know what an eight-year-old on a sugar high is like? I barely survived."

June crossed her arms. "That’s not an excuse. You could’ve just sent a heart emoji. Something. Anything. Instead, you decided to ghost me and leave my text on delivered."

June spotted me first. Her whole face lit up, and before I could even wave, she squealed and threw herself into my arms. "Ash! My favorite person is here. The one person that wouldn’t ghost me."

I stumbled back a step, laughing. "Hi, June...."

Then she froze mid-hug. Her eyes widened, and she gasped so loud it echoed down the hallway.

She leaned in close, whispering in my ear. "Ash. Oh my God. You have hickeys all over your neck. Is your man a vampire?"

My face flushed. Shit. I literally forgot about the hickeys.

But June was already grinning, pulling back to look. "Is he trying to mark territory? We all know you had a sexy night!" She giggled, clutching my shoulders for balance.

"Is it that obvious?" I was so shy, I had to cover my face.

"Everyone’s gonna know you’ve been eaten alive. It’s going to draw a lot of attention."

I groaned. "Please stop!"

Marcus blinked, looking confused. "Wait, what?"

"Nothing!" I said too quickly, tugging my collar up to cover my neck.

June wasn’t done. She tugged her scarf loose and looped it around my neck. "Here, wear this before the whole school starts calling you Dracula’s boyfriend."

"June!" My voice cracked.

She only laughed harder, looping the scarf into a bow like she was styling me. "Relax, it’s cute. You look like some K-drama main character now."

Marcus stared between us, looking all confused. "What the hell are you two even whispering about?"

"Nothing," she mumbled again, glaring at me. "Ash doesn’t leave my messages on delivered. He replies to them."

I snorted at how she kept teasing Marcus.

She smirked, clearly enjoying every second. "Don’t worry, Ash. Your secret’s safe with me. Mostly."

I groaned into my hands.

Marcus finally sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, June... I’m sorry I didn’t reply, okay? Your picture was really pretty. You’re beautiful, you know that. I should’ve said something."

She looked shocked, turned to Marcus, and widened her eyes. "Ewww. Don’t say that so sweetly, now I have to forgive you. Fine. You’re forgiven."

"Thanks, I can’t believe I just complimented you." Marcus smiled, avoiding her gaze.

She quickly crossed her arms, trying to look annoyed, but her smile betrayed her. "Hmm. Next time, don’t sugarcoat it before you fall in love with me, Marcus."

Marcus’s ears turned red immediately. Too late. He already did.

I laughed, shaking my head as the three of us started walking to class together.

Out of nowhere, June gasped, spun around on her heel to face us, walking backwards. "So... are you guys going to the party on Saturday?"

Marcus and I glanced at each other, looking confused. "What party?" we said at the same time.

June froze mid-step, her jaw dropped. "What do you mean what party?" She threw her arms up. "You guys know there’s a big game tomorrow, right?"

Marcus groaned. "Hot seniors talk incoming..."

June ignored him completely. "The ice hockey guys! The twins, Casper and Jasper? They’re throwing a party Saturday night. It’s gonna be lit." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Like, actually lit. Half the school’s been reposting the flyer everywhere. It’s all over the BlackBoard website. People are literally talking about it right now."

Marcus and I just shrugged like clueless idiots.

"You guys are seriously impossible." June groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "I swear, I only have nerdy best friends."

But then, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Still... this could be my moment. Ren’s gonna be there, I can feel it. I’m going to flirt with him till he realizes I’m his soulmate. I’m so ready to win my way into his heart."

"Just be careful. Don’t let him block you again." Marcus rolled his eyes and snorted.

June smacked his arm. "You’re just a hater. I’m not going to invite you to my wedding if you keep hating on me and Ren."

I burst out laughing as they both turned to me.

Then, of course, she had to turn her attention on me. "Speaking of... Ash, are you going to watch the match tomorrow? Time to activate your school spirit."

Before I could open my mouth, Marcus cut in. "No, he’s not. Neither of us are. June, you’re always the one drooling over hot seniors. Ash and I have no business being at the game watching them skate on ice. Or at the party either."

She smirked at me, nodding her head. Her eyes flicked to my neck scarf, then back to my face. "Oh, that’s what you think. Ash might have a reason to be there. Let him talk."

My stomach twisted, and she kept grinning at me like she wanted me to talk.

Then, she linked her arms with both of ours. "Come onnn, you guys! Please? We’ve never been to a real party thrown by the popular kids. Do you want us to die nerds? Is that what you want? Because that’s what’s gonna happen if we keep hiding in the shadows like losers!"

She stomped her foot for emphasis, almost tripping over her own shoelace. "We’re not just the scholarship kids anymore. This is our chance to glow up, to thrive, to..." She gasped, clapping her hands together. "To finally see if Ren looks as hot in LED lighting as he does in daylight. I need this. Don’t take this away from me."

Marcus frowned. "June, you remember what happened the last time Ash went to one of those parties, right?"

I froze. My whole body went rigid like he’d just yanked me back into that night.

The images slammed into me before I could block them out.

How I was humiliated. Ian’s hand gripping my hair, until my scalp burned.

The sharp reek of his cigarette, the glowing tip as he pressed it so close to my eye.

The laughter. The jeers. They all called me Ashhole. Ashlicker.

I remembered Liam’s scream when he got stabbed, the sight of him falling... his body hitting the ground from the roof.

My stomach twisted like I was back there, watching helpless.

My ears still rang with the questions, the way they looked at me like I was already guilty.

That same night, I spent it in the police station.

My chest tightened now.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe slowly before either of them noticed.

But this time...

"This time it’ll be different," I said finally.

Marcus and June turned to me. "Why do you think so?" He asked.

I swallowed hard, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. Couldn’t tell him that the boy who once humiliated me was now the one holding me close at night, the one who’d protect me before he’d ever let it happen again.

So I just shrugged, forcing a smile. "Just a feeling."