Chereads / Mating To The Nerd / Chapter 36 - MANIPULATIVE NOTE

Chapter 36 - MANIPULATIVE NOTE

Carramel's POV

We've been home for a week now and there's been no other occurrences or threats that's been found either at the pack or in school. I've shoved the incident in the back of my mind, trying my hardest to forget it as I walk through the halls hand and hand with James.

Jessie is in the back of my mind sleeping and I out a mental blanket on him so that she can't hear what's going on around me, now wanting to disturb her. James and I are happily talking about the upcoming football game one of his human friends has and he's trying to convince me to go.

"Come on Carramel, you might end up liking it." He tells me and I scoff at him though my gaze is on my feet as I try my best to take one step per square and not step on the cracks, trusting James to keep me from falling or bumping in to anyone.

"James, I don't even like watching other wolves run. What would I enjoy watching a bunch of boys run up and down the field." He's quiet for a moment and I think the argument is over before he sighs and speaks up again.

"Sloan says he doesn't like to watch the game either but it's lots of sweaty eye candy and with our ears he can listen to the cheerleaders gossip." He tells me and just from his tone I can tell he's rolling his eyes which makes me giggle.

"I don't know, that sounds like a good deal to me." I say, feigning seriousness and he huffs trying to slip his hand from mine as I just laugh and coo at him. "Oh I was just playing you big jealous baby."

"Go back to being shy." He grumbles at me but when I glance up there's a smile on his lips.

"Just give me a second. New people and people I don't like make me nervous." I tell him in a joking manner playfully scrunching my face up in disgust even though what I said was true.

"Good." He says pulling my hand up to kiss the back of it with a smile. "I like you being this way with just me." He tells me with a wink and try as I might, I can't stop the blush that settles along my cheeks making him laugh. We continue down the hall waving at those who do so to us, and turn the last corner towards James' locker.

I spot Artemis, Alex and ... Jasper standing around it and I frown in confusion but don't say anything as we walk up to them. Art is staring at the side of her brother's head and he looks around as if oblivious to the death glare.

"Hey, James." Alex greets with a head nod and my lover returns it, a frown on his face as he stares Jasper down and still the Faerie looks absolutely unbothered by the two strongest people in the group glaring at him.

"Jasper is there something you want to say?" Artemis asks between clenched teeth and you can tell by how she says it, he better have something in mind.

"No particularly but I guess I have to say it anyway." He says, shrugging as he takes a toothpick out of his pocket and puts it in his mouth. "I sincerely apologize for the way I so rudely behaved the first time we met. I do wish we will be able to move past it and build better bridges in the future." The prince says eloquently before he gives a mock bow and is on his way, walking lazily down the hallway with his hands in his pocket.

"He's funny." I say shyly giggling at his sarcasm but Artemis isn't amused.

"An ass is what he is." She grunts and Alex and I share a quiet amused look. The three of them get the talking and I glance down at my watch only to see that I have three minutes before I have to get to class. I tug on James' sleeve and he looks down at me giving me his immediate attention mid-sentence.

"I'm going to head to my locker and to class." I tell him and he tries to object but I cut him off. "I have three minutes until first bell, if you take me we'll both be late." I tell him and he sighs as he checks the time on his phone and confirms what I'm saying.

He wraps me in a hug and gives me a million and one kisses on my face. "Okay, bean. Use the link of you need me. I love you." He tells me before he places one final kiss on my lips and I smile against his lips before we pull away.

"I love you too." I say shyly before I wave at his grinning friends and turn around to hurry towards my locker. I keep to the wall and try my best to walk around those at their lockers in order to get there in enough time to get to class.

When I arrive at my hallway and get my locker open, I see a paper flutter out as I grab my books I need for the first half of my day and I grab it, putting the folded sheet on top of my stack of books. I throw my book bag in the small space and close the door before I'm off to Mr. Cedric's class.

I'm hurrying down the almost empty hallway, almost dropping my books a few times but I'm able to catch them and stumble into the classroom just in time for the bell to ring.

"Nice job, Carramel!" My teacher calls as he gets up from his desk and I grin at him, breaths coming in gasps as I make my way to the back where my seat sits snuggly. Once I'm seated, class begins. "Good morning, guys. I hope everyone is doing okay. Before class starts let us remind ourselves that the only thing that's allowed from outside this room is...."

"Good vibes only!" The class recites and I smile a bit remembering James' and I conversation about this class earlier this week.

"That's right! Now this class will be a Write and Tell. Everyone get out your notebook and I will explain the prompt." Mr. Cedric say as he walks along the room.

I look down at my messy stack of book and go to straighten them and find the right notebook when the random piece of paper that fell earlier catches my eye. Curious to what it is, I unfold the note and begin to read, my face paling and heart rate quickening as I do.

Carramel,

I see you walking around with James as if you're not just some pitiful manipulative bitch. What I did to your room is only a sample and a message. Leave James if you don't want me to come after you next. And I'll make sure that your precious room will look nice and neat compared to you when I'm done. It's not just me that's after you, so you would do best to leave now. And don't come back.

My hands begin to shake uncomfortably until the paper in front of me begins to rustle. Through a tunnel I can see a few heads turn my way but I can't focus on their faces right now. I begin to gasp as my lungs give out and I begin to hyperventilate, my chest squeezing painfully as I struggle to get air in my lungs.

I push back my chair, hoping the space will help get some air to me but I fall on to the ground. My body is shaking and I feel tears stream down my face. From a distance I hear someone sobbing through haggard breathes and in the back of my mind I know it's me.

My face is pulled up and I'm met with the gaze of a worried and slightly freaked out looking Mr. Cedric but I snatch myself away from him and my hand come up to grip my hair as I begin rocking back and forth.

I don't know how long I stay there in the corner though two more people try to touch and consolidate me making me scream and cry out in fear and panic.

I stay there on the floor having the worst anxiety attack I've had in years when suddenly the smell of pine and leather enters my nose. I begin to sniff turning my nose and face towards the smell and just as I do, strong warm arms wrap around me and pick me up from the floor.

"James." I whimper into his chest as I feel him begin to walk out of the classroom but I keep my eyes closed as I claw to get closer to him, my nose falling to his neck where I take greedy drunken gulps of his scent, my breakdown finally slowing in his presence.

"It's okay, bean. I got you." He says and I feel the words seeping through his chest to caress my ears softly. I hear him open a door but I keep my eyes closed as he sits down somewhere and pulls me better into his lap so that I'm straddling him and my nose rests softly against his neck.

He doesn't ask me any questions or say anything, he just holds me in his arms and my heart rate finally calms down and my lungs stop squeezing so tight in my chest. I take deep steady breaths of his safety as my mind circles around and around with the words I just read.

As soon as I think I'm happy there's something else out there to fuck it up. And I'm half afraid that I might not survive this time.