Page 47 of Make You Beg

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Thirty minutes later, we’re both scanning our list of classes and dealing with the books and administrative information, about to head into our first class.

“You’ve got all the same classes as me?”

“A few.” I smirk. “Education is my minor.”

I had to choose something related to computers as a major, or my father wouldn’t have caved.

Originally, I planned to try college for the first year and focus on playing hockey. I read somewhere that you don’t have to choose your major right away, and that sounded perfect for me. I knew there was a team at NJ State, and it seemed like the perfect place, with all my favorite things. Hockey, and my stepsister.

But my father would never understand that, so I had to be smart about it and pretend I’m here to learn. Otherwise, he would be fine with me studying coding until the day I die.

“God.” Maddy is flustered, her eyebrows crunched as she stares at the paper with her classes. “This is going to be high school all over, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

“Oh, so many things.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll have to put myself out there and try to make friends.”

“You can do that. What else?”

“I’ll have to deal with you again.”

“You can handle me.” I smile at the double-meaning behind my words. I can’t wait until my little demon has to really handle me.

She has no idea what I have in store for her. Once I fixate on something, I’ll stop at nothing until I get it. And right now, Maddy is my fixation. The fuel I want injected into my veins. The pretty little toy I’m determined to play with.

“Can I?” She gnaws at her lip.

An image flashes through my mind, one that isn’t appropriate. One that I shouldn’t think about. But I can’t help it. I’ve always loved playing with fire.

“School makes you mean.”

“I’m not mean.” I’m worse.

“You’re evil when you want to be.”

“That, I can’t deny. But you’re not far behind.”

A girl with long, dirty blonde hair pushes past us, cementing herself between us. She’s fumbling with the same paper we’re holding, wearing a tiny tank top and a miniskirt, an outfit that leaves little to the imagination.

“Excuse me, are you new too?” She glances back and forth between Maddy and me. A smile coats her lips as she eyes me.

Maddy nods. “I’m Maddy.”

“Jordan.” She extends an awkward hand towards Maddy. “Who’s he?”

“That’d be my brother⁠—”

“Step.”

“Stepbrother.” She raises an eyebrow. “Kayden.”

Jordan arranges a streak of hair behind her ear, as if her rack isn’t dragging enough of my attention, a smile cemented on those way-too-pink lips. “Nice to meet you, Kayden.”