Read The Seven Devils (YA "New Adult" Romance) for Free Online Page A

that happened. He just said I shouldn’t be around you. That’s all.”
     
    “Okay,” Neil said quietly and stepped out of the car. I took a deep breath and gathered my backpack and water bottle from the floor of the car. When Neil opened the car for me from the outside, I thanked him, and felt like things between us had changed somehow. I shouldn’t have lied to him, I thought to myself. Inside I burned with shame.
     
    ***
     
    School was a little difficult to deal with that morning. People were openly staring at me and I constantly heard the words “Neil” and “new girl” when walking past groups in the hallway between classes. I realized that Erin from band was in my English class and said hi to her as I took my seat. The teacher had not come in yet, so Erin came over to chat with me.
     
    Leaning down close as if she were about to tell me a secret, she said, “So did he rape you yet?”
     
    Her words hit me like a smack to the face. “Did he… what? Neil? Why would he… What do you mean?” I stammered.
     
    Erin gave a Cheshire cat grin. “You still haven’t been told about him? Well, band is last period of the day… stay after for a few minutes and Melanie and I will fill you in,” she said and walked back to her seat, not waiting for a reply.
     
    I didn’t hear a word the teacher said all class period. Erin had some nerve not even waiting for a response; as if she were so sure I’d want to stay after class that she didn’t even have to ask. It made me not want to go. And yet… what was it that everyone was saying about him? What gave Neil such a bad name? Why did Derrick call him a freak and manipulative? Why was Melanie convinced he was dangerous? Then there was the fact that Neil would probably be giving me a ride home. What would my excuse be to him about why I’d be running late? And was I ready to lie to him again? I already regretted not telling him the whole truth that morning. I just didn’t know what to do.
     
    ***
     
    Neil was waiting for me at my locker at the start of our lunch period. “Hey, everything going alright so far today?” he asked.
     
    “Other than this huge stack of homework,” I said, putting my books into my locker, “everything is pretty good.”
     
    He smiled and said, “Come on, I’ll buy you a cookie to cheer you up.”
     
    We walked down to the cafeteria together, hand in hand, almost oblivious of the students who stared and pointed. Almost oblivious. My heart began to pound faster as I realized Derrick would be in the cafeteria. Neil’s thumb rubbed my hand softly and I tried to hide my fear as we walked through the cafeteria doors.
     
    The room became silent as soon as we entered it. Or was that just my imagination? I looked to my left and saw Lexie and her faction of Vogue cover girl wannabes all staring at us. Lexie’s eyes narrowed and I felt her studying me from head to toe; eyes resting finally on my hand, still holding fast to Neil’s. My throat became suddenly dry and my breathing became shallow and quick as she smiled wickedly. She said something I couldn’t hear over the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears and everyone at the tables around her burst into laughter.
     
    Neil’s hand left mine and I felt his arm wrap around my waist. His arm tried to guide me away, but I was stuck to my spot. I couldn’t move. Everything had gone into slow motion and I thought for a moment that I had gone mad. Everything seemed to swim before me until suddenly my eyes focused on Derrick. He became the only thing I could see. Derrick. Walking towards me. I felt a bead of cold sweat run down my spine and I swayed on my feet. Neil held me tight and I think he might have been speaking to me, but I couldn’t understand him.
     
    I couldn’t take my eyes off of Derrick as he grew nearer. He looked so angry. Those bright blue eyes seemed so hard and cold. What would he say? What would he do? My mind flashed back to the night before. Stay away from Neil,