Chapter 3

Dennis grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it hurt.

I couldn't help but grimace from the pain. "Dennis, let go of me."

"Tsk, Blair, are you done yet?" Dennis shot back.

Dennis didn't hesitate to drag me straight to his car.

The driver, catching on, opened the door right on cue.

Not caring how much I resisted, Dennis stuffed me into the back seat.

He slammed the door hard behind me and strode around to the other side.

The driver held the door open for him. He bent down and ducked his head, ready to get in.

While he wasn't looking, I seized my chance. I threw the door open and slipped out in a flash.

Dennis just stood there, still bent over, eyes wide as saucers.

By the time I'd dashed a good distance away, he finally snapped out of it. "Blair! Stop right there!"

I didn't even look back at his furious shouts. I just fled.

"Blair, stop. Just wait till I catch you. I'll skin you alive," Dennis yelled, his voice getting closer and closer.

I could feel him sticking to me like a bad penny.

Wiping away my tears in frustration, I pushed myself to run even faster.

It felt like having a monster hot on my heels, ready to swallow me whole.

"Blair!" Dennis's voice rang out, echoing through the underground parking lot like a thunderclap out of nowhere.

Just as Dennis was about to catch up, I caught sight of someone ahead. It was Griffin.

I was puzzled. Didn't he already leave when we were on the first floor? What was he doing down here in the underground parking lot?

My body moved before my brain could even catch up.

Griffin had just slid into the driver's seat when I yanked open the passenger door and slipped inside.

I barely had time to lock the door before Dennis caught up, pounding on the glass.

His face was thunderous, and there was a bright red slap mark on his cheek. He looked so pissed off it was almost comical.

He was pounding on the door like a madman. "Blair, get your ass out of the car right now! What am I, some kind of monster? Why the hell are you running?

"You slapped me and think you can just bail? You really think I'm that pathetic? I'm giving you three seconds. Get out here, now!"

I glared at him.

Dennis snapped, "Get out here and explain yourself, or it's over for us."

His words sent waves of dull pain crashing through my chest, and my tears just wouldn't stop.

Whatever then. I didn't care anymore.

I clenched my jaw, turned around to Griffin, who looked completely shell-shocked. "Drive!"

Griffin stared at me, then at Dennis raging behind the window, his face blank with confusion.

Then, still looking dazed, Griffin started the car.

Dennis nearly got flung off his feet when we drove away.

"Uh, have some tissues," Griffin muttered some time later while waiting at a red light. He grabbed a few tissues and handed them over.

It was only when I saw how awkward he looked that I realized I must've been crying.

I snatched the tissues from his hand and wiped the tears off my face.

Trying to break the awkward tension, I said, "Are you secretly laughing at me? If you want to laugh, just let it out. I'll let it slide this time."

Griffin just shook his head, looking completely lost.

I glared at him, about to say something when Dennis called, later than I expected.

I wavered for a moment, unsure if I should answer.

Just then, the light turned green.

As Griffin started driving, he said, "Honestly, you should just talk it out with him. It's better than leaving things messy."

I picked up right before the ringtone cut off.

"Blair, you've got some guts. When did you start hooking up with Griffin behind my back?" Dennis barked.

I was so pissed I could barely see straight. "Dennis, not everyone's a player like you."

"Blair!" Dennis yelled.

"You don't have to yell. I'm not deaf," I shot back.

He was totally thrown off for a second, like he didn't expect that. Dennis soon demanded, "Explain yourself. Why did you run off?

"And when did you get so close to Griffin that you'd just jump into his car? If you can't give me a straight answer, we're over."

It felt like my chest burning up from the inside out.

And at the same time, it was like someone was slicing me open with a knife.

I wiped away the damn tears that just wouldn't quit.

My anger boiled over. "Fine, let's break up then. You two-timing jerk, always chasing after other girls and flipping it on me. Just get out of my life."

With that, I hung up and added Dennis straight to my blocklist.

My hands were trembling as I sobbed, erasing and blocking every single contact of his.

My eyes were so swollen from crying, I could barely see straight.

Griffin cleared his throat, finally saying, "Uh, I need to head back to school. The student council's doing a dorm inspection."