Chapter Thirteen: Conflicted Indulgence

Anna's POV

I stretch out my sore muscles as I admire the final product for my Visual Arts assignment. The hues of blue blending into oranges and pinks as the rays of the setting sun cast an incredible, decadent glow onto the waters of the lake make my eyes brim over with tears. My hand quickly swipes at the corner of my eyes as I take a shaky breath.

"That looks incredible," gasped Courtney behind me as she sat beside me and leaned her head on my shoulder. "It looks just like it did when we went to camp at Lake Fenway. I can't believe you actually painted this, Anna. It's amazing."

"Thanks Court. I was so conflicted about doing this, but now that I can see it in its finished state, I'm glad I decided on it."

The sounds of people moving around in the corridors outside the art room finally made me realize that Courtney was actually beside me rather than on her own campus.

"Wait, what are you doing here? Don't you have class?" I asked as she grinned at me.

"Of course I do, but I had to come see you."

"See me? Court, we see each other every other evening. Why did you need to see me now?" I watched as my best friend shot me an odd expression. One that made me quiver a bit inside. When Courtney had a look of apprehension, it meant trouble. "Courtney."

"Oh relax. I didn't do anything. I had to see you because Marcus has been all mopey looking at school. Have you been avoiding him when they're here for practice?"

I turn my head and stood from my chair, moving as though I was trying to figure something out on the canvas for the painting. As I tried to focus on the colors and brushstrokes, my memory flashed to the letter that came to my house a week ago.

'Stay away from Marcus McKay, or you'll regret it'

I shook my head and shut my eyes tight to clear my thoughts and when I opened them again, Courtney was in my line of vision, her brows knitted together, her mouth a deep frown.

"Something happened? Tell me what it is. Who did it. I'll kick their butts so bad they'll need but implants!" Her voice rose a few octaves too high for comfort and I reached out and covered her mouth with the palm of my hand.

Shaking my head to tell her to quiet down, I removed my hand and plastered on a smile. "Nothing happened. I've just been distracted with this masterpiece here." I wave my hands towards the painting but Courtney doesn't buy it.

"That's bull. I heard Peter asking Marcus why he's been going to the library so often. And every time he looks so lost, like if he's concerned about something. You go to the library all the time. Did you see him?"

I shake my head dismissively as I recall putting off my visits to the library that week. Was Marcus going to meet me? Why would he do that?

"Whatever is going on with the McKay brothers has nothing to do with me. Besides, I'm pretty sure they don't like me that much. Damian made that pretty clear when--" My inner voice curses me for telling that little tidbit and Courtney's eyes go wide.

"Damian McKay said something to you?" her voice raises once more and I grab hold of her lips and shut them tight together. She shuffles out of my grip and then grabs my right hand, tugging me out of the room and down the corridors heading towards the gymnasium.

She pulls me through the double doors and stops dead in her tracks when Carter and a few of his friends turn around at the middle of the court.

"Seriously. Why are you idiots even here?" Courtney asks, her disgust evident in her voice.

"Why are we here? This isn't even your school. We should be asking you that." Carter shifts his gaze over to me. A chill runs down my spine at the way his eyes seem to look directly through me. When he shifts his footing, Courtney plants herself in front of me, like a shield.

"You don't look at her like that. You lost that privilege when you swapped spit with that b***h Jessica." Courtney said through gritted teeth as a collective chuckle came from the group of guys around Carter.

"Are you jealous, Courtney? Wanna try out a real guy? Pretty sure your options back at Lakeview are pretty awful." One of the guys jeered as Courtney's body began to shake with rage.

"That's enough!" I head my voice ring out with a boom I didn't know existed except for when I was watching a hockey match.

The guy who spoke earlier took a tentative step back and the others looked over at Carter, who was now bristling, his face red and the veins in his neck throbbing.

"I've had it with your attitude lately, you traitor!" he bellowed as he took a few steps forward, causing Courtney to shift us back a little.

"Funny you call me that, Carter. You're the traitor. You only speak sweet words and act gallant. But you betrayed me. You betrayed my trust! You lied to me and cheated me for what? A b***h who is obviously using you because she wants to be crowned prom queen in a few months?" I took a deep breath to steady my drumming heart as I heard Courtney snicker beside me.

"Shut up! Just shut the hell up! I'm with Jessica because she knows what she wants. You, on the other hand, like to play with people's feelings. It's not normal for your boyfriend to have to ask permission every time he wants to kiss you. It's not normal that we can't really go on dates because you have a curfew. What are you, twelve?!"

Carter's friends broke out in laughter as he smiled smugly, obviously proud of himself and his so-called witty banter. My vision went red and my fists flexed beside me as I watched Carter's eyes catch hold of what was happening.

"Oh look guys, she's getting ready to punch me again. Go ahead! This time I have multiple witnesses. I'll make sure you get expelled this time!" Carter's head suddenly snapped back as the sound of something smacking him hard in the face resonated in the gym. When he angled his head forward again, there was a deep imprint of a glove's stitching along his right cheek. The mark became instantly swollen as the sound of the double doors behind us swung shut.

"Ooops. Damn Marcus, I told you not to hit his face, the dude's nose might be broken again," Peter McKay's voice rang out as a wide grin spread from ear to ear.

Damian stood beside him, a corner of his mouth ticked up as Marcus stood in front of them, his face a mask of deadly rage.

Carter sputtered a bit as his friends wrestled to help him stand straight and catch his bearings. His gaze landed on the McKay brothers and it seemed to send him into a frenzy.

"What the hell are you assholes doing here?! This isn't your gym! Get the f**k out of here before my guys reset your pretty faces!" Carter shoved off his friends hands as Peter angled his head around Marcus's bulky body.

"Awe, did you hear that? He thinks I'm pretty," Peter then began sending Carter kiss faces and fluttering his eyes as the entire group around Carter readied themselves for a fight.

I found myself turning back towards Carter and his friends to try and deescalate the situation, but Marcus was suddenly standing beside me. The air around me became still as a heat engulfed me and my breathing became hitched. A strong arm wrapped itself around my waist as my body suddenly melted against Marcus, his daring blue eyes staring deep into mines.

"Anna Donovan doesn't play with people's feelings," he said before his head dipped down, and his lips claimed mine in a hot, searing kiss that made my legs go weak, and my mind become putty.

Holy s**t! What the hell was happening!