It''s Only Fair-1


    I freeze.


    Mr. Adams leans against the bar, a drink in his hand, a smug, knowing smile curling on


    his lips. My stomach twists.


    His eyes take me in from my head to my toes, and I blink to clear my head. I feel


    like this isn''t real, just a dream of some sort.


    Because, what the hell is a high school teacher doing at a college club?


    It''s creepy at best, predatory at worst.


    The bass of the music thrums through my chest, but suddenly, the warmth of the alcohol is gone, reced by something cold. I shiver, offering a small smile.


    I scan the crowd, looking for Nikki, for her friends, but the bodies blur together,


    twisting and pulsing with the music, faceless in the shing neon lights. I can''t see a damn thing and now panic is surging through me.


    He steps closer to me as he takes a drink from his cup. I take a step back, nning on taking another to walk away. Mr. Admas had other ideas. He grabs my wrist, keeping me in ce.


    "Oh,e on, tell me how you''ve been."


    I shake my head, pulling my arm. But his hold is so tight that I fear what one wrong movement will cause in his reaction.


    "I-I''ve been fine. I''m here with Nikki and some friends. They''re probably looking for me." I force a tight smile, taking another step back.


    He just follows me, keeping his hand on my wrist. "They cane find you when they want you."


    My heart starts hammering in my chest, and I look at the bartender for help. She''s so busy, getting crowded by a group of men.


    "Alina," his voice cuts through the noise as if we''re just running into each other at the


    It''s Only Fair-1


    side of the street.


    My lips tremble, and I look at the ground. "Mr. Adams, please."


    He steps in closer, and the heating off of his body has me gagging. "Call me Eric. I''m not your teacher anymore."


    Everything inside me screams to run away. I move, but he pushes off the barpletely, stepping closer. Too close.


    "I was just asking how you were doing," he says, tilting his head as if he actually


    cares.


    Something sharp curls in my stomach, my body going rigid. I shake my head. "I should, um, I should go find my friends. It was nice seeing you, Mr. Adams."


    I turn to leave, but before I can take another step, he moves, crowding me.


    My back hits the wall.


    Panic seizes my lungs.


    His hand ms against the wall beside my head, caging me in. His other hand still holds his drink, ice clinking against the ss. He leans in, his breath warm with liquor, his legs keeping me in.


    "Call me Eric, Alina," he says again, softer this time.


    I swallow hard, trying to push him away, but he doesn''t budge. The alcohol burns through my veins, making my limbs too slow, my thoughts too sluggish. He never showed any interest in me when I was his student.


    This is totally out of the blue.


    Confusing.


    His lips curl. "I heard a little rumor about you."


    My stomach drops.


    "I hear the Matthews boys have been keeping you very close."


    4:39 pm


    It''s Only Fair-1


    The world tilts, my vision tunneling. What is he getting at?


    I shake my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please let me go."


    But he just smiles, cruel and satisfied.


    "You know, Zaid took something from me." His fingers tighten around his ss.


    I push through my memories, remembering that first day I met Zaid. That


    arrogant, pig- headed boy that bragged about fucking his teacher''s wife. My blood runs cold.


    "That little fucker cost me my wife."


    My breath shudders out.


    "And I think it''s only fair that I take something from him."