Enemy Down - Cathryn Fox Page 0,2

was little and hurt myself. Throw a little dirt on it. Mom and me, we were a team. Just the two of us against the world. We did things on our own terms, and asked for nothing. We worked for everything, or we went without.

“Maize, please,” Christian implores, his voice, heavy with worry, stills me. He drops to the ground, and lays on his side, his eyes locked on mine. Blue. My God, he has the most gorgeous blue eyes in the universe. I couldn’t see them that night we were locked in the closet, playing seven minutes in heaven. I wanted so badly to fit in with the ‘popular’ girls at Sweetwater. When Chelsea Haverstock invited me to her party, I was thrilled. Of course, I had no idea it would ruin my reputation and leave me friendless, except for Kaitlyn. She had no desire to be a popular girl. She knew mean when she saw it. Now I see it everywhere.

“I think your ankle is broken,” he says his voice low, like it will somehow soften the blow.

“No, it’s not.” I suck in a fast breath, determined to get up, but his big hand continues to push me down again and why the hell do I like that so much? What is wrong with me? I hate his face. I hate his touch, and I most definitely hate the way he’s pinning me down, and making me wonder what it would be like if he were on top of me.

“The paramedics are almost here. Let’s wait and see what they say.”

“I’m not waiting for anything.” No, I’m getting up, finishing my run, and meeting Kaitlyn for a fast trip to the mall for new laces. If I wait, they might tell me what I refuse to admit. If I refuse to admit it, then I won’t be off the team, my scholarship won’t be stripped from me, and I won’t have to move back home, having made nothing of myself. I have big dreams, for God’s sake. I want to be a lawyer, I want to right all the wrongs and help people.

His fingers splay on my back, teasing all my nerve endings until pleasure mingles with pain. I’m familiar with the sensations from running, and I have to admit, my body craves that rush. The next thing I know, I’m being checked out by two men, and nearly blinded by a flashlight. Everyone is moving, fussing about, and my head starts to pound so hard, nausea grips my stomach. If they would all just leave me alone, I’ll be fine. The two paramedics move me, and shift me to a gurney. I briefly close my eyes, wishing I was an ostrich and could shove my head in the sand. I might be an athlete, but I don’t love being the center of attention, and right now, every member of Kingston’s football team is staring at me—so are their girlfriends, and all the cheerleaders.

It takes great effort to go up onto my elbows, to check out my body, and a sound that seems to scare everyone around me crawls out of my throat when I glance at my foot, which is twisted in an unnatural way.

“No…” I whisper. “No, no, no.”

“Maize,” Christian says, and I turn to him as tears burn behind my eyes. “It’s going to be okay.” He puts his hand on my shoulder.

I swallow against the pain in my throat. Christian is a rich kid, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has no idea that his wayward football just put an end to my scholarship. How the hell am I going to pay for next term’s tuition?

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I shoot back, and he withdraws his big hand from my shoulder, worry and guilt all over his face. “You ruined high school for me, and…” a humorless laugh crawls out of my throat. “And now, not only have you ruined my senior year of college, but you might have ruined my future too.” He rears back like I just slapped him. His mouth opens and closes, like my words have shocked him, but he knows what he did that day in the closet, what he’s done now. I hold my skinned palm up to stop him. “Just go.” He inches back, and I square my shoulders to pull myself together. No way, no how am I going down like this. I’m a fighter. A survivor. A girl