Caught together

SAIGE POV

"Hey, don't worry about him." Finn's voice pulled me away as he placed his hands on my lower back and my arms around his neck. He turned us so my back was to Collin and I was thankful for that.

I also couldn't help thinking about how I wanted to be in Collin's arms and not his cousins. Even after what he said about me.

We continued to dance silently, but I couldn't stop myself from glancing over my shoulder to seek out Collin. The last time when I looked, though, he was staring at me intently. His jaw was tight and his eyes were emotionless. The female teachers were still standing next to him, clearly trying to catch his attention, but he only had eyes for me; even though he looked a bit disturbed.

Was he upset that I had heard what he said about me? Or, perhaps he was upset about what he said. I really hoped it was the second one but I had a feeling it wasn't.

He finally pulled his eyes away from me and looked down at the floor before I watched him make an exit.

A small jolt of anxiety punched me in the gut and I looked up at Finn. "Excuse me for a moment. I need to use the little ladies' room."

He smiled down at me, releasing me from his embrace. "I'll be over by the drinks when you're done."

I nodded, stepping away from him before I headed in the same direction I just watched Collin disappear to.

The back hallway from the gym that led to the vocational classrooms was dim and void of any students. I knew Collin came down this hallway but I had no idea where he disappeared to after that.

When I turned down the next hallway, that's when I saw him. He had a set of keys and he was unlocking a door to one of the classrooms.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching him nearly jump out of his skin before he looked over at me.

"Jesus, Saige- you scared the hell out of me." He looked behind me to see if I was alone. "What are you doing back here?"

"I came to ask you the same thing."

"I'm a teacher- I can be back here." He nodded toward the direction I just came from. "The dance and my cousin are back that way."

My jaw flexed and my fists balled at my sides. Those words seriously pissed me off.

"I don't give a shit about the dance or your cousin." The last one was a lie. I was becoming to really like Finn in a good friend kind of way. "I followed you to ask you why the hell you said those things at your place!"

"Shh," he hissed out, looking around.

Oh, right-he's ashamed of me and doesn't want to get caught.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room he just unlocked, closing the door again behind us. Collin left the main lights off but turned on the teacher's office one to give us some light.

"You completely misunderstood what I had said earlier today."

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure there isn't a double meaning to 'I can't be with someone like her. I have a reputation to think about."" My voice was mocking his, waving my hand around like a crazy person.

He sighed, running his hand over his face. "I didn't mean it like that, Saige."

"No? Then how did you mean it, Collin?!" My voice was raised now as I glared into his eyes, challenging him. I honestly wanted to know what he meant by those words.

At first, he didn't say anything, he just looked down at my lips and then my eyes as he stepped dangerously close to me.

"I would never say or do anything to hurt you, Saige. When I said those words, it had nothing to do with your..."

"Hey!"

We both jumped at the sound of Finn's voice, spinning to find him in the doorway.

"Someone said they saw Saige coming back here with Coach Collin. Teachers are on the lookout for you two."

When I turned to look at Collin, I saw the color drain from his face. I knew he didn't want to get caught with me for obvious reasons and I didn't want him to get fired just yet.

"Get her out of here," Collin rasped as he grabbed my arm and led me over to Finn. "Go out the back door toward the football fields."

Finn nodded at him as he grabbed my hand and pulled me along. I looked at Collin over my shoulder once more and noticed him staring longingly at me. What the hell was that all about?

We continued down the hall, toward the back doors, when I could hear people talking. They were saying that they thought they saw me go down that way. Finn obviously picked up the speed and pulled me along faster.

Once we were outside, I let out a breath but not before I felt tears sting my eyes. I had really made a mess of my reputation and it was clear tonight that nobody in this town trusted me. They were never going to see me as anything but a trouble-making slut. And that hurt.

"Hey, don't get emotional on me just yet. We still have to get the hell out of here." He pulled me through the back parking lot until we were back up front, searching for his car. Once we found it, we got the hell out of here.

I didn't know where I was staying that night and really needed to figure that out. I couldn't go home and never would again. As far as I was concerned, I no longer had a home or mom to go back to. Kora was still at the dance with TJ and I really didn't want to see her mom's judging expression again; so, I wondered what the hell I was going to do. Finn didn't ask me where I was going to stay and just drove.

Before long, we were pulling back up into Collin's driveway. The second to last place I wanted to be at that moment.

"I can't be here, Finn. I'm clearly not welcome."

He turned to me with an upset face. "That's fucking bullshit and you know it. I have something I want to show you. Come on." He jumped out and then went around to open my door. "I'm about to explain everything to you."

Confused, I slipped out of the car and followed Finn inside, wondering what he had to show me.