It was a bad idea to order spaghetti and meatballs for lunch.
I’m sure the red-orange hue of the tomato sauce I’m currently floundering in will pair well with my white button-down shirt.
Fuck. My. Life.
At least I can take solace in the fact that a portion of my meal spattered on Britney’s thousand-dollar Burberry messenger bag. Bitch.
But as much as I want to beat her ass for intentionally tripping me, I won’t give her the satisfaction of letting her know she’s ruffling my feathers.
Instead, I calmly peel myself off the cafeteria floor, silently praying I don’t slip. Again.
As suspected, everyone’s eyes are trained on me.
Well, everyone except for Jace, who appears to be enjoying his food without a care in the world. And Oakley, who’s laughing so hard he’s shaking.
Assholes.
A faint flicker of pity passes in a few people’s gazes as I straighten myself out, but not enough for anyone to hand the new reject a paper towel.
Whatever. Screw the sheep.
With a smirk, I pluck a strand of spaghetti off my shirt and plop it in my mouth. “It’s good. But it could use a little salt.”
“Gross. You’re so wei—” Britney starts to say before her face turns ashen. “Oh my God, you dumb slut. You ruined my bag.”
I lick a drop of sauce off the tip of my thumb and shrug. “Consider it karma for ruining my lunch.”
With that, I walk away.
But not before grabbing the remaining spaghetti strands off my shirt and tossing them in her direction.
“You’re gonna pay for that, bitch,” she calls out as I head toward the exit.
My response is a middle finger in the air.
I’m barely in the bathroom thirty seconds when the door opens, and I feel someone gawking at me.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” I snap as I vigorously scrub my stained shirt with a paper towel.
“Don’t have to. Britney already posted one on Instagram.”
Of course, she did.
“Before you bathed in tomato sauce,” the girl adds.
Lifting my gaze from the mess, I glare at the short, curvy brunette donning a pair of black-rimmed glasses. She’s cute, but she definitely doesn’t look like a typical member of Britney’s crew.
Probably a wannabe.
“Thanks for the play-by-play.” I crinkle my nose. “Now buzz back to your queen bee.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “That’s a bit hypocritical, don’t you think?”
Irritated, I stop scrubbing. “How so?”
“By assuming I was part of Britney’s posse.” With a huff, she unzips her bag and takes out a white button-down shirt. “You’re wasting your time. Those stains will never come out.”
I blink, feeling like an idiot. She wanted to help me, and I was an asshole.
“You’re right. I was being a hypocrite.” I eye the shirt warily. “I wouldn’t feel right taking that from you now.”
“Don’t worry. I have another one in my locker, two more in my car, and like twenty more at home.” She sweeps a hand up and down, gesturing to herself. “It’s gonna be huge on you…obviously. So, if you don’t wa—”
I take the shirt. “No, I do. Thanks.”
She gives me a curt nod before I duck into a nearby stall to change.
As expected, it’s big, but I manage to make it work with a few adjustments.
The girl is still standing by the sinks when I walk back out.
This is awkward.
It occurs to me she might be expecting something in return. “I don’t have a lot of money, but—”
She holds up a hand, cutting me off. “It’s on the house.”
I fidget with the hem of my skirt. I’ve never been good at small talk and it’s clear she isn’t either.
Since our weird exchange can’t get any worse, I ask her something that’s been on the tip of my tongue for the last five minutes. “Why do you keep so many spare shirts around?”
She looks embarrassed. For a moment I think she’s going to tell me she has some kind of perspiration issue, but then she says, “I transferred to RHA last year when I was a sophomore. I was barely here a week when Britney and her cronies stole my uniform out of my gym locker. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, but when I went to the shower, they took my gym clothes.”
My heart sinks as she continues.
“I forgot my cell phone at home so I couldn’t call my mom. Everyone was out of the locker room by then, so I had no choice but to walk back to the gym in a towel and get the teacher.” She points to herself. “And because I look like this, everyone who saw me laughed and mooed. The next day Britney posted a picture of me roaming the halls in a towel on Instagram. Needless to say, life really sucked for a while.”
Jesus. That’s terrible. “She’s such a cunt.”
She nods. “I can’t wait until she graduates. I might actually be able to enjoy my senior year.” She shrugs. “Truth be told, I was happy she found a new target, but when I saw you covered in sauce, I knew I had to help.” She smirks. “Not that you needed it. You were pretty badass back there.”
That gets a laugh out of me. “I’ve been dealing with Britney since elementary school, so I’m used to her bullshit. There just happens to be way more of it now.”
No doubt due to her and Jace dating.
Her brows crinkle in confusion. “You used to go to school here? I thought you were new?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I mean, I might as well be because it’s been so long and I only know a few people, but I moved out of Royal Manor when I was in eighth grade.” I blow out a heavy breath. “Now I’m back.”
And nothing has changed…except Jace.
“Which royally sucks,” she says, taking the words out of my mouth.
“Big time.”
She holds out her hand. “My name is Sawyer Church. I’m a junior and I drive an old ass mini-van. I’m not rich like everyone else here, but I enjoy studying so I managed to get a scholarship to RHA—really, it’s only because Principal Ryan is close with my family. Oh, and I dislike ninety-nine percent of the general population, but that doesn’t stop me from helping all the dipshits in the world because WWJD.”
I shake her hand. “WWJD? Is that like a band or something?”
“I wish. That would be awesome.” She motions to the bracelet on her wrist that has the same initials inscribed on it. “What would Jesus do.”
Not quite the answer I was expecting. “Oh…”
She grimaces. “Ugh. Don’t do that. I thought you were cool.”
I have no idea what she means. “Do what?”
“Look, just because I’m religious doesn’t mean I’m some kind of Jesus freak. Well, I mean I am, because he’s awesome, but I promise I’m normal.” She averts her gaze. “Okay, maybe not normal—but I cuss a lot, stay out past curfew, and watch bad movies.” She blushes. “I’ve also watched porn a time or two. And if Nick Jonas wanted to spend the night with me, I’d seriously consider tossing my virginity out the window.”
“I think he’s married.”
“God, don’t rub it in—” She quirks an eyebrow. “You never told me your name.”
“Dylan Taylor.”
She taps her foot. “And…”
Oh, boy. This girl is a trip. “I’m a senior. I have my license, but my car was repoed when my—” I stop mid-sentence because I don’t know her well enough to tell her about my dad being in the slammer. “It’s a long story.”
Sawyer tips her head to the side, studying me. “It’s okay. We’ll get there.”
“Get where?”
She adjusts her glasses. “The way I see it, we’re both misfits in this hellhole. Why not be friends?”
In theory, it makes perfect sense, but superficial friendships for the sake of not being alone don’t really appeal to me. “Um. No offense, but—”
“What? Did your best friend have sex with your boyfriend or something?”
“More like my worst enemy,” I whisper before I can stop myself.
Evidently, I’m in need of a friend more than I thought because I’m one extra shirt away from spilling all my secrets.
Sadness clouds her eyes. “Ouch. That would definitely explain your trust issues.” She smiles. “For what it’s worth, you don’t have to worry about me having sex with anyone but my future husband.” There’s a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Or Nick Jonas. Because heaven help me, I would ride him frontward, backward, and sideways on a Sunday.”
I start to smile, but it occurs to me that if we’re going to be friends, I should let Sawyer in on the truth. “Since we’re on the subject of sex, let me state for the record that I didn’t fuck my cousin. Oakley started the stupid rumor to get back at me because he thinks I ratted him out to his dad about smoking weed in the basement.”
“Okay, let me get this straight…you’re saying you didn’t fuck your cousin?” Her face falls. “Damn. I’m not sure I want to be friends with you anymore. The apple’s lost its shine, you know?”
I kind of love that she’s as fluent in sarcasm as I am. “Well, shit. Would you reconsider if I tell you about the time I got drunk and dry-humped my uncle?”
A mixture of shock and intrigue washes over her features. “Really?”
“No. My dad’s an only child.”
She starts to laugh, but the sound of the late bell ringing cuts it short. “Crap.” Before I can protest, she steers me toward the exit. “What’s your next class?”
“Chemistry.”
She winces as we walk out the door. “Mrs. Beck can be difficult, but I can help yo—”
Her sentence is interrupted by the sound of something heavy hitting a locker…followed by shouting.
When we turn to see what the commotion is, my breath freezes in my throat.
Jace’s arm is pinned over some poor guy’s neck while Oakley and Cole stand in front of a visibly irate girl who’s so pretty, I have to do a double-take.
“Leave him alone, Jace. We were only kissing.”
Sawyer tugs on my arm. “Let’s go. Jace Covington is not only bad news, he’s Britney’s obsession. Your life will be so much easier if you stay away from him and the drama his family causes…especially now that baby Covington has entered the chat.”
Oh, shit. Last time I saw Bianca she had a mouthful of braces and still watched cartoons.
Now she’s…
I can see why Jace wants to pummel her make-out buddy.
“Go to class, Bianca,” Jace grits through his teeth. “I’ll deal with you when we get home.”
Before she can protest, he seizes the guy’s collar and slams his head against the locker. “She’s a goddamn freshman, pervert.” The guy starts to speak, but Jace pulls him forward and slams him against the metal for a second time. “She’s also my baby sister.”
The dude looks positively petrified and I can’t say I blame him.
Jace has always had deep-rooted anger issues—but most people wouldn’t know because they usually mistake his silence for contentment.
However, deep down, he’s quietly stewing in all the rage simmering beneath the surface…like a deadly volcano on the verge of erupting.
It’s why I sought him out on the playground that day.
We were best friends…but our demons were kindred spirits.
“I had no idea, man,” the guy chokes out. When Jace eases up slightly, he adds, “She told me she was a senior and a foreign exchange student.”
Bianca winks at him. “Bonjour.”
Sawyer motions for us to leave again, but I stay rooted to the spot. Jace is a jerk, but I can’t shake this intrinsic need to make sure he doesn’t do something stupid.
Like commit homicide in the middle of a school hallway.
“See?” he proclaims innocently as Jace takes a step back. “It was all her. She was practically beg—”
His sentence is cut short by Jace’s fist.
“Try not to rough him up too much,” Cole utters as Jace winds his arm back, preparing to deal him another one. “The first game of the year is Friday and Declan’s one of the better players on the defensive line.”
The knee Jace sails into Declan’s groin makes it clear he doesn’t give a shit about his brother’s upcoming football game.
“Jesus Christ, Covington,” the guy wails as Jace strikes his jaw. “You made your point, all right? I won’t go near her again.”
Bianca rolls her eyes. “Pussy.”
Oakley and Cole snicker, but Jace isn’t amused. In fact, he appears to be growing angrier with every passing second.
Whatever’s happening now goes beyond some guy hooking up with his little sister.
“Take Bianca to class.” Jace’s tone is clipped. Threatening. “Now.”
“Are you serious?” Bianca groans as Cole shoves her messenger bag at her and Oakley takes hold of her elbow. “I’m not a bab—”
Jace sends a sharp kick to his adversary’s stomach. It’s so brutal I wince as he slumps down the locker. “Get the fuck up—”
“Stop,” I interject before Jace rams his foot into Declan’s abdomen. The guy is already on the floor, curled up in a fetal position with blood oozing from his lip…pleading with Jace to end the torture. Enough is enough. “I’m pretty sure he got the memo.”
Those piercing dark eyes flick to me. “F—”
“What the hell is she doing here?” Bianca interjects.
Aside from stating the obvious, I’m not really sure how to answer that.
Bianca takes several steps forward until she’s standing directly in front of me. “Haven’t you done enough?”
The venom laced in her words makes me inwardly wince. We didn’t hang out much given our age difference, but we were always cool with one another.
Or so I thought.
Before I can ask her what her issue is, she edges forward, getting uncomfortably close to my face. “Stay the fuck away from my brothers, you backstabbing little snake. Or so help me God, I w—”
“What in the world is going on here?” someone shrieks behind her. “Are you okay?”
When I look up, I see a stern-faced woman who’s visibly fuming. Her gaze keeps ping-ponging between Declan, who’s still on the floor, and the rest of us.
“Crap,” Sawyer mutters under her breath. “That’s Mrs. Beck.”
Perfect. At least now she’ll know why I’m late.
Jace yanks Bianca toward him. “Go to class.” He looks at Cole. “Both of you.” His attention shifts back to Declan. “I’ll handle this.”
They start to walk away, but Mrs. Beck halts them. “No one will be going anywhere. Not until I speak to Principal Ryan.” She pulls out her cellphone and brings it to her ear. “Sorry to bother you, Principal Ryan, but we have an urgent situation in the hallway by the science lab. It involves an injured student and the Covington boys.”
She practically spits out their last name as though it were rancid food.
“Nothing happened. I’m fine,” Declan tells her before she hangs up.
The teacher doesn’t buy it. “No, you’re no—”
“I was in a rush, so I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. I ended up running face first into an open locker and busting my ass.” Rising from the floor, he juts his chin toward Jace, Cole, and Oakley. “They stopped to see if I was okay.”
As if on cue, the three amigos nod.
“It’s the truth,” Cole exclaims with a shrug. “Just wanted to make sure my teammate didn’t do something stupid and permanently injure himself.”
“Word,” Oakley chimes in. “It would be a damn shame if something terrible happened to poor Declan before the big game on Friday.”
“Before or after the game,” Jace grits between clenched teeth.
Irritated, Mrs. Beck turns to Sawyer and I. “Tell me what really happened?”
“We don’t know,” I blurt out, gesturing to my new friend. “We were in the bathroom the whole time. We didn’t see or hear anything.”
Beside me, Sawyer sighs. I can practically feel the disappointment radiating off her. “Yeah…what she said.”
I don’t like to lie, but I also don’t like to snitch. If Declan doesn’t want to tell Mrs. Beck the truth, it’s his prerogative.
Plus, there’s also a small part of me that doesn’t want Jace to take the fall for protecting his little sister. Even though he went too far, and it’s clear she hates me.
The teacher doesn’t look convinced, but it’s out of her hands when Principal Ryan and the nurse arrive on the scene and Declan reiterates that he ran face first into a locker.
“All right, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do here.” He throws his hands up. “You’re all free to go.”
We start to disperse…but not before Bianca calls out, “I meant what I said, bitch.” She lunges in my direction. “Hurt one of my brothers again and they’ll need dental records to identify your traitorous corpse.”
Jesus. The girl isn’t just holding a grudge again me…she’s devising a plan for my murder.
As much as I’d like to blow off her threat, I can’t…because I have no idea why she’s pissed off in the first place.
I never hurt her brother. Unless you count me moving away abruptly, but that wasn’t my fault. I tried to reach out to him, but Jace ignored me.
All this fury the Covingtons are harboring for me doesn’t add up.
I’d never betray them.
“What’s your pr—”
“Enough, Bianca.” Jace steers her down the opposite hallway. “You need to chill.”
Sawyer waits until they’re out of earshot before she speaks. “I know it’s probably none of my business, but I have to ask. What’s the deal with you and Bianca? Why does she hate you so much?” Her eyes go big. “What did you do to her brothers?”
“I have no idea,” I tell her honestly.
But I intend to find out.
