Heart of Redemption (Hearts #2)

21. Margo

Chapter 21

Margo

“ M argo, come outside right now!” Verina yelled at me as Juliette pulled me away from the piano and practically dragged me to the front lawn.

“What is the matter with all of you!” I grumbled.

I only paused and stopped more words from coming out of my mouth the moment I realized that the whole student body was outside.

They were all staring at me, like I was an A list celebrity.

“Margo Hamilton.” I heard a voice yell as I turned my head to the direction the voice echoed from.

Nothing but horror filled my eyes, when I realized the yell came from none other than William Brookshire who stood on top of a table, in front of everyone.

I pulled away from Juliette’s grasps, walking closer to Liam, “Get down from there Liam.” I whispered harshly as he shook his head.

“You said you wanted me to sing in front of everyone in the whole school, right?” He clarified as my face only turned redder than ever.

“William Brookshire, get down right now!” The panic in my eyes started to reach the surface of my face as the whole Hawthorne hockey team emerged from out of nowhere.

Neil pulled out a microphone and Chris pulled out his camera.

I didn’t think he would’ve actually done it, but he was up there, no embarrassment in his face whatsoever. Nothing but a big old smile.

“This song is for you.” He pointed at me as everyone in the lawn started to gush at the idea of the grant gesture.

Before I knew it When I was your Man by Bruno Mars started blasting on the speakers.

I looked around only to find the whole music department of Hawthorne were a part of it. The hockey team were dancing in the background as well as other random students started pairing up and slow dancing.

I tried to fight the smile that emerged from my face, the whole school seemed to be in on it.

Liam jumped down from the table, brought the microphone to his mouth and started singing the well-known words, everyone sang along.

They pulled out their flashlights from their cellphones and started to serenate the whole school even when it was broad daylight.

Liam took my hand and guided me to the middle of the lawn and started to slow dance with me, to be honest, it was cute. He continued to sing and everyone else did with him.

“I’ll do whatever you throw at me Raine,” He announced as I shook my head in disbelief at his ambition to keep trying to pursue me.

I only threw him a disgusted look and began to walk away from the concert he was putting up for me.

But he ran after me, his hand captured mine, which made me turn back to look at him.

As the song ended, one of his friends handed him another bouquet of flowers. This time they were different colored roses; he ended the song and handed me the flowers.

“Just for tonight, please wear my jersey to the game and just watch.” He asked as everyone in the crowd was entertained by the question.

I waited for a moment; everyone was at the edge of their seat.

“Fine.” I muttered.

I’ll give him what he wants tonight, only because of the concert and the amazing head he provided last night. I tried my hardest to resist William Brookshire, but if he keeps pulling these stunts, I’m afraid he might actually win.

Win me back.

A drianna had decided not to attend the boy’s hockey game tonight. Grayson and she got into a screaming match during the whole concert Liam had orchestrated for me.

After she left, I couldn’t help but think about why she was going through these lengths to piss Grayson off. I didn’t understand that even Liam would keep embarrassing himself just to get me back when he lost me in the first place.

The bouquet of roses he had bought out for me had been sitting on top of my desk. Those roses probably cost a bunch of money, but he didn’t care. He knew there was a ninety percent probability that I would cut them up and send it back to his doorway.

But he kept sending them anyways. It made me wonder the other lengths he would go through just to get me back.

I pulled out a notebook and started listing five outrageous things that Liam had to do for me to even consider getting back with him. If he didn’t complete them all, then he wasn’t taking me seriously.

Since I ran out of room in the front, I wrote in the back that he needed to let me know if he is agreeing to doing what was written on the list by meeting me at my parent’s guest house before midnight.

If he doesn’t show up by then, I’m making a promise to myself that I will forever close my heart to him and there will be no way for him to get me back after.

Even if it hurts to let him go, I had to do it for myself and for my parents.

I had landed on wearing designer boots, luckily for me Liam had two of his goons deliver his sought-after jersey for me to wear to the trainer’s room.

It smelled exactly like him. I walked over to Liam’s cubby and slipped the folded piece of paper on top of his picture with his family.

But it was ripped, the picture only consisted of him and his mother, his father seemed to be ripped off.

He never talked about his father; I could only infer that he wasn’t a very nice man.

I moved the picture only to find a beautiful diamond bracelet with gold attaching each and every single diamond.

But before I could do even more digging, I started to hear loud commotion of men walking in.

I quickly ran out the back exit so I couldn’t be spotted.

I remembered pointing out that diamond bracelet when we were in Greece. It of course it was way too expensive for me to buy. I never knew he went back and bought it.

I took a breath; hearing Liam and Grayson’s voice emerge from the locker room.

I had no idea if Liam was ever going to show me or tell me that he bought the bracelet for me. If he didn’t, I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about the fact that I knew he did.

LIAM

“ W hat on earth are you wearing right now.” Grayson snarled at me as I looked down at my pregame suit.

“It’s a Brioni.” I informed as he gave a disgusted look.

“That’s a Brushitty.” Grayson threw back as I flipped him off.

We arrived at the locker rooms; we were always the first two people here. Usually, Grayson was but I’m rarely never late.

“So, have you started thinking about who the next team captain should be? You know once we’re gone?” I asked as he looked around to see if anyone else was in the room with us.

“Well, we still have like two more years dude.” He voiced as I started to unpack my bag.

“Yeah, but don’t you think the Freshman are already showing off their skills to you and coach?”

“Yeah, your right I think I know which freshman you are thinking about.” He smiled at me as I smiled back.

Grayson and I were always on the same page.

“I’m so glad you think that Khons is the best pick.”

“Yeah, Duke has been showing the work.” I muttered as we both realized we were not thinking of the same person.

Grayson dropped his stick and turned to me, “You think Duke Kean is the freshman that’s been putting in the work?” He gaped as my eyes narrowed.

“You think Dustin Khons has?!” I laughed as he nodded his head seriously.

“Kean is insanely fast on the ice even with pressure and a puck.” I defended as he rolled his eyes.

“That gets you nowhere without looking around and being a team player. He’s always hogging the puck.” Grayson pointed out as I rolled my eyes.

“Well, we’ll have to keep watching them, won’t we?” I blanched as Grayson slowly nodded his head.

“Watch them, we shall.”

I kept my eyes narrowed to his before I caught a note on my cubby.

“Oh, by the way how was your karaoke thing in front of the whole school? Sorry I missed it I was preoccupied by a stubborn fake girlfriend who finds enjoyment of not listening to me.” Grayson kept talking as I opened the note.

By the looks of it, it was in Margo’s handwriting.

“Earth to William?” Grayson waved his hand in front of my face as I read the list of things Margo wanted me to do in order for her to take me seriously.

Which was ironic considering the fact that all of the things she had written for me to do were completely unserious.

“Eat twenty jalapenos without water or milk?” I read out loud as Grayson pulled the note from my hand.

“Add another tattoo to your body.”

“Learn to name all of the fifty states in alphabetical order.”

Grayson took a moment to reread the last one as he smiled before reading it aloud.

“Shave off your hair.” He finished off as my eyes widened and my mouth dropped to the floor.

“That’s a fucking joke, right?!” I exclaimed as he smirked.

“Nah I’m just joking with you, Will.” He yawned as he passed me the note.

“She gave you free reign to pick whatever you want to do for the last one.” Grayson muttered before he turned back to his locker.

He looked at me like I was crazy.

“All this for a girl?” Grayson asked as I rolled my eyes.

“You are literally fake dating Adrianna to win your ex-girlfriend back.” I shot back at him as he hesitated to say something.

“You would get your nails done with me, wouldn’t you?” I asked quietly as Grayson’s head slowly turned to face mine.

“William Brookshire, you’re lucky you’re my best friend.” He snapped as I smiled back.

I had a feeling it would be like this. Grayson was falling for Adrianna Cassian, but in my opinion, he’s been in love with her ever since he laid eyes on her.

He always denied it because it felt like it was forbidden by his father for some odd reason. I’ve only ever seen Adrianna’s father once, and it was when our parents had to tour Hawthorne University.

He seemed scary and easily irritated but he was always on side quests, on his phone or taking care of some other business.

I knew Grayson like I knew the back of my hand. This wasn’t just about getting August back. He didn’t know it himself, but every now and then I could see his eyes linger on Adrianna’s every move.

As if she tripped or anything he would be there to catch her.

“You wanna drive with me to Philly tonight?” I asked as he shook his head.

“I can’t. I suspect that I’ll be getting a visit from Cassian.” Grayson said in a sing song way that made my eyebrows wrinkle.

“You can ask Chris, or maybe even Neil.” Grayson suggested as I nodded, “Why, what did your father do to piss you off now?” He finished as I laughed.

“Stepfather.” I corrected him before continuing, “I just heard about some shady shit about him from a few people and I want to know if he’s staying out of trouble. Besides my mother also wants the divorced papers signed.”

Chris and Neil walked in together.

“Well, if it isn’t the married couple.” Neil snarked as Chris blew out a laugh.

Grayson and I looked at each other then flipped both of them off.

“Were we interrupting anything?” Chris asked as Grayson shook his head in dismay.

They made fun of Grayson and me because we always spent an abnormal amount of time together. No shame. I love my best friend.

“What’s that?” Chris walked over to the opened note in my cubby.

“It’s a list of things I have to do in order for Margo to take me seriously.” I answered as they burst out in laughter.

“Get nails done?” Neil’s eyes widened as I shook my head in shame.

“You’re actually going to do this?” They asked in unison as I pulled the paper out of their gremlin hands.

“Yes, I will. If this is what she wants from me then so be it.” I breathed out as all three of them looked at me like I was some sort of lost puppy.

“What has she done to you?” Chris looked at me in disbelief.

“One day you’ll understand boys. When you fall in love, and you see your whole future, but you can’t imagine it without her.” I preached as all of them ignored me fully.

I rolled my eyes.

Gee. I sure do love my friends.