Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Kyler
R ight as I enter the cafeteria, Presley exits the lunch line with Ruby. She’s going to have to wait to eat what’s on that tray she’s carrying because she and I need to have words. I stalk straight toward her— wanting to find out why she sent me that text last period. If she thinks I’m doing the whole friends with benefits thing, she’s wrong. I get that she may need more time, but trying to turn me into some fuck toy, I won’t stand for.
Last night, we fell headfirst into the fire, and I could see that it scared her. The fear was in her eyes, so I backed off and spent the night trying to remind her of all the fun we used to have when we were kids. We talked and laughed for hours over all the silly stuff we used to do. And when I finally had to take off, it felt like my heart was about to explode from my chest. But then she sent me that text, and like hell I’m going to let her block me out.
If she wants to be friends, we can be friends for as long as she needs to prove to herself that I’m not like the asshole who cheated on her, but there will be no “benefits.” We’ll be keeping it platonic until she figures out what she wants. I’m not going to muddy up the waters and have her confusing her feelings. So if she wants to fuck me, she’s going to have to let me into that heart of hers.
My eyes try to gain her attention, but she’s too busy talking to Ruby to notice. I start making my way toward her when Cassie suddenly steps in front of the girls. The bitch better not be starting shit with my girl; I already gave my warning. But when Ruby goes tumbling to the ground, landing right on her tray of food, I see Cassie’s projecting her jealousy elsewhere, and I’m not going to stand for it.
The entire room goes silent except for the cackling witch who’s staring down at the poor girl, who’s now covered in food. Rage braces my body and I storm across the room, ready to dethrone the queen. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Chase heading in the same direction, looking just as pissed and ready to take Cassie out as I am. Presley immediately kneels down and helps her friend off the floor.
“You’re such a fucking loser, Ruby. Look at you and how pathetic you are, bag lady.” Cassie’s nasty attack has me ready to punch her lights out, though I’ve sworn never to hit a girl. But the tears staining Ruby’s cheeks have me wanting to break that vow. She’s never done anything to anyone. That girl stays hidden in the corner. She doesn’t deserve to be fucking bullied.
Right as I approach, Presley steps right into Cassie’s space. The look in her eyes is as angry as I feel.
“I promised myself I wasn’t going to be your enemy, Cassie. But consider me your worst fucking nightmare now. If I see you do or say anything cruel to Ruby, or anyone else,”—she looks around the room— “I will destroy you. Whatever you’re jealous about when it comes to this girl, you better let that shit go because I promise you won’t like the consequences. My wrath will be far worse than anything you’ve done to my friend over the last twelve years. Understood?”
What the hell is she talking about? What shit has Cassie been pulling and how did I not fucking know about it? I never would’ve let her into the fold had I known she was bullying the girl. Twelve years?
Presley ushers Ruby out of the cafeteria, and I pin a stare on Cassie, letting her know she just fucked herself over. It’s not just my girl’s wrath she’s going to have to face, as far as I’m concerned, Cassie is done. She’s now going to be the one sitting alone in the corner; the one people are calling the loser. And if anyone chooses to side with the bitch, they’ll be ostracized too.
I might have to spell it out for the girl later, but right now, I need to make sure Ruby is okay. Chase and I turn, hot on the girls’ tails. We rush down the hall, watching as the two head straight into the gym locker room. When they finally emerge, Ruby is dressed in the clothes Presley wore to school today and Presley is in her gym shorts and a sweatshirt.
“Damn! Did you know the recluse was rocking that body under all those baggy clothes she usually wears?” Chase’s voice has me turning my head. Sure enough, he’s checking Ruby out and it definitely looks like he likes what he sees. I give her a quick once-over, surprised by what I see. She’s been hiding some major curves underneath all those huge sweatshirts she wears. It makes me wonder why she tries to hide herself. Though, I’m guessing Cassie is the reason.
“You girls, okay?” I ask.
Presley’s shaking her head, looking like she wants to charge back into the lunchroom and seek her revenge.
“Cassie’s a bitch,” she states. “And I’m going to castrate her social status.”
“Don’t worry, babe. She’s done. I promise you.” Cassie should’ve been done ages ago, but Chase had to get wrapped up with her.
“You okay, Ruby?” Chase asks. “I’m sorry for what happened back there. For what it’s worth, the only one who looked like a fool was Cassie.” He’s got that right. The entire lunchroom got to see the truth of just how ugly she is.
“Oh…um… Thank you, Chase. That’s nice of you to say.”
The poor girl is as shy as they come. Her cheeks are bright red, and it looks like she wants to go hide. And Chase looks like he doesn’t know what to say now.
“I’m disinviting her to my party tonight,” he adds, giving me a look. “So, you and Presley don’t have to worry about her making an appearance.”
That bitch is disinvited to everything as far as I’m concerned. If I see her try and show her face at another social event, I’m going to tell her to leave because bullies aren’t welcome.
“Thanks,” the awkward girl says again, her neck completely blotched with her nerves. “I need to go do something before class, so I’m going to run.”
And run is practically what she does as she takes off down the hall, Chase’s eyes following after her. “I’m going to go tell Cassie the news,” he states. “Make sure she knows not to show her face tonight.”
He turns and gives me a look, and I’m clear on his message. He’s going to handle the witch. And since he was the one who had to put up with her for a year, I’ll let him take the lead. He stalks his way back in the direction of the cafeteria, and then… it’s just me and my girl.
“That was awfully nice of you, babe, to give her the clothes off your back.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t put me on a throne, Kyler. You’ll be disappointed when you learn the truth.”
“Yeah. So then instead of trying to run, why don’t you try me. Tell me exactly what you think you did that you think I can’t handle.” Because that’s what this about, isn’t it. She thinks that once I learn the truth, I’ll move on.
“I stood by and let my ex-boyfriend destroy an innocent girl’s life. I was so jealous and so hurt that I sat back and did nothing as he bullied her. She begged her parents to move. Every day, she was in tears, and I did nothing. My blood was so frozen with hatred over her betrayal, that I let her suffer.” A tear slips down her cheek, but she’s quick to wipe it away. “Now, does that sound like a girl you want to give your heart to, Kyler?”
She cocks her chin, trying to ice me out again, but I’m not going anywhere.
“It sounds like you were both suffering, babe. And I’d say that guilt riding you so hard proves what kind of person you are.” She may think she’s a monster, but all I see is a girl who was too hurt to defend anyone else. But the girl who showed up and defended Ruby, that’s the Presley I know.
Her eyes waver. A fraction of that ice looks to be cracking. But I think it’s going to take more time before it completely melts away.
“I’m good with being friends, baby. There’s no rush for me.” I’m not going anywhere. If she thought that’d scare me off, it just made me want her more. “But until you’re ready to give me that heart, I think we should keep things PG. I want you to know that it’s more than your body I’m after.”
Since the moment she showed up, I’ve been all over her sexy little ass. It’s time to prove that I’m in this for everything: sex, love, and the whole nine yards.
A smirk starts to lift her cheeks, and I can see more of the ice melting. She steps forward, crowding my space and stealing the air from my lungs. It’s going to be a feat trying to keep my hands off her, but I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.
“Okay, Kyler. Friends it is.” She slides her hands up my chest and wraps them around my neck. Her lips go right to my ear.
“Tag. You’re it.”
Her body slips away, and she gives me a wink before she turns and starts walking down the hall, putting an extra sway in her hips to tease me further. She stops right outside her classroom door and gives me one last look over her shoulder before she disappears inside. It looks like I’m it. And it looks like she wants to be caught.