Chapter 37 #2
I couldn’t help but notice how odd that group was—the girls all swapped places with the same guy. My inner bias assumed that it was James who used them for a night when in reality there was a strong possibility that it was the opposite. Or maybe, more simply, it was a reciprocal exchange.
“So is it true that they fight and always make up?” I muttered, pointing at the couple.
“Tomorrow they’ll go back to hating each other again,” explained Poppy, grumbling.
“Whatever floats his boat.”
It wasn’t my or anyone else’s business, but we were all looking at them.
“She’ll be the only happy one tonight,” exclaimed Marvin’s cousin, biting her lip and looking at them sentimentally.
“Sorry, did someone invite you to be here with us?” interjected Amelia, furious.
The girl looked at us, offended, and walked away muttering something under her breath.
“I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back,” I announced.
I could barely see through the throng of drunk, barely conscious people, then I bumped into someone. I recognized that sweet, masculine fragrance immediately.
I acted like nothing happened, but James walked into me again, this time on purpose.
“You know, I should thank you, White.”
I looked at his lips again for half a second. “For what? For giving you a black eye?”
James nodded, keeping his eyes on me.
“Any time. Keep in mind that I wasn’t the one who did it.” I cleared my throat. “Why should you thank me?”
He took his time to answer, cognizant of his charm. “Apparently it gives me a wild touch.”
“And who told you that bullshit? Surely some drunk chick.”
His mouth curved into a real smile, clearly showing his dimples at the sides of his cheeks. If it wasn’t James Hunter, I would’ve even thought he was adorable.
“What’s so funny now?” I snapped, upset by my momentary weakness.
“Nothing,” he murmured, taking a step toward me
I found myself at the height of his mouth again. A rush of adrenaline coursed through my stomach. I started feeling hot. I felt intoxicated. Drunk. Even though I’d only drunk Coke.
“Your boyfriend and your secret admirer are over there.” James licked lower lip, staring at mine. “That begs the question, what are you still doing here, White?”
His gruff voice sent a chill down my spine.
“I’m going to the bathroom, get out of the way,” I snapped, trying to pass by him.
I felt his fiery eyes pouring all over me like white-hot lava, so I turned around to shoot one last look at him.
James continued to stare shamelessly at me.
I wanted to put my head underwater so badly.
I spent the evening with William and the girls mainly talking about school. At some point Marvin and Jackson suggested going somewhere else, so we followed them out of Tropical.
“Where d’you wanna go?” I asked William.
“Somewhere else. Wanna come?”
I didn’t expect William to be more precise with his answer, so I looked at Amelia for her opinion. She seemed pretty buzzed, but she shook her head no. I checked the time. It was already past midnight.
“I think I’ll head home,” I whispered as Will pecked me on the lips one last time.
“Okay.”
“Where the fuck did Jackson end up?” James came out waving his arms around.
“Don’t get into trouble,” I said to William, adjusting his jacket collar.
James must’ve heard my advice because he laughed behind us.
“Everything’s under control, Snow White.”
“Oh, if you think so, I can sleep well tonight.”
“Sweet dreams, princess.”
I felt something eat away inside me. Why was he behaving like this right now? Why’d he have to talk to me like that?
In the meantime, Will was trying to call Jackson.
When Marvin’s cousin came out, James went back to his typical caveman behavior. He grabbed her by her hips, smiled at her, and kissed her. She kissed him back enthusiastically but hesitated for a moment when James started feeling up her tattooed thigh.
“Wait, where’d blondie go?” she asked, looking around.
“What blond? I don’t see any blond,” he whispered.
“Taylor,” she clarified.
“Taylor who?” Disgusting.
“See you tomorrow.” I said goodbye to William, who’d just put his phone back in his pocket.
I reached Amelia, who was already sprawled against Brian’s Range Rover.
“Don’t even think about it!” Brian shouted before grabbing the keys from her hands.
“What’d I do?” she yelled.
“You can’t even talk normally. You’re drunk and about to get behind the wheel?”
“What are you saying? I was, I wanted to, I was, um, June say something to him!” I heard her moan as she yanked my arm.
“Lie down back there. You’re trashed, sweetheart.”
I helped her stretch out on the back seat, where she took up all the space, forcing me to sit in front.
“Blaze! Where are youuuuuu?” she whined, making me smile. The only one not laughing was Brian.
“Come on, let’s go please! I have to pee!” exclaimed Poppy, rushing to the car. She took Amelia’s legs and moved them to make space.
“Blaze, where are you?” Amelia kept moaning as she collapsed against the car door like a wounded animal.
“Do you want to get a move on, Brian?” Poppy urged.
“Can’t you use the bathroom inside?”
“Eww.”
“Should we leave Blaze here?” I asked.
I looked for him among the crowd outside, but there was no trace of him.
All of a sudden, Amelia snickered and shot me a mischievous smile.
“Maybe he’ll find a six-three blond who will take him home tonight.”
“What’d you say?” Brian said, astounded, staring at her in the rearview mirror.
“Do you want me to pee on the seat? Because I’m about to.” Poppy was really suffering now.
“I was thinking, but Jackson . . .”
“Shh! Amelia, just sleep till we get home, please,” I whispered, leaning toward the back seat to get the hair out of her eyes.
“He’s not answering my texts. He must’ve stayed to talk with someone. He’ll call me if he needs me,” Brian said, putting the phone in his pocket to Poppy’s delight.
He finally started the car. I rolled down the window and waved goodbye to William. I avoided darting my eyes at the dark figure towering next to him.
>> <<
“I’m not going to ask you why you came back at this hour.”
“Mom, it’s one. I’m an hour late, and I warned you that I would be.” I’d barely set foot in the house, and she’d already hit the ground running.
“The vice principal called me!”
“When?” I grumbled, slamming the front door.
“This afternoon, before I let the house.”
“Where were you off to?”
“Jordan’s.” She had no embarrassment.
“Ah, well, congratulations!”
She grimaced, annoyed, and put her hands on her hips, as if that could reinforce the menacing glare she was giving me.
“Listen, young lady. Don’t talk back to me like that, you hear me? The vice principal told me you gave a guy a black eye!”
“What? It was a mistake, it was because—”
“Today you talked back to the English teacher and asked if he was blind. Was that by mistake?”
A chuckle slipped out of my lips.
“Come on, Mom.”
But she wasn’t in the mood to joke around. “No excuses! And you were about to assault your classmate today.”
“That’s not true!”
Mr. Beckett? Cross him off my list of crushes. He was a liar.
“And why are you coming home again with the smell of weed and alcohol all over you? What kind of people are you hanging around?”
I took off my Vans and threw them at the shoe rack. I always did that when I was angry.
“What about you, Mom? You’re the one who’s drooling over a guy like Jordan.”
She composed herself and shot me a condescending look. “And why should that matter to you, June?”
“You’re not even gonna deny it? Are we at that point? I think it’s ridiculous,” I spat.
Her face hardened. A few fine lines under her eyes accentuated her profile.
“You saw James tonight, yes or no?”
I stared at her with my mouth open.
“Well? I’m waiting!”
“I’m not dating him. But what’s wrong, Mom?”
“I asked you if you saw him! Not if you were dating him!” Exasperated by the argument, she sat on the couch and propped her forehead up with her hand.
“I’m dating his friend,” I admitted feebly.
Mom had an unclear expression on her face. “I wanna meet him, then.”
“No.”
“If your bad behavior has something to do with the people you’re hanging around, your outings are over,” she threatened.
“Meaning? I can’t go out anymore?”
I watched her stand up, come closer, and take aim at me. “You’re going to Jordan’s house tomorrow at five.”
I didn’t know if she was serious or joking. But she seemed to be anything but joking.
“You’re awful. Aw-ful,” I articulated.
“What’d you say?”
“Um, I said you care about me an awful lot,” I backtracked, remembering her threats.
“You’re helping Jasper with his homework. End of story.”
Her tone made me jump out of nervousness.
“Oh no. I’m not setting foot in there again.” I dug my heels in. “You don’t want me to see James, and then you’re sending me to his house?”
“As a matter of fact, he won’t be there. He’s staying at a friend’s house whose parents are traveling. Jordan asked me for a favor, I’d ask for you to listen.”
“I’m not going!” I declared.
“We’ll see.”
“Listen carefully. Ready, Mom? I’ll spell it out for you. I’m not go-ing!”
She was used to my childish tantrums and didn’t take me seriously.
“Something tells me you’ll go, otherwise the rules will change. Like I’ll take away your phone as soon as you get home. And you won’t go out anymore.” I glared at April, the blackmailer extraordinaire.
She pretended to be a painter and dreamer when the truth was that she was a heartless bitch.
“I’m going to bed!” I hollered, walking up the stairs in a rage. I brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas, and opened the window to let the fall breeze in.
Beckett was being unfair, and he was originally only mad at James. Who knew why he’d changed his mind. Not to mention that the vice principal had given me an assignment to do with that absolute moron.
The mere thought of it made my throat close up until I almost couldn’t breathe.
Falling asleep proved to be difficult. I tossed and turned until I seemed to have found a solution to all my problems. I’d mentioned it casually to Will, but it was really the only feasible option. I’d do the assignment alone and tell the vice principal I’d did it with James.
It was double the work, but at least I wouldn’t be around that hateful creature.