Chapter 6 #2
"We should get back to class." I went to step around him and he blocked me with his body. "Move, Blake. Your bullshit has already caused me to get a D on a paper. I'm not about to fail the next psychology exam."
"You got a D on the English essay?" He ran a hand down his face. "Do you need help fixing it? Maybe after school-"
"Even if I did need help, you would be the last person I asked." I squeezed past him and went back into class.
Ivy still wasn't talking to me, and I wanted to punch something. I wasn't one to get angry, but lately, all I wanted was violence. Case in point, in yearbook, when Ashley made her way over to my desk.
"I'm going to need that forty dollars this week. We have another stay-late next week." She wasn't quiet in the least, and I wondered how she made it through life without being bitch-slapped. "Or do you plan on continuing to eat peanut butter and jelly?"
"Here." Jax pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and handed her two twenties.
Ashley scoffed and looked back and forth between us. I didn't say a word, even though inside I was screaming. Instead, I opened up the drawing program and started scribbling out my frustration.
"So, Jax. I know it's not customary for the girl to do the asking, but do you have a date for homecoming next week?" She propped herself against the computer desk and pushed her chest forward. She looked ridiculous.
"No." He didn't look at her and didn't sound interested. He had blatantly flirted with her in front of me on several occasions, so this was new.
Not that I cared. He wasn't mine.
"Do you want to go together?" The hopefulness in her voice was sickening and I looked over at Tory, who made a puking motion with her finger and open mouth. "I could even get a few of my friends and Blake and Morgan can-"
"I don't dance."
"Yeah, but-"
"Give it a rest, Ashley." He looked her up and down. "You're not my type."
Ashley stayed there with her mouth agape. I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
She must have seen because the next thing I knew, she was leaning over the monitor and in my face. "Listen here, you murderer-"
Tory stood. "Back off, Trashley."
"Ladies, is there a problem back there?" Mr. Garcia asked. "I swear it gets worse every year."
Ashley huffed and returned to her seat, where she was working on who knew what. She tended to procrastinate and then freak out when deadlines rolled around. I'd probably be the one who had to finish her work.
"Thanks, Tor." I squeezed the bridge of my nose. "The name was a nice touch."
"I'm so ready for college where we don't have to deal with this bullshit anymore. Are you applying for early decision anywhere?"
"Money's a little tight right now, so probably not." I kept my voice low, hoping Jax wouldn't hear me. "I don't think homecoming is in the cards this year either."
Jax stood and walked to Mr. Garcia and then left the classroom. I tried not to pay attention to him, but it was hard when he sat right in front of me. Even if he sat across the room, it was like my body felt his presence.
"I'd offer to get you a ticket, but I'm in the same boat." Tory shut off her computer since the bell was about to ring. "It's not the tickets that are expensive, it's the dress, shoes, and pictures. I guess I could always wear something I have already, but my boobs have grown since last year."
Jax came back in the room and glanced at me before sitting down. Since my meltdown in psychology, Blake and the rest of them had left me alone. At lunch, they only glanced at me a few times before being distracted by their friends.
"Everyone hates me already anyway. I would have no problem going in something I've already worn, or even a dress I wear for dance events.
" I probably just wouldn't go because even though it made sense to wear the same dress twice, it wasn't worth the social backlash.
Not that everyone was like that, but the ones who were tended to be the loudest and meanest. Plus, I still felt as if there was a target on my back.
"You could get a job. You're eighteen; you have a lot more money-making options. Strippers can make really good money, and you certainly know how to dance. Not to mention, you’re hot."
I laughed and Jax turned around to glare at Tory. She quickly grabbed her bag and left as the bell rang. His eyes met mine, and I looked away to focus on closing out of everything on my computer.
"Do you want to go to homecoming?" He rolled his chair closer to the desk and leaned his forearms on it. "You can come with us."
"And why would I want to do that?" I stood and pushed my chair in. "If I want to go, maybe I'll just take up a new form of dancing. I'll probably make a ton of money since I'm part-"
"Watch what you say." Jax jumped out of his seat as if he was going to be able to stop me if I decided to continue my sentence. "All it takes is one wrong person to hear you and we'll end up in a testing facility."
I glanced at the clock. "From what I saw, that's where I was just the other day. Apparently, all it takes is for my mom to break up with your dad to end up strapped to a chair with water being poured on my face."
Walking past his row, he grabbed my arm. "What was that?"
"Your mom and my dad. They were together most of high school." He looked taken aback. "Oh, your dad didn't tell you that? Figures."
He let go of my arm and let me walk out without another word.
Aiden was waiting for me at my locker. "What's wrong?"
Was I that transparent now? I shook my head and opened my locker. Several twenty-dollar bills and a hundred fell to the ground. "What the hell?"
Aiden laughed. "They’re trying to buy you back."
"No amount of money can buy my forgiveness." I made sure to pick up all the money, which totaled just over three hundred dollars. It was obvious Jax had done it, given his exit from the classroom after the conversation he overheard.
I headed toward the aquatic center as Aiden followed. "What are we doing, Ri?"
"Giving the money back." As much as I needed it, I wasn't about to let them wiggle their way into my good graces. I knew exactly what they were doing, and I was too smart for that.
As we rounded the side of the building, I pulled the bag Blake had given me out and peeked inside. How did he know I liked Skittles? Besides the candy, there were colorful sticky notes and pens. School supplies and candy were the way into an honor student's heart. He was playing dirty.
"Riley, please tell me we aren't about to do what I think.
" He started laughing as we got to the locker room doors.
"It's not like the girls’ locker room where everyone covers up.
These are elite athletes that are way too comfortable with each other and can't be bothered to take the time to be shy. "
"How would you know what we do in the girls’ locker room?" I knew he was right though. Girls didn't just wander around naked. I had a hard time believing the guys did.
I pulled open the door and walked in. There was a short hallway before the locker room, probably in case someone opened the door to try to see something.
"Riley. Oh my God. The football team practices during this time too, and, girl, your eyes are about to burn." Aiden was in hysterics as I rounded the corner and came to a screeching halt.
Dick. So much dick everywhere.
The bell hadn't rung all that long ago, so most of the swim team and football team were in the middle of changing. Maybe it had been a mistake to barge in, but it was too late now. I couldn't unsee all the ass cheeks and dicks.
I walked quickly down the rows of lockers, keeping my eyes up and straight ahead until I spotted them. Morgan was dressed in his jammers already, but Blake had his back to me with his ass nicely displayed. Jax was in the process of removing his clothes.
I cleared my throat, and when their eyes met mine, I swear my body heated up twenty degrees. My face flamed, and I walked past the others, who were in various states of changing.
"Riley, what are you-" Jax's eyes were wide in disbelief.
"I don't want your blood money." I threw the gift bag and money at them. "Do me a favor and shove it."
I turned on my heel and quickly exited before one of the coaches caught me. My breath came in short pants as I followed Aiden back outside.
"That was epic! I wish I would have gotten it on video, but, well..." Aiden put his arm around me. "You're crazy, girl."
Crazy didn't even begin to describe my feelings.