Chapter 4
Four
The only good thing about my last class of the day is that Kai is by my side.
We sit at the back of our English classroom, scribbling in our notebooks, tuning out Ms. Jenkins’s lecture.
Who knew school could make the English language so complicated?
We’re reading a Shakespeare play, but it may as well be in French.
Whenever Ms. Jenkins has someone read a passage aloud, I have zero comprehension of what they’re saying.
Can’t they modernize the play? Why must we read it like they did hundreds of years ago? It makes no sense to me.
Another saving grace is there’s no ragey Camila in this class.
Although, there is Tabitha Jones. I barely held any of Kai’s attention at lunch.
He kept making eyes at Tabitha who sat a few tables away.
I managed to cut off enough of his sentences, so he didn’t suggest we go over there.
He was verging on lovesick puppy territory.
It’s only a matter of lunch periods before they’re sitting together.
I’ll die if I have to spend lunch with the Miss Perfects.
Or, I’ll be a stuttering mess, more like it. Ugh. I don’t even wanna think about it.
Tabitha keeps an eye on the board; however, she seems totally disinterested. Her body has shifted in our direction, and every other minute she glances at Kai.
I turn to Kai, and he continues to doodle in his notebook. Ha. I knew it. He’s not really that keen on her. Hopefully, he’ll dump her after class.
My head turns back in Tabitha’s direction, and we accidentally lock eyes.
I shift my head, dodging any impending insults.
My gaze pans across the row and lands on Kai’s brother, Milo.
I don’t have a lot of classes with him, but whenever I do, he acts the same way.
Head down writing, or eyes up and laser-focused on the teacher.
I have no idea how he concentrates so hard during every class.
When the bell rings, I slap my notebook closed and drown out the homework assignment Ms. Jenkins calls over the bell. She’s already given me her extra homework and study guides, just like every other teacher. Boy, I think I’m set. I scoop up all the papers and move away from my desk.
“You wanna go for a drive?” Kai asks as we walk toward the classroom door.
“Yeah, sure. Can we stop by my house so I can get my blades?” I look down at my skirt. “And change. I gotta get out of these stupid clothes.”
Someone taps my shoulder from behind. “Umm, Jamie?”
I turn around and find Milo with an element of fear behind his clear-framed glasses.
Kai turns around and smirks at his brother. “What are you doing?”
“Umm, I just heard you two making plans.” Milo’s eyes dart between us. “But, umm, Jamie, aren’t you going to your aunt’s cafe?”
“What, why?”
He shows me his phone screen. “Aren’t we having a tutoring session?”
I read the text. “Hey Milo. Come to the cafe after school so you can tutor Jamie.”
Ugh, Maddy, I’m going to kill you.
I pull out my phone and find an unread text. “No going out with Kai after school. You need to be at the cafe to study with Milo.”
Does anyone have a lamer aunt than me?
I look back at Milo, who’s waiting for a response. Frustration twists my lips into a scowl. “Why are you texting with my aunt?”
Milo’s head jerks back. “Huh? I’m not. My mom gave her my number when I agreed to tutor you.”
My scowl intensifies. “And why did you agree to this? What could you possibly get out of it?”
Milo’s eyes seem to grow behind his glasses as his stare turns to his brother and then back to me. “I dunno. I thought you’d want to stay at this school.”
Kai smirks, patting my back. “He’s got you there.”
I retch and turn back to the door. “Whatever.”
“Be careful, James,” Kai says teasingly. “Now that Milo has your aunt’s number, he might go straight to her with his snitching.”
Milo huffs behind us. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Yeah, right,” Kai says dryly. “There must be another reason why I never tell you anything.”
We walk out of the classroom and Kai hurries ahead to throw an arm around Tabitha. My whole body shudders. He kisses her cheek and says, “I’ll text you later, okay?”
Tabitha nods, replying, “Sure thing,” and pecks his lips.
Eww. Why is he kissing her? I thought this relationship was supposed to be over by now.
I stomp toward my locker and dump my gear into my backpack. I meet Kai by the foyer, and we walk out onto the front steps where Milo hangs by the side.
“That was quick,” I say to Milo as he moves closer to me and Kai.
Milo fidgets with the strap of his backpack as he catches up to our pace. “My locker’s close to the foyer.”
“Lucky,” I mutter as we make our way to the parking lot.
“I could go for a burger,” Kai says, throwing and catching his car keys. “My coach is being way strict about what I eat and my mom’s on his side. I need Maddy to make me something on the down-low.” He stares down Milo. “Don’t nark on me.”
I turn to Milo in time to see his eyes roll behind his glasses. “As if I care.”
I rub my lips together, burying my urge to laugh at the dryness in Milo’s tone.
On our way to the car, Milo adjusts his backpack and haphazardly dodges loose gravel below. His feet twist, and he almost goes down. Scuttling his way forward, he picks himself back up.
Kai and I burst with laughter.
“Oh man,” Kai wheezes, wiping under his eyes. “You are a wealth of entertainment, Milo.”
“I’ve never known someone to be such a klutz just walking,” I tease.
Milo scuffs behind us, keeping his head down without comment. My gut cramps, feeling bad for him. He wants us to move on. But, heck, it was funny.
We make it to Kai’s car and I ride shotgun. Milo slides into the backseat, and Kai proudly sits behind the wheel.
“Are you excited, James?” Kai asks, grinning. “It’s my first time driving you without parental supervision.”
“Say a prayer,” Milo mutters.
Again, I swallow the need to laugh at Milo’s sarcasm.
“Shut it,” Kai snaps, pulling his seatbelt across his body.
“You have to let me take the car for a spin,” I say, buckling my seatbelt.
Kai laughs, turning on the ignition. “What?”
“Come on,” I say, patting the dashboard. “I’ll never afford my own car and Maddy never has time to supervise me.”
“I’m not letting the girl who failed driver’s ed twice wreck my car.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m not a bad driver. It’s that darn written test that held me back.”
Kai smirks, motioning to the back seat. “You did better than Milo. He gave up after day one.”
“I don’t need to drive to get around,” Milo replies flatly.
Kai pulls out of the parking space. “Don’t think I’ll turn into your chauffeur.”
“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want.”
I look over my shoulder at Milo. “How can you not want to drive? I don’t get you. You never even rode a bike.”
Milo shrugs a response.
Kai laughs as he drives the car through the exit and onto the road toward the center of town. “It’s because he can’t.”
I face the front, sliding down the seat. Whatever. I don’t care about these bickering brothers right now. I’m headed toward an afternoon of studying, after a day of struggling through my classes. The migraine is already building.
After the drive into Main Street and finding a parking spot at the back of the cafe, the three of us walk inside and find Maddy clearing a booth.
“Aunt Maddy, do I really have to study right now?” My protest comes out in a lethargic tone as I sit my backpack on the front counter. “It’s been a really crappy day.”
Maddy carries a stack of dirty plates behind the counter and into the kitchen. She walks back out and scrutinizes my face. “What’s got you in such a crabby mood?”
I shrug. “Coach benched me.”
Maddy almost trips as she nears the counter. “Come again? I don’t think I heard you right.”
“You heard. But as if you didn’t know. You talked to Coach Anders on your way out of the parking lot this morning.”
Aunt Maddy shakes her head, dumbfounded. “I told him about the letter we got from the school and how serious it was, but I never mentioned you not playing soccer. Baby, I’d never do that to you.”
I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Well, it happened.”
“Her coach is crazy,” Kai interjects. “He can’t afford to lose Jamie.”
I click my tongue, looking up at the ceiling. “He thinks I can’t focus on classes and play in games at the same time.”
“Okay,” Maddy says with a solid hand clap, gaining my attention. “This is just more incentive. Studying makes you want to rip your hair out, but I know you love soccer. You gotta earn your place.”
“I already earned it at try-outs and being the best on the team. I shouldn’t have to quit soccer just to focus on schoolwork.”
Aunt Maddy gives me a knowing look. “If you could focus on classes as much as you do soccer, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
I roll my eyes as Kai coughs, “Burn.”
“Kai, you’ve gotta go,” Maddy tells him.
“Excuse me?” Kai asks, placing a hand on his chest. “You’re kicking me out?”
“Yes,” Maddy replies. “You’re a major distraction and Jamie needs her focus.”
Kai scoffs, turning on his heels.
I look at Milo and then back at Kai, mumbling, “She’s got a point.”
Maddy hands me my bag and pushes me toward Milo. She signals for him to move to a vacant booth.
“Remember, Milo,” Aunt Maddy warns, “don’t let her talk you into doing the work for her.”
Milo slides into the booth. “She’s not the first person I’ve tutored. I can handle this.”
I plonk myself down on the opposite side of the booth before Maddy shoves me there.
“Okay, play nice,” Aunt Maddy says, tapping my shoulder and giving me an unconvinced look.
“Whatever,” I mutter, shimming my backpack closer. “We’ll be fine.”
“Okay, Maddy, I’m heading out,” Laura says, tugging at her apron ties.
Maddy gives her a grateful smile. “Okay, see you tomorrow. And thanks again for opening up this morning. Seriously, you and Jake are lifesavers.”