Chapter 10 #2
Well, I guess his family basically pays for my education. Except they don’t want to if I don’t pay attention in class. They have so much money they should just pay for it, anyway. They should pay for everyone’s education. It would be a level playing field. Let everyone go to this school.
Although, maybe they could kick out the mean girls. That would be nice.
Milo gestures to Ash. “We were just working on something for physics. But I have a few minutes to look at whatever you need.”
“Actually, Milo,” Ash says, “I’ll be going soon. My girlfriend texted, and she’s heading over soon.”
I've had nothing to do with Ash’s girlfriend. I assume, to be this guy’s girlfriend, she’d have to be ultra posh. Translation: stuck up. Isn’t that the only kind of girl he’d be with?
“In that case,” Milo says to me, “do you mind hanging around for a bit while Ash and I finish this stuff?”
“Oh yeah,” I say, swatting a hand. “My stuff isn’t that important. I was just freaked out about another teacher getting on my case. But I’m less worried now.”
Milo smiles. “You’ll be fine.”
There’s a sparkle in his eyes, and his smile makes my tummy flutter. I swear I’ve heard women say that line in a dozen rom-coms. But why the heck is Milo giving me these feels?
“Are you having issues with your teachers?” Ash asks me. “Which ones?”
I gulp. I’ve heard stories of him and his sister getting teachers fired over the silliest of excuses.
“Oh, it’s not like that. They’re not picking on me. Well, they are, but it’s because I’m losing my scholarship.”
Ash’s brow lifts. “Oh, you’re a scholarship kid?”
He didn’t know that?
Yeah, why would he? He wouldn’t keep tabs on who has scholarships. He’s barely in classes, so I don’t think he cares about what goes on in this school.
Speaking of which…
“So you’re into this physics stuff?” I ask Ash. “I didn’t peg you as studious.”
The smile on Ash lips slides to the left in that effortlessly charismatic way. “I like things that make me think hard,” he admits. “Otherwise, I get bored.”
“Ah-huh,” I say, not getting it at all.
“Hi, I’m here,” a sweet voice calls.
I turn to the door as footsteps clip-clip into the classroom.
She takes my breath away. Her blonde ponytail swishes behind her head in time with the bounce in her step. I know she’s Ash’s girlfriend, because everyone at school is aware of that. Besides her relationship, I know zip about her.
As her eyes dart from me to Milo, and then land on Ash, she clasps her hands in front, her shoulders bunch high, and a pinkish hue graces her cheeks. It’s as if she’s nervous. Get real. She’s probably attempting to appear humble in front of us mere mortals.
“Oh, am I interrupting?” she asks, pulling a blonde curl behind her ear.
“No, you’re good,” Ash says, stepping forward and curving an arm around her back.
He kisses her cheek and there may as well be love hearts in her eyes. There’s your rom-com moment.
“Can you just give me a minute to finish up with Milo?” he asks her.
She nods as his arm falls off her. “Yeah, sure.”
Ash motions at me. “Jamie’s also hanging out until we’re done.”
She sucks in a breath and strains to smile at me. As Ash walks back over to the desk with Milo, she awkwardly waves.
“Hi,” she mumbles.
Geez, girl, don’t do me any favors by talking to me.
“Sorry, I know I’ve been at this school for a while now, but I don’t recognize you from any classes.”
I clear my throat and mutter, “Ahh, no, we…” Cue awkwardly dry cough. “I don’t think… uh… umm, never mind.”
“I’m Christie,” she says. “Christie Klein.”
I don’t even want to talk to her, but I’m tongue-tied, regardless. I couldn’t care less about what another rich kid thinks about me. But still, I stammer. “Jay… Jamie.”
Christie smiles. “Do you go by Jay?”
Someone just hit me over the head, so I have an excuse to end this conversation. My face sizzles with embarrassment as I shake my head.
“Oh, okay,” she says, maintaining the same happy smile. “Just Jamie then.”
My eyes flick toward the boys. Milo is staring at me with a mixture of concern and confusion.
I swallow hard, hoping to get some moisture into my dry mouth. “It’s Jamie West. If you’re interested.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Sorry, it’s a big school. I always find it hard to remember the name of the new kids.” I side-eye Ash. “Despite whom they’re dating.”
Christie giggles. “Don’t worry. I’m no one special.”
I don’t want to talk to this girl. Look at this fairytale she has with a billionaire’s son. I really don’t need to feel jealous of yet another couple.
Christie looks at me, turns to Milo, and then back at me. “So, Milo’s your boyfriend?”
A laugh sputters out of me before I can control my reaction. I hold my belly, trying to mute the sound, but I’ve already attracted glances from the boys.
I clear my throat. “No. No way. He’s my tutor.”
“Oh, okay,” Christie replies. “It just looked like we’d make a cute double date.”
I grimace. “Eww. Really?”
Christie giggles. “Yeah, but I see you’re not a fan of dating.”
Geez. I gotta stop it with these disgusted faces and noises. Everyone assumes I don’t want a boyfriend. I’m literally never gonna get one at this point.
“Are you okay?” Christie asks, examining my frown.
I shrug, clutching my elbows. “Yeah. I just came by for Milo’s help with something. But it can wait until we have our actual tutoring session at Morton’s Cafe.”
“Oh, I’ve been meaning to try that place,” Christie says.
“Really?” I ask with surprise.
“Sure,” she replies. “It looks super cute. I heard they have awesome milkshakes.”
I rub the back of my neck as I grin. “Yeah, we do.”
Christie’s eyes widen. “We? Do you work there?”
“Yeah, it’s my aunt’s cafe. Well, technically, I’m a part-owner, but I don’t like thinking about that level of responsibility. Aunt Maddy agreed to keep me out of it until I’m eighteen.”
“Wait. You’re already a business owner at sixteen? That’s impressive.”
I shrug, smiling at the carpet. “I just inherited it.”
Christie winces. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
Her eyes widen. “Doesn’t that mean someone died? And you said you co-own it with your aunt? Did your parents...?”
She looks severely freaked. She must have good parents.
I feel the boys’ eyes on me, and I choose to joke, “Well, my dad might be alive.”
Christie’s expression morphs from freaked to horrified.
“I just…” My tongue is seizing up. “I don’t know… I don’t know my dad.”
Her expression cranks back a few notches, although sadness coats her eyes.
“My mom is gone, but it was my gram’s cafe.” Sweat rolls down my brow. “She wasn’t my real grandma, but that’s a long story. Boy, I feel dizzy.”
Christie reaches out and latches onto my arm. “Do you need to sit down?”
At that, the boys leave the desk and move over to us.
“I’m okay,” I blurt. “Don’t crowd me.”
Everyone takes a step back.
A nervous laugh puffs out of me. “I’ve just never told another girl so much stuff about me.”
Christie smiles and I note the confusion crinkling under her eyes. “Really?”
I shrug. “All my friends are boys.”
“In that case, could we join you at the cafe after school?” Christie asks. “Would you mind?”
I smile at her and feel my nervousness washing away. “Not at all. You guys should come.”
“Meet us at the limo and we’ll go together,” Ash says.
My chest constricts and I cough roughly. “Your limo?”
“Yeah,” Ash says. “We may as well go together.”
I look at Milo. He chews his lip and then shrugs.
“Jamie West and limo should never be in the same sentence,” I say.
“I know how you feel,” Christie says. “Going to school in a limo instead of a bus attracts a huge spotlight.”
“Aren’t you used to it?” I ask her.
She purses her lips and gives a slight shake of the head.
“We gotta go with them,” Milo says. “Imagine how jealous Kai would be.”
Something gnaws at my stomach. Kai told me he wouldn’t drive Milo and me to the cafe because Tabitha wants a skateboard lesson. I’d pay to watch her fall on her butt. However, the more important takeaway is that Kai is ditching me for her again. Not cool.
I turn to Ash and smile. “Kai still brags about being online playing Shadow Quest at the same time as you.”
“Oh, really?” Ash says, obviously having no recollection of it.
I nod, grinning. “He tried to recreate it so many times that soon, me and the guys started saying he made the whole thing up.”
Ash shrugs. “I barely play that game.”
The thought of texting Kai with a photo from inside the limo is too enticing to give up. “Okay, I’m in.”