Chapter 61 Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Nico
“I can’t back down from them or let you run them off all the time,” Harper says as Luke takes her hand and drags her into the school. Her brown eyes lock with mine, pleading for help.
I don’t know if she needs it, but I’m not going anywhere. Caden stops to talk to a guy. He seems familiar, probably on the football team. I’m still getting to know the other players. Luke turns down a hallway and pulls Harper into a darkened classroom.
The guy follows us. When we enter the room, he stands outside the closed door.
“Sit down.” Luke points to a desk. A muscle ticks in his jaw.
“Luke, you don’t—”
“For fuck’s sake, Harper, do as you’re told.” He doesn’t raise his voice, but it’s clear he’s on the edge.
Her eyes narrow, and her lips press into a stubborn line, but she drops into the seat.
“What the fuck was that about?” Luke turns to Eli.
“Exactly what they asked for. Nothing more.” Eli glances at Harper. “Harper can make Penny and the others go with her. It will even the odds.”
“That was my plan,” Harper mutters, dropping her backpack on the floor.
Luke leans down with his hand on the desk and the other on the back of her chair, trapping Harper in. “What if those girls won’t do it?”
She gives him a mulish expression I’ve seen plenty of times before.
“They will.” Eli glances toward the doorway. “They want to feel what it’s like to be popular. We can give them that. But if they look for more, I’ll punish you, kitten.”
She tears her gaze away from Luke to gape at Eli. “Why should I get punished? It’s your idea, too.”
“But I’m not the one who told the cheerleaders they could change the terms of our arrangement.” Eli leans against the wall. “That’s on you, kitten.”
“If you can’t get the girls to go with you, you don’t go.” Luke grabs the back of her neck.
“Fine,” she spits out.
They look five seconds from either fighting or fucking.
“Great.” I clap my hands, trying to dispel the tension. “My mom is making lasagna tonight and wants everyone to come over for dinner.”
Luke straightens and looks at me like I’ve flipped my lid. He doesn’t understand the power mothers have. But the others will.
“Dad’s working late. When I asked if I could eat out, she suggested we all come over. It’ll be good.” My gaze goes to Harper. “She can’t wait to see you.”
“Her lasagna always was the best.” She glances up at Luke.
“Fine.” He blows out a breath and holds out his hand to Harper. She takes it, and he helps her stand. We all gather our stuff. Just as we get to the door, I drop my final bomb.
“By the way, I told Mom Harper’s my girlfriend.”
Harper
Luke presses me against the locker outside of first period. His eyes search mine. “I don’t like this plan.”
I pat my hand on his chest. “It’ll be fine. The cheerleading advisor will be there, and probably the other girls’ coaches. It will be quick and painless.”
I hope. I don’t honestly know what to expect or why the Cheermonsters changed the plans. They hoped the guys would want to fuck them when they dropped off the jersey last night, but left disappointed.
Luke traces his finger over my lower lip, making sparks trickle through me. “Nothing is ever quick and painless with Sidney.”
Is he talking about fucking her? I seriously don’t want to know about their previous sex lives. My eyes narrow on his.
His pale blue eyes search mine like he knows what I’m thinking. He smirks and leans in like he’s about to kiss me.
“Mr. Foster, is this going to become a habit?” Mr. Wick stands behind Luke, in front of the classroom door he’s now holding open. “I’m sure Miss Davidson can find her seat without your help.”
Luke breathes out. “Of course, Mr. Wick.”
He takes my hand, and we walk into the classroom. I have a feeling this discussion isn’t over. But by the time Luke can get me alone again, hopefully he’ll have forgotten, or I’ll have done something else to rile him up.
The first two classes breeze by. When I step into art, my stomach plummets. Fuck, I totally forgot about the whole project thing. Everyone shuffled seats for it. Tanner sits at my table now.
I walk back to Kenz and sit at her table with Natalie. “This is no longer my favorite class.”
Kenz sighs. “I’d trade if we could. Not that you aren’t great, Natalie.”
Natalie waves her hand. “I understand. Tanner’s a dick.”
“Did you get my text from earlier?” I ask Natalie. I sent it to the group last period while Eli supervised every word.
“Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem.”
I release my breath. “Good.”
“What’s happening?” Kenz glances between us.
“The Cheermonsters changed the handoff arrangement. They want me to meet them in the locker room after school.”
“That doesn’t sound like a trap at all.” Kenz rolls her eyes. “I’m coming too.”
I smile and relax even more. “Good. And thank you, Natalie.”
“Those girls are bitches, but they rarely do their own dirty work.” Natalie taps her pencil on her notepad. “We’ll need to be careful.”
The bell rings. I pout at Kenz and go back to my desk. And Tanner.
Ms. Sullivan comes in and turns out the lights, clicking on the interactive whiteboard.
“Okay, today we’ll be discussing the various methods and styles we can choose for the projects.
Pay attention and note your favorite ones.
You’ll have a paper due on Monday discussing the art forms you chose for your projects and what drew you to them. ”
Normally I’d be happy to work on this, but I have to do this with Tanner. The guys don’t know about our project, but it’s only day two. I glance over at Nico, and he winks.
My phone buzzes.
Nico:
Wait for me after class
Me:
K
At least with the slideshow, I don’t actually have to talk to Tanner. I don’t even look at him as I take notes. Ms. Sullivan talks until the bell rings.
“Tomorrow, you’ll discuss with your partner and start on your paper.”
I don’t turn to look at Tanner when I leave. He didn’t say a word thankfully. Maybe this will actually go smoothly. Angela stands with her back to me as I approach Nico.
“Here’s my number so you can call me to discuss the project.” She holds out a piece of paper.
Nico takes it and sticks it in his folder. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. In class.”
“You can use that whenever you want.” She winks before turning and seeing me beside her.
“Hi.” I wave, because what else are you supposed to do to a girl who’s hitting on your man.
She looks me up and down before sneering and walking away.
“I don’t think she likes me.” I step closer to Nico.
“Probably not.” He takes my hand. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as we walk out of the classroom and not towards the cafeteria. “Are we having lunch off campus? Because that would be awesome. I didn’t really pack my lunch today.”
“I only have you for an hour, so we’re going to multitask.” Nico pushes out the doors and leads me to his car.
I look back for the others. “Just us?”
Grinning, he opens his car door for me. “Just us.”
A little thrill races through me as I settle into the seat. I don’t know how he did it, but I’m glad I don’t have to face Luke. Nico rounds the car and gets in. Five minutes later, he pulls through a McDonald’s drive-through and orders us meals.
I immediately grab the bag and eat a french fry. “See, this is why you’re one of my favorites.”
“I should be your only favorite, sunshine.” Turning up the music, he grins and drives into the hills surrounding the city. I hold out a fry to him, and he snatches it with his teeth. It feels decadent and disobedient to be out here with him.
Especially with how angry Luke was about the Cheermonsters. He doesn’t understand the more he antagonizes them, the more they’ll come after me. I don’t want him to give in to them, because they want to fuck my men. But we can at least try to find common ground. Maybe.
Nico pulls into a secluded spot and turns off the car, setting the emergency brake and turning the music down low.
My phone buzzes with multiple missed texts. I glance over them. Panic wells inside me with each text.
“Oh, shit, did you tell them you were taking me to lunch?”
The last text was from Luke.
Death:
We know you left campus. Don’t make us hunt you down
Anxiety winds its way through my body, making my heart race and my hands tremble. They haven’t punished me in a while, and I really don’t want to be punished again. Who knows what they’ll do to me now.
“Do I need to tell them everything I do?” Nico takes a bite of his burger like he has nothing better to do.
“Fuck, Nico. You won’t be the one who gets in trouble.”
Me:
Nico took me to get McDonald’s
I hit send, but the panic rises within me. What kind of punishment will they do, especially if they don’t want me to like it? There’s nothing left for them to take. Well, one thing. I squirm in my seat thinking about last night.
“Eat, sunshine.” Nico wipes his hands and picks up his buzzing phone.
Watching him, I unwrap my burger and take a bite while he answers his phone.
“Yes, she’s with me.” Nico leans back in his seat. “I didn’t know I needed to check her out like a library book.”
He winks, and I remember to take another bite. What if they come out to find us? Will they punish Nico too?
“The place up in the hills we used to ride our bikes to.”
Why would he tell them? I can hear the rumble of Luke’s voice through the phone.
“She’s wearing my jersey. Of course I plan to fuck her.” Nico shakes his head as he stares out the windshield.
I swallow my bite hard and grab my drink to wash it down. Okay, wasn’t expecting that. I mean, I was kind of hoping but…
“No butt stuff except fingers. Got it.”
Oh my god! Seriously? They should be glad I’m not the kind of girl who needs to be wooed, or they’d all be shit out of luck. Have they ever had to work for a girl before? If they did woo me, I might have been the one attacking them.
“Be back shortly.” He ends the call and sets his phone on the dashboard. “You won’t get in trouble, sunshine. I have as much right to you as they do.”