Chapter 2 #2
I studied him in silence. He held his ground, never breaking eye contact. I suppose, since he’d known me as a child, he believed he knew everything about me now.
That was his first mistake.
I was far from the same little girl I’d been before a robbery gone wrong killed my stepmother. Before he and my stepbrother abandoned me alone with Ben.
“You should keep your suspicions to yourself,” I smirked, running a finger down his arm. “Conflict of interest.”
He took a step back. “It doesn’t work that way. And there is no conflict of interest. I’m Adrian’s friend… not yours.”
I hid my hurt deep inside, where he could never see.
“Ouch,” I grinned. “That was mean, Lucas.”
“I’m Mr. Rowen to you.” He growled. “Don’t forget it.”
“Yes, sir,” I smirked and pouted, batting my eyelashes.
The heat flared back to life in his eyes before he took another step back. “Get to class, brat.”
There it was.
The dismissal.
To him, I was just a girl, but he was a fool and should’ve known better.
I walked away, swaying my hips, but when I glanced back, he wasn’t looking at me. The slight flush on the back of his neck revealed he had been. Mr. By-the-Book would never flirt with a student, yet the attraction was obvious whether he admitted it or not.
And that would be his downfall.
Inside, my brain was already sifting through scenarios.
Exposure.
Containment.
Leverage.
And in the back of my mind, a memory surfaced. One option I was reluctant to use, but might have to if I grew desperate.
Not quite yet.
But possibly soon.
Second period passed without incident.
Math, I loved it. Numbers behaved the way people never did. I finished the work early, ignored the boy two rows up who kept glancing back with a worshipful expression on his face, and pretended not to notice the girl behind him frowning.
I didn’t have time for this bullshit.
By lunchtime, I’d almost formulated a plan.
I entered the cafeteria; heat pressed in through the glass, trays clattered, and voices bounced off the cinderblock so loud I winced. I couldn’t wait to graduate and get away from these people and this town.
Mostly my father.
I wanted to go to college and earn my business degree. I knew I had the cutthroat personality needed to succeed. I’d earn enough money so that my father and all of his shit would become a distant memory.
The room sorted itself out into groups—athletes by the windows, band kids along the back wall, and freshmen orbiting wherever they thought it was safest.
My table sat in the center.
No one dared sit there without my permission, because my wrath wasn’t to be taken lightly. I didn’t suffer fools, and everyone knew it.
Madison was already there, her tray untouched, scanning the room like a lookout. Brooke slid in beside her, whispering something that made Madison grin. Lila stood by the table, waiting for me.
Always the people-pleaser.
“Did you hear?” Madison grinned, relishing my attention. “Coach may permanently kick Ethan off the team. Not just bench him.”
Brooke leaned forward eagerly. “What are you going to do?”
I smiled faintly. “You know nothing at Ashford is permanent, unless I will it so.”
Brooke laughed, “Ain’t that the truth?”
Across the room, Ethan stared at me. I watched him weigh his options. Then I noticed when he came to a decision.
He crossed the cafeteria as if it cost him… and it most definitely would.
“Hey, Taryn,” he stopped just short of my table, knowing better than to pull out a chair.
Smart boy.
Madison stopped eating, and Brooke paused mid-scroll. Both were eager for the confrontation.
Lila blushed. We all knew she had a crush on him for a long time, but I hadn’t let her pursue it. She didn’t understand, but I was just trying to protect her; he was a total asshole. I’d seen what he’d done to other girls, but I kept that information to myself, feeling it might come in handy later.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “I heard you got a guy reinstated to the team a couple of years ago.”
I nodded, “It’s true.”
I knew that was why he walked over. Perfect.
He swallowed. “Is there something you could—”
“Sit,” I pointed at a chair.
He hesitated.
I raised an eyebrow.
He sat.
That drew attention. A ripple spread through the room—interest turning into focus. I didn’t let just anyone sit at my table.
“You mouthed off during drills.” I took a sip of the drink Madison placed in front of me, along with a tray. “Coach doesn’t put up with shit like that.”
“He was wrong,” Ethan snapped. Then he caught himself and lowered his voice. “I mean—he overreacted.”
“But you did it in front of the team. That was stupid.” I eyed him with disdain.
I’d never be that big of a dumbass. That’s why I ruled this school, and he didn’t.
Ethan exhaled, frustrated. “So, you won’t help me?”
“I didn’t say that,” I smiled, showing all my teeth. “Give me a reason.”
Lila watched him like a cat watches a bird.
“I’ll do whatever,” Ethan said quickly. “But I need to be back on the team.”
He demonstrated his lack of intelligence with such an open-ended promise. The fool didn’t realize I would’ve done it for free. I wanted that weekend away from Ben so badly that I was willing to do almost anything.
I considered him. “You’ll apologize. Publicly. At practice.”
His jaw tightened. “That’ll make me look weak.”
He was weak.
“No,” I smiled. “It’ll give Coach a way out.”
Silence stretched, but I knew he’d do it. Friday night football in Ashford, Texas, wasn’t just a game. It was life, at least, to sheep like him.
“And,” I continued, “you’ll stop running your mouth about tests you didn’t study for.”
Ethan blinked, trying to look innocent. “What?”
“Bio,” I said lightly. “You’ve been a naughty boy, haven’t you?”
Color crept up his neck. “I didn’t—”
“You did,” I winked. “But you’ll do what I tell you to fix it… won’t you?”
He stared at me in fear. Now the imbecile was getting it.
“Deal?” I picked up a fry from my plate and took a bite.
Ethan nodded reluctantly. “Deal.”
I smiled, and he flinched. “You’ll be back in the game Friday.”
He stood, relief and fear tangling across his face. “Thanks.”
I didn’t respond.
He walked away, shoulders squared, pretending he hadn’t just bent the knee in front of half the cafeteria. But it was too late for that; everyone had seen it.
Madison looked at me with adoration. “God, that was hot. It almost made me want to switch teams.”
Brooke laughed. Lila didn’t.
“What are you going to make him do?” Brooke whispered eagerly.
“That’s not your concern.” I grabbed my burger and took a bite.
Lila stared at me for a moment, then put her head down and started eating.
I saw Mr. Rowen pass the cafeteria doors as I stood to leave.
He didn’t notice me.
I was almost disappointed. He was going to make this too easy.
Fourth period blurred. English—a discussion about intent versus outcome. I didn’t take part. I had a lot on my mind.
When the bell rang, my phone buzzed.
Academic Integrity Committee
Meeting scheduled. Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.
I locked the screen without replying.
Ashford High carried on—and I smiled.
I held little power in my home life… but here it was absolute.
I was already finalizing my plan, reviewing contingencies, and considering costs before I stepped into the hall.
I noticed Beck Maddox heading out the door. Standing well over six feet, he looked nothing like you’d expect an eighteen-year-old boy to look. If he didn’t have that “not to be fucked with” look, the girls would be all over him.
If my life wasn’t the way it was, I’d be all over him.
Beck was only in one of my classes this year. He had one friend he hung out with, Stain. Both of them were linked to a local biker gang, the Steele Reapers. Occasionally, I’d catch him watching me with amusement as I handled a student who had gotten out of hand.
Unlike the others in this school, he met my stare head-on, and I respected him for that.
In the back of my mind, a dark road waited—gravel, headlights, a line crossed that couldn’t be uncrossed.
I shivered. For one small second, I wished there was another option, but I cleared my head of those thoughts. I’d do what I had to, and that was that. There weren’t many lines I wouldn’t cross to stay off Ben’s radar.
I had a thought that made me smile; ruining Lucas Rowen wasn’t required for my plan to work, but I was going to do it anyway.
I was a bitch like that.