Chapter 4
Blake
Thanks for the drink? Thanks for the fucking drink? God, could I be any more of a loser?
Then I proceed to remind him what kind of drink, as if the man doesn’t already know.
This is why people and I don’t mix. Most people I’m around are judgmental assholes, and the ones I meet who aren’t, I’m socially awkward with.
I like my friends online, where I can think before I speak and not make myself look stupid.
After Cooper leaves, I stay at the library for a little while, sitting and thinking.
My knees are pulled up under my sweater, my hood over my head, as I chew on the cuff.
There’s got to be some sort of catch here. He’s a football player. Yet, nothing about him gave that away. If it wasn’t for the fact that my sister told me he was, and the letterman jacket he had on, I wouldn’t have known.
He was friendly, a little overly smiley, but he was nice. Too nice. I don’t trust it.
It’s got to be an act, right?
He’s not at all what I expected. The biggest shock was that he actually wanted to learn and do the work. He didn’t once ask me to do the equation when he didn’t understand; instead, he asked a lot of questions to make sure he was doing the work correctly.
He didn’t want me to do the work for him. He wanted to do it for himself.
I don’t understand. I want to tell myself that not all jocks are assholes, but I’m not sure I would believe myself.
Every other one I’ve ever encountered has proven me otherwise.
Eventually, I pack up and leave, no longer having a purpose to be at the library. I did my work before he arrived, coming in an hour early to get it done.
The sun is starting to set as I make the walk home. It’s on the chilly side tonight. I wrap my arms around myself to keep warm.
Headphones in, I keep my head down on the way.
“Blakeyyyyyyyy.” I hear someone call my name as the song is changing over.
Brows furrowed, I pull my headphones off and look over.
Oh god. It’s her again.
“Blakey Poo!” Val says cheerfully. “I’ve found you again.”
Why does that sound like something a crazy woman from a horror movie would say?
“Hi,” I grunt.
“Get in, get in.” She waves me over. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“No, that's okay. I’m good.”
“Blake,” she says my name like a mother scolding their child. “Get in before I make you.”
“W-what?” I splutter.
“It’s late, dark, and there could be serial killers out here,” she whispers the last part, looking over her shoulder.
“Yeah? How do I know you’re not the serial killer?”
“Me?” Her eyes widen. “I could never even hurt a fly. Okay, that’s a lie, I use my electric bug zapper all the time. I can’t help it. The little bastards are fucking annoying. All that buzzing in my ear? It’s enough to drive me crazy.”
“Like you with me,” I mutter under my breath. “I’d love to hit you with a bug zapper right about now.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” I sigh heavily and agree to let the crazy girl give me a ride home before she makes good on her promise and forces me.
“Sooo, how was tonight?” she asks, practically bouncing in her seat.
“It was fine.”
“You had your first study session with Cooper, right? How did it go?”
“You know Cooper?” I ask her.
“Of course.” She beams. “He’s my bestie. Love that guy. If he were straight, I’d totally make him mine.
He’s gay? Huh.
“Why, because he’s a football player?”
“God no. I don’t fuck around with football players.
They’re all assholes. Well, all but Cooper.
I guess Ellie’s boyfriends are alright, too.
I mean, once they stopped being raging assholes and bullying her.
But that's the past.” She waves it off. “We’re talking about Cooper.
He’s so sweet and kind. Did you know he fake-dated Ellie so that people at school would leave her alone?
” She swoons. “That's the level of dedication he has when it comes to his friends. The man would move mountains for you. Give you the shirt off his back.”
Normally, I don’t like her rambling, it’s hard to keep up with what she’s saying, and half the time, I don’t even know what she’s talking about.
But for some reason, I cling to everything she says about Cooper.
Last night, I stayed up for hours freaking out over the fact that I agreed to tutor a football player and considering all the bad things that could happen.
He could be an asshole, threaten me, get me to do his work for him, or make me feel small, like I’m a loser.
Cooper wasn’t any of that, and based on what Val is saying, my suspicion that it was all an act might be wrong.
“Anyway, thanks for helping him out. He really needs this. Not just because of the team, but he’s on scholarship, and it would be devastating for him to lose everything he worked so hard for, right before graduation.”
“Yeah,” I grunt, looking out the window. “It’s cool. Whatever.”
Val chatters on the rest of the way home, while I keep playing her words over and over in my head. Have I been so hurt in the past that I immediately judge people before even getting to know them?
I know I did with this guy. And it wasn’t right of me. But can you blame me? My past speaks loud and clear.
When Val drops me off, she mentions something about seeing me tomorrow. I’m too distracted and wave her off. I really need to take my car in this weekend. I’ll call tomorrow and see if they're open on Sunday.
“How did it go?” Nina is on me the moment I get in the house.
“How did what go?” I walk past her, heading up to my room. She follows.
“You know what,” she whines. “With Cooper.”
“Oh. Yeah, that. It was fine.”
“That's good. Fine is good, right?”
“Fine is fine, Nina.” I glare at her.
“So, you’re going to keep working with him?”
“As long as he keeps doing the work, yeah.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands. “You’re the best, Blakey-Poo.” She throws her arms around me, crushing me in a hug.
“Oh god, not you too. Stop it. Don’t call me that.”
She laughs, steps back, and crushes my face between her hands, squashing my cheeks. “Never.” She laughs again, leans up on her tiptoes, and kisses me on the forehead. “Best big brother ever.”
I can’t help that my prickly edges soften when it comes to her. “Love you, big bro.” She blows me a kiss before dancing out of my room.
“Love you, little sis,” I mutter back.
Changing into some sleep pants and a clean hoodie, I take the bean bag chair in front of my TV and start up my Xbox.
I’m in the middle of a raid when I get a notification. It distracts me, and I die.
“Fuck.” I sigh heavily, tossing my controller. I pick up my phone, pissed that I lost, but when I see Cooper’s name on my screen, the anger dissipates.
Opening the message, my brows pull together as I read it.
Cooper: Thanks again for tonight. You’re the best, really. I don’t know how I can repay you, but I will! I’ll find a way, haha. Anyway, hope you have a good night. See you Monday.
I stare at the screen for a long time, not sure what to say.
Me: You’re welcome. Bye.
What is wrong with me? No, really, what is wrong with me?
Groaning, I click my phone off, toss it to the side, and continue my game until my eyes grow heavy, forcing me to go to bed.
The next morning goes the same as any other day.
That is, until I’m walking out of my last class of the day. I begin the walk home when I hear a very girly, high-pitched voice.
“Blake!” Val shouts, causing people nearby to look my way. “Blake, wait up!”
I groan, curling in on myself. I walk faster, seconds from making a run for it.
“Where are you going?” Val sounds closer, shit. “I’m trying to talk to you.”
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I curse. “Do you have your headphones in?” Val asks, sounding out of breath.
“No,” I mutter.
“I was calling your name. Didn’t you hear me?”
“I think the whole quad did.” I sigh. “Hi Val. What's up? Something I can help you with?”
She flashes a beaming smile, and I regret asking the question.
“What are you doing tonight?” she asks.
Lie, damn it, lie. Tell her you have plans.
“Nothing.” I narrow my eyes. “Why?”
“Perfect.” She’s giddy. “There’s a football game tonight.”
“And your point is?”
“You’re coming with us, Blakey Poo.”
“Don’t call me that.” I scowl.
“You’re so cute when you're mad. Like an angry Chihuahua,” she coos, leaning in to pinch my cheeks. I step back, lifting a brow.
“If he doesn’t want to come with us, you can’t make him.” Her friend, Lexie, sighs, catching up with us.
“Uh, yeah, I can. He’s my new bestie. I found him, so I’m keeping him.” Val rolls her eyes.
“You picked me up off the side of the road, one time.” I blink at her in confusion.
“Yeah, like a stray dog. Like I said, I found you, I’m keeping you. And it was two times, not one.”
“Not how that works, Val.” Tabitha, Val’s other friend, sounds like she’s done with her friend's shit. I don’t blame her.
“I licked him so he’s mine,” Val huffs, crossing her arms.
“No, you didn’t,” I point out. The crazy woman leans and runs her tongue up the side of my face.
“Now I did.” She gives me a smug look.
I gape at her in horror. She did not just do what I think she just did.
“Oh my god, Val!” Lexie gasps, pulling her away from me. “We talked about this. You can’t do shit like that. This is how you get restraining orders on you!”
“It was one time.” Val rolls her eyes. “And that asshole deserved the kick in the balls. He was looking at my tits!”
“He was reading your name tag.” Tabitha groans. “You worked at the coffee shop. He wanted to be polite.”
“That’s what he wanted people to think.” Val points her finger at her friend. “I saw it in those shifty eyes. He wanted the goods.” She lifts up her boobs, groping at them. “I don’t play that game, baby. I have two boyfriends already. Thank you very much. I don’t need any more.”
“Two?” I raise a brow. “Really?”
“What?” Val swings her gaze at me. “Something wrong with that?”
“No.” I shake my head. “It makes sense.”
“What do you mean?” She puts her hands on her hips.
“You’d need two guys to keep up with you, you’re a lot.” I shrug.
“He’s not wrong,” Lexie snorts.