Chapter 6
six
Rowyn Hale
Rumors
It’s Saturday night and I’m sitting in the stands of the football field waiting for the first game of the season to start.
Professor Strickland made it mandatory for us to attend tonight's festivities. It’s only because her husband is the coach, otherwise, I doubt we would be forced to attend this.
I personally couldn’t care less about football, especially since Grayson is the team's captain and quarterback. When I woke up this morning, I had an email waiting for me stating I will be tutoring Kade as of next week. I don’t know why but excitement filled my veins for a split second before dread settled in.
I don’t have a choice. This is a requirement as a part of my scholarship, and the last thing I want to do is ruin it over some dickwad.
A knee to my back takes me out of my thoughts, and I turn my head to see a few drunk guys behind me laughing and carrying on.
I grit my teeth and face forward, not wanting to create a scene with all these people here.
It’s already extremely overwhelming and distracting.
I don’t know what to pay attention to first. The little kids running around, jumping from step to step.
The cheerleaders performing. The band playing or the moms gossiping.
It’s a lot to take in all at once. I lift my cup of hot chocolate and take a sip, nearly spilling it when Misti nudges my arm.
“Look there he is!” she says, pointing at some boy walking up the stairs with a few of his friends.
“That’s Spencer?” I ask, and her eyes widen.
“What? What is wrong with him?” she says.
“Nothing, nothing. I’m just shocked is all. I don’t know why I pictured him differently.” I laugh, and she bumps my shoulder.
“I’m into nerds. Leave me alone. Popular guys are a waste of time. But Spencer, he's so deep, and the way he plays with his lip ring… My god. I wonder how his tongue feels—”
“Mistiii, you dirty bitch.” I laugh, which only makes her laugh harder.
“Yes, yes I am. Listen, I know I said we would come here to appease Professor Strickland, but there’s a bonfire tonight and Spencer asked me to meet him there, but I don’t want to go alone. Come with me? Pleaseeee, Rowyn,” she begs, grabbing my hand.
“Fine, fine. I’ll take one for the team,” I reply, and she squeals, hopping up and down in her seat.
“Thank you, thank you. I can hook you up with his friend if you want?” she asks, but I shake my head.
“No, that’s okay. I'd rather just be your wingwoman and have a good night,” I answer, and she huffs.
“Listen, we are besties now, and I’m going to need you to get laid sooner rather than later. It’s college, we're supposed to be sluts. It’s the only time we get to live before we have to be serious and do adult things,” she states, and I laugh.
“I do not need to get laid. I’m perfectly fine being celibate,” I state, and she gasps.
“Wait a second, are you a virgin?” she asks, and I slap my hand over her mouth.
“Would you keep your voice down? I don’t need everyone knowing about that,” I whisper-shout, and she nods. I remove my hand from her face, and she giggles.
“Oh, babe. Now I’m going to make it my life's mission to pop that cherry.” And I shake my head furiously.
“Absolutely not. I will not let any of these unworthy assholes between my legs. I’ve come this far and I—”
“But you’ve done other stuff right?” she asks, and I laugh.
“Yes, you slut. I’ve done everything else but sex,” I answer, taking another sip of my hot chocolate.
“Okay, thank god. Sorry, I’m not judging but…” She trails off, and I roll my eyes. “You’re just so pretty, and I don’t understand why you don’t want to just get rid of it.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, and tonight, I don’t feel like jumping off the cliff and explaining my life story.”
“I understand. But fair warning, I’m still going to try.
" She laughs, and I just shake my head. The game finally starts, and I can’t help but watch Grayson on the field.
He really knows how to put on a show. You can tell how he speaks to his teammates, and in how he plays, that football is his passion.
Too bad he doesn't have the same set of skills when it comes to people.
I truly believe he thinks everyone is beneath him and we all owe him something, which is far from the truth but whatever helps him sleep at night.
The game goes on, and I’m bored out of my mind. The assholes behind us won’t shut the fuck up, and I swear to god if I get kneed in the back one more time, I might just fucking snap. I’m ready to go back to my room and be done with the night. So, I nudge Misti and she looks at me and smiles.
“Can we go?” I ask, and she nods.
“Yeah, let’s go back to the room and get ready. I think a little pregaming is in order.” She laughs, and I stand, grabbing her hand.
Everything moves in slow motion, but happens so fast that I don’t realize what is going on until it’s too late and I’m tumbling down a flight of stairs.
My back smashes against the metal and then my head bounces off the stairs.
I cry out as my vision goes black for a second then I see nothing but stars as people around me gasp and kids scream while a few others try to help me.
“Are you okay, Sweetie? Do I need to call the medics over?” some sweet lady asks but I shake my head, trying to sit up.
“Holy shit, Rowyn. What the hell. One minute you were standing and the next you were rolling,” Misti says frantically.
“I-I don’t know what happened,” I answer truthfully until some man approaches, swaying on his feet.
“Ma’am. I’m so sorry. Please let me help you,” the stranger states, but the sweet lady intervenes.
“You’ve done enough, Reginald. Why don’t you go sober up and leave the poor girl alone,” she spits, narrowing her eyes at the big man.
“Yes, Mrs. Mercer. My apologies,” he states then turns and walks back up the stairs. My eyes widen at the name, and I look at Misti who wears the same expression.
“Are you sure I can’t get you some help?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“No, Ma’am. I think I will be okay,” I reply, and she nods.
“Call me Cynthia, dear. What is your name?” she asks with a smile.
“I’m Rowyn,” I answer, then the whistle blows and someone starts yelling.
“Mom, mom, Mooooomm!!” Grayson yells from the fence. Her head whips around towards him and she narrows her eyes.
“Grayson Nathaniel Mercer. You mind your manners,” she scolds, and we bust out laughing as we walk past them.
His eyes slam to mine, and I smirk, knowing I can get away with it.
His mom is not one to play with and I love that about her.
At least now I know his weakness. I roll my eyes when he growls at me, but Mama Cynthia grabs the face of his helmet, scolding him in front of everyone, but I don’t get to watch the rest because Misti is pulling me along and away from the scene.
“Damn you. I wanted to watch Grayson get his ass handed to him,” I whine, and she laughs.
“I’m sorry I’m doing it for your own good.
You do know you’re going to get his wrath for that right?
” she says, but I hope she’s wrong. I’m not sure who's worse, Grayson or Kade, at this point.
Their brutality is completely different, but I really just want to stay off their radar as much as I possibly can.
“Ugh, I need a drink,” I state, and she giggles.
“Well, come on. Put some pep in your step. We got a bonfire to get ready for,” she cheers as we walk back towards the school.
An hour later, we’re walking down the wooded path behind campus that apparently leads us to a clearing that looks over a cliff. Misti nudges me, and I jump.
“Are you afraid of the dark?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“I’m not, I was just thinking and you caught me off guard is all,” I answer, and she takes a deep breath.
“I have something to ask you, but I need you to promise me that you won’t get mad,” she pleads, and my eyes widen.
What could she possibly ask me that would make me mad?
So I nod, but she stops short, grabbing both of my hands.
“I’m serious. I don’t want you to ever get mad at me for being a concerned friend or a nosey bitch,” she says, giggling at the last bit.
“I promise, I won’t get mad, now spill it,” I say, squeezing her hand.
“So I heard a few things. One of them involves you and Kade in the chem closet, and the other is about Elliot,” she states, and I roll my eyes and huff.
“Well, first, tell me what you heard and I’ll tell you if it’s true or not, and second, don’t be afraid to ask me things. I’m not a forthcoming person but I wouldn’t lie to you,” I tell her truthfully, and she takes a deep breath, not letting go of my hands.
“I know just a few hours ago you admitted to being a virgin, but rumor has it that you let Kade…” She trails off, stepping closer to me. “You let Kade …” She trails off again, looking around us.
“Girl, spit it out! What did I let Kade do?”
“You let him fuck you in the ass,” she whispers, and I laugh—full belly, bent over laughing.
“Absolutely not. Who ever told you that is a fucking idiot. Not a chance in hell. Next question,” I state, and she laughs.
“Okay, good. Umm… Elliot. Rumor has it you fucked him before even arriving, and now you’re pregnant and you’re begging him for his attention, and that he came to our dorm last night to pay you off,” she states, and I laugh again.
“Jesus, wherever you’re getting your info from is terribly wrong. Now, I will say, he did come to our dorm last night, but he brought me soup and meds. That’s it,” I answer, and she nods.
“Okay, good. Because these hands are rated E for everyone and I was ready to throw down over this shit. I hate gossip and I wasn’t going to let rumors spread, especially if they weren’t true.
But wait, were you sick?” She laughs at first, then turns serious, and I grab her, wrapping my arms around her.
“I fucking love you. Thank you for asking and not assuming. You really are a great friend,” I tell her as a smile spreads across her face.
“Thank you. That means alot. I didn’t have many friends back home, but that’s a story for another night. Let’s go get fucked up,” she says, and I nod. I’m thankful that she didn’t push for more information and I was able to smoothly divert the conversation elsewhere.
“Let’s do this!” I cheer, and for the first time ever, I’m extremely happy to have met Misti and I can’t wait to see where the night is going to bring us.