Chapter Five #2
CJ scowled. Chances were high that Harley wouldn’t go. She’d become so fucking difficult. “Fuck!” He turned and stormed to where she sat alone in the front row.
“At the risk of an argument, fuck rehearsal today. Let’s go to the cafeteria.”
CJ’s voice reached Harley from a place of despair and pain. Several days ago, she’d made another monumental mistake with his cousin, Ryan. After her confrontation with CJ, she’d been so hurt and Ryan seemed so sympathetic. But he’d just wanted her because he hated CJ.
Ryan hadn’t said that, but Harley could reach no other conclusion. The next morning, he clammed up. He refused to look at her and he hadn’t said a full sentence to her since.
Late last night, she’d received an incoming message from Pillar of Earth, a video of her encounter with Ryan. The most intimate parts of her body were exposed. It was humiliating and horrific. Worse, whoever it was threatened to release the video if she didn’t undress and touch herself again.
She’d been too afraid not to follow the orders.
When it was done, she’d run to Ryan’s bathroom and thrown up.
Aunt Zoann refused to budge when Harley begged to stay home from school.
Ryan wouldn’t talk to her. Devon disliked her.
Her parents seemed to have turned their backs on her.
Grant no longer answered her calls. Lolly hadn’t forgiven her disrespect.
She’d considered calling Aunt Meggie. However, she had the full story of Harley’s and Mommie’s plans for CJ. When he’d walked up on her outside, she thought she was dreaming. It was like old times, and she’d felt so safe. Then, something must’ve clicked in his head, and he’d retreated.
He was back again, though. Offering to allow her to go to the cafeteria with him.
“Harley?” CJ asked, frowning at her.
She swiped at her tears, wishing they would dry up. She’d cried buckets these past weeks. “Rehearsals are part of my grade,” she said miserably.
“Are you and Mr. Grevenberg ready to practice?” Ms. Mendez asked, breezing up the middle aisle and beelining to Harley. She smiled at CJ. “Mr. Caldwell.”
A small smile on his lips, CJ nodded.
Ms. Mendez was around the same age as Ms. LeBan.
A dull ache settled in the pit of Harley’s stomach. The geography teacher and CJ had hooked up. Now, the theater teacher eyed him as if he were a piece of candy.
Beaming at CJ, Ms. Mendez glanced at Harley. “Are you ready, Miss Banks?”
If she noticed Harley’s tears or fading bruises, she didn’t comment.
“I need to get to Lewis Hall, Miz Mendez,” CJ drawled. “I want Harley to come with me. Can you give her a pass just for today? For me?”
Tossing her hair, Ms. Mendez licked her lips and nodded. “This one time,” she said, a little breathless. “The production is just six weeks away. We’re putting the finishing touches on the sets.”
“Cool,” he said diplomatically, having never had an interest in the theater. He smiled.
Harley and Ms. Mendez exchanged glances, almost swooning at CJ’s feet.
“I…if you’d like to help, I’ll make sure it’s counted as extra credit,” the teacher said.
“I can’t stand Nardo, Miz Mendez, so I politely decline.”
Again, Harley and her teacher shared a mutual emotion because of CJ. This time, disappointment.
He glanced at Harley. “Ready?”
She nodded. She hoped he took her hand again, but he smiled one last time at the teacher, turned, and sauntered off. At the door, he held it open.
Once Harley walked into the hallway, he said, “Where’s your knapsack?”
“In my locker.”
“After lunch, we’ll stop there. I need to switch books for my next class.”
“Your backpack is big enough to hold books for three or four classes. ”
He started walking and Harley fell into step beside him. It didn’t escape her that he adjusted his pace to hers. He was still kind…still CJ. But he was different, too. No longer so carefree and easy going.
“If I was interested in carrying them, you’d be right. Since I don’t even want to be at school, I keep my books in my locker.”
“Is it because Molly isn’t here?”
He snorted. “As if you give a fuck.”
Harley deflated. Even in anger, she cried, but at least fury guarded her from the pain of other people’s words. Now, she felt alone and vulnerable.
“I’m sorry, CJ. I’m so sorry.”
“So you’ve said. You revert back to bitchery the moment I accept your apology. Spare us both. The pretense is just a waste of our time.”
Ever the gentleman, he held open the door to Lewis Hall. From this entrance, they stepped into the cafeteria. The door on the opposite side would’ve brought them to a hallway with vending machines, benches, trophy cases, and bulletin boards.
Attention instantly fell their way. Girls. Boys. Teachers. Cafeteria workers. Janitors. Anyone around who noticed his entrance.
Harley noted three overweight girls huddled together at an otherwise deserted table. She related to the longing on their faces as they looked at CJ. Jaleena sat a few tables over, staring at him, too. She smirked at the three girls who Harley recognized from around school.
“Come on,” he told her, heading in their direction.
CJ arrived at the table and the girls sat up straighter, their eyes widening. Harley expected them to topple over in a dead faint.
He smiled at each of them. That smile, those lips, the emerald eyes, should be classified as weapons of mass destruction. One gaze, one smirk, endangered any girl he focused on .
CJ held out his hand to a dark-skinned girl who must’ve weighed two hundred fifty pounds. She had braids that Harley envied. She’d taken hers down but since Mommie and Lolly were mad at her, she had no one to redo them.
“Hey, Leta. I don’t think we’ve met, but I’m CJ.” He pointed to Harley. “This is a friend of mine. Harley Banks.”
Harley barely processed the fact that CJ once again referred to her as his friend, because he didn’t pause.
He went to the other two girls—Freda, even heavier than Leta and who had oily blonde hair and milky skin covered by red pimples; and Harriet, heavyset, tall, dark-haired and swarthy-skinned with thick glasses covering her dark eyes.
He straightened, looked over the students, pointed to some and beckoned to others. One by one, Kayce Riggs, Rory, and Devon joined them.
CJ introduced everyone before Rory said, “Lunch is almost over. Let me get your tray, CJ.”
“That isn’t necessary,” CJ said. “I can get my own fucking tray, Ro.”
“Yeah, no,” Devon said, shaking his head. “Rebel saw you walk in with Harley. She’s waiting for her. Talk to Reb while Rory gets your lunch.”
“Fuck.”
CJ placed his hand at the small of Harley’s back, and a shiver went through her. No one made her feel as giddy as CJ just by a smile or a touch.
He didn’t notice her reaction, urging Harley toward Rory.
“Take her with you so she can get lunch, too.”
“You’re crying again ?” Devon asked with disgust.
Scowling, he stalked off, leaving Harley humiliated .
“Come on, Harley,” Rory said grudgingly. “Walk on my right, since we have to pass the table where Reb’s at. We don’t want her to snatch you.”
Harley sniffled and nodded, following Rory’s directions without a word.