Chapter 16 #2
The thumping pulse of the music reverberated through the gymnasium.
Each beat echoed off the walls and vibrated through my body like a slap, reminding me that everyone was having the time of their lives while I sat alone at a round table covered in a cheap blue tablecloth.
The blinding, colorful lights flashing around the room mocked me as they bounced off the shiny gym floor.
The smell of sweat and thumping music caused my head to pound harder than the DJ’s mixing table.
I stared at couples swaying in harmony, their whispers and laughter a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere surrounding my solitary table.
Jamie’s face caught my attention as he twirled his date in the corner of the floor. I had desperately tried to avoid his glances throughout the night, but Jamie’s stare caught mine just as I allowed my eyes to venture in his direction.
Shit.
I ripped my eyes from his and glued them to the empty cup in front of me.
Before tonight, I thought the worst thing in the world would be going to prom alone while Jamie danced the night away with Bethany.
I was wrong. Sitting alone all night while my date got drunk in the locker rooms with his teammates turned out to be the worst fate I could have written for myself.
There was a rough shuffling behind me that grew louder as it approached. I turned to the right to see my so-called date stumbling back to the table. He crashed down on the seat next to mine, his breath reeking of cheap beer and his words slurred beyond comprehension.
“Tommas and Corbin brought 500 Post-it notes!” I had to watch his mouth intensely to understand what he was trying to say, and even then, I was completely lost.
“Okay …?”
He ran his fingers through his sweaty blond hair. “We’re gonna tag the coach’s car.” He nodded and smiled as if genuinely proud of what he just said.
“With Post-it Notes?” My jaw hung low. I swear I could feel my brain cells shriveling from the conversation.
“Yup.” He raised his thick eyebrows up and down with a self-assured smile.
I was partly relieved that he was going to ditch me; this meant I wouldn’t have to endure the stench of his Mighty Men’s cologne mixed with the Bud Light oozing from his breath.
But the other part of me wanted to duct tape his naked ass to the flagpole and watch everyone ridicule him until he begged for mercy.
Was I being dramatic?
Yes …
Did I care? No!
A slow song began to play, its haunting melody filling me with a blend of regret, rage, and the desire for blissful retaliation. My heart skipped a beat as I watched from across the room as Jamie cradled Bethany's waist.
“Look.” I locked my death stare with Emmett’s foggy one. “I don’t want to end my junior year sitting at a table alone. So would you please give me one dance before you lower what’s left of your IQ?”
Emmett groaned like a child told to clean his room.
“It would make Bethany jealous.” I sighed.
His eyes widened, his jaw slackened, and his eyebrows shot up. “Okay, sweet; let’s do this!”
Dancing with Emmett to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” in front of Jamie sounded like perfect revenge in my head.
The second Emmett’s arms wrapped around me, his touch became increasingly invasive, his hands roaming freely over my body as we danced.
I tried to pull slightly away from his grasp without making it too noticeable to anyone else, but he only tightened his hold, his laughter at my discomfort ringing in my ears.
Despite my silent protests, Emmett continued to travel his hands down my back, landing on my ass and squeezing it like a freaking stress ball.
“Stop it,” I gritted at him, smacking the tips of his fingers.
Just as the words left my mouth, I suddenly saw Jamie tearing through the crowd towards us like a bullet exiting a gun.
His eyes narrowed as he took in a scene, his expression shifting from confusion to red-hot fury.
Swiftly, he placed himself between Emmett and me as if his body were a boundary wall.
“Back off.” Jamie’s voice was deep, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Emmett stumbled. “Dude, chill out. We were having some fun.” His words were sloppy and dripping with arrogance.
Jamie’s jaw twitched. “Fun doesn’t mean crossing somebody’s boundaries.”
Emmett puffed his chest out. “You’re just upset that I felt her up before you did. Don’t worry; you can have her back when I’m done.”
Jamie’s fist flew with lightning speed, connecting with Emmett’s nose with a very satisfying thud. The force of the blow sent Emmett staggering backward, his hands clutching his bloody face in shock as his ass collided with the floor.
The room fell silent, the music fading into the background as all eyes turned to the unfolding drama.
Jamie glared at Emmett. “Touch her again, and I’ll break more than your nose.” His voice was a low growl that made me worry his threat wasn’t a bluff.
As I stood there, my heart pounding, Jamie cracked his now red and swollen knuckles. I could have thanked Jamie for defending my honor, but the feminist in me was pissed that Jamie didn’t think I could protect myself.
“Why did you do that?” I yelled.
Jamie’s eyes flipped to mine in confusion. “Because he’s an ass, and you weren’t doing anything about it!” he shouted back.
I could feel my anger rising in response. I screamed at him, and he yelled at me, both of us completely ignoring Emmett’s bleeding face and the principal marching over to us.
Jamie was okay with getting detention and being suspended, but I was one citation from summer school, and I wasn’t risking biology for another three months.
Without thinking twice, I grabbed Jamie’s arm fiercely and pulled him through the gym.
We pushed past lurking students, their eyes wide with shock.
The sound of my heels striking the floor boomed through the space as we sprinted towards the exit, not slowing down until we burst out into the parking lot, gasping for breath and racing with adrenaline.
We practically smacked into the limo, the car’s hood acting as our brake.
I glanced at our reflection in the car window.
We looked like a complete mess. Panting and heaving, we struggled to catch our breath, our clothes and hair disheveled.
I let out a laugh as I shook my tangled hair.
I turned to Jamie, who was beaming, his eyes smushed up from his cheeks that rose high on his face.
The air was thick with the sweet aroma of the night.
Then, as fast as a shooting star, Jamie reached for me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he pulled me closer, like he couldn’t stand another second apart.
It was rough, urgent, and frenzied, as if he were trying to make up for all the time we had lost. It left my heart racing, my lips burning, and my body desperately craving more.
My hands frantically moved up and down his chest, like they were trying to map out every detail of his body, and no matter how tightly I pulled myself into him, it simply wasn’t close enough.
At that moment, everything else seemed to fade away, and all I could feel was the warmth of his embrace and the softness of his lips.
The only times Jamie ever kissed me were when the adrenaline was high and the stakes were even higher. I was like a drug to him, but he was my addiction, too.
I was the Bonnie to his Clyde. His perfect partner in crime.
… but we all know how that story ended.