Jaded (9 page)

tightened as he stared at me. Clearing his throat, he asked, “What are you still doing here, Miss Jeneve? You are wanted in the counselor’s office.”

“And I told the counselor yesterday that she can expel me. I’m not going to talk to her and you can’t make me.”

He started to say something, but the words died in his throat.

Bryce walked in, late like normal.

Irritation flickered across Mr. Aldross’ features before he spoke, “Mr. Scout.”

Bryce dropped in his seat and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t respond.

“This is becoming a daily routine that grows tiresome.”

I met Bryce’s eyes and smiled haughtily.

Bryce looked amused, but he stayed quiet.

“Maybe you should sleep some more,” I suggested.

Our teacher snapped his attention back to me.

“Why do you say that?” he asked, but looked cautious.

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“You just said that it’s getting tiresome. If we can’t get enough sleep at night, you should let us bring coffee. That’s what I think.”

“You shouldn’t even be sharing your opinions, Miss Jeneve. You are supposed to be in the counselor’s office.”

“Yeah, well,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not going.” I raised my chin up and stared back, steadily.

Mr. Aldross stared at me and I knew he was wondering what he would do with

me.

“Then you may go to the principal’s office,” he quickly named his only other alternative.

I rolled my eyes and stood up. When I was at the door, Mr. Aldross commented,

“Please wait, Miss Jeneve.”

“Changed

your

mind?”

“May I please see your homework?”

“I don’t have time for that, Mr. Aldross. The principal needs to see me,” I taunted him and dramatically threw open the door.

I hadn’t gone a few steps before the door opened again and Leisha ran to catch up.

“Hey,” she gave me a tentative grin.

“Mr. Aldross asked you to escort me?” I asked, already knowing.

“Yeah.” She ducked her head. “Sorry.”

“It’s cool,” I shrugged. “I’m not going. You know that right?”

At my locker, I traded my books for my purse.

“So are you skipping?” She asked, her shoulders hunched.

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I eyed her outfit again. The taffeta clung to her skin. She wore some type of tight khakis that were pinned to itself with large black buttons that ran up and down her legs.

She almost looked like a naughty librarian.

“Where’d you get that outfit?” I asked.

“What?” Confusion crossed her face as she glanced down at herself. “This?”

“Yeah. Where’d you get that?”

“Hot Topics. Why?” She frowned.

“It’s cool. I like it.” And I did, I wasn’t lying.

Just then the door opened again and Bryce strolled out. He grinned at the sight of us and moved to lean beside me.

“Hey,” he murmured.

“Did he kick you out or send you after us?”

“He’s got his ass all twisted,” Bryce commented.

“Nice articulation,” I joked and Bryce grinned ruefully.

I yawned and asked Bryce, “Wanna go for coffee?”

Bryce frowned, but said, “Sure.”

I eyed Leisha and asked, “Wanna come?”

Her eyes widened.

I saw the glint of a smile at Bryce’s mouth, but he just watched.

“I shouldn’t.” She shifted on her feet and glanced at the classroom door. “I should go back. I mean, Mr. Aldross is expecting me.”

“You’re right.” I grinned wolfishly. “You should go back.”

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“Um.” Her eyes glanced between Bryce and myself again, anxiously. And then

she exclaimed, “I’m going to go.” She disappeared down the hallway, but was back within a moment with a black purse tucked underneath her arm. And she looked nervous, very nervous.

I felt a pang of conscience and said, “You don’t have to come.”

She bit her lip and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Leisha, you’re a good kid. Lying to a teach is not your forte. You can’t really want to skip with us.”

“I do. I really do,” she insisted.

“Okay.” I exchanged a look with Bryce. He raised an eyebrow, but that was the extent of his feedback. “Let’s go.”

Bryce took shotgun in my car and Leisha hopped in the back. She giggled as we left the parking lot and confided, “You’re right. This is the first time I’ve skipped school.

I kinda like it. It’s a rush.”

Bryce and I both chose to remain quiet on that matter.

When I pulled into the coffee shop, I informed Bryce, “You’re paying.”

“What?” Bryce asked. “Why am I paying? We’re not on a date.”

Leisha giggled behind her hands.

Maybe bringing her wasn’t such a good idea.

“You’re paying because you’re the man. Men buy things.”

“And women put out?” Bryce finished the sentiment and flashed a suggestive

grin.

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“Exactly,” I murmured and pushed inside. I wasn’t serious, but I grinned a little at the Leisha’s sudden intake of breath.

She hesitated at the door when Bryce held it open for her. “Girls first.” Bryce ushered her inside with a hand at her back.

Leisha looked like a deer in headlights.

The clerk frowned at us, but filled our orders. I moved to study the magazines when Bryce dropped onto one of the couches. After we’d gotten our coffee, we sat there in silence. Bryce leaned back and closed his eyes. Leisha watched Bryce, shyly, and then nibbled at her nails when she looked to me. And I drank my coffee while I watched her. I almost felt sorry, she was out of her league and she knew it.

When the door’s bell jingled, Bryce sat up and bumped his knee into mine.

“What?” I asked and he gestured towards the front door.

It was Mena and Denton.

Mena had a glazed look in her eyes and Denton looked bored.

I remembered the blank look that had been on her face when I first left for school.

“Do you guys know them?” Leisha asked and then gasped. “That’s Denton

Steele.”

“They’re weird, Sheldon.” Bryce murmured and leaned for his drink.

I was starting to agree.

“Oh my god. Do you guys know them?” Leisha pressed again, eagerly. All her

virgin-blushes and awkwardness was gone now. The presence of a celebrity could work so many miracles.

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“Something like that,” I murmured and plastered a warm smile on my face when Denton noticed us. He did a double-take, but left Mena’s side. Mena remained at the counter.

“Hey, Sheldon.” Denton flashed a smooth grin my way and took the seat beside mine.

Bryce leaned back and watched underneath his eyelids.

“Skipping school?” Denton managed to condemn and flirt with me at the same

time.

“I have first period free,” I lied smoothly.

“Really?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Hi.” Leisha stuck her hand out. “I’m Leisha Summers.”

“Hi.” Denton turned celebrity in a flash.

“Can I have your autograph?”

“Sure.” He winked at me. “Sheldon, do you want an autograph?”

I looked at him coolly and murmured, “I think I gave you
my
autograph.”

“Oh right.” He flexed his back and added, “I never knew nail marks stung so

much.”

Mena sat beside Leisha at that moment and handed a drink to her brother.

Denton dropped the celebrity façade and turned into big brother immediately. It was impressive.

“Thanks, Mena,” he said softly.

She ignored him and gazed at me. “Hey, Sheldon.”

“Hi,

Mena.”

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She glanced warily at Bryce. Her eyes lingered a moment and Bryce raised an

eyebrow when he looked at me.

Denton’s jaw clenched. He thrust a hand out, “We didn’t meet yesterday. I’m

Denton.”

“Bryce,” Bryce grunted as he shook hands.

“Did you guys get your friend out of jail?”

Bryce and I both grinned and enjoyed the startled looks on Leisha and Mena’s faces.

“Sure did.” Bryce lifted his cup in a salute.

“Who was in jail?” Mena asked.

“A friend,” I answered and switched the topic, “So, Mena, you’re not going to school today?”

Denton frowned and answered first, “She’s not feeling well today.”

“Looks fine to me,” Bryce commented.

“Looks fine to me,” I repeated.

Mena gave her brother a forced smile and said tightly, “I’m feeling fine, but Denton thinks he felt a fever coming on.”

“Coffee’s a good antidote,” Bryce deadpanned.

Denton scowled his way, but recovered almost immediately.

Bryce and I both caught it and shared a look. I shifted in my seat and introduced,

“Mena, this is Leisha. Leisha, this is Mena. Mena’s first day was yesterday at our school.”

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“Oh really? I don’t remember seeing you.” Leisha said warmly. I enjoyed her

naiveté.

“So why was your friend in jail?” Denton said abruptly. I don’t think he enjoyed the naiveté.

I ignored him and murmured, “Mena, do you have a fever now?”

“No,” she said quickly.

“See? Coffee heals anything,” Bryce said easily, but kept his eyes on Denton, alert.

“Look, man, I was concerned for my sister. What’s your problem?” Denton bit

out and flexed his hands.

“I think I skipped my second day when I started high school too.” I laughed and shifted in my seat, getting comfortable.

Denton caught the insult and glared at me. “You’re a real bitch, you know that?”

“Me?” I asked innocently, fighting a smile.

Bryce bit back a smile.

Leisha gulped and had the whole deer in headlights look again.

Mena just frowned.

Denton leaned forward and retorted, “It may work wonders in bed, darling. In real life, people are going to stop dancing to your tune real quick.”

“Funny how you’re still dancing,” I mused.

A wall slammed in place over Denton’s eyes and he stood up. “Let’s go, Mena.

You’re feeling better. I should take you to school.”

Mena stood reluctantly.

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I suggested, “You can ride with us. We should get going too.”

“No,” Denton said quickly with a hand at his sister’s elbow. “I’ll take her. I don’t know if she’ll actually get there with you.”

Bryce

laughed.

“Was that an insult?” I joined in Bryce’s amusement.

Denton shook his head and dragged Mena behind him. We watched through the

window and saw him shake his arm in the air at her. Mena shrugged him off and got into the passenger seat. A moment later Denton followed and his tires squealed out of the parking lot.

“What…,” Leisha breathed out. “What was that?”

I shrugged and stood, “Let’s go.” Game over.

Leisha led the way and Bryce fell in step beside me. He ignored my back pocket and slid his fingers into my thong’s top strap. His thumb gently caressed the outside of my pants and he murmured into my ear, “Big Fame Steele’s got a temper on him.”

“I

know.”

He held me back and the coffee shop’s door shut with us on the inside and Leisha on the outside. She stopped at my car and glanced back for us.

He nipped at my bottom lip and murmured, huskily, “Can we please ditch this

girl?”

“And do what?” I nipped back.

Bryce slid his tongue against mine before he replied, “Do what we should’ve done yesterday.”

“Spend the whole day in bed?” I laughed and pushed away from him.

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“Why

not?”

I looked in surprise and saw that he was serious.

“Whatever, Bryce. You have scouts all this week.” I moved to leave, but he

caught my arm again.

“What?” I asked again, breathless.

“I’ll still play. Let’s skip. Come on.”

“You won’t play and you know it.” His coach was strict, which was needed with Bryce. Coach Bewer was also a pseudo father figure to Bryce, including punishment and discipline. The soccer field was probably the only place that Bryce didn’t get away with our games.

“Seriously,

Sheldon.”

“Seriously, Bryce,” I said firmly. “No.” I slipped out of his hold and was outside before he could drag me back inside.

Bryce followed reluctantly and shot me a dark look as he sat in the passenger seat.

Leisha just watched us both warily. She was like a breath of fresh air.

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Bryce didn’t comment the entire drive back towards school, but it wasn’t a long drive until I turned the engine off.

A group of students stood just outside the school’s doors. Some smoked, some just chatted.

“There’s Yerling,” Bryce noted and gestured towards the door. Sure enough,

Yerling and his posse stood amongst the group.

I sat back with the keys in my hand. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be around for whatever was going to happen.

Leisha had moved to the door handle, but she paused and waited for us.

“Go,” I said briskly and she left. Bryce and I both watched as Chad stepped to the front of the group. He threw his cigarette to the ground and watched my car. His eyes trailed to Leisha, but he let her pass without a second look.

He still looked bloodied. A large bruise had formed at his jaw and at the corner of his eye. His nose was swollen and his eye was bloodshot.

“Holy,” I murmured. “He looks awful.”

Bryce bristled beside me.

“Your knuckles didn’t look like they’d done that.”

Bryce didn’t comment on that, but he said instead, “Let’s go back to your place.”

He grinned charmingly, “You can put ice on my knuckles.”

“It’s not the only thing that needs ice.”

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He grinned faintly, but moved across and kissed the underside of my jaw.

“Seriously.” I put a hand on his chest, intending to push him away.