by Hart, Rebel
I mean, I’m sure they were banking on Michael getting at least one thing wrong. I mean, even the slightest thing! But when he aced that written test while we were all in the DMV, I grinned. And when he came back from that driving portion without a scratch on his record, I threw my head back in laughter.
A week later, his parents had anted up. They’d bought him the SUV he drives now, and he was damn proud of that car. That’s Michael, though. That’s always been his personality. When Michael wanted something he knew could be his, he went full-steam ahead in order to get it.
All Allison had to do was make it known that she wanted to be his.
“Pop quiz, everyone!”
Just as Allison passed her note back to me, the class groaned. I looked at her and quickly tucked the note away in my back pocket as our teacher passed out the worksheets. I saw the soft panic on Allison’s face. But she didn’t have to worry. During times like this, I let her cheat off my test. We had a code and everything down for it. And not once had we ever gotten caught.
But she didn’t look over at me once during the quiz.
The bell to switch classes rang and we all rushed the teacher’s desk. I tossed my pop quiz at him and waited for Allison, who was the last to get out of her chair. She had a confident smile on her face and a skip in her step as she handed our teacher her quiz. Then she came over and linked her arm with mine.
“That wasn’t nearly as hard as I figured it would be. It was a recap quiz.”
I smiled. “Ready to get going?”
“Let’s see if we can catch Clint and Michael down the hallway where we saw them. I can help Clint into English, if he needs it.”
“Thank you so much, Allison.”
“What? We have the next class together.”
“Can you just let me thank you without brushing it off and making me feel weird about it?”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I just… every time you thank us, it reminds me that—at one time—you thought we might not help. And it makes me sad.”
I shrugged. “Because at one time, I knew you guys wouldn't have. I’m really glad you’ve come around to him.”
“He’s changed a lot, you know. I already see it in him.”
I nodded. “I see it, too.”
“You think it’ll stay that way once he’s healed?”
“I don’t know, Allison. I guess only time will tell with that one.”
As Allison pulled away from my side to go help Clint out of his class, I pondered on that question. I thought about it as I made my way for my own class. I watched Allison walk off with Clint, but it didn’t warm my heart like usual.
Would he stay this way after he was all healed?
Or would he go back to Roy and his gaggle of goons once he could hold his own again?
24
Clinton
I groaned. “Thanks again, Aly. I really appreciate it.”
She helped me into my seat. “Really, it’s not a problem at all. I’m glad I can help.”
“You wouldn't be willing to help an old man to lunch, too, would you?”
“Already planned on it. Don’t worry.”
She sat next to me, offering a kind smile in the process. It felt weird. One, because she usually sat at the front of the classroom. And two, because the smile she gave me was genuinely kind. Not the snide or berating kind of smiles I’d gotten used to with her. She set my books on top of my desk before situating her own, and I wondered what she was thinking. What was going on in her head? Was she helping me because she wanted to? Or because Rae kept putting her up to it?
Why did I want it to be the former?
“Oh. Great.”
Aly’s voice caught my attention and I looked over at her. As I followed her gaze, I saw what she was looking at. Roy and Marina had strolled into class, taking up their regular seats not too far away from us. Aly grimaced as she looked toward them, easing herself back into her seat.
I just hoped the pair didn’t make a scene in the middle of class or something.
My eyes stared up at the clock, watching the minutes tick up to the top of the hour. And with every second that passed by, our English teacher didn’t come into the room. Where the hell was that woman? Why was she so late this morning?
“You feel as bad as you look, dude?”
I saw Aly’s head whip over toward me as I bit down onto the inside of my cheek. Roy’s voice echoed in my ear as he leaned over, trying to close the space between us. I rolled my shoulders back, ignoring the pain in my collarbone. I slowly rolled my head around, trying to loosen myself up. All I had to do was ignore them. Don’t engage. Because the second I engaged them, we were in trouble.
I let the comment roll off my back.
But I shouldn’t have answered.
“I’m healing just fine. Thanks.”
Roy scooted his desk a bit closer. “You got physical therapy or some shit you’re doing?”
Had it not been for the grin on his girlfriend’s face, I would’ve actually thought he cared.
“Yep. Three times a week right now. For the next few weeks.”
Roy nodded. “Uh huh. Right. So you’ll be back in shape soon enough?”
I licked my lips. “That’s the plan.”
“That’s a shame. Really.”
Aly scoffed. “Put a sock in it, Roy.”
I slowly panned my gaze over to him, taking in the fire in his eyes. I shouldn’t have asked, but he had me baited. Right there on his fucking hook.
“What’s a shame?”
Roy snickered. “I mean, you getting back into shape. It’s been nice not having you around.”
Marina giggled. “Too bad that cliff was only twenty feet high.”
I heard part of the class gasp at her comment. It was the top of the hour and the damn teacher still wasn’t in the room. Where the fuck was she, anyway? I stared Roy down, trying my hardest to be the bigger man. There was no need for me to talk down to a woman. I certainly didn't want to become my father. I didn't want to let my anger take hold of me like it did him. That was Roy’s bitch, so it was Roy’s issue to handle.
My eyes held Roy’s. “Yeah. Too bad, I guess.”
Roy grinned. “I knew you were a depressed little shit.”
Aly piped up. “That’s enough, Roy.”
Marina giggled. “Should’ve done us all a favor and finished what that bridge started.”
Aly flew out of her chair. “The two of you are relentless. Can’t you hear yourselves? Cut it the heck out.”
Roy’s eyebrows rose. “Wow. Strong language coming from you, Miss Priss.”
I held my hand up, signaling for Aly to stop. “The two of you can talk to me. There’s no need to involve her.”
Marina scoffed. “Fucking around with her, too? Rae not enough for you anymore?”
I pointed my finger at her. “You keep my girl’s name out of your mouth. It’s not my fault you two have debased yourselves to absolutely nothing.”
Roy smiled devilishly. “You mean, like you used to be?”
Marina frowned. “What, you think you’re better than us now?”
“You think you’ve outgrown us?”
“Somehow leveled up in life?”
“You think this’ll make Daddy love you more?”
“Or stop beating up on you? I’ve heard the stories. Roy tells me everything. Are you that open with Rae?”
“Does she know everything?”
“Or does she only know your cock size?”
“If you can still get it up, of course.”
“Hey, asswipes!”
Aly’s voice pierced through their banter and caught the attention of the entire class. My eyes widened as the curse fell from her lips, and I turned to face her. She had her fists clenched. She ground her teeth together. Her eyes bounced between Roy and Marina, her body vibrating in fear.
I leaned forward. “Aly, it’s all right.”
She leveled me with a quick look before turning her attention back to
them.
“The only shame in this room is you two. The only people in this room who should throw themselves off anything are the pair of you. This entire school’s sick of your shit. You hear me? Absolutely sick of it. Sick of you, Roy, for the bullshit you pull in the cafeteria. Trying to act like you’re big stuff when all you want is for good ol’ Mommy to pay you some attention. And you, Marina. Everyone’s sick and tired of coming around corners and catching you flirting with other guys when we all know you’re still sucking Roy’s—”
“Aly,” I said curtly.
Her eyes flickered to me before she sighed. “All of us know that the only reason you two are still together is because nobody else can stand to hang out with either of you or listen to your asinine stories about getting prematurely drunk at parties before going off and doing God-knows-what to one another. So, shut the fuck up. Face forward. And leave Clint the hell alone with your shit.”
The entire class fell silent. I sure as hell didn’t know what to say. I’d never heard Aly curse. Much less that much in one fell swoop. I slowly panned my gaze over to Roy and Marina. Their eyes bounced between us as I gave them a punctuated head nod. Letting them know I agreed with everything that had just flown out of Aly’s mouth.
With a few grumbles, they scooted back into their place. Faced the front of the classroom as everyone began whispering.
About them.
Not about me.
Aly sighed a soft sigh before sitting back down in her seat. I slowly turned my attention back to her, feeling a shocked smile cross my lips. She flipped her books open as our teacher finally made her presence known ten minutes after class was supposed to start. Aly leaned over, flipping open my own book to the page we needed to be on.
Then she looked up at me.
“What?”
I shook my head. “Thank you, Aly.”
She shrugged. “We’re all tired of their stuff.”
“Oh, now you say ‘stuff.’”
She smiled at me, and it caused me to chuckle. We muffled our laughter as the teacher started her lecture, rushing us through our homework so we could get to ‘the good stuff,’ as she called it. And while I loved my English class—mostly—this book we were reading could go kick rocks. It was the first book in all of high school I’d been forced to read that I didn’t enjoy one damn bit.
Catch-22 could suck my—
“I really don’t like this book.”
Aly’s murmur caught my ear and it made me grin.
“Me, neither. Don’t worry.”
She sighed. “Switching the points of view the entire time between, like, seventeen different characters is just a bit much.”
I snickered. “Can we put that on Amazon somewhere? I feel like we should warn the masses.”
“Is there something you’d like to share with the class, Clint?”
The teacher called me out and everyone turned to face me. Aly started giggling, hiding her face with her notebook as a grin trickled across my cheeks. I liked this. I liked talking with her in class. I had no idea how the fuck I’d ever stayed friends with the likes of Roy and Marina. But, I didn’t see myself ever trading what I had now for what I’d had in the past.
The teacher cleared her throat. “Clint?”
I licked my lips. “I was just telling Aly here that we should write up a review on Amazon, warning people about the painful point of view changes in the book.”
The teacher nodded. “What don’t you like about them?”
I shrugged. “For one, it’s distracting. By the time you come back around to a character’s story, you have to flip back to their last chapter to see where their story left off. It’s tedious.”
Roy sniggered. “He’s actually reading the book, for fuck’s sake.”
Marina murmured. “Guess loser pussy really changes you.”
The teacher diverted her attention. “Roy. Marina. Anything to add?”
And when they shook their heads, Aly snickered.
“What’s that for, bitch?”
Marina blurted out the statement and the teacher’s jaw dropped open.
“Marina. Up here. Now.”
She stood up. “No. I want to know why this goody-two-shoes thinks she can judge us just because we don’t like reading these shit books.”
Roy grabbed his girlfriend’s arm. “Just get up to the front of the class.”
“Hell, no! I’m tired of Allison and her judgmental glances. I’m tired of them thinking they’re better than us. Just because the rest of us Sparknote this shit doesn't mean it makes her any better that she actually reads the books. And Clint, for that matter. Fucking loser after that fall of his. You’re no better than—”
“Detention! Both of you! For the rest of the week!”
The teacher’s exclamation caught our ears. Her words caused Aly to panic.
“Wait, who?”
The teacher crooked her finger. “Roy. Marina. Up here, now. And if you so much as make another peep, I’ll move to have you both suspended from school. Until further notice.”
Roy slammed out of his desk, scooting it across the floor. He jumped at a couple students staring him down, who all jerked back from him. I shook my head, watching as the dynamic duo made their way to the front of the class. Marina kept staring Aly down. Like she was about to do something drastic. I reached my hand out, placing it on Aly’s desk. Marking my territory and letting them know that if they messed with her, they messed with me, too.
Then, watching as Marina and Roy shook their heads at me, I saw Aly turn her attention my way as well. I peeked over at her, watching as a sly grin crossed her face. A grin that said ‘I got you.’ A grin that said ‘I’m on your side.’
And for once, I understood what it felt like to have a friend.
25
Raelynn
RaelynnThree Weeks Later
I sat on the couch, waiting endlessly for Mom and D.J. to get out of the damn place. The two of them were going out for a date night. Which ultimately meant they’d be out until the break of dawn before they stumbled back in. Drunk, horny, and ready to make all sorts of noises until they finally passed out around breakfast time. It had been the same routine for the past couple of weeks, and it made me sick.
This time, however, I had a few plans in store for myself to keep my mind off things.
“So, how’s your friend?”
D.J.’s voice filled the room and I tried my hardest not to roll my eyes. I was ready for them to leave. I wanted them to get out. Not because I didn’t want to be around my mother, but because I was done entertaining D.J. I had no desire to get to know him. No passion to get close to him again. I didn’t care about accepting him into some sort of fold or making him feel part of the family.
I just wanted him out of my space.
“Rae?”
I sighed. “Yeah?”
“Did you hear me?”
“I did.”
“Well, is your friend doing all right?”
I shrugged. “He’s fine.”
“That’s good.”
“Yep.”
“So, how’s school?”
“It’s school, I guess.”
“What have you been up to lately? Anything fun with your friends? What are their names. Um… Mac and Dani?”
I rolled my eyes. “Michael and Allison.”
“Right, right. How are things with them?”
“They’re good.”
“That’s good.”
I gazed out the window, wondering when Mom would get downstairs. I knew she wanted me to keep D.J. occupied because ‘it upset him whenever he had to wait around’ for her. Wow. What a fucking winner, Mom. But I didn’t want to fight with her on it. She’d obviously made her choice, and in a few months I’d be graduated and out of here. Getting a place with Allison close to UCLA and rooming with my best friend ever.
And hopefully, finding myself a job or something not too long after that.
D.J. sighed. “You know how much l
onger your mom’s going to be?”
I shrugged. “As long as it takes for her to feel confident walking down those stairs.”
“We’re going to be late.”
“Then push back the reservations.”
“We don’t have reservations.”
“Then there’s no need for you to hop down her throat about it.”
I whipped my head over, shooting D.J. a look. And as he rolled his eyes at me, I scoffed. I got up from the couch and left the room, refusing to be near him one second longer. Mom could take all the fucking time in the world she wanted to get ready. That was her right. And he had no right to get upset with her when all she wanted to do was look pretty for him.
Besides, I had to start getting ready myself.
Mom poked her head out. “That you, Rae?”
I walked down the hallway. “Yep.”
She put her earrings in. “I thought you were talking with D.J. for me.”
“Yeah, well. I’m done talking.”
I walked into my bedroom and closed the door. I didn’t want Mom talking me into going back down there. And not a minute later, D.J. was yelling up the stairs. Like it was his damn house.
“You coming, Lu? We don’t have all night!”
“Come on. I’m sure you look fine.”
“The restaurant won’t have space for us if we don’t leave now!”
“Lu!”
I almost opened my door and told him to shut the hell up. But I heard Mom finally call out for him. Telling him she was coming. I walked over to my window, listening as the two of them bickered downstairs. And as they left through the front door, I watched them walk to D.J.’s car. He looked up at me and paused. Right by his door. I pointed my fingers to my eyes before pointing back at him. Letting him know I was watching him. Always.