by CJ Adler
I knock on the glass doors, mouthing to Max to open. He shakes his head and gestures to Bells. I narrow my eyes at him, absolutely furious. I draw my finger over my throat and then point to him. His eyes widen but he doesn't budge.
“Aqueela?”
I slowly turn around to face her. She's now standing right in front of me. Good, then she'll see that this is all Max. However, when I turn back to the glass door, Max is out of sight.
I close my eyes and let out a fearful breath. It's time we talk this out. I can't believe I'm even admitting to this, but Max is right. School has been lonely without her by my side.
“Hey, Bells,” I mumble, turning back to her. “So, before you yell at me, the
door is bolted and it wasn't me who set this up.”
There's only one person I fear and that just so happens to be the brunette beauty I used to call 'sister', the girl who now has a deadly frown on her face. Oh, and Grams!
Bell simply nods. “Max right?”
Of course, she'd suspect Max. He's the current link between us.
“Listen, Aqueela, I'm kind of glad Max did this,” she confesses, much to my surprise.
I raise my eyebrows, not sure if I heard correctly. “You are?”
“Yeah…” She falters. “I've been meaning to come see you. I uh…uhm…I heard all about your stepmom and I…well I-I should have been there.” She swallows, averting her eyes from mine, obviously feeling guilty about the whole ordeal.
“Nah, it's understandable.”
“But, Aqueela, you had to go through so much and I wasn't there because I was being an idiot.”
I can't help but smile. She returns my smile. In that moment, we both know that our bickering is over. We're done fighting.
Bells leaps forward and wraps her arms around me, drawing me in for a long embrace. “I missed you, Aqueela.”
“Same here.”
She raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me, a mischievous smile on her lips. “So, update me on absolutely everything I've missed, and include deets.”
A massive grin takes over my features as I loop my arm through hers and drag her to the nearest table. “How much time do you have?” I ask as I begin to tell everything.
I'm busy telling her all of it when I hear a warrior cry. Before I know it, I'm being lifted up from my seat and squished into a round belly.
Simo.
“Sprinkle! Sprinkle!” He chants in my ear.
Much to my relief, Bells saves me and pulls me out of his arms.
Simo glances from Bells to me with an enormous smile spreading from ear to ear. “Sprinkle friend with Bella again. That make Simo very very happy.”
“So, how's the crush on Max Mills going?” I change the topic, confused by Simo's sudden interest.
Bell's mouth falls agape at this, much to my amusement. “I'm not crushing on him!”
“Damn straight, sista!” Simo chirps in, snapping his fingers rather dramatically. “Simo think Bells so are,” he adds, backing me up on this one. He makes kissy-faces at Bells before squealing in high-pitched laughter like some teenage girl feeding off of gossip and secrets.
Bell scoffs at Simo as she would do with any girl that annoyed her. “Please, Simo, you're the one to talk. You're in your late twenties and yet it's crystal clear that you have a thing for Sprink–” she catches herself in time, “I mean, Aqueela.”
That said, my eyes widen as I immediately turn my gaze to Simo in order to gauge his reaction. He begins to turn beetroot red. Then, in a blink of an eye, he starts running away, right out of the store. Fortunately, Max brings him straight back in. I stand up, but before I can even apologize to him, there's a loud thump from beside me. The floor shakes from impact.
“Nice going, Aqueels. You killed him,” Max states playfully, gesturing to
Simo lying unconscious on the floor; he literally fainted from embarrassment.
Before I can even say anything back, Bells is already ranting and raving, beside herself, completely on her own mission, “I got you covered, Aqueels. Where, when and how are we going to get rid of the body? I can bury it for you. I'm prepared to get down and dirty for you, girl. What is our cover story going to be? We need a valid alibi that will hold up. You should probably get rid of any evidence. Maybe we can frame—”
“Woah!” Max interrupts, cutting Bells off. “Chill out for a sec, yo. Damn, girl, he's gonna live,” he says, stunned to the core, as he stares at Bells incredulously.
“Oh,” is all Bells says in return. She was simply following the 'Bequeela
Code' is all.
“It should scare me how invested you two are in this. It should terrify me that you two are prepared for this kind of thing. Nonetheless, for some reason, I find it acceptable,” Max adds, unfazed.
“What happened?” Jay asks as he enters the store, his gaze on Simo.
Grey follows in after him and steals my seat, sitting across from Bells as if not having a care in the world.
Bell motions to Grey. “Aren't you going to introduce us, Aqueela?”
“Oh, that's Grey. He's my best bud. We're practically inseparable. He's my homeslice,” I answer casually, standing behind his chair and leaning my elbows atop his head.
He glares up at me. “I swear, Aqueela Lawson, one of these days I'm gonna—“
“Anyway—” I continue and gesture to Bells, “—Grey, this is my best friend, Bells.” I glance over to her and then point down at Grey. “And Bells, as I've just said, this is my homeboy, Grey.”
Grey ignores my comment as he turns to Bells and nods his head, saying nothing. He thinks he's the epitome of 'cool'.
“Hi!” Bells chirps happily. “So, I heard through the grapevine that you're a racer,” she comments, remembering the little I had mentioned earlier on.
Grey seems taken aback but shrugs nonetheless. “That I am,” he answers, playing nonchalant as always.
“Do I even want to know who killed Simo?” a voice asks, one that I've grown to despise. “He's supposed to be working a full shift today.”
I turn to see Bex and Dylan entering and mentally sigh. I wish I could kick him out of his own store. Fortunately, I'm Aqueela Lawson and I can do anything.
“Hey, Dyl?” I ask in a friendly manner.
“Aqueela,” he greets, as cold as ever. He's almost as rude as Grey. Almost. Grey still tops everyone.
“Do you mind closing the door from the other side?” I ask, daring him to say 'no'.
It takes him a minute to register the meaning behind my words. “Haha,” he replies sarcastically, still bitter.
“Almost had you.”
“You two are so cute,” Bex speaks up, smiling when spotting my elbows atop Grey's head. “Adorable couple.”
“Oh, Bex,” I sigh as if it's truly a burden being perfect, “if I had a dollar for every time someone told us that,” I pause, building up suspense, “I'd be poor.”
Grey swats my hands off of him the second she looks away. “I'm very confused right now,” Bell and Max say simultaneously.
“Hush, children!” I shush them, not willing to give the backstory.
Max protests on in bewilderment. “Since when are you two—” he points from Grey to me, “—dating?”
“Engaged,” Bex corrects him.
“Since never!” Grey snaps quietly, annoyed.
“What?!” Max splutters in alarm upon hearing Bex's words.
“Would you all shut up and give me a hand?” Jay asks, silencing us as he struggles to get Simo up. “He's heavy...a hefty guy this.”
Jay acts like he doesn't care about anyone, yet he's always first on the scene to help someone.
I quickly turn away from the crowd when my phone begins to ring. “What up, Principal P?” I answer, enjoying myself thoroughly in the process. I'm this man's walking nightmare. “How's the weather on your side, Pete?”
“Afternoon, Ms. Lawson. Oh, and as I've mentioned countless of times before, please do refrain from using my firs
t name. It's Principal Long to you,” he replies back in a professional tone, displeased.
Principal P and I go way back. At least, I like to think of me as his favorite student ever!
“I thought we were on a first name basis by now, Peter.” I feign a dramatic sigh before continuing. “Nevertheless, what can I do for you today, Mr. P. Long?”
Mr. Pee Long! Funny, funny, funny!
“I'm going to cut this call short for my sake. You're failing almost all your classes,” he cuts right to the chase. “By that, I mean mathematics and science, the two that will get you places. If you fail the final examinations, you will fail the year and will have to repeat,” he tells me bluntly.
I exhale shakily, trying to console myself. I make a futile attempt to lighten the mood. “But wouldn't you want me to repeat? That way you'd still get to see me and call me in for our usual chit-chat when I misbehave in class. Besides, P, you'd miss the hell out of me. I'm your favorite student. By far.”
“To be quite frank, I've been waiting eagerly for your graduation day since your first week in my school. There's not a chance that I'm going to let you fail your final year. You better pull your socks up. I've stepped in and assigned you a tutor for both subjects. You will improve before exam time. I refuse to see you again next year. You'll put me in the ground early.”
At the time, I didn't care if I failed because I was preoccupied with Yolanda.
However, things are different now. Things are finally looking up for me.
“No need to sugarcoat it,” I joke. “Lawson,” he drawls, serious.
“Who are my tutors?” I sigh wearily, jokes aside.
“You'll be pleased to know that I chose tutors from your usual friend group so as not to cause too much change. Max Mills will be tutoring you in mathematics and Mason Montry will be tutoring you in science.”
The last eight words cause my world to stop spinning for a brief second.
“Excuse me?” I ask. “There must be someone else. I can't work with Mason right now. I won't.”
“Your grades are on the line and Mr. Montry is most suitable. Put aside conflicted emotions and just work with him. He's a top student in science and he's all too eager to tutor you. Everyone else that I originally asked declined the offer after hearing your name,” he explains.
Well now, that is just insulting.
“Including Mr. Mills. He only agreed after much debate.”
Yup, I'm gonna kill Max.
“Why can't Max just tutor me in science too?” I question, persistent on avoiding Mason at all costs.
“Mr. Mills is intelligent but he's not a top achiever in science like he is in math. You need the absolute best. Besides, Mr. Mills will never agree to tutor you in two subjects,” he answers.
“What if Jay Taylor agreed to help me improve my grade in science?” I ask on impulse.
He chuckles as if finding my request hilarious. “You cannot possibly be serious. The last time Mr. Taylor participated in anything was years ago when he was still a freshman who wasn't so opinionated as he nowadays. However, everyone knows that he's a wiz in all things science related. I'll tell you what, you get him to agree and we have ourselves a deal,” he says before hanging up, leaving me anxious about my future.
From the corner of my eye, I see Jay making the effort to get Simo to smile.
Jay's a good person, I know that, but how far can one push a good person? There is no way in hell he'll agree to this. He doesn't have the time. He has bills and rent to pay. He works two jobs and still needs to focus on his own school work. How can I be so selfish as to ask him to waste more time on me?
He happens to glance up in that moment. He catches my eye, offering me a hesitant smile, seemingly concerned. He makes his way to me, leaving Simo in the hands of Max and Grey.
“You okay?” he asks softly, seeing right through me. “Just peachy,” I lie.
“Listen—” he starts uncomfortably, lifting his arm to scratch the back of his neck, “I'm racing tonight. Nothing serious. But I remembered that you like watching, so, if you want…” he trails off, all of a sudden more reserved than usual, “you and Bella can tag along and come watch.”
I furrow my eyebrows, caught off guard by this side of him. He's usually confident and sure of himself.
“Wow,” I state, stunned. “Usually, I have to beg and plead for you to take me places, more often than not, stalk you. The tables have turned. Now you're the one extending the invites.”
He groans before glancing back at me with those unfathomable pools of blue. “You don't have to come.”
I shake my head at him furiously. “I'll be there. You just try and stop me!” He breaks out into a warm smile. “I'd prefer not to.”
Chapter 32
Degenerate
“Wow!” Bell exclaims from beside me as she eyes the racing area. “This is so exciting! Is this even legal?”
I shake my head.
“Even more exciting!”
I chuckle. “Trust you to find something illegal absolutely amazing.”
Bells grins in response. “What can I say?” she asks playfully before heading in the direction where we last saw Max, Grey, and Jay go.
I, on the other hand, go wandering off on my own.
I glance around the busy area. Tonight must be somewhat of a serious race. Nonetheless, Jay doesn't seem too bothered about it.
I'm disrupted from my thoughts when I see a blue GT come swerving in like a madman. This should be interesting considering the driver is a crazy person. I watch intently as the winner steps out of their GT. My eyes widen all the more when I see that the crazy person is a female.
She smirks at the losers only crossing the finish line now.
I push past the praising crowds surrounding her, making my way right to the front where I see her in an argument with 'second place'.
“You cheated, Ems!” Second place roars.
At seeing his temper, I immediately recognize him as the guy who was in a fight the first time I was here. I'm able to place the girl's face as well. Something tells me that they're not a couple after all.
She merely laughs in reply as if mocking him. “Said 'second place', you freaken amateur.”
I have to hold back my own laughter.
'Green eyes' shakes his head, furious, before retreating. The crowd follows after him to get the full story.
“Well, hello there, first place,” I greet. “I'm Aqueela and you're damn cool.”
She takes one look at me before a sly smirk curves her lips. “Ah, so you're JT's girl then?” she asks with raised eyebrows, catching me off guard.
I furrow my eyebrows in thought and eventually decide to just go with it. “Yeah,” I reply happily, dropping my hand when she doesn't take it. “Yeah, I am,” I lie. This is what she gets for making assumptions. “But how did you know that?” I question, pressing for an answer.
“Grey may have mentioned that you're psychotic.” She shrugs.
Of course, Grey said that!
I frown and tap my chin in thought. “Still doesn't explain how you knew who I was.”
She laughs at this, much to my surprise. “Believe me…” she trails off with a genuine smile, “it does. Grey's statement gave you away immediately. Think back to how you just introduced yourself to me.”
I snap my fingers in realization. “I thought it was normal enough.”
“It wasn't,” she informs me with a chuckle.
“How do you know Grey and JT—” I correct myself, “I mean, Jay?”
“I don't know Jay as well as I'd like to. He usually keeps to himself. Nonetheless, he's reigning champion around here. If you race here, it's impossible not to have heard about him,” she explains.
“I had no idea,” I confess. I knew he was good but I didn't know he was that good.
“As for Grey, he's somewhat of a friend of mine.”
“Mhmm, interesting,” I say as I process it all. “I wasn't aware that Grey had any friends. Forgiv
e me for being rude, he just doesn't seem like the 'friend' type. He said so himself. He and Jay have this thing that friends are overrated.”
“So they're both still going on about that then?” she asks, amused. “Jay and
Grey like to think that they don't need anyone but themselves.”
I grin at this.
“Oh, and by the way—” she continues, “—we don't shake hands around
here. It's kinda weird. Anyway, I'm Emma.”
“Sure thing, first place,” I remark teasingly. “So, who was that stupid guy accusing you of cheating?”
Emma flashes me a playful grin in response. “That stupid guy would be my one and only older brother, Landon.”
“Oops. Sorry, I didn't know 'second place' was your—”
She laughs, waving off the matter. “It's chill. He is stupid, but, hey, at the end of the day, I love him. We share blood after all.”
I nod, completely understanding.
“He's just mad because I beat him again, the deadbeat,” she adds, her grin widening at the thought.
Before I even get the chance to reply, a black Gallardo revs its engine loudly as if calling for attention. It does a few donuts, kicking up dust, before finally coming to a halt in front of us.
I notice Emma stiffen from beside me. “I thought he wasn't attending tonight.”
Before I can ask who, a guy with shiny, blonde hair in a tight v-neck steps out of the car. He takes a second or two to admire the scenery, by that, I mean how skilled he parked his car. Arrogance is practically dripping off of him. His dark eyes immediately settle on Emma and blaze up like a wildfire as a slick smirk dominates his features.
“Emma, what a delight to see you again,” he confidently breaks the silence in a thick British accent as he stares Emma down, unmoved.
“Xavier,” Emma mutters, sending off waves of discomfort.
She really doesn't like this Xavier guy, that, or she's madly in love with him. Who knows? I've never really been a good judge of character, just look at my friends.
His smirk transforms into a kilowatt grin upon hearing Emma's anxious tone. His dark eyes rake over her appearance shamelessly, from top to bottom.