Gus nodded.
Steve wished us well and then we all left the restaurant.
“Goodnight Mr. Jackson,” I said, as his father headed toward his car. “Thanks for paying our bill!”
He turned around and waved.
“God, that was embarrassing,” Gus said when we were alone in the truck.
“Things happen. I’m sure the rest of the night will be great.”
His stomach gurgled again. With a panicked expression he opened up the door and hopped out. “I’ll be back.”
Watching Gus run back to the restaurant was satisfying. As much as I wanted to keep torturing him with more laxative, I didn’t want to send him to the hospital, however. But, I wasn’t through with him. Not yet.
Ten minutes later, as we made our way to the dance, Gus seemed to be doing better, although he was pretty upset about losing his wallet.
“It had better be at home,” he kept mumbling.
I bit back a smile.
We arrived at the high school at around eight-thirty and walked into the gymnasium. There was a big banner that showed the charity dance was in honor of supporting the Me Too Movement. I looked at Gus and couldn’t believe the irony of everything.
“So, how much did you need to donate to get into the dance?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Thirty dollars was the minimum.”
“How much did you donate?”
“Thirty,” he replied as two couples stopped next to us. Gus introduced me and then grew unnaturally quiet.
“Are you okay?” I asked, when they left.
“I hate to do this to you but I need to use the bathroom again.”
“Oh, it’s okay. Where is it?”
“Just outside of the gym.”
I remembered seeing a donation table, so his timing was perfect. “I’ll come with you and wait in the hallway.”
We walked out of the gym and he practically ran over to the bathroom.
I quickly headed over to the donation table, where a woman was seated.
“Hi,” she said, smiling up at me. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. My date wants to make an additional donation.”
She smiled and handed me an envelope. “That’s wonderful. Just fill this out and put your donation inside and seal it.”
“Thank you.”
I turned around and quickly filled out the information. I then took the money out of my purse, put in the envelope, and sealed it. Turning back around, I handed the envelope back to her.
“It’s a pretty sizable one. My date is very humble about the donation. He worked his tail off to give what he could though.”
“That is so sweet and generous of him.”
“That’s him. Sweet and generous,” I said, rolling my eyes inwardly. “Which is why he’s donating eleven hundred dollars.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow that is very generous of him.” She read the name on the envelope. “Gus, Jackson?”
“Yes.”
“Tell him thank you. I wish there were more young men like him in the world.”
I laughed out loud.
She gave me a funny look.
“Sorry. Um, the donation is very well deserved.”
“I think so, too. Have fun at the dance.”
“Thank you.”
Gus walked out of the bathroom just as I left the table.
“Feeling better?” I asked.
“Yes. I am so sorry and embarrassed. This never happened to me before,” he murmured as we walked back into the gym.
“It’s okay. Everyone gets the shits, Gus,” I said, loud enough for a group of girls to hear. “Maybe we should get you something for the diarrhea?”
Mortified, he pulled me closer. “Could you please keep your voice down? I don’t want the entire school to find out about it.”
“Oh, sorry,” I said, covering my mouth. “I have a bad habit of talking too loud sometimes.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said dryly.
“You wanna dance?” I asked, when the song Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came on. “Or, do you think it be bad for your stomach?”
“We can try. Jesus, what’s with the old eighties’ songs tonight?”
“I love this kind of music,” I replied, grabbing his hand. “It’s so retro. Let’s go out onto the dance floor.”
“Okay.”
When we found an open spot, I almost chickened out. But, I reminded myself that I didn’t know anyone at the school. Plus, I was there to embarrass the hell out of him.
Gus moved very slowly, obviously still weak in the stomach. I, on the other hand, began dancing like a crazy woman. After spending the morning learning how to dance like John Travolta, in Saturday Night Fever, to moving like “Carlton”, from the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, I let loose and made a fool out of myself, all the while grinning like an idiot.
“Oh my God, this is so much fun!” I shouted as Gus stared at me in horror.
People around us started gaping and laughing hysterically.
“What the hell are you doing?” Gus asked.
“Come one, shake that money-maker, Gus!” I did the The Sprinkler and sang out loud. “Oh, girls just wanna have… fun!”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me off of the dance floor.
“Why are you being so mean?” I pouted loudly. “Is it because I laughed at your penis?”
A group of girls huddled near the bleachers burst out laughing.
He looked mortified. “What? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“It was really insensitive of me,” I continued, impressed with my acting. Drama Club was definitely paying off. “Maybe if you get it circumcised… it will give the illusion of having a normal sized one.”
“You fucking bitch,” he growled, pulling me toward the gymnasium’s doorway.
I knew the gig was up, but I didn’t care. I was ready to rip him a new asshole. Before we could exit the gym, however, a man walked in smiling at Gus.
“Mr. Jackson, just the guy I was looking for,” the stranger said.
Gus stopped abruptly and let go of my arm. “Hi, Mr. Brooks.”
“This must be your date. I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you. Do you go to this school?” Mr. Brooks asked.
“No. I go to Diamond Lake.”
He laughed. “Oh, okay. That explains why I don’t recognize you. I’m the principal here at Lancaster.”
I smiled up at him. I had a feeling I knew what this was about. “Nice meeting you.”
“Likewise.” He looked at Gus. “I just wanted to personally tell you how impressed I was with your donation.”
“Uh, okay?” Gus replied, looking confused.
“When I heard that you donated eleven-hundred-dollars, out of your own pocket, I was shocked and thrilled. You should be very proud of yourself, young man,” Mr. Brooks said.
He stood there, dumbstruck. “Wait, what?”
I spoke up. “Well, I can understand why he donated such an impressive amount. The Me Too Movement means a lot to him. He’s always complaining about the horrible things done to girls, even at this school. It really makes him sick to his stomach, right Gus?”
Gus was still in too much shock to answer.
I looked at Mr. Brooks again. “In fact, did you know that there have been bets placed on who can have sex with a girl first?”
The principal’s eyes widened in horror. “You’re kidding?”
“I wish I was. I bet Gus could give you some names of the students doing this,” I added.
“I had no idea this was happening,” Mr. Brooks said gravely. “It’s very concerning.”
I glared at Gus. “Yeah. It is. Humiliating. Embarrassing. Sad.”
Gus looked like he was ready to vomit.
“Now might be a good time to tell Mr. Brooks what you know. While it’s still fresh in your head,” I said.
“Yes, why don’t we go back to my office?” Mr. Brooks said to Gus. “This sounds like a serious matter. One that needs to be addressed.�
��
“And I can’t think of a better time for such a discussion,” I said with a smile.
Before he could answer, I turned around, walked out of the gym, and left the school feeling elated. As horrible as the day had started, the night had certainly made up for some of it.
Kara, who’d been waiting in the parking lot, pulled up to the curb.
I got in and looked at her.
“Don’t keep me in suspense. How did it go?” she asked.
I grinned. “Perfect. It couldn’t have ended any better.”
I’d learned that I could play with the big boys, and even beat them at their own game. It was a great feeling. One I wanted to celebrate.
“Let’s go to Herschel’s. You can tell me all about it. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
We both laughed.
My phone buzzed and I half-expected it to be Gus, but it was Chase sending me a text.
Chase: Can we meet? I want to sort things out.
For a second, I started thinking with my heart and wanted to tell him that we could. But, I didn’t know how I’d ever be able to trust him again.
“Who was that? Gus?” Kara asked, pulling out of the parking lot.
“No, it’s Chase.” I smiled grimly. “He wants to meet.”
“You’re not going to, are you?”
“No.”
“He’s not going to give up. People say that he can be pretty relentless.”
“I don’t care. I’m through with Chase.”
“Good. You deserve better.”
Nodding, I stared out the window. I didn’t know what I deserved, but it definitely wasn’t what he’d pulled on me. I wasn’t about to let him, Gus, or any of the A-squaders, get that close to me again.
End of Book ONE
After crashing and burning with Mackenzie, Chase Adams is more than ever determined to win her back. This time all bets are off and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the girl before she’s someone else’s prize.
Pre-order coming soon – reserve now and pay when it’s released.
Also by Cassie Alexandra (Written as K.L. Middleton)
Find Here - Tangled Mess
Enjoy Bad Boys and Sassy Girls? Check out Tangled Mess
She has a dream...
Twenty-one-year-old hairstylist, Tiffany Banks, thought her life was planned out until her coworkers talk her into auditioning for American Icon, a popular reality-singing competition. Unfortunately, her dreams of stardom are threatened when one of the judges, a notorious bad-boy rock star, Ransom, is hell-bent on standing in her way.
He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants...
After winning American Icon four years ago and signing away his soul, Ransom’s life became a blur of booze, concerts, and women. Then, when pressured into becoming one of the judges on the show to save his career, he finds himself face-to-face with Tiffany, his sister's beautiful and naive friend, he takes it upon himself to stop her from making the same mistakes he did, and screwing up her life, no matter the consequences.
Also by Cassie Alexandra (Written as K.L. Middleton)
Find Here - Tangled Mess
Enjoy Bad Boys and Sassy Girls? Check out Tangled Mess
She has a dream...
Twenty-one-year-old hairstylist, Tiffany Banks, thought her life was planned out until her coworkers talk her into auditioning for American Icon, a popular reality-singing competition. Unfortunately, her dreams of stardom are threatened when one of the judges, a notorious bad-boy rock star, Ransom, is hell-bent on standing in her way.
He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants...
After winning American Icon four years ago and signing away his soul, Ransom’s life became a blur of booze, concerts, and women. Then, when pressured into becoming one of the judges on the show to save his career, he finds himself face-to-face with Tiffany, his sister's beautiful and naive friend, he takes it upon himself to stop her from making the same mistakes he did, and screwing up her life, no matter the consequences.
Also -
Find Here - Tangled Fury
If you enjoy steamy romance and heart-stopping suspense, check out Tangled Fury. (Excellent reviews)
After escaping an abusive marriage, Sera runs to California to start a new life with her daughter, Emma. There she meets new friends and eventually learns to fall in love again. However, just when things are going well, her past creeps up to haunt her.
Thane Bishop wasn't looking for a relationship, least of all with Sera, the mousy nail technician he'd hired for his newly acquired salon, Tangled. But, love is never planned, and he quickly finds himself risking everything to help her, and her young child, Emma, escape from a violent past that refuses to be left behind.
Find Here - Billionaire at Sea (Both Books)
A bachelor party on the high seas gone horribly wrong. Murder, romance, suspense, and humor.
When Mia James is hired to cater a high-profile bachelor party in the Caribbean with her friend Ridley, she is reluctant to do it, but needs the money. Then she meets Damian Stryker, the handsome, rich billionaire whose hired them, and finds herself trying to fight the attraction she has for the self-proclaimed playboy.
After being forced into early retirement, professional baseball pitcher, Damian Stryker, takes advantage of his recent inheritance and hosts a bachelor party on his million-dollar yacht. Meanwhile, he finds himself wanting to taste more than just Mia James' cooking, and things heat up quickly between the two. It seems like the perfect weekend until his world comes crashing down on him.
Love crime and mystery thrillers? Check out Looking for Lainey. Written by Kristen Middleton (Cassie Alexandra)
Find Here - Looking for Lainey
A heart-stopping ending you won’t see coming!
Your worst nightmare as a parent - having your child stolen when your back is turned.
What lengths would you go to get your son or daughter back?
An eight-year-old girl abducted by sex traffickers
A distraught mother riddled with guilt for taking her eyes off of her daughter.
A man close to both of them... guilty as sin.
Psychic Carissa Jones is once again pulled into a case... this one involving the sordid and terrifying world of child trafficking.
62,000 words with no cliffhanger.
Adult language and situations (fyi - there are no sexually explicit scenes)
After Burn (High School Bully Romance) (Diamond Lake High School Book 1) Page 23