“It’s not. He’s a good kid who made some bad choices. You had no right to butt into her life like that, honey.”
I stop listening to their conversation. My heart twists, and my stomach tightens. Bryce probably hates me. I can’t believe my father told him to leave. Well, okay, no, I can, but it still upsets me all the same.
But I think what really hurts is Bryce leaving. Nothing bothers Bryce; he’s even told me so himself. But something my father said set him off. I’ll just have to wait this little storm out for a few more minutes, or until my parents decide to leave, to call Bryce and apologize.
It takes until almost nine thirty for my parents to leave. I pull out my cell and find his name. The line rings one, two, almost three times before I hear, “Hey.”
“Hi. I got your note.”
“Yeah. Um … I shouldn’t have given that to Emily. I’m sorry.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Okay. Well, I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I’ve got to go.”
“Hey. Are you trying to get rid of me?”
I hear him sigh. “Listen, coming there was a mistake. Sorry. It won’t happen again.” He doesn’t even give me a chance to say anything back. He just hangs up. That’s the end of our conversation.
Two weeks go by. It’s almost Halloween, and Bryce has yet to speak to me. Graham, funny enough, has loads to say every day. And Bryce answers him just fine, but as soon as I say something, he clams up. Seriously, do I have a curse on me? Will all the men who become friends with me turn into giant icebergs or something if they continue to hang out with me?
I’ve had enough of the silent treatment. I march right over to Mrs. Vixen’s desk before class starts. “I want new partners. I realize it’s late in the semester to request a change, but I need one. Both of my partners have been giving me the silent treatment. Neither of them want to meet up to go over homework. I’m not certain we’re getting the same answers, and I can’t have my grade influenced by them.”
Mrs. Vixen raises a slightly gray brow. “Have you asked your group why they seem to be excluding you from their study sessions?”
“No. But I don’t see the point of homework being counted as double the grade and the whole group having to come up with the same answers. How is that even fair?”
“Madison, I realize you may find my methods a little odd. But here is the thing I want you to learn from my odd method: There is always someone who knows something you do not. Later in life, you will probably face difficult things and will need more than just yourself to solve the issue. Groups are formed to find more solutions for simple problems. This is why I grade group homework the way I do. If one of you did the work and let the other copy, is this really helpful? No. Because when the tests come, this person still won’t know how to do a darn thing. And it will show. Therefore, your grade as a group will drop. Would a person benefit from everyone doing individual work more than collaborating with a team?” She shakes her head. “No. Because three brains are always better than one.”
“But—”
“Madison, if this is really that big of an issue for you, I will try to place you in another group. But it’ll take me until Friday to find a replacement.”
I try to smile, but inside I’m dying. I have to endure this silent treatment for another week? Slowly, I make my way to my seat. Stepping over backpacks haphazardly thrown in the aisles, I overstretch myself on Maggie Sender’s bag and trip. My body lurches forward, my face within inches of smashing into the probably-never-been-shampooed fifteen-year-old carpet, when something grips my waist and pulls me upright. I gasp. Smoothing my hands down my front, I straighten. Turning slightly toward my savior, I’m instantly stunned speechless to see it’s Jake Foster.
“Be careful where you step.”
I nod stupidly and drop my gaze. A book being slammed closed causes me to jump. I shake myself from my daze and take a seat at my desk. Maggie whispers loudly at Kelly, a girl I know, but I’m not really friends with, “Oh my God. I would totally trip over my own shit in order to have Jake Foster catch me in his strong arms.”
Kelly giggles. “I know, right? So lucky.”
They both turn to me, but I pretend I don’t hear them. Instead, I dare myself to look over at Bryce. He’s staring at me as if he’d love nothing more than to shoot lasers at me and turn me into ash. I swallow hard and pull out my books.
I don’t understand why he’s so mad at me. I called him. He’s the one who told me it was a mistake and then hasn’t talked to me since. What’s sad is I miss him. I didn’t think that would be possible because he’s an asshole. Well, okay, he’s really not, but he’s certainly acting like one now.
Class seems to drone on. I’m drawing flowers, swirls, and scribbles in the corner of my notebook when an elbow shoots into my side. I glare at Graham, and he says, “We’re supposed to get into our groups.”
I roll my eyes and move my desk toward him and Bryce. I notice both of them are flipping through a packet of problems. “What’s that?” I ask.
“The problems we’re supposed to do tomorrow. The study guide. Weren’t you paying attention?” Graham asks.
I groan. “Oh.” Bryce reaches over to untuck mine from my book and drops it on top of my notebook. He returns his attention to his own packet, and I sigh. “Don’t worry. I requested a new group. You two will have someone else on Friday.”
Bryce finally locks eyes with me. “Why?”
“Clearly you two don’t want me here. The silence makes me uncomfortable.”
“Not everything is about you,” Graham says.
Bryce doesn’t say a word; he just stares at me.
I stop looking at both of them and riffle through the packet. Most of the questions I already know the answers to. I lightly pencil them in and will fill in the work on them later. I’m on page four when Bryce asks, “Don’t you have a meet tonight?”
“Not tonight. I’ve got to work at the movie theater until eight.”
“Well, I’ve got stuff to do after eight. Some of us have a life,” Graham adds.
I glance up from my papers. Graham is slouching in his chair, chewing some gum, his arms crossed. Bryce is flipping through his packet and doesn’t bother acknowledging either of us. I want to scream, “Look at me!” but I don’t. Instead, I shrug. “I’m sorry some of us don’t have college entirely paid for.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Graham asks, looking completely offended.
“Um, I’m pretty sure it was straightforward, dude,” Bryce mumbles. “You’re lucky your parents only had one kid and saved up enough for you to go to any college you want to without having to take out loans.”
Graham stands. “I’ve gotta use the restroom.”
Bryce shakes his head but goes back to working on problems silently. I can’t take it, though. He’s so close, yet it feels like he’s halfway across the globe. “What did I do to make you hate me so much?”
He lowers his pencil and tilts his head in my direction. “I don’t hate you.”
“Then why are you acting like I’m not here? In school, at your house, you and Graham don’t even say hi to me anymore. I know why he acts like that, but I don’t get why you are. I thought …” I can’t finish the sentence because the word “friends” catches in my throat.
“Mads, you don’t need someone like me in your life. I mean, before Graham turned into a walking asshat when your cousin came to town, did you even care if we never spoke to each other?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. You never seemed to have anything to add to any conversations I started.”
He raises a brow. “Okay.”
“Never mind.” I start working on my packet. Screw the whole “three brains are better than one” crap. I don’t need him, and I don’t need Graham either.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bryce
Avoiding her is the hardest freaking thing I’ve ever done. I like Madison way more than I should. She makes me want to make he
r laugh, blush, and smile at least once every day. Lately though, she’s been frowning, close to tears, and just generally looking miserable. And I know it’s my fault. When she asked me if I hated her, I almost grabbed her face and kissed her. I don’t want her thinking I hate her, but she can’t know my real feelings. Her father made it perfectly clear she’s got her future lined up. And me, well, I’ll just get in the way, and that’s not what I want.
Graham’s in my room, sitting on my bed, glancing out the window to Madison’s room. I know he’s not looking for her, but for Sarah. He’s been doing this for the past two weeks, and it’s annoying as hell. He mutters curses each time he sees her and then yells profanities about Ryan. So mostly, I’ve been ignoring him. I can only take so much of, “She left me,” before I want to hit him.
I perk up as soon as he asks, “I thought Madison had to work tonight.”
“She does.”
“Then why is she in her room?”
“What?” I roll my chair over to the window, and sure enough, there’s Madison sitting at her desk. I snatch up my phone and click on her name.
“What’s up?” she answers.
“I thought you had to work.”
“I am.”
“Bullshit! I’m looking right at you.”
She looks out her window and then draws the blinds down. “Fine, I’m not at work. I got fired.”
“Why?”
“I had to lock up Saturday. My boss didn’t come in until tonight, which is when I was supposed to return the keys. But I didn’t have the keys.”
“What happened to them?”
I can hear the sob in her voice. “I don’t know. If I knew that, I wouldn’t have been fired. I have a feeling who has them, but I’ve torn my room apart looking for them.”
I sigh. “We’re coming over.” Graham looks at me and starts to shake his head, but I smack him. He groans and shoves his books in his bag.
“No, Bryce. Graham won’t want to be here, and I don’t blame him. Plus, my room is a mess.”
We’re already walking down the stairs and out of the house. “All right. I’m going to say this one last time. I don’t care if he doesn’t want to be there; he’ll man up and deal. I’m coming over there because I’m going to help you, Madison. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. In fact, I want you to come downstairs and let me in.”
“Bryce …” She breathes my name, and I swear I’d do anything to hear it again.
I knock on her front door. “Smalls, I know you hear this. Let us in.”
I hear her stumble over some things and then run down the steps. She opens the door and looks at me. Her face is flushed, but she looks beautiful.
“Hi.” I hang up my phone and smile at her.
She smiles back. “Hi.”
“Oh, jeez. I think I barfed in my mouth. Let’s get this shit over with because I don’t want to be here when she comes home. She isn’t home, is she?” Graham asks.
I almost turn around and punch him. He might be my friend, but he’s acting like a stupid baby. I can’t stand it.
“Sarah’s not here. She left with her new friends Karen, Blair, Ginger, and Maggie.” I don’t miss the way she says Ginger’s name like it’s vomit in her mouth.
Graham and I follow her up to her room. I glance at the open door to Kyle’s room, and Graham asks, “When’s he coming back?”
She shrugs. “Don’t know. Probably Thanksgiving. Like he did last year.”
“Do you ever think about staying in there until he comes home to visit?” I ask.
“No. I’m not letting her have another thing.”
She pushes open her door, and holy shit, she wasn’t kidding. She has ripped that room apart. Sheets are tossed in the middle of the floor, along with clothes, shoes, and purses. It looks like a department store took over her room. “Smalls, what the—”
“Jesus, Maddy,” Graham finishes for me. “What the hell did you do?”
She rolls her eyes and steps over the mess. “As you can see, I’ve gone through everything.”
She certainly has. There are drawers dumped out; everything in the closet is gone.
“I flipped the mattresses. That top one was a challenge. But no keys. So I’ve got to get everything back before Sarah and my parents get home. And then I have to get homework done.”
I close the space between us and brush my fingers along her cheek. “It’s okay. Graham and I will help with the heavy stuff, then we’ll start on the homework, and you can copy.”
She gives me a weary look. “I don’t know.”
Graham huffs, “Maddy, you bailed us out enough times that we owe you. Just direct us, and we’ll get it done.”
She hugs me and then Graham. I clench my jaw when I see his hand skim her lower back. The thought of ripping his arms out of their sockets and smacking him with them makes me smile. “Smalls, what do you want us to do?”
She pulls back from Graham and points to the beds. “I need to put the sheets back on them. Bryce, who makes your bed?”
I glare at Graham because he starts chuckling like a damn schoolgirl. “I do,” I mumble. I’m not embarrassed. But there is some shit a guy just doesn’t announce to the world. This would be one. The other would be that he always tells his mom he loves her and good night.
Maddy grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Can you make Sarah’s bed then? I’ll do my own later.”
“I can make yours too,” I say without thinking.
Graham walks past me and coughs, “Pussy.”
He has no right to talk.
I notice his eyes wandering over to Madison’s ass, and I smack his arm. “Don’t,” I say through gritted teeth.
“What?”
“You know what,” I growl.
He shrugs and grabs the sheets. I climb the ladder on the front of the bed. Remaining on the third step, I hunch over and tell Graham to hand over the sheets. Layer by layer, I get the top and bottom bunks all made. I then move on to helping Madison put boxes in the closet. She chews on her lower lip, and I have a strong urge to pull her into my arms and nip at it. Standing this close to her and watching her teeth bite and release that lip is doing a number on my thoughts. Let me count the ways to take Madison Issac in her room.
I tear my eyes away from her and grab items from the floor. Madison takes the hangers from me one by one and places them back in the closet. We do this in silence for what feels like eternity, while Graham puts together all the drawers. He clears his throat. “Maddy, where was this picture?”
I glance back at the frame he’s holding up. It’s one of all of us from a few years ago. It was taken in her driveway near the basketball hoop. “Just toss it in the drawer,” she says and then elbows me. “Bags, please.”
“When did you start keeping it in the drawer?”
Madison looks over at Graham. “I don’t know. When you started dating Karen Higgins.” That’s a lie. She had that photo out a few weeks ago when we were in her room. I don’t say anything, though.
“Why, though?” Graham asks.
She groans. “I don’t know. Can we get back to the task at hand?”
He stops asking questions. I’m glad too because I don’t want to know the reason. In fact, I’m certain if she confesses how she feels about Graham right now, I might lose it. I’m no good for her, I know this, but Graham is probably worse.
“Bryce?”
I shake my head. “Hmm?”
“Did you hear me?”
“Bags, right?”
“No, I asked if you were okay. You went pale for a minute, then you, um …” She places her hand on top of my closed fist. “I think you’re bleeding.”
I open my hand, and sure enough, blood smears my palm where my nails punctured my skin. I wipe my hand on my jeans. “It’s nothing.”
She nods and goes back to putting all the clothes in the closet. It takes us another ten minutes between the three of us to get the room all put back together. But she still hasn’t found her miss
ing keys.
“I knew I should have put them on the same ring as my car keys,” she groans as she takes a seat on the floor.
I don’t ask her why she didn’t. Neither does Graham.
Graham and I walk to the park. I pop a cigarette in my mouth, and he puts a joint in his. He takes a long drag and then chokes out, “Are you into Madison? Seriously, bro.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Her dad hates me, and she’s going off to college soon. What good is hooking up with her now when in a few months we’re going to be saying good-bye to each other?”
I take a hit of my cigarette, and Graham laughs. “Dude, you can’t think like that. You gotta think about how much fun you can have in that short time. And why do you care what her dad thinks? That’s never stopped you before.”
“I can’t. Madison is different. I just … Why are we talking about this anyway? I thought you told me you didn’t like me hanging out with her and that she’s crazy?”
He nods. “I did think she was crazy, but only because Sarah made me think it.” He takes another drag from his joint and blows it out slowly. “Seriously, man, before all this shit, I thought Maddy was cool, but you know I think of her as a sister. That’s why it kind of weirds me out. I mean, you’re like my brother, and she’s like my sister. You two couldn’t be hooking up.”
“Well, we’re not, and we weren’t, so it doesn’t matter.”
He smacks my arm right as I release a cloud of smoke. “I know. That’s what I’m getting at. You should. I saw how she looked at you. I even saw how you looked at her and how pissed you got when I asked about that picture. Dude, if you like her, you better go get her, because rumor has it Foster is about to ask her out. You know he’s only after her because she’s probably the only virgin in our grade—well, besides Holly Dive, but I don’t think you could pay someone a million bucks to take her to bed.”
Holly is gross. She smells like she rolls in trash, has brown teeth, and is not what you would call a small girl. I finish my cigarette and he’s still working on his joint when I spot Madison running up the road. “Put that shit out,” I growl to Graham.
Bryce (Scandalous Boys #1) Page 11