The Way You Love Me: A High School Bully Romance

by Lannah Smith

  Leon was scowling at him, his eyes with a promise of retribution in the form of major bodily harm.

  John gave him a little wave and turned his head back to Rohan who too was scowling.

  "Stop staring at them," he whispered.

  Rohan cut his eyes to him. "You brought me here."

  "So?"

  "So fuck off."

  With a sigh, John tore his gaze from him and looked at the couple they were spying on again. Rohan and John had been here before Leon and Sophia had even arrived. Somehow, John knew that Leon would take her here because Leon had once said this was the best burger place in town. John also knew that he'd definitely take her here because John had asked Alec to trail them and Alec told him they were riding to this direction.

  "You owe me five hundred bucks," John told Rohan.

  Rohan's jaw worked under his skin. "Bet's not over yet."

  "You just said he couldn't stop staring at her tits," he said with laughter in his tone.

  "So what? He's still not going to keep her after this."

  John gave him a grin.

  Last night, he, Skull and Rohan had made a bet on Leon and Sophia. It was close to dawn when the rest of their friends finally left and the house was at peace. They had stayed because John was too lazy to move from the couch, Rohan was too drunk to leave the chair he was resting on and Skull was too full from all the pizza they ordered to even get up from the floor.

  "Leon's going to dump Sophia when this is all over," Rohan had suddenly said.

  "He won't," John returned, smirking at the ceiling.

  "Sorry but I have to be with Rohan on this one, John," Skull said, his voice sad.

  John turned his body to the side and frowned down at him. "I thought you were on her side?"

  "She's cute but she can't take Leon on," he answered. "I don't think she'll even last long with him or if she really wants to be with him. And it's not fair of Leon to force her into a relationship."

  "Wow, you suddenly got serious," Rohan commented, slurring his words a bit. "But I agree with you on all counts except the last one. Leon's not going to continue this fake relationship of theirs. He's going to cut her off as soon as we get the supplier. End of story."

  John didn't know why but it irritated him to hear those words. He didn't like anything about this discussion and he was beginning to like it even less.

  "But what if he won't?" he challenged.

  "What if he will?" Rohan shot back.

  "Oh, this is going to be fun," Skull muttered in amusement. "Since none of you shitheads like to lose, let's make a bet. Five hundred bucks. Me and Rohan against you."

  "Easy money," Rohan murmured.

  "It's not about the money, Skull," John admonished. "It's about our pride. The kid here just doesn't want to admit that I'm right about this."

  "Shut up. Don't call me kid, trust fund boy."

  "Oh, is that the best insult you can do?"

  "I haven't even begun insulting you, fart face."

  "So childish."

  They continued to trade insults while Skull snickered on the floor until Leon barged out of his bedroom, yelling at them to shut up. As amusing as that scene had been, John thought about it a great deal since then. It wasn't really about the money. It wasn't even about being right and winning the bet.

  It was about making his best friend happy.

  And if being with Sophia was making him happy, he'd do everything he could to make sure that his happiness wouldn't disappear. Even if it meant John going against Leon's wishes.

  "Want to get out of here?" John asked Rohan when the couple started to eat.

  Rohan didn't answer. Instead, he rose to his feet and stalked out of the restaurant. John followed in a more leisure pace. His face hurt from grinning too much but he couldn't stop. He liked what he saw, liked how Leon was so different with Sophia.

  Yeah, she was going to have to stay.

  And yeah, he was sure to win this bet. It'll be a blast bragging about it in Rohan's face.

  "You go on ahead, John," Rohan called out to him as soon as he cleared the doorway. "I'm staying for a while."

  He frowned. "Why?"

  He got his answer when the hot waitress who had served Leon and Sophia appeared and whispered into Rohan's ear. Rohan gave her a nod then she disappeared back inside the building. Then he smirked at John and made a shooing motion with his hand.

  Damn it, but the kid had game.

  Shaking his head, John gave him the middle finger and went on to his truck. He was halfway there when he noticed the girl leaning against it, her eyes on the phone in her hands. He ignored the fact that she was there and popped the locks of his truck with his car key, pulled the door open and got inside.

  "Aren't you going to take me home, John?" her voice came to him before he could close the door. "I'm done with my shift."

  He let himself sigh. "I'm busy."

  "Oh, come on. Just for old times' sake?"

  John stared at the girl who worked as the hostess of the restaurant he just came from. She was still leaning against the hood of his truck, tapping away on her phone. He still couldn't believe she even worked there and he still couldn't believe she lasted even more than a year.

  "Fine," he grumbled. "Get in, Stella."

  Stella lifted her head and gave him a wink through the windshield. Then she rounded the hood, opened the door to the passenger seat and climbed in his truck. Her deep cleavage peeked from her uniform. Those big, irresistible tits of hers were what made him fuck her in the first place. She hadn't changed. Not even a little.

  "I missed you, you know."

  "You missed my money," John answered as he started the truck. "Not me."

  "That's not true," she denied.

  "I heard you're into sugar daddies now. They don't do for you anymore?"

  "Are you jealous?"

  He slanted his gaze at her. "Why would I be jealous?"

  Her lips turned up into a seductive smile. "Don't worry, darling. You're still my number one."

  He didn't respond. It wasn't even worth responding to.

  Stella was the daughter of one of his father's business associates who'd gone bankrupt. She didn't like being poor, she was a spoiled child who'd always got her way. So she leeched on anyone and everyone who had money. He didn't care that she was gold-digger, he had enough money to make her satisfied. What he cared for were her legs that seemed to go on forever, that could around him twice to lock him close while he was fucking her.

  What he also cared for was the information she always seemed to have, useful and accurate information she got from fuck-knows-where. And she didn't share unless money was involved.

  "I heard you were looking for someone."

  He glanced at her.

  It used to bother him, her knowing the things she knew. But since she was useful, he didn't have her looked into.

  "Do you know Dwayne Williams?" he asked as he turned into the street.

  She snorted. "The heroin addict? Of course I do."

  "We're looking for his supplier. Do you know where we can find him?"

  "No. But I know someone who does."

  His head jerked to her. When he saw her giving him a naughty smile, his gut tightened. They were at a stoplight so he turned his upper body to her and leaned in.

  "How much?" he asked.

  Her smile turned into a grin. "How badly do you want it?"

  He exhaled impatiently. "Don't play games with me, Stella."

  Her lip started to curl up before she caught it. She knew that'd piss him off.

  But he saw it and it pissed him off.

  They needed her information. It was slow. Fucking slow. They had no leads and Leon was getting frustrated. He should have gone to her as soon as they were finished with Williams but a part of him didn't want to finish this job quickly. Maybe it was because he wanted to be sure of Leon's feelings for Sophia. But time was running out and they needed to get this done.

  "How much, Stella?"


  She put a hand on his leg. "I'll let you negotiate with me at home," she said in a low, husky voice.

  John leaned back on his seat and pushed the pedal when the light turned green.

  The bitch and her stupid games.

  Stella knew how important information was to John. They'd been doing this for years. Still, she was good in bed and he didn't mind her games. She knew that if she crossed the line, he'd make her regret it deeply.

  "Fine," he answered, a small smirk gracing his lips. "Let's negotiate."

  "No."

  "Come on, Terry. Please?"

  "No," I repeated, waving the waiter away after I was done with my order. "Stop pushing it, Hannah."

  Hannah groaned and sat back on her chair. "At least just talk to her."

  "Are you even sure she'll survive the night?" I asked drily.

  "Of course, she will. They're probably having sex right now. You didn't see her but I did since I did her makeup and all. She was hella sexy," she unnecessarily supplied.

  I gave her a dark look as I picked up my glass. "I told you to stay away from her."

  "I wanted her to wear another outfit but she said it was too short," Hannah went on, purposely ignoring the lecture that was coming. "She actually shouted at me, Terry. Shouted at me."

  She actually did the right thing, I thought. Shouting was the only way to get through Hannah's thick head if she was being stubborn.

  "Well, at least she's sensible," I murmured after taking a sip of my water. "But that doesn't change my mind about her."

  Hannah pouted. "I know. Still, I wish you would."

  "And I wish you would listen to me, Hannah. But I guess we don't always get what we want, do we?"

  "Let's stop talking about this," she said in exasperation.

  "You started this," I retorted. "I thought you wanted me to come out with you since you were bored. Yet instead, you're doing another round of begging for this girl you've only known for months."

  Hannah took in breath, leaned across the table and grabbed my hand. "Fine. I'm sorry."

  She was not. Not if she kept on doing this over and over again.

  I didn't share this thought.

  Instead, I muttered, "Whatever."

  She smiled and removed her hand from mine. "Anyway, do you think I should go on a diet?"

  I gave her a once-over. "Is that why you didn't order much? What's the diet for?"

  She shrugged and answered, "I feel pudgy."

  I frowned. "You don't look pudgy."

  "Mom said I was getting fat."

  "She's only saying that to get you to exercise," I told her.

  She burst out laughing. "Me? Exercise? I do exercise, you know. I exercise my lungs when I breathe. And I also exercise my fingers when I text, when I chat on the computer, when I draw..."

  With a grin, I cut her off, "I bet she just wants you to return to the tennis club."

  "I'm done with tennis," she scoffed. "It's not fun anymore."

  "That's what you said about the literature club. And the news club. And the swimming club..."

  She giggled. "You make it sound like I'm a club-whore."

  "If memory serves, you only joined said clubs because, and I quote, one of the members is cute," I said wryly.

  "True, but their personalities were really dull. We didn't match at all. Remember Hector?"

  "From the literature club? What about him?"

  "I went on one date with him. And I kid you not, he wouldn't stop talking about Nartoto."

  My eyebrows rose. "Nartoto?"

  "You know. That anime about the ninja guy."

  Chuckling, I corrected her, "It's Naruto, Hannah."

  She gave me an affronted glare. "Do I look like I watch anime? It's for kids."

  "My cousins would beg to differ. If they hear you say that, they'd shackle you to a chair and subject you to anime torture. I doubt you'll survive."

  "Anime torture?" she asked curiously.

  I shook my head. "You don't want to know."

  "You've got my complete attention, Evans-san," she said in mock seriousness. "And you know I won't stop until my curiosity has been satiated."

  "Fine." I picked up my phone from the table, opened the Youtube app and tapped a few buttons. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

  When the video played, I slid the phone close to her. She took a peek. A clip of Corpse Party was playing on my phone and I watched smugly as her face turned white then green. Hannah didn't have a very strong stomach.

  "Oh, God." She closed her eyes and slid the phone back to me. "They make kids watch that?"

  "Anime isn't just for kids, Hannah," I responded with a grin. "And that's not the only video you'll see if my cousins get a hold of you. It's not even the worse."

  She shuddered. "I get enough of Japan from you, especially when you're spitting mad," she said. "I don't need the cultural lecture from your monster cousins."

  I chuckled again. The food came then and Hannah, who still looked a little sick from the video, didn't dive in her food right away. I pursed my lips to keep myself from smiling at her poor plight. When she continued to pick at her food, I ordered her hot tea to make her feel a little better.

  "Hey, isn't that John's truck?" she suddenly spoke, looking at the window.

  At the mention of his name, I felt my body go still.

  Hesitantly, I turned my head. It was indeed John's truck at the stoplight. And it was indeed John driving.

  But somebody was on the passenger seat.

  A girl.

  And the sight of her burned a hole in me.

  "It's him, isn't it?" Hannah whispered excitedly. "I wonder who the girl is. Probably his girlfriend? Were they out on a date?"

  I felt my breath catch as my stomach both hollowed out and twisted into a knot. I pulled in breath at the pain and looked away.

  "Excuse me," I whispered, removing the napkin from my lap and putting it on the table. "I need to use the ladies' room."

  Hannah didn't even look at me, so engrossed with staring. "Oh, okay," she muttered, waving me off.

  I went to the ladies' room and locked the door. My throat was tight, tears threatening but I beat them back by deep breathing. I knew this was going to happen, that he didn't really mean those words he said but the pain, God, the pain was killing me.

  Because even though I didn't believe him, I had hoped.

  Stupidly, I had hoped he was telling me the truth.

  Fresh pain sliced through me and my body jerked with it. I blinked back the tears and pulled in a deep breath.

  He missed me, huh?

  What a fucking joke.

  He didn't even get to finish.

  John had been making out with Stella, her legs circled around his hips, his shoulders with her arms, both tight, holding on, when the phone started ringing.

  "Don't answer," Stella breathed against his mouth.

  He didn't. He continued to kiss her. He put his hand between them and found her clit with his finger. Her hips reared and she moaned. She was so wet and ready for him.

  "Clothes off," Stella gasped beneath him. "Clothes off, John. I want to feel you."

  The phone continued to ring and he had half the mind to ignore it. Stella was yanking on his clothes impatiently and he let her take his shirt off.

  But what if it was from Leon?

  The thought occurred to him and he stopped. With an irritated growl, he slipped out of the bed and pulled out his phone from his leather jacket on the floor.

  "No," Stella whined.

  "Shut it," he growled as he sat on the edge of the bed.

  It was Skull calling.

  "What?" he answered tersely.

  John could hear him moving when he answered, "Got him."

  His brows shot up and he glanced at Stella, who was glaring at him. "That fast?"

  "What? Did you underestimate me?"

  "I just gave you that information not ten minutes ago."

  "Rohan helped," Skull grudgingly admitte
d. "Tell Stella thanks but you need to come to the warehouse now."