by Janie Marie
“And how is this”—Janie gestured to the door covered in claims of how amazing Logan was in bed—“my fault?”
“Because he still loves you!”
Janie laughed. “All that time you’ve spent studying people like they were little ants you’d never touch, and you can’t see when another person cares for you.”
“Shut up!” Kylie didn’t even want to hear her voice. Logan had already gone over this with her. “It’s not easy to accept. I haven’t had anyone, and you took Logan from me.”
Janie smiled, and it was terrifying. “I get it’s not easy to trust that someone cares, but you’re a damn fool if you think your unwillingness to accept it is anyone’s fault but your own. No matter what anyone else has done to you—you choose. Don’t blame your stubbornness on me. Logan loves me. So what? We existed before you. If you want to treat him like an object, fine. You’re the one trying to take him from me.”
“He’s my boyfriend,” Kylie growled.
“He’s my best friend.” Janie shrugged. “Girlfriends come and go, but Logan is a friend I’m never parting with. He’s my family. Forever. You knew we were friends when you accepted being his real girlfriend.” Her eyes narrowed. “Try to push me out—it won’t work.”
How could Logan be friends with this girl?
“I’m not trying to rub it in your face that I’m close to him,” Janie continued, “but you have no right to dictate who’s in his life. If he decides to be done with me, that’s on him. Not you. But this”—she gestured to the writing on the stall—“is you being stupid. You know people are jealous you’re with him. I almost got stabbed because your sister’s jealous of me and Ryder. You’re not a little kid, Kylie. You’re almost an adult. I don’t care how you’ve been treated—you can tell the difference between truth and bullying. You can tell when someone is trying to manipulate you and turn you on Logan. On me. But if you want to be stupid, go ahead. Accuse Logan of fucking these girls last night, when my whole family knows what you were up to with him.” She laughed bitterly. “Tell him he’s cheating on you with me. Lose him. All because he’s hot, and girls are jealous.”
Her chest burned with rage. She didn’t like being talked down to. No matter how much of what Janie was saying made sense, Kylie couldn’t handle that it was her saying it.
Janie’s eyes drifted over the writing. “Did you even notice the faded words?”
“What?” Kylie darted her gaze over to where Janie stared. Janie’s name was easily visible, but it was all about how Logan was cheating on her—how Ryder was cheating on her. How she was a lying whore.
“You’re not the one to go through this,” Janie said softly. “This is what girls do when someone has something they want. They think they’re better, that they deserve more than us. I have bad days where I start to consider this shit, but it’s lies.” She looked at Kylie again. “Don’t be stupid. I’m telling you I haven’t cheated—I won’t cheat. Logan isn’t a cheater either. All you have to do is accept that. At least be rational—you know he hasn’t cheated since starting things with you. You’re mad at things with me, fine. Just trust him. Remember I helped you when no one else would.”
“I stayed at your house,” Kylie said through gritted teeth. “And you—he didn’t warn me you’re a—”
“Killer?” Janie gave her the saddest smile. “I know what I am. But you actually know very little about me. Hell, you don’t know shit about Logan.”
“That doesn’t change what you are.” Kylie glared at her.
Janie’s lips quirked up. “Honey, you have no idea what I am. I’ll point out Logan wouldn’t be in your life at all if it weren’t for me. Actually, a lot would be different for you, and while you’re spitting on it now, I know better.”
She had no idea what nonsense Janie was spouting, but she couldn’t deny if Janie hadn’t killed those boys, Logan would be dead.
“He likes you a lot,” Janie said. “I have my opinion about you, but I’m not blurting it out to him or you. He thinks you’re beautiful and worth protecting—worth doing anything to keep safe. That’s what you should focus on.”
“He doesn’t think I’m beautiful. He thinks you are.”
“Bullshit.” Janie’s voice was like a whip, slashing across her skin. “You’re just spouting shit now because you want to hate me. Go ahead, but he’s not blind. You might have been unnoticeable before, but he lured out a beauty. Now all the guys are kicking themselves because they didn’t see you sooner, and the girls hate the attention you’re getting. They hate that you’re beyond pretty. And it’s like a kick to the stomach that you’ve always been this way. They’d give anything for you to pull that hood back up.”
“You get attention,” Kylie seethed. “All the guys fall over themselves for you.”
“I get attention from Ryder.” Janie gasped, holding her cheek. “What a shocker. My boyfriend is sweet to me. Call the cops. Oh, wait, I have eleven amazing stepbrothers I rarely see, and when I do, they spoil me. Those bastards!”
Kylie glared at her.
“Then Luc Godson gives me attention. Hmm . . . Don’t get me wrong, he’s hot. Super-hot. But he’s evil.” She sighed dreamily. “A girl really is set when a guy wants to take her and use her for personal gains and revenge. Lucky me. I get all tingly inside when he threatens the people I love.”
“Shut up.” Kylie balled her fist.
Janie kept going. “Oh, and the kicker, Logan, my best friend and ex-boyfriend. We hurt each other, but we’re trying to mend things. I have an amazing boyfriend who encourages our friendship, and I have Logan finally standing by me when another girl is practically begging him to drop me. You don’t have to say it; it’s written all over your face. My point is he’s a good guy. He can have any piece of easy ass out there, but he’s bending over backward for a girl he just met.” She crossed her arms, her eyes lighting up in flames. “I know you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous of you.”
“Right. It’s totally normal to be this fucking upset I have attention.” Her sarcasm was like acid. “Get it through your head—it’s none of your damn business what these guys do for me or what I do for them. I could be a fucking deity, and it still wouldn’t be your business if I have men worshipping me.
“You do get to be upset about me and Logan, but you don’t get to tell him how things will go between us. You just decide what you can handle—if you’re in or if you’re out. Don’t think you can waltz in after a few days and dictate his life.”
“I’m his girlfriend.” Kylie could barely keep herself from slapping this girl.
“Your relationship with Logan is just beginning,” Janie pointed out. “Girlfriend or not, Logan decides his life. And he’s choosing to give you everything he can, and you’re treating it like shit because what he can give you is me, my family, and my boyfriend’s protection. I’m sure, though, if I wasn’t in the picture, you’d have no problem accepting anything from Ryder.” Her smile was cruel, like she knew every fantasy she’d ever had about Ryder. “You can hate me. We don’t have to be friends. I honestly don’t think we ever will be, but we can be civil for Logan’s sake.
“I get that’s hard to wrap your head around, especially because he’s the first person to come along for you, but you can’t cut everyone out of his life. Just try to grow up a bit. Don’t turn into a complete bitch just because Logan was my boyfriend, and we’re trying to salvage our friendship.”
“He wanted you back.” Kylie hadn’t meant to say that. She never ever wanted to be an insecure girl.
“I know.” Janie smiled sadly. “It broke me every day that I couldn’t return the love he wanted from me. That’s why I stood between you and those girls. That’s why I told you things I don’t talk about with most people. That’s why I took you to my home, and why I am here right now, even though you think the absolute worst of me. Because I see it in his eyes: he likes you. He doesn’t want to win me back anymore. I can be with Ryder without feeling guilty.”
The tightness in Kylie’s throat was unbearable, but she swallowed the pain and asked, “What if he’s with someone right now?”
Janie reached out for the other door, the stall Kylie never used because of the crude drawings on the outside.
Ryder Godson has the biggest cock. I sucked it all night long.
Ryder Godson fucked me in the ass
I had sex with Ryder Godson in this stall!
Ryder loves Melody. Ryder & Maura forever.
Ryder loves Lisa
“I’m not clinging to Ryder right now,” Janie said. “Is he cheating? Did he have sex with these girls?”
“That’s Ryder though.” Kylie looked at Janie again.
“They’re more alike than you think.” Janie smiled, and it was a peaceful. “Logan doesn’t cheat. If he wanted someone else, he wouldn’t have asked you to be his girlfriend.”
Janie waved her hand at the stall. “Melody used to be my best friend. Before Logan told me he liked me, she was always there. She always came over when his mom was watching me. I thought she was just a good friend, wanting to keep me company when my mom was sick and when Arthur was gone.
“She was the sweetest friend a girl could have. All that changed, though, when Logan walked across the courtyard the day after he asked me to be his girlfriend. He kissed me in front of everyone to get the rumors about me dating some mystery guy to stop.”
She rubbed under her eyes. “His mom had forbidden him from seeing me, but he broke our rule to stay a secret, claiming me like all Grimms do. And these were written the same day. The same day Melody had a bet going to see who could make Logan cheat on me. She hugged me when I cried because someone told me he already had.”
She looked her in the eyes as hers filled with tears. “My first boyfriend meant I lost every ‘friend’ I ever thought I had. They’d all only been my friends because I was friends with him—well, with the Grimms. Not to mention my brothers. Arthur never allowed girls over, but I was too stupid to see that’s why I had friends.” She gestured to the writing. “I thought these girls would always be in my life.
“Don’t throw Logan away because some two-faced cunt has the hots for him. If anyone ever tries to say he’s cheating, talk to him first. Give him a chance to explain.”
Kylie looked at the floor as Janie walked over to the sink.
“Let go of this shit and trust Logan. He obviously trusts you.” Janie held out a wet napkin. “And I swear you have nothing to worry about from me.”
“But you’re—” Kylie pressed her lips together.
A sad smile spread over Janie’s lips. “I won’t kill you. I won’t let Ryder kill you either.”
Kylie wiped her face.
Janie cocked her head to the side. “You only feel strong when Logan’s around, don’t you?”
“When he’s with me, I forget everything unless it’s—never mind.”
“I get it,” Janie said softly. “I don’t trust many people. It just seems like I do. I trust Ryder. I do stupid shit to protect him, but I trust him. You should trust Logan. You have to believe he’s being faithful—believe he’s with you because he adores you.”
That seemed impossible to believe when it was clear Logan adored Janie more than anyone else. “How do I trust him?”
Janie shrugged. “You just do. It’s called faith, Kylie.”
Six
Baby Doll
Kylie pushed the bathroom door open, stumbling when she locked eyes with Ryder Godson. He had his phone to his ear, but he was also speaking to a boy standing beside him. Kylie recognized him as one of Trevor’s friends from football, Ricky Hermes.
Janie squeezed Kylie’s hand, which caused her to break eye contact with the volatile bad boy. She was shocked Janie was holding her hand to begin with.
“Don’t be afraid of him,” Janie said, staring at Ryder. “He’s just protective, and he’s worried. Try to understand he has reason to be angry with Logan. I know I should be, too—but it’s hard for me to be angry with him. I’d do anything for Ryder, too.”
Kylie looked over to see Ryder addressing the person on the phone. Poor Ricky looked ready to run. He kept glancing around the hall, flinching at any little noise.
“Yeah, Logan explained it.” Kylie didn’t know what to think. A part of her didn’t give a damn about Ryder having a reason to be mad. She was furious because he’d been mean to her. It was better when she watched him being mean to everyone else.
“Oh, good. Then you get it,” Janie said, letting go of her hand and walking up to Ryder. She smiled at the blond boy staring at her. “Hi, Hermes.”
Ricky actually blushed. “Hi, Janie.”
Ryder put his arm over Janie’s shoulder, glaring at Ricky as he spoke to the caller, “I’ll take care of it.”
Janie winked at Ricky. “You should probably go. He’s still not happy about finding out you’re the only guy besides Logan and him to take me on a date.”
“That was before Logan,” Ricky retorted, his voice shaky. “We were thirteen.”
Ryder stared down at Janie before slowly sliding his gaze to Ricky.
“Oh, he knows. But I told him I would’ve let you take me out again.” Janie smiled brightly. “You definitely know where to kiss a girl’s neck to make her crave more. I won’t lie—I was dying to return the favor.”
Ricky looked ready to pass out under the glare Ryder was giving him.
Janie giggled before kissing Ryder’s hand. “But my boys are dreamy—they ruin all other guys for me.”
“Blondie,” Ryder said, holding out the phone.
Kylie jerked her head around, gasping. His coldness was so hard to take.
“This is as pleasant as I get,” he said. “Take it or leave it.”
“Ryder,” Janie said, pinching his side.
He didn’t even flinch as he nodded for Kylie to take the phone.
Kylie swallowed and slowly took the phone, surprise and excitement filling her entire being upon seeing who the identity of the caller was. “Logan?” She almost cried, her hand shaking as she stared at Ryder turning toward Ricky.
“Don’t worry. I’ll save you from him this time.” Janie blew Ricky a kiss. “Run.”
The boy took off faster than she thought humanly possible.
“Hey, baby,” Logan said, pulling her attention away from everyone else. Her heart was racing at just hearing his voice. “He told me what happened. Are you okay?”
She nodded and rubbed her eyes. “Yes. I mean, I wasn’t, but I’m feeling better now.”
“You know that’s all bullshit, right? You know I’ve been with you the past few days. And I already told you I won’t cheat.”
“Okay,” she said, her chest warming from his words.
“I mean it, Hood. You’re special to me.”
“You are, too.”
He chuckled, increasing that heat in her heart. “I’m glad. But just because I’m not there with you, doesn’t mean my feelings for you change.”
“Okay,” she whispered, breathing out and feeling her body relax as she cast a quick glance over at Janie and Ryder. They were whispering to each other, but she couldn’t concentrate on them.
“He told me what was written on your locker about me and Janie.”
She stayed quiet and listened to him sigh before he spoke again.
“I know most people cut out their ex, but I can’t. I’ve known her since she was a baby. That’s why I call her baby doll. The first time I saw her I thought she looked like a baby doll. I’ve called her that since I was a tiny kid. It’s nothing romantic. If it were, Ryder would have it out with me every time I talked to her. It’s an old habit.”
Kylie smiled, imagining a young Logan looking at a baby like she was a doll.
“If I had seen you,” he continued, “I would have thought you were the prettiest baby doll, and I would’ve asked to keep you.”
Kylie smiled, wanting to say something, but words would not form.
He sigh
ed. “Just try to remember you’re my woman. It’s your face I can’t get out of my head, your face that causes me to hide in the bathroom like a horny, teenage punk who can’t get rid of his hard-on.”
She laughed out a sob, wiping her tears.
“I knew I’d make you laugh.” He chuckled.
“You can’t stay serious for long,” she said, smiling. “I do love that you’re my perverted, cocky man-boy who didn’t want his cousin to take advantage of me.”
Logan chuckled, but he didn’t sound amused. “If it wasn’t for the fact I met you out of the deal, I’d probably beat the shit out of him for bringing you over for that.”
“Well, I’m not worth getting in a fight over.”
“You’re worth everything.”
She smiled and turned her face away from the couple waiting on her.
There was a smile in his voice when he spoke again. “You’re blushing, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“So pretty, baby. I just wish I was there to see your beautiful face.”
“Hurry it up, Blondie.” Just like that, Ryder’s cold voice dropped her happiness.
“Be nice,” Janie hissed.
“I’m not nice,” was Ryder’s casual response. “I let Hermes live. You owe me a blow job later.”
Logan chuckled. “All right, I heard him. Don’t worry about him, okay? We talked. We’re back to not liking each other as much as we did before. But you should get to class now.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you later?”
“Of course, Hood. And ignore those girls. They’re jealous of you because you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“I am not.”
“You are to me.”
She smiled and rubbed her aching cheek.
“I’ll see you soon, Hood.”
“Okay.”
“Call me if anything happens—I’ll drop what I’m doing and get to you.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, baby. Let me talk to Ryder again.”
“Bye,” she said, smiling when she handed the phone over to a very irritated looking Ryder.