Battling Beckett

by T Christensen

  When they reached the table, David had bent down to brush a kiss over Vivian’s lips and Greer looked away from the intimate moment. Her small smile dropped as soon as her eyes swung to Beckett’s.

  His bronze eyes were radiating coldness and her heart dropped to her stomach. It was obvious he was not happy to be here. When David introduced her to Beckett he nodded and picked up his menu.

  It was an awkward supper, with the parents carrying most of the conversation. Every time she spoke, she felt Beckett’s glare on her. Eventually, she just stopped talking and smiled in the appropriate places. She didn’t want to have his eyes on her any more than necessary.

  It was ironic that she had been doing her best to avoid Beckett and she ended up humiliating herself. The worst part was she hadn’t told him that she didn’t need a ride to school anymore and now she was back to figuring out how to do it.

  Her brain scrambled to come up with a way that didn’t involve talking to him. Sticking a note under his door seemed juvenile and she wasn’t even sure he would get it. She didn’t have his number, so she couldn’t text him. Covering her face with her hands, she came to the harsh realization that she was going to have to walk back down the hall and face him again.

  Two hours later, her homework was done. She’d showered, all of her social media was caught up, and her room was tidy. She still had energy to burn and pacing didn’t seem to be helping, so she sucked it up and made her shaky legs go out the door and down the hall.

  With her heart in her throat, she knocked on the dreaded door and tried to swallow past the lump in her suddenly dry throat. Her ears were on hyperalert and when she heard the unmistakable sound of feet crossing the floor, her hands started sweating. She held her breath, stared at the doorknob, and as soon as it turned, the words burst from her,

  “I don’t need a ride to school anymore.”

  Relief poured through her and she felt light-headed as she turned around and skedaddled away as fast as she could go without actually running.

  “There’s no need to deny yourself, Greer. Just say the word and I can fuck it out of your system, you know as an act of brotherly love.” She gasped at his vulgar words.

  Greer snapped her door shut and sank down to the floor. With her head in her hands, she took some deep breaths to calm the anger and humiliation rolling through her. No one had ever talked to her like that and she didn’t deserve it. If it were anyone else, she would have snapped back, but she was determined to keep the peace. Well, peace was a strong word. She wouldn’t make the tension in the house worse.

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  Chapter 4

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  The next two weeks Greer settled into a routine full of blissful inconspicuousness. No one noticed when she walked into class, or they didn’t care. The only time she felt herself tensing up, waiting for the other shoe to drop, was when Beckett was in the vicinity.

  Luckily, she didn’t have any classes with him, but she could feel his brooding stare at lunch or if they passed in the hall. The back of her neck would heat up and the rest of her body went on alert. Every day she told herself to ignore the sensations, but she always broke down and looked. Every time she pinpointed exactly where he was, without having to search.

  Thankfully Pepper Matthews approached her at lunch on the third day of school and provided a distraction to the overwhelming awareness she had of Beckett. From that day on Pepper was her official lunch buddy, and only friend at Oak High.

  Pepper was also a newbie, by Oak High standards. She had been at Oak High since she was a sophomore but was still an outcast. Some students greeted her and stopped by to make small talk, but she hadn’t made any lasting besties. Pepper’s mission was to get Greer out more.

  “Are you sure I can’t talk you into going to the party tonight?”

  It was Friday and Pepper had been trying to convince her to go to the party for the last three days. And she wasn’t even a little bit tempted.

  “Why? You know I would just be invisible.”

  “To support me? Your best friend at Oak High.” Pepper dramatically blinked her eyes and gestured to herself.

  Greer rolled her eyes, so Pepper tried again. “You could at least go and give all the guys chasing after you some hope.”

  Greer stopped eating. “What are you talking about?”

  Pepper’s brown eyes twinkled. “Are you even aware of how many guys look over here?”

  Greer snorted and started eating again. “Yes. It began the exact same day you started sitting with me.”

  Pepper’s lyrical laugh filled the air and she threw her dark brown hair with honey highlights back. The nearby tables glanced over. “Oh, Greer. I’ve been the only one brave enough to come over here. The looks have been happening since day one.”

  “They are curious, not because they are lusting after me. Look at me.” She gestured at her regulation uniform, ponytail, and sparse makeup.

  Pepper looked over Greer’s shoulder and her face slowly lost its merriment and turned curious. “What is the deal with you and Beckett Dawson?”

  She froze. “What?”

  Pepper watched her with a steady gaze. “Do you know how often he looks over here?”

  Confused, Greer peered over her shoulder. Beckett wasn’t watching her. He was flirting with Brittany, one of the cheerleaders. She looked back at Pepper with a wrinkled forehead. “No, he doesn’t.”

  Pepper paused, studying Greer like she was a suspect trying to read her body language. Slowly, Pepper nodded her head. “About as much as you look over there.”

  Greer opened her mouth to deny it but thought better of it. “They are the ‘elite table’ Pepper. There is always a reason to look over there.” She gestured over there so Pepper could take in one of the football players pulling a girl down into his lap and playfully running his hand up her leg while she giggled.

  Pepper looked back to her. “True, but the way he looks at you is confusing.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Pepper’s brows knotted up and her mouth twisted. “Sometimes he looks at you like you are a puzzle and can’t figure you out. Other times it looks like he wants to wring your neck.”

  Greer’s stomach was knotting at how well Pepper had summed Beckett’s attitude up and prayed no one else was as observant. There was no way she was going to admit knowing Beckett.

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Pepper. Where is the party tonight?”

  Diversion successful. Pepper latched onto the topic and told her it was at Jason Rodriguez’s house. He was a linebacker on the football team, so that meant the rest of the football team would be there as well. Greer nodded, but the rest of Pepper’s words drifted past her.

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  Chapter 5

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  “OMG! I am a genius!”

  Greer winced as Jenn’s high-pitched squeal reverberated in the bathroom and made her ears hurt. She had finally given in to Jenn’s pleading for a makeover. For the last hour, Greer had been in her en-suite bathroom, sitting on a chair, facing away from the mirror.

  While Jenn did her hair and used what seemed like twenty different make-up brushes on her face, Greer filled Jenn in on the last couple of weeks. Periodically, Jenn paused to make a comment and then continued working.

  “Can I get up? Can I finally see?”

  Greer’s questions went unanswered, so she craned her neck up to see what was going on. Jenn’s hands were covering her mouth and her eyes were misty as they stared wonderingly at her.

  “Jenn?”

  “I’m sorry, you just look amazing.” Jenn finally choked out.

  “I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted. Do I usually look awful?”

  Greer was teasing, but Jenn was still staring at her like she was a mirage.

  “Jenn!”

  Jenn’s eyes snapped to he
rs and finally looked lucid.

  “Can I look?”

  “First, pictures for my blog. Then you can look.”

  Greer endured another five minutes of pictures before she put a stop to it.

  “Jeeeeenn, you’ve taken a picture of me from every possible angle. Can I look now?”

  Jenn was fluttering around her like a ball of energy, but finally tossed her phone on the bed. She stood behind Greer and gripped her arms.

  “Close your eyes!”

  Greer was losing her patience. “Jenn, seriously can we just do this?”

  “Just close them, please?”

  Greer could feel Jenn bouncing up and down and she knew nothing would happen until she complied.

  “Fine. They’re closed.” She just wanted to get this over with, so they could sit, watch movies, and eat popcorn.

  Jenn turned her chair around.

  “OooKay. Can I look?”

  Jenn answered with a breathless, “Yes.”

  Greer’s eyes fluttered open and then she had to blink a couple of times to make sure what she was seeing was actually herself. “Wow!” She couldn’t take her eyes off of…herself.

  She heard Jenn’s excited prattle, but it was all background noise. Greer couldn’t believe her eyes. They were green, like evergreen-green. She had always thought of them as hazel—nothing exciting. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought she had colored contacts in. It was obvious she had eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara on, but it wasn’t gaudy. Her face looked flawless, but natural. There were no blemishes in sight, and she had actual cheekbones. Who knew?

  Her hair was straight and shiny. The plain brown surprisingly added some depth. There were some auburn tones she had never noticed before. The most she ever did with her shoulder-length hair was wash it. Sometimes she used a blow dryer, but most of the time she just let it dry naturally. It had never gleamed like this.

  “So, what do you think? Amazing, right?”

  Greer turned around and hugged her friend. “You are a magician. I can’t believe this is me. You were born to do this, Jenn.”

  Jenn’s smile was smug. “I know. Now, sit back down and I will teach you.”

  After a half-hour, Greer was brain dead. Jenn had patiently shown her videos and explained what colors and brushes to use. They ordered the makeup from Amazon and Greer suddenly understood why girls had such big purses.

  “Got it?”

  Well, that was the question of the night. “I think so. I understand how to do all of the steps, I’m just not sure I’ll remember what order they go in.”

  They retreated to her king bed and Jenn grabbed her hands and with more earnest than Greer had ever heard from her said. “Promise me you will do this. It will give those bitches and assholes less reason to point fingers at you.”

  Greer broke in. “Jenn, no one is doing that. Beckett is the only asshole. I’m hoping this will allow me to blend in more.”

  Jenn snorted. “You’ll do more than blend in, Greer. Just remember to plug my blog when everyone starts asking how you did this!”

  Greer pulled Jenn off of the bed. “Do you have cards you want me to distribute?” She shook her head and laughed when Jenn seemed intrigued by the idea. “Come on, let’s go make popcorn.”

  Jenn was filling her in on the Public Central High School gossip when Beckett strolled into the kitchen swinging his keys around his finger. He stilled as soon as he saw Greer. His eyes narrowed and Greer’s insides started squirming.

  “What the hell happened to your face?”

  Greer struggled to not blanch at the hard tone. The make-up she had been so excited about moments before lost its appeal. Without a word, she turned back to the counter and dumped the popcorn in a bowl.

  Strangely, Jenn didn’t seem to be offended. It was like she hadn’t even heard how appalled he was.

  “Do you like it?” Jenn asked.

  Greer didn’t turn back around, but she held her breath waiting for his answer. She could almost hear his shoulders shrug before he dismissively said. “It’s as good as it gets. She’ll still stick out like a sore thumb.”

  ‘As good as it gets.’ Greer slowly drew in a breath to help relieve the daggers stabbing her heart. Why had she even bothered to try? She quietly reached for another bag of popcorn and set it in the microwave.

  “Now you would fit in at Oak High.” Beckett’s voice oozed charm.

  What? Greer spun around to see Jenn standing there, blushing and twirling her hair.

  Greer swung her head to see Beckett leaning against the counter, his legs outstretched, and his arms crossed in front of him while he blatantly checked out one of her best friends.

  “What the hell are you doing?” She wheezed out to Beckett.

  Beckett’s smoldering gaze didn’t leave Jenn. “Just getting to know your friend, Greer.”

  “What’s your name, hotness?”

  Greer slowly looked back over to Jenn dismayed to see her eating Beckett up with her eyes. It was like she had forgotten Greer was in the kitchen and they had just agreed that Beckett was an asshole.

  Her chest felt like a heard of elephants had trampled across it. This could not be happening.

  “Jenn.”

  Who was this simpering girl talking with Beckett? All Greer could do was watch this nightmare unfold. It was apparent they had both chosen to ‘forget’ she was in the kitchen with them.

  “Well, Jenn, I was just heading out to a party. Want to come?”

  Her ‘friend’ bit her lip and peered up through her long lashes at Beckett. “I was just going to stay here and watch a movie.”

  Beckett kept his heavy-lidded gaze on Jenn, pushed away from the counter, and sauntered to her. He put his arms on either side of Jenn, blocking Greer from seeing her. He bent down and she heard the distinctive sound of lips brushing each other before he intimately spoke in her ear, but it was still loud enough to carry to Greer. “Do you really want to stay here?”

  The popcorn was the only sound for a long moment and then. “Let me talk to Greer.”

  Jenn’s breathless reply broke something in her. She turned on her stocking feet and left the kitchen. With a singular focus, Greer stared straight ahead and blanked her mind until she reached her room. She swallowed the lump in her throat, picked up Jenn’s purse and overnight bag and set them in the hall.

  Greer walked to the bed, sat on the edge, put her hands in her lap, and stared at the closed door. Her eyes welled with tears when she finally picked up light footsteps heading toward the door. The knob turned and when it wouldn’t unlatch, there was a pause before she heard Jenn’s pleading through the door.

  “Greer, please open the door.” When she didn’t get a response, Jenn tried again. “Come on, Greer. This could help you.”

  Greer felt the first tear splash on her clasped hands

  “If I go and meet some of his friends, I could put in a good word for you. Talk you up.”

  Greer felt her breath stutter and clenched her body to hold back the sobs wanting to let loose. She would not let Jenn hear her crying.

  “I’m sorry Greer.”

  Finally, Jenn’s footsteps receded, and Greer curled up on the bed and let her sorrow have free rein. She couldn’t piece together how her friendship since eighth grade could fall apart in ten minutes. Jenn had always been flirtatious and vivacious with boys, but Greer couldn’t believe she had done this with Beckett—the guy who made her feel uncomfortable and treated her with no respect.

  The worst part was Greer knew Beckett had no interest in Jenn. His only motivation had been to hurt her. But what she didn’t understand was why? Why had he been so cold, so angry with her, since the day they met. Greer might understand if it had started when she and her mom moved in, but it had been since the first supper they all had together.

  ««« »»»

  Beckett had curiously headed into the kitchen when he heard an unfamiliar voice talking with Greer and been unable to believe his eyes. Instead of
looking for the strange voice he had been pulled into some sort of Greer vortex.

  The changes had been subtle, but the results were staggering. Her skin radiated vitality, and the soft blush made his thoughts run rabid. Would she look like that if he had her underneath him and she had just come? And why had he never noticed her dark green eyes that were regarding him with caution? Did he even know she had green eyes? Now, he had a hard time tearing his gaze away from them.

  ‘What the hell happened to your face?’ Had tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them. The happiness surrounding her disappeared and he felt a zap in his gut, but he ignored it. If he pushed her enough, she would reveal her true self.

  When her friend asked if he liked it, he’d dragged his eyes away from Greer and saw the hopeful adoration shining at him. Without a second thought, he used it to his advantage to push Greer some more.

  Jenn would definitely fit in better at Oak High. Greer’s supposed friend looked like every other Barbie girl there. And like every other girl, it didn’t take much to convince Jenn to be with him and ditch Greer. It was an asshole move, but the end justified the mean.

  He had easily gotten Jenn to fall in with his plans, but Greer hadn’t broken. There had been no screaming or bitchy comments to Jenn or him. Instead, she had looked like someone kicked her puppy and silently disappeared.

  If she showed up to school looking like the girl next door, times ten, he wouldn’t be able to stop the vultures from swarming and for some reason that had his hands sweating. They were already circling and if he allowed her more than one friend, even his ‘casual opinions and remarks’ wouldn’t stop them from approaching her.

  By the second period, on the first day of school, Beckett had already started hearing about the new girl. During lunch, Beckett started his campaign to isolate Greer, and told the vultures, aka his friends.