Her Challengers: A high school bully romance (Bad Boys of Jameson High Book 1)

by Taylor Blaine

  Something flashed in her eyes. She couldn’t know my mom had moved on already, leaving me behind as she left. She couldn’t know that Dad and I both were trying to recover still from being abandoned. I would probably never know why she’d left as I struggled to ignore even a small amount of the memory of finding her gone. Just a small bit. That’s all I wanted – to forget just a bit.

  And here this little blonde whore had to bring it up, mention my parents like she knew anything about them or me while also dropping threats like candy in a parade. After the day I’d had and the fact that I’d already come down off a fight high as it was, I was already too close to an emotional burst again. The adrenaline simmered with my anger. I wasn’t completely calm and I knew it.

  I also didn’t care. Before I could really think through my actions, I used a basic jab and slammed Jasmine in the center of her face. Everything moved in slow motion and I wished I had the punch on camera.

  She screamed, reaching for her nose which started bleeding immediately. She stared at me in horror. The girls in her group gasped but didn’t move to help her as they backed up, putting distance between themselves and me.

  The first real sign of intelligence.

  I stepped forward, watching Jasmine’s eyes widen as she stepped back until her shoulders hit the wall behind her. I held my voice low as I pierced her gaze with mine. “Don’t threaten me again. Do you understand me? I won’t go easy on you next time.” She had no idea what slim hold I had on my anger. I was close to snapping and she was the closest irritant.

  Hiking the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder, I turned, coming to a stop with my path blocked for a second time that day by broad chests and bulging muscles. Great. Now what. What would they do, if I reached out and felt those muscle ridges like I wanted to?

  As usual, Stryker stood in the middle of the other two. His dark hair set off his features nicely, even with anger in the tic of a muscle along his jaw and the tightening of his lips in a straight line. He wasn’t looking at me, though. None of them were. He stared at Jasmine; his arms crossed over his chest.

  The other girls, excluding Jaeda, disappeared around the corner of the hall. I didn’t blame them. They’d been roped into something none of them had known would happen. They probably did what Jasmine said, followed her because Jasmine usually had easy wins. I got that. Easy wins made a person feel good.

  But there was nothing easy about me.

  Jasmine looked up at Stryker, her gaze shifted between me and him and suddenly, she was crying, wiping at the blood line coming from her nose. She rushed up to him, pushing past me and throwing herself into his arms. He hadn’t changed from his boxing attire yet and the sight of his bulging muscles wrapping around the blonde snake did something painful to my insides.

  Hard expressions covered Gunner and Brock’s faces as they stared at me. Great. I wanted to be on their team and they hated me. Fine. Whatever. I didn’t care.

  I watched as Jasmine sobbed into Stryker’s arms, rolling my eyes. I hated girls that acted like wimps. It was stupid and a horrible way to act if you were capable and strong. Maybe Jasmine was none of those things. I already knew she was a bully.

  Stryker ignored me, pushing Jasmine away from him and toward the wall where she’d been a moment before. I stepped to the side to get out of his way and blinked when I realized they weren’t focused on me for the moment. He definitely wasn’t going in for a kiss or a moment of comfort like I expected.

  Jasmine stopped, lifting her eyes to study Stryker and then taking in Gunner and Brock’s positions. “Do something, you guys. She just hurt me. Rushed me without any warning. I… She could have killed me.” Her whiny voice grated on my nerves.

  I rolled my eyes again and smothered my sigh aching to be released. Was she joking? Because that was just ridiculous. Could have killed her with a jab? Was she an idiot? I shifted my feet. Was I supposed to wait there? I didn’t need to see the lovers make out against the wall, further shoving acid into my already raw emotions.

  As if sensing my indecision, Stryker jerked his gaze over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes. He shook his head almost imperceptibly, telling me to stay.

  Curiosity was the only reason I deigned to stay. I didn’t take orders from anyone.

  “Why are you here, Jasmine?” Stryker’s silky tone didn’t hide the razor-sharp anger underneath. Anger. Why was he mad at her? I thought he had a thing for her or something? “Don’t you have a shift to manage?”

  I stood off to the side of Stryker’s back, able to see Jasmine between Stryker’s shoulder and Gunner’s. She could see me as well.

  Pointing her finger in my direction, Jasmine screeched. “She attacked me, Stryker. I was just hanging out with some friends, waiting for you. I was hoping I could catch a ride with you.” The last part turned into a coo with sugary sweet undertones. She batted her eyelashes at the three boys, missing her mark with the bright red of her blood streaked above her lip. She’d probably die when she saw how the blood had messed with her makeup.

  Stryker stepped closer, stiffness in his back and shoulders apparent though he kept his tone in check as he spoke. “I told you before not to bother people here. Do your bullying on your own time. Not here at Jameson and not at the factory. Are we clear?”

  The tap-tap-tap of sturdy heels coming down the hall reached us a split second before Mrs. Perkins did. She took in the scene with a steely-eyed appraisal, her gaze landing on me last. Pursing her lips, my aunt shook her head and lifted her chin. She shifted her attention to Stryker and Jasmine, narrowing her eyes as she took in the blood on Jasmine’s face. “Are you hitting my students now, Jameson? A girl as well?” She shook her head. “You must want to be expelled more than I thought.”

  Something in her eyes said Stryker had reached the last rung in the ladder. I recognized that expression and she was offering no leniency to the guy. If he were expelled, he’d be off the team. I wanted on the team and I wanted to win. I wasn’t stupid. A losing team didn’t get attention. I hadn’t seen Stryker fight, but the other guys wouldn’t respect him the way they did, if he sucked – no matter what his name was.

  His shoulders stiffened and he turned to face the vice-principal full on. Stryker didn’t say anything as his jaw tightened further and I worried it would break. He wasn’t getting out of the problem on his own. Gunner and Brock wouldn’t be able to do anything either. And let’s face it, Jasmine was worthless. She just wanted to make things worse for anyone as long as it made her look better.

  There was no one left. Rather than let someone else take the blame for my actions, I stepped around Stryker and the other two men, shaking my head. “No, Mrs. Perkins. That was my fault. Jasmine and I were coming out of the locker room and I stumbled, throwing my hands out. I didn’t mean to crash into her. Stryker was checking to make sure I wasn’t lying.”

  My aunt studied me, glancing around at the boys and the twins as if they would somehow corroborate or deny my story. Jasmine stared at the ground while Gunner, Stryker, and Brock stared calmly back at the VP. Jaeda glanced at me and then back at Mrs. Perkins, as if unsure what to do or what to say.

  Shaking her head, Mrs. Perkins thrust her hands on her hips and stared at each of us in turn. She pointed her finger into the mix of the group and growled, “You’re all on thin ice. Keep it up and see what happens.”

  She turned, stomping from the scene as if she had missed out on winning the lottery. I suddenly wished with all my might that our relationship didn’t come out. I didn’t want to be known as the vice principal’s niece and add that to my already burgeoning reputation.

  Glancing toward the other students who clearly didn’t want me there, I ignored the weird expressions I couldn’t identify on Gunner, Brock, and Stryker’s faces. They didn’t know me. I wasn’t going to sit idly by while Jasmine got away with anything or while anyone took the blame for something they didn’t do. They didn’t have to know me and I hadn’t done anything wrong.

  Spinning on my h
eel, I strode from the hall. I didn’t care what they were going to do with each other. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted to get away from the heat in Stryker’s eyes, the curiosity in Gunner’s and the desire in Brock’s.

  No. After my first day at a new school, I needed to focus on my boyfriend and maybe plan a time I could see him. Maybe I could even see Sara. We didn’t live that far away. I could talk Dad into letting me borrow his truck over the weekend. At that point, I’d take whatever I could get.

  Normalcy. Just a brief glimpse of my normal life Dad had yanked me from. I craved it. I needed it. Because there was nothing normal about the way I felt around those boys or in that school.

  Nothing.

  Chapter 6

  Gray

  I sat under the trees by the parking lot, ignoring the drizzling rain still coming down albeit much less lighter under the canopy of the pine needles. There was nothing worse than a rain storm that sort of petered out but never really quit. I shifted my back against the rough trunk and drew my knees up.

  Sighing, I leaned forward, resting my chin on my arms. Without my phone and no watch, I had no idea what time it was or how much longer Dad would be inside. I thought for sure he’d be out soon since I’d seen half the boxing team in the hallway.

  I tried not to focus on the image of Stryker’s muscles in my mind. He was delicious and he had to know it. Of course, he knew. Girls fawned all over him. I’d been watching it all day. Even the guys kind of walked around like they were willing to do whatever Stryker, Gunner, or Brock wanted.

  The hero worship creeped me out and also intrigued me. What had they done to get that kind of respect? As far as I could see, they weren’t really heroes nor were they neutral. They ignored Jasmine for the most part and then told her to stop doing what she was doing. I was more confused than anything.

  And they mentioned her position and a factory. What in the world were they talking about?

  I hated being confused.

  Glancing down at my Converse, I chewed on my lower lip. My thick hair hung heavy against my neck and back. Would the boxing team accept me? I just wanted on a team. I didn’t need a family or anyone to hang out with. I just wanted to fight. That’s all I wanted. But it couldn’t be just any fighting. I wanted to be in the ring where you got recognition.

  Part of me… Part of me felt like if I could become somebody then maybe my mom would want me. More likely not. I mean, I was a nobody. I would always be a nobody. I wasn’t stupid. Why else would she leave? She had no reason to stay when her husband wasn’t going anywhere and her daughter was nothing extraordinary.

  “Pssst.” A voice whispered from behind a tall bull pine.

  I swiveled, turning at the hips and leaning my hand behind me to brace myself on the wet grass. Peering into the woods, I tried to make out whoever could be calling to me. Part of me hoped it was Stryker. I could handle a tryst in the woods. Another part of me told the first part of me to shut up since Stryker didn’t know subtle and he would never hide anywhere.

  It didn’t stop a girl from hoping though.

  Searching the dim interior of the woods that spread out from the clearing around the school like a dress, I finally caught the glimpse of light reflecting on eyeglasses. Chris’s features came into focus and he shyly waved his fingers at me.

  Oh, boy. I sensed a crush coming at me. I wasn’t interested and yet, I wasn’t rude either. I just didn’t have it in me. Plus, I wasn’t any better than he was. He just didn’t know how to stick up for himself.

  I stood, brushing off the back of my jeans with my hands and lifting my backpack onto my shoulder. I half-waved, smiling warmly. “Hey, Chris. You survived the day, good for you.” I glanced back at my dad’s truck. I didn’t want to get too far out of eyeline. It would be my luck to have Chris turn out to be some kind of psycho killer that just wanted to punish me for getting between him and his long-lost love Jasmine.

  He stepped from the shadows, wearing a dark green slicker and pants. He must be a hunter or something because that was the only logical reason anyone would wear something like that. He smiled at me, studying my face for something but I wasn’t sure what. “Hey, Gray.”

  “Are you out hunting or something? I’ve never seen that type of a rain suit before.” At least I wasn’t alone with him standing there. My loneliness was going to smother me and I was grateful for the chance to talk to someone without having to watch my every word and tone. I could lower my chin without worrying that someone would think I looked weak.

  I could never look weak. Never.

  He looked down at his outfit and then back up at me grinning. “No, I used to fish with my dad. I watch the weather and the meteorologist said we’re expecting rain for the next few weeks so I pulled it out. Pretty cool, huh?” He moved closer to me, leaning on the tree and glancing past my shoulder. His smile faded and then he turned his gaze to me. “You’re not going to fit in here.”

  Jerking my head back, I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Well, that was fatalistic.” But I knew what he was saying and I couldn’t agree more. I avoided looking at him as I stared into the dark woods. Finally, I couldn’t bear the silence any longer and I nodded, sighing. “Yeah, I know. I don’t want to fit in, though.”

  “Good, because the only way you’re going to make it at Jameson is if you stand out even more than you do already. There are only two levels here – master or servant. If you don’t fit into those, then you fit in limbo and that’s the worst place to be.” He nodded his head toward the school, his eyes darkening behind his lenses. “At least as servants, you’re included in the events, invited to parties, and whatever. If you’re in limbo? You’re nothing.” He said it with such fear, I actually tasted a desire to belong.

  But I shoved the want away. “No. I don’t do what others say and I certainly am no master. I’ll take my chances with limbo.” I smiled at him to take the sting out of my words. “Does Jasmine talk like that to you often?”

  A flash of something crossed his face and I suddenly realized he would let her do whatever she wanted, if she just gave him attention. A wave of relief washed over me. He wasn’t crushing on me. He shrugged. “No. She rarely acknowledges me at all. You just caught me on a good day.”

  A good day. The things she was saying to the poor kid made me want to throw up and yet, he’d considered it a good day. The guy was in desperate need of friendship and I was in a position to offer it. Not to mention I hated the lonely feeling trying to drown me as well.

  “Look, Chris. Let’s hang out. I know I’m a girl and you’re a guy and all the relationship crap that will come up, but I really don’t want to be at Jameson walking around by myself, you know?” I really didn’t care, but maybe if he and I pretended to be friends at least, I could continue acting like I didn’t care what other people thought of me. I needed to keep my pride intact – no matter what.

  Chris brightened. “Hey, what do you think about hanging out at lunch?” He kicked the ground with his worn boot and then looked at the ground. He shook his head. “Never mind. I mean… why would you want to hang out with me?” He scoffed at himself.

  “Okay, stop.” A bully was one thing, someone who bullied themselves was just too much. “You’re never going to get the life you deserve, if you don’t treat yourself like you think you deserve it. Stop acting like you deserve to be treated like crap and start walking tall.” I glanced over my shoulder and hiked my pack higher at the sight of my dad crossing the parking lot, puddles splattering around his white tennis shoes.

  “I gotta go, but I’ll see you tomorrow.” I flashed a smile at Chris and turned to stride toward my dad.

  As I emerged from the protection of the trees, I got an itchy sensation racing up my neck and down my spine like I was being watched. No, not just watched, but… craved. I glanced around, noticing the 1957 Ford truck with the limo tinted windows still sitting in the lot.

  Was it possible that Stryker sat in there, watching me? With the sting of awareness running
along my nerves, was it possible that it wasn’t him?

  I kept my chin up, even with the rain soaking my face and running in rivulets down my cheeks. I ignored the cold. No way was I going to show weakness in front of anyone who may be watching – Stryker or not.

  Approaching Dad’s truck, I shot my gaze around the parking lot in case I missed the mark. There weren’t a lot of vehicles in the lot, but the ones that were there could have people in them. I couldn’t be sure. Plus, who knew who was watching from the building.

  Yanking the door open, I climbed in, certain I didn’t care who watched me, but also sure I wouldn’t mind if it was Stryker or Gunner or Brock. Chris staring after me would never give me the tingles I’d experienced walking toward the truck.

  Dad didn’t say anything as he started the engine. We rumbled out of the parking lot and a good five miles down the road before he finally said anything. “I told you not to try out today. I specifically said to wait until a different day.”

  I huffed, hugging my bag tight to my chest and staring out the window. “If I didn’t try out today, I wouldn’t have any credibility. The season has already started. The first match is in two weeks. You would seriously deny me the chance to get more fights on my card?” Didn’t he realize just how important this was to me?

  No. He didn’t. Because it didn’t matter how good at fighting I was, Dad only ever saw me as a girl. I was just a girl. I was limited.

  That fueled so much of my anger with the injustice of the double standards. I was good at what I did. I was aggressive. I had balance. I didn’t have to fight guys. There were plenty of other girls out there who thought they could fight.