It takes a bit for sleep to find me, but once it does, I find it’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the blonde-haired girl sleeping beside me.
22
Kennedy
Eating lunch in the cafeteria is my least favorite thing ever, but I’m dragging today after getting up early to leave Jackson’s apartment and walk home. Placing a salad and water on my tray, I pay for my stuff and head to one of the tables away from everyone else.
I’ve just pierced a piece of lettuce with my fork and am bringing it to my lips when a cackling group of girls comes walking in. I keep my eyes trained on my food and do my best to ignore them. Crystal is leading the pack, while I don’t know her personally, I saw her that one time with Jackson in the hallway, but I’ve also heard about her. She’s considered popular here at Blackthorn.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch them get their food.
When they start walking toward my table, I consider getting up to toss my food out, but why should I have to leave. I was here first.
As if she can sense my disdain, she walks around the table and takes a seat two spots away from me. Trays slam against the table, and I stab my food like it’s a living object that I’m trying to kill.
“Oh, my god, guys, last night was amazing,” Crystal exclaims.
“Yeah? Heard you were with Jackson? Are you guys like a thing now?” One of her friends asks.
I nearly roll my eyes, a thing?
“Not officially, but I’m pretty sure he wants to be. After spending the entire time at the party with me, he left and then called me this morning to come over.” The hold I have on my fork tightens, the metal digging into my skin. I don’t want to admit the way I’m feeling right now. I don’t want to think about it, but I can’t escape it, not when it’s right in front of me.
Jackson’s words from last night ring in my ear. “I was just at a party, but I kind of got tired of the people there, so I left and came here.”
Was he really there with her hours before he was with me? And did he really call her over after I left his place? This morning? He probably did because, unlike me, she doesn’t have a problem sucking his dick. Tears prick at my eyes. Part of me doesn’t want to believe that. What we did last night was special. There is no way I imagined it all. But the insecure part of me, the fragile part of me, does believe her. He’s tried to hurt me before.
Could last night have been a game to him? A new way to hurt me? Is he building me up just to break me down again? I look down at the salad, my appetite shrinking. I can’t stomach sitting here any longer, listening to something that may or may not be true.
Just as I go to place my fork down on the tray, I look up and spot Jackson and his friend, Talon, walking into the cafeteria. Oh, great, now everyone can laugh at me together. Once they’re closer, Crystal starts to squirm in her seat as if she’s a little kid who has to pee.
“Jackson,” Crystal purrs, as they approach the table, and acid bubbles up in my throat. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
“Yeah, I bet,” Jackson replies but doesn’t even look in her direction.
In fact, his eyes are on me, burning through my clothes and into my skin. I feel as if I’m under a microscope being inspected.
“Come sit with us. There’s plenty of room.” Crystal pats the seat next to her, and I wonder if she can see how desperate she is being in that moment. Then again, I don’t know why I care how desperate she acts. I’m not in competition with her. Jackson and I aren’t even friends, let alone anything past that.
“Nah, I’m going to sit with Kennedy,” Jackson says, shocking the hell out of me as he takes the seat in front of me. Talon follows suit, taking the spot beside him.
“Hey,” Talon greets me, and my cheeks burn with fire.
“Hey,” I whisper back.
“Talon, Kennedy. Kennedy, Talon,” Jackson introduces us, and it seems like everyone in the room is staring at me. I’m not sure what to say. It’s not like these people are my friends.
I can see Crystal out of the corner of my eye. She looks like she’s ready to scratch my eyes out, little does she know there isn’t anything going on between us.
“Jackson, you know, I was thinking, maybe we could hang out again, we have so much fun every time we’re together.” Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, and she bats her eyes at him, and I grab my tray, preparing to leave, but stop when I see that Jackson isn’t even looking at her. He’s watching me. He hasn’t looked her way once, and in fact, from the tightness in his jaw and tension in his eyes, I could only guess that he’s annoyed.
A second passes, and then another, no one says anything, and like a hurricane making landfall, Crystal explodes.
“You don’t have to ignore me, especially not for some geek with an ugly ass scar on her face.” Crystal and her friends break out in laughter as her words slice through me. I try and cover up my shock with a mask of indifference before Jackson can see it, but it’s too late. Fury overtakes his features, and I’m half tempted to tell him he doesn’t have to stick up for me, but keep my mouth shut.
“I’m not ignoring you because of Kennedy. I’m ignoring you because you’re clingy and annoying, and I’m not interested. I’ve said it ten times. How much clearer do you need it to be?” Crystal’s face looks as if she’s tasted something sour.
“Excuse me, but no one says no to me. Every guy wants me, even you. You just won’t admit it.” She purses her lips. “Isn’t that right, even you want me, Talon?”
Talon shrugs. “I mean, I’d fuck you, but you aren’t the type I’d keep around.”
Crystal and all her friends gasp in shock, and I decide to make my exit. I don’t want to be a part of this squabble any longer. I’m not anything to Jackson, and I don’t want him to feel obligated to stick up for me anymore.
Grabbing my tray, I get up from my seat and walk to the trash. Dumping the half-eaten salad into the garbage, I do my best not to run out of the cafeteria. I make it through the double doors and down a set of steps before I hear someone running behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I find Jackson running toward me.
“What the hell, Kennedy?” he growls as he reaches me, his breathing harsh.
“I…” What do I even say?
“You didn’t have to leave because of her. She would’ve left all on her own.”
I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear and look up at him. “You didn’t have to stick up for me, and I wasn’t going to stay there and watch a fight ensue that I had no right being a part of. Those are your friends. Plus, I was done eating, anyway.”
Jackson’s brows furrow, and his nostrils flare. “You still had a whole salad, and you didn’t even open your water.”
I shrug, knowing I’ve been caught in a lie. “I lost my appetite. Anyway, I’m fine. Go back inside.”
“Why?”
Confusion bleeds into my face. “Why not? They’re your friends.”
“Talon is my friend. Crystal is no one.”