“Where’d you go just now?” Landon snaps his fingers in front of my face when I realize I was staring off into the abyss of the gym. I shake my head and snap myself out of it.
“Remi’s been asking about you. Don’t you think you owe her an explanation?”
“Owe her?” I laugh. “I don’t owe that girl a damn thing. She’s the one who cheated on me.”
The only girl I ever cared about, and she screwed me over for a one-night stand with the enemy. Another reason that I feel no shame stepping in and taking Maddox’s place on the field. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
After spending most of the afternoon at the gym, I head back to the house of dread and hope like hell that Knox and his buddies have cleared out. I’m proven wrong when I turn down our road and their cars are still parked along the street. Damnit.
Not feeling up to seeing them again, I text B to see what she’s up to. She’s pretty much the only person I know around here and the only one I really care to spend my time with.
Me: Plans today?
To my surprise, she responds immediately.
B: Depends.
Me: Let's do something. I’m fucking bored and your boyfriend and his posse have invaded the house.
B: Ok, but I’m calling the shots today and you go where I want.
Me: Fine, get your cute ass out here.
I sit in her driveway waiting for twenty minutes because this girl doesn’t seem to comprehend that people don’t enjoy waiting on her.
I thumb through Instagram and find B’s page, giving her a follow. Her profile is pretty depressing. I was expecting a gallery of selfies and group photos; instead, I find a bunch of dark quotes and a few pics of her and Knox. A couple with some other girls I don’t recognize and the cheer team. One of her and her brother, Talon. For a girl who amplifies energy and social acceptance, I see something different. I see a sad girl who doesn’t like the world she lives in and the humans who inhabit it. Every photo has a forced smile and eyes that are on the verge of a flood at any given time.
She’s a bottled-up mystery, and I want to know everything about her: what makes her heart skip a beat, what makes her smile, cry, laugh, and most importantly, what makes her so damn sad. I wonder if these people who call themselves her friends even know who she really is.
“Hey!” She swings open the door, jumping in with a smile a mile wide. Something I could get used to.
“You seem happy today.”
“Just forcing myself to embrace another day with my new friend,” she says with sarcasm.
“Friend, huh? That’s new. Not too long ago you made it clear that I was not your friend.”
“I mean, I did let you explore every inch of my body. It’s only right that I at least call you a friend.” She blushes—another new look.
“Touché. I’ll take that title, for now.”
“For now?”
“You never know, you may hate me tomorrow, and I’ll be the enemy again.” I peel my eyes from the road and look over to her. “Or you might fall in love with me and want more.” I sink back into the seat as my mouth curls at the corner.
She shakes her head. “Don’t count on it.”
“Which one, enemies or lovers?”
“Both.”
I follow her directions, and wouldn’t you know, we end up at the mall. I’d rather get a flu shot than go to the mall. People swarming everywhere, people with money and a reason to be there. When I was a kid, Mom used to take me to the mall just to walk around. It never bothered me at all, I never even asked for anything because I knew I wouldn’t get jack shit. She’d always get a coffee and we’d just walk around. I remember watching her eyes light up when she’d pass by one of those mannequins displays that wore an outfit she wanted. She’d stop and stare and then walk on as if she’d never seen it. I always wished I had enough money to buy her one of them, at least one of the shirts. I never did. If she were here now, I’d work my ass off, just so I could go in that mall and buy her every one of those damn display outfits.
We walk into the crowd of infested shoppers and make a b-line for the food court. B looks over at me with a questioning look. I’m not sure if she’s questioning me or herself, but it’s answered when she takes my hand into hers.
“Why are you even bringing me here?” I mutter under my breath.
“To meet some of my friends.” She looks up to me with a half-smile.
All questions are answered when we approach her crew. A few of the girls from her cheer team, some of the players on my team, and of course, Levi.
She’s using me as bait. Little does she know, I don’t play that game. If she’s casting me out into this group, she better believe that she’s reeling in a keeper.
“Hey.” She smiles to her friends, gripping my hand tightly in hers. I can feel the dampness protruding from her pores. She’s sweating—she’s nervous.
“Guys, this is Jasper. Jasper, this is everyone. She points them all out as if I actually care.
I look at B and her gang and feel as out of place as a hooker in church. The only reason she brought me to this social gathering is to try and get pretty boy, Levi, jealous.
“Let’s get outta here,” I whisper in her ear with my arm snug around her neck.
“We just got here.” She looks up to me. I’m about five inches taller than her and her blue eyes shoot into mine full of intention. She’s got a plan—a motive, and I’m hella scared to see what it is. This girl is so unpredictable. She can walk through a ray of sunshine and leave a storm of destruction in her path.
I shrug my shoulders and look to Levi. “How was homecoming?”
His eyes widen, as B tenses up under my grasp. I squeeze her shoulder, bringing her closer to me.
“The... dance?” He stutters under pressure. His eyes shoot to B.
“No, the game, you know, the one where I came in and saved your asses.” I say with sarcasm, “Yes, the dance. You went, didn’t you?”
“You should be thanking me, actually.” Levi smirks, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “If it weren’t for this injury, you’d never step foot on that field.”
“Maybe so, but I did. I came and I conquered. Better luck next year. Oh wait, there won’t be a next year.” I rub it in. Hitting a nerve.
Levi stands up abruptly, followed by a couple of his friends. “Why don’t you just go back to LV? Oh wait, you got kicked out.”
I take a step forward, feeling B put up a resistance, as she tugs my hand. “Stop it.”
Levi and I are nose to nose when his buddy pulls him back. “It’s not worth it, Levi. Just let it go.”
He listens and backs up to the table, reclaiming his seat.
I give him a cocky nod, and he makes a move before getting pulled back down by the same guy.
“The dance.” B snaps the tension, looking to Levi. “How was it?”
“It was alright. Just went for an hour or so.” He lifts his legs up on the bench of the table he’s sitting on and begins twiddling his thumbs nervously. He should be nervous.
“Did you go with Petra?” B asks, burning her eyes into him so deeply that I can almost see smoke rolling out of his ears.