“This is getting old. I’m seriously thinking of changing my number,” he said. “You and mom wouldn’t know it, of course.”
I was more than aware of the curious glances Jess and I received from Hayden’s teammates when we stopped next to Mel, and I shifted on my feet. We looked stupid just standing like this, like we were her bodyguards. I didn’t regret coming over, though, because Mel was too angry, and Mel and anger weren’t a good combination.
“And I’m thinking of changing your face. I don’t know what you were doing last night, but you should’ve at least called mom—”
“Stop being a control freak, sis. You always do that. Mom is more than enough when it comes to the controlling department. I came to school, and isn’t that what you wanted? So relax and go somewhere with your friends. Or better yet”—he looked at Jessica and me and flashed us a suggestive smile—“How about you join us?” He winked at me, and my cheeks responded with an intense blush. I almost sneered at his attempt to charm us.
“How about not?” Blake said, glaring between him and Jessica.
One of Hayden’s teammates gave Steven an incredulous look and chuckled. “Are you loco? That’s Hayden’s girl. You seriously have the balls to flirt with her?”
“Hey, I’m allowed to look at her, right?” Steven replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “And Jess is cute, too.”
I clenched my jaw, burning with shame. I was about to nudge Melissa and tell her to leave it be when Masen added, “I agree with Blake. How about not?” He looked coolly at Mel. “With the way she’s fuming right now, you’ll end up with a broken nose, bro.”
Melissa smiled at him sweetly. “I’m glad you recognize my abilities, you wimp.”
“Being an ogre is nothing to be proud of, Satan.” Blake, Steven, and the others burst into laughter.
“She does look like an ogre,” another one of Hayden’s teammate said. “A pretty one, but still an ogre.”
Mel bared her teeth. “Shut your mouth, or I’ll shut it for you.” She fisted her hand, the veins on her temples bulging out.
“You won’t shut shit,” Masen said in a bored voice. “We aren’t playing Mortal Kombat here. It takes much more than a controller to kick someone’s ass.”
She raised one eyebrow. “I thought we already established that I was capable of inflicting serious pain? Do you want me to remind you, Barbie?”
Their teammates met this with hoots of laughter. I glanced at Steven, partly expecting him to defend Mel, but he looked like he couldn’t care less about Mel or Masen, leaning against his hand as he played idly with his fries. His dilated ocean blue eyes were unfocused as they moved between Melissa and the others, the dark circles under them a testament of a sleepless night. He didn’t look quite well, and I suspected he was either wasted or still had the remains of some drug in his system.
“And do I have to remind you that just because I don’t hit girls, it doesn’t mean I’ll allow you to do whatever you want?”
She snorted. “‘Allow.’ You’re not my dad to allow me to do something or not. Now stop talking because you’re really getting on my nerves.”
She turned her attention to Steven, opening her mouth to say something, but Masen beat her to it. “Either you like me and can’t ignore me, or you got a stick up your ass.”
I gasped. I glanced at Jessica to check her reaction, but she barely paid attention to them, her cheeks crimson red as she looked fixedly at her feet. I caught Blake staring at her, finding a strange intensity in his eyes that reminded me so much of the way Hayden looked at me.
Mel’s laugh broke through my flow of thoughts, holding no humor. “You would love that. You would love if I gave some attention to your little STD magnet, but it’s too bad I don’t give a damn about you.”
Masen snarled at her. “Oh I see. For someone who doesn’t give a damn about me, you are really obsessed with my dick.” He smirked and winked at her. “Admit it, I make you wet.” My jaw dropped.
“Mel, come on. Let’s go—” I started, but she didn’t look at me, her face twisted in disgust as she returned his gaze.
She didn’t say anything at first, but then she half-smiled. “No, Barbie, that’s where you’re wrong.” She grabbed Masen’s open bottle of Coke from his tray. “I make you wet.” To everyone’s shock, she poured all the remaining Coke directly onto his crotch. “For real.”
“Bitch!” Masen jumped up and lunged at Melissa, but Steven finally decided to resume the role of her brother and step between them. They had the attention of the whole cafeteria now, and my stomach coiled, reacting to unwanted exposure.
Steven glanced over his shoulder at Mel. “Enough! For Christ’s sake, Melissa, go away and leave us alone. I can’t deal with your temper at the moment.” He directed his stern gaze at Masen. “You better go and clean yourself up before she decides to go full crazy on you.”
“She’s mental,” he spat, looking at Mel like he wanted to crush her. His body exuded tension, and I thought he would retaliate, but he listened to Steven and walked away, muttering something under his breath.
“Serves him right,” Melissa said with her hands on her hips, her chin tipped high.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Blake asked her, standing up. “It’s like it’s not enough to see Fats’ ugly face, but you also have to butt in where you’re not wanted. If you want a fight, you’re going to get it.” Jess took a step back, her eyes instantly teary.
“Don’t speak like that about Jessica,” I told him off.
“Yes. Don’t speak like that about her,” Mel said. “And what’s with that stupid nickname—Fats? You better—”
“Forget it, Mel,” Jessica let out. “Some things will never change.” She squared her shoulders and looked right at Blake. “Maybe I’m fat and ugly, but you have a horrible personality. And you know what? I can change my appearance, but you’ll always be a horrible, disgusting jerk, whom no one would ever love.” Blake’s nostrils flared, his face darkened by fury and disbelief. “Even if some girl would fall for you, I’d call her crazy and—”
“Shut up,” he roared, a curtain of hurt shading his eyes briefly. He eliminated the distance between them, but Mel and I stepped in front of Jess, shielding her from him.
“Don’t come near her,” I warned him.
“Make one more step, asshole, and I’ll kick your dick so hard you won’t be able to have children,” Mel barked.
“Let’s go.” I pulled Jess and Mel with me, already emotionally tired of their back-and-forth fighting.
No one stopped us, thankfully, but the hatred in Blake’s gaze was enough to give me chills as it followed Jessica.
“I’ll destroy you, Fats,” he shouted. “You’re going to regret this!”
Melissa rolled her eyes. “So dramatic. Where does he get those idiotic sentences?”
We took our food and went to our table, followed by hundreds of curious eyes. I could never hide from the unwelcome attention, which chased me endlessly.