by Ruby Vincent
“You’re fucking,” Cole clipped. “There’s a difference. Did Zee ever tell you why he doesn’t want to be exclusive?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said.
“My theory is you’re holding out hope that Derek will go out with you,” he plowed on. “Give it up. He doesn’t do relationships and he never will. The guy has the emotional depth of a teardrop.”
“You can be as horrible as you want, but you’re not driving me off.” I plopped my butt on the bench to prove it.
Nico was slower to sit down. He perched on the edge of the seat like he was poised to run.
Speaking of poised to run.
My eyes found Michael on the side of the track, speaking to his coach. He looked good, but then he always looked good. His track uniform was loose on his body and yet it was meant for him. His strong, ropy arms. Calves I could hammer a nail with and skin that reflected the sunlight. Michael Young was perfect, and this is what he was meant to do.
Landon put his arm around me and drew me close. “You’re spending the night with me, right?”
“We can have dinner,” I said. “Afterward, I’m going to find Derek. I need to make sure we’re okay.”
Landon pulled away slightly. “What is with you and him? For real, Zela. Is Cole right about...?”
“Cole has never and will never be right about anything.”
A low hiss told me Cole heard that.
“I’m trying to have a relationship with Derek and that relationship is a friendship. As I’m sure you can guess, he doesn’t make that easy on anyone, but it’s worth it. He was there for me when I needed him.”
Landon dropped his eyes.
“So if he needs me right now, I’ll be there for him.”
“I get it. Don’t bug you about Derek.”
“No, don’t.” I nudged him to take the sting out of it. “I’ll stay over tomorrow night.”
“You better.” He gave me a quick peck. “Or I’ll find you, throw you over my shoulder, and take you where you belong.”
I giggled. “So I belong in your bed?”
“I’d never let you leave my bed if I could get away with it.”
“If I could get away with it, I’d let you keep me in bed.”
Landon’s grin was wolfish. His eyes were pink tinged with silver today and they heated up as my lust ignited. “You should stay at school this weekend. We’ll spend it together.”
“I—”
“You should both shut up,” Cole snapped. “The meet is about to start and you’re making me sick.”
I rolled my eyes but did shut up. Cole was right about the meet starting.
Michael took his place on the line. It was hard to tell from my seat, but I imagined his expression was the same as when we ran together. Serene calm belied by laser focus. It was the face of someone who knew he could achieve anything he wanted. He only had to take it.
I used to like that about him. Michael made me feel like I could do anything too. He encouraged me to do better, breathe harder, run longer. I felt like I was getting close to him in a way no one other than Cole ever did.
The horn blew and the runners took off.
But I was wrong.
Michael raced ahead of the pack. The others were light-years behind him as he rounded the first bend.
Sighing, I dropped my head. There it is. I have no choice. I have to move on to Plan B.
The thought stirred nothing in me. It didn’t waken the tight ball of pain and rage that had been my constant companion.
“What the fuck?” I heard Cole say. “What is he doing?”
I looked up. Michael wasn’t light years ahead of the pack. He was hardly inches ahead of them. As he reached the last bend, Michael slowed to a pace that was near enough to crawling for him.
I rose from my seat, eyes widening.
The other runners huffed and puffed, vigor renewed, as their sole competition came within their reach, and as I watched, every single one of them ran past him.
Chesterfield High crossed the finish line and roared. The winner jumped up and down, lapping up the cheers from his team.
Our students were silent.
He did it. Michael lost... for me.
THE STANDS WERE LONG empty. I sent Landon on with a kiss and promise we’d see each other at dinner. It was only me and Michael.
“Disgraceful!”
And Coach.
“Did you fall asleep out there, Young?!”
“No, Coach.”
“You must have! That’s the only explanation!”
I could see the spittle flying from my seat.
“You quit, Young! You quit on me, on this team, and on yourself!”
“I just felt off, Coach. I’m sorry.”
“You take your tummy aches to the nurse! When you’re on the track, you give nothing but your best! Do you understand me?!”
“Yes, Coach.”
Coach stormed off. Michael stood still until he slammed inside. I tensed as he closed the distance between us.
For a long time, we just stared at each other. Michael’s handsome face was the picture of serenity I once admire. He looked like he could do the silent game all day and never tire. I wasn’t that patient.
I burst out, “If you’re waiting for me to apologize for getting you chewed out, I—”
“I’m waiting for you to say you forgive me.”
Michael took a step and I scrambled to my feet. I sucked in a breath as he cupped my face.
“I’m waiting for you to say we can go back to how things were.”
My heart beat loudly in my ears. What is he doing?
Michael stroked my cheek, soft and gentle and terrible for the confusing mess of feelings it caused. The anger was still there. The betrayal simmered beneath the surface, but among that, was the crush I thought I buried.
“I can’t say that,” I whispered. “Not yet.”
Michael pressed his forehead to mine. “Then I’ll lose. I’ll throw every race until you can.”
My eyes stung. I don’t know why. It was stupid to cry over him getting exactly what he deserved. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want— I need you to trust me again. I told you that I’m a good guy, but I’ve acted like a complete shit since we met and the locker room...” He sighed and his breath tickled my nose. “If I’m a good guy, then I’d face the consequences of what I’ve done. That’s what I’m going to do, Zee.”
He stepped away, dropping his hand, and I stumbled. I hadn’t realized I was leaning on him, drawing closer to his body like a gravitational pull.
“And you’re going to forgive me.”
I watched him go. Minutes after he stepped inside, I summoned the strength to pick up my feet. What was I supposed to do now? There was no fight. No argument. No calling me an evil bitch who should get over herself.
Michael was willing to give up what mattered to him for me. How could I know how to handle something I never thought would happen?
My feet carried me up to the sixth floor on autopilot. I walked past Landon’s door and knocked on Derek’s. It flew open without the customary shouting to go away.
He took one look at me and frowned. “What are you doing here? I told you— Oomph.”
I hugged him tight. “Whatever I did to upset you, I’m sorry. I know we haven’t hung out lately, but I haven’t forgotten you exist.” I pulled back and flicked him on the nose.
“Hey,” he cried.
“But if you want to talk or spend time with me, you have to say so. I’m not into this one-sided thing where I put in all the effort and you pout whenever I get busy.”
“I don’t pout.”
“You know where I sleep, eat, and study.” I wrapped my arms and rested my head on his chest. “Come to me when you need me.”
“Stop hugging me,” he mumbled.
“No.”
His chest rumbled with a soft laugh. “I get it. I just don’t like seeing you with Foster. Not after wh
at he did. You said you were going to take a stripe out of his ass, and instead you’re sleeping with him. In no universe does he deserve you.”
“Why does everyone think we’re sleeping together?”
“Because you’re in his room every damn night. I know you’re not studying.”
“Well, we’re not having sex either,” I said. “Also, nothing has changed. Landon will pay for what he did to me.”
“Yeah,” he drew out. “I can see you’re really making him suffer.”
“Leave Landon to me. All you need to do is stop being a weirdo and watch a movie with me.”
“Later, Zee. I can’t tonight.” He grabbed my arms. “You have to go.”
“Right now? But I can wait until Hunter—”
“What’s this?”
Derek’s grip on me tightened.
“You’re already catching some off Landon,” said a loathsome voice. “Now, you’re trying it on with Derek.”
I turned my head. What is this?
Santiago, Heath, and Cameron stopped in front of us with varying expressions on their face. Cameron wore his usual dislike. Santiago looked like he couldn’t be bothered to care, and Heath smirked at his nasty comment.
“Want us to come back later so you can bang it out?”
“Shut the fuck up, Dowell.” Derek moved me to the side and stepped out of the room. “Let’s go.”
“Go?” I spoke up. “Go where?”
The three set off without another word to me and Derek followed.
“Derek,” I called, taking a step. “Do you need me to—?”
“Stay here, Zee.”
Something in his tone made me stop. The four of them left and didn’t come back for hours. I knew because I waited until well into the night before finally giving up.
THE NEXT MORNING, ADAM’S alarm woke me.
Groaning, I blinked blearily at the noisy thing. What happened?
What happened is I stayed up so late waiting for Derek that I didn’t finish my homework until two in the morning. Then I passed out without setting my alarm.
“Zela?” Adam croaked. “What are you doing in bed?”
I buried my face in the pillows.
Eventually, the two of us got dressed and out the door. I stumbled on a tiny, wrapped package sitting on the carpet.
“I got it.” Adam picked up the present and put it under his arm. I knew where he was planning to relocate it.
“Maybe we should open it,” I offered. “See who it’s from first.”
“No one we know has no reason to drop gifts in front of our door. We’re not opening it, Zee.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re overprotective?”
“All of my siblings,” he replied. “Even Jessie, but she babbles it.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
Adam deposited the gift in the trash on the way to the cafeteria. “About the field trip,” he said as he joined my side. “Did you challenge the A that you’re going to battle?”
“No, but I know who. Landon and I have been practicing again and he thinks I’m good enough to take on Penn Yu.”
“Good ideal. He gets cocky on the mat and collects A minuses in English. You should challenge him on that subject.”
I hummed. “And they call me the battle doctor.”
“You’ve earned the title. Tanner is kicking ass on the field. He loves you now.”
“Didn’t he love me before?”
“Nope.” He bumped into me. “We guys don’t give it up that easily. You have to work for it.”
I snorted a laugh. “Am I still working for your love?”
“Yes, and you better step it up.”
We stumbled through the doors of the dining room laughing our heads off. The noise almost blew us back out.
“Can you believe this?!”
“It’s fucking sweet!”
“My sister is going to freak out when she sees this,” Nico cried as he ran up to us. He waved his new prize in our faces. “Guys, look. They were on the tables when we came in. New MT tablets. One for everyone.”
Nico shoved it in my hand. I recognized the tablet right away. “Um, yeah. Adam’s dad did say they were for the whole school so—”
“Whoo!” He snatched it back and raced off to celebrate with Tanner.
I looked around at everyone showing off their tablets and grinning like Christmas came again. In a way it did. Maverick Technology tablets debut at prices north of a thousand dollars. Not a lot for the Evergreen kids, but for Chesterfield babies like me, most of our parents could never afford to buy us something like this.
“It was cool of your dad to let us be his guinea pigs,” I said as we backed toward the food line.
“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s weird that—”
“The tablets were left out on the tables instead of passed out in class?” I finished.
He nodded.
“Yes, I do.”
Tanner and Nico were still gushing over their tablets when we sat down. Landon took a more relaxed approach.
“Cool,” he said as he tapped the screen awake. He patted his lap and I sat in it. I leaned against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me and rested the tablet on my knee. “I was going to buy this one anyway.”
“Dad worked on this himself,” Adam said. He paused to give Melody a peck on the lips. “It’s ten times better than the last model.”
“Are these ours or just for school?”
“They’re—”
“That is enough!”
The bark caused half my table to jump. All eyes flew to the entrance as Whittaker stormed in. On his heels were Argyle and Miss Val.
Whittaker stopped in front of the head table. The man looked madder than I had ever seen him. His suit was perfectly pressed and not a strand was out of place, but the purplish hue to his face said all was not well.
“Students, you are to bring those tablets up here immediately!”
No one moved.
I looked around at my friends, mirroring their wide-eyed expressions.
“But.” A tremulous voice broke through the silence. “Why?”
Whittaker turned toward the person. “Those tablets were removed from a locked storage room and given without permission. This is an extremely serious offense—tantamount to stealing. These actions against the school will no longer be tolerated. When this For All is found, they will be expelled.”
“For All?” I repeated.
I glanced at the extra tablet sitting before my usual seat. Cameron broke into the storage room and passed these out to us. Why?
“But aren’t these for us?” Tanner got to his feet. “How is that stealing? You were going to give them to us anyway.”
Whittaker pushed back his jacket placing his hands on his hips. “They were to be given to the students, but only after it was decided amongst the staff how to incorporate the tablets into the privilege system.”
“Privilege?” Tanner repeated. “But they belong to us. You can’t—”
“Mr. Grady, they were given to the school,” Whittaker stated. “Given with the caveat that you all have access to them, but that access will be determined by me.”
“But—”
“I do not suggest you argue with me on this. It’s a battle you will not win.”
On any other day and any other topic, that response would have ended the conversation.
“I don’t understand,” Melody said as she rose from her chair. “Mr. Beaumont told me himself that the tablets were free to all the students with the rule that they be kept out of the system. If not, they would be given to Chesterfield. Isn’t that right, Miss Val?”
Adam’s mom stepped forward. She raised her chin and said clearly, “Yes. That was my partner’s intention. The only string attached is that you share any glitches or ideas for improvements as he readies it for the market. But they are a gift and they belong to you.”
If Miss Val noticed the look her boss threw her, she gave no sig
n.
Melody folded her arms and met the principal’s eyes steadily. “If that is what Mr. Beaumont wanted, then we get to keep them.”
Whittaker’s face was approaching a hue that appeared dangerous—for him or Melody, I wasn’t sure. “Mr. Beaumont does not decide what happens in this school.”
“No, but we decide what happens to our belongings,” Melody threw back. “Especially after the school got in trouble for making our personal items apart of the battle system. It’s my tablet, and I’m not giving it back.”
“Yeah.”.”
I didn’t catch who sounded the first whoop but it was quickly followed by more. Soon, most of the room was clapping and egging her on.
Whittaker slammed his fist on the table. The cheering stopped instantly. “That’s enough! You are to stand up and place those tablets on the head table or you will receive a month’s detention.”
Excruciatingly long seconds passed as no one moved.
Then Melody picked up her tablet, stepped away from the table, and walked out.
She disappeared around the corner by the time Adam took up his and followed her. The rest of the dominoes fell.
Tanner and Nico walked out. Hunter was two steps behind them. Then went a group of girls I didn’t know well, but recognized as Melody’s friends. Whittaker watched them go in equal parts anger and disbelief.
I was roused from my shock by a kiss on the cheek. “Are you going after them, Zee?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I am.”
I climbed out of his lap, grabbed the tablet waiting for me, and made for the door. I took two steps before I realized someone was behind me.
Landon put his arm around my shoulder and marched next to me.
“Stop right there.”
I skidded to a halt as a body stepped into our path. Argyle held out her hands.
“Tablets. Now.”
I considered refusing, but she had a glint in her eye even scarier than Whittaker’s. I had a feeling she wasn’t used to blatant disobedience from her students, but she was prepared to deal with it harshly.
We handed them over. One by one, the rest of the students walked up to the head table and surrendered For All’s surprise.
Landon and I were given a week of detention for our almost-walkout. The others got a month, but we all got our tablets back a week later with a few conditions.
