When he was finished, I withdrew my head from his pelvic area, feeling the need to go brush my teeth. But I wasn’t at my house, so there were no toothbrushes around that I could use, even if just for the moment.
I was going to say something about having to go to the bathroom, to at least rinse out my mouth with some water, but Xander reached for me, grabbing my arm and tugging me back up to him. Our mouths crashed together, hungry, desperate, wanting. It was something I wasn’t expecting, because most guys were weird when it came to tasting their own cum, but he clearly didn’t care.
We lost track of time as we lay there on his bed, making out. I knew other things would happen if I stayed, and that was why I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when we heard the front door open and slam shut.
Xander hurriedly tucked himself away and buttoned his pants, rolling off his bed as someone began walking up the stairs. “My sister,” he whispered, checking me as I got off the bed and stretched. I wasn’t the one who was just given a blow job, so my clothes needed no fixing.
A girl who mustn’t have been older than ten moved in front of his door, glaring in. She wore a frilly skirt, pigtails in her hair. Everything pink, the very opposite of Xander. “You’re not supposed to have girls in your room when Mom and Dad aren’t home.”
“I know,” Xander said, moving to her. “I won’t tell them if you won’t?” Didn’t sound too confident.
I moved to my backpack, turning off the phone and unzipping my special pocket. The one full of candy. I pulled out a cherry sucker, kneeling before her as I offered it to her. “For your silence,” I spoke with a grin.
She eyed me up, then she glanced at the sucker. In the end, the candy won out, and as she walked to her room across the hall, I heard her fiddling with the wrapper.
As I straightened myself out, Xander looked at me. “You always have candy in there to bribe kids with?” A small smile graced his face, those lips that were a bit red from all the kissing we did.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, that candy is for me.” I grabbed my backpack and swung it around my shoulders. It was probably time for me to head home, anyway. I had a basketball game to get ready for. Tonight was going to be a bloodbath.
“If she’d gotten home earlier…” Xander trailed off, obviously horrified at the thought of his little sister walking in on me giving him a blow job. I couldn’t blame him for that. That would’ve been one of the most awkward experiences ever.
“She didn’t,” I said, reaching for his arm, keeping my voice low. “I have to go anyways. I need to get ready for the basketball game tonight.”
“I’ll drive you home,” Xander mumbled. After grabbing his keys, we left his house. It was a few minutes before he said, “Why are you going to the game?” Curious—did this mean he was jealous? I gave him a blow job; I didn’t declare myself his forever and ever.
I shrugged, watching the houses pass by. “I like basketball.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, considering it was the one sport I could watch and understand.
Xander nibbled on his lip ring. “You sure it’s not because of a certain player?”
“Whatever do you mean, Xander?” I wasn’t the best at playing coy, but oh well.
“Christian,” he added, “you shouldn’t be sniffing around him. He’ll destroy you—”
“It’s been six years,” I cut in. “He can do his best. He can try, but if anyone is going to be destroying people, it’s going to be me destroying him.” I had no idea whether or not Xander believed me, and I didn’t care. Xander could go on thinking whatever he wanted, but I knew what I had to do to get to Christian. Tonight was only the first step.
Xander had nothing to say to that. When we arrived at my house, I gave him a smile and thanked him before running in.
Oh, yes. Tonight, things would start to change.
Chapter Fourteen
As I got ready, I called Leah and gave her all the updates. I had the radio on and my bedroom door closed, so no snooping Diane would hear. The woman wanted to have a quick dinner together before I left. I had no idea why she wanted to spend time with me so badly; I wasn’t ever going to love her like I loved my mom. Diane would never replace her.
“Sounds like you’re growing soft for Alec and Xander,” Leah said. I imagined her sitting cross-legged on her bed, like she always used to do when we were gossiping. “Though if they’re really as genuine as you’re making them out to be, I don’t blame you. Christian is the head of the Dick Squad. Maybe you should get the others to help you.”
It was an interesting idea. I liked it better than making them fall in love with me and then breaking their hearts. After seeing what Xander had done to himself…I wasn’t sure if I was still down with it. But getting them on my side? Amassing my own Dick Squad to take down the Dick Supreme? That could be fun. Completely turn the tables on Christian.
“Maybe,” I said. “Let’s see how tonight goes.”
“Operation Breakup is a go,” Leah chuckled. “Ooh, I wish I was there. I wish I could watch. You should videotape it. Who knows? Might be useful later on.” She was right there. You never knew when humiliation might come in handy.
I said my goodbyes to Leah as I finished getting ready. Primping my hair, my makeup, getting a sexy outfit on. I looked smoking, I had to admit. Hell, I thought I looked older than a high schooler. Definitely could pass for a college chick.
As I tugged down my shirt, revealing a bit of my boob crack, I met my own eyes in the mirror. I looked…I looked like my mom, back in her heyday. Bright, vibrant blue eyes. Luscious, long brown hair. Full lips that were just as likely to insult you as they were to compliment you. Some kids would freak out if they thought they looked like one of their parents, but it just made me sad.
I missed her. I missed her so much.
I stood, staring at the people. Rows and rows of people, nestled in the wooden pews, all wearing their finest. Well, their darkest finest. Blacks and greys. Nothing colorful, and definitely nothing white. My eyes roamed across them, taking in their faces. I spotted Leah and her family, sitting towards the front, mainly there for me. Our dentist, my mom’s boss, dozens of other people I knew only in passing.
I felt like I wore too much makeup, that my dress was too short, the jacket I’d chosen to go over it too baggy and long. I felt out of place.
I shouldn’t be here. This wasn’t where I was supposed to be. None of us should be here. We should all be off in our normal, daily lives, doing whatever it was we did, day in and day out. Living, breathing, laughing.
Mom would never do any of that again.
Behind me, the priest sat in his decorated seat. I never was one for religion, but Mom was Catholic. Granted, she hadn’t gone to an actual mass in years, but that was beside the point. Religion, I think, was just something people picked up when they needed it. It was always there, ready to be a comfort. To me, though, it was different.
Comfort? I didn’t find comfort in religion. I was the kind of person who would ask why God, if he existed, would let someone like my mom die. Yes, she’d made mistakes, but hadn’t we all? Didn’t we all do things we weren’t proud of? Life was about moving on and overcoming those mistakes.
In the back of the church, I spotted my dad and his wife, Diane. After doing what we had to do at the house, I’d be going home with them, back to River High and the classmates I’d left so long ago. It felt like another lifetime. I was a different person back then; no one would recognize me. That was the point.
I fought the water from rising in my eyes when I realized Mom wouldn’t be there to see it. My triumphant return to River High, facing down the bullies who’d made my life a living hell during elementary and junior high. I wished she would. I swore an oath to myself then, before I began reading the scripture at my mom’s funeral.
I would make her proud.
As I stood there, staring in the mirror at my own reflection, I honestly had no clue whether or not Mom would be proud of me. My revenge sch
eme, my plot to make the boys fall for me and then break their hearts—if anything, she’d probably be disappointed in me. I…didn’t really want to think about it. Not tonight, not when tonight was so important.
I shook myself out of my funk and headed downstairs, finding Diane in the kitchen. She spun on her heels, her yellow hair pulled back in a messy bun. “Are you sure you can’t eat a little something before you go?” God, she was eager to spend time with me.
Yuck.
“I’m sure.” As I said it, I spotted a car pulling into the driveway. “My ride’s here anyways.”
Diane’s lips frowned somewhat, but she hid the frown with a smile. “All right. Have fun! I’m glad you’re getting out.”
I didn’t answer her as I left, heading towards Alec’s car. He had the windows down, his brown hair tousled by the wind. A grin was plastered to his face as he watched me get in. “What? You’re not wearing school colors?” He, I noticed, wore the school’s hideous colors of orange and brown.
“Why would I want to look like a cornucopia?” I asked, buckling my seatbelt.
Alec backed out of the driveway. “I prefer warm, autumn-y colors.”
“You look like a nut that’s been painted orange,” I remarked. He wore an undershirt that was brown, long-sleeved, beneath an orange and brown shirt that had in big, bold letters River High. At least he didn’t really paint anything.
“And you look…” No doubt he was about to shoot some smart comment back to me, but when his eyes flicked at me, taking in my outfit, the lower cut of my shirt, Alec stopped himself. “You look good. But you always look good. Can’t you look shitty for once to make me feel better about myself?” He grinned.
“If you’re nice to me, maybe I’ll stroke your ego later.”
His eyebrows rose at that. “Nice Alec it is.”
We talked a little about mindless things during the short drive to the school. The parking lot was already full, and on the side lot, the busses from the opposing team were parked, painted in their school’s colors of blue and yellow. Not sure which combination of colors were worse.
We got out and headed inside. Alec paid for my ticket in, in spite of my protesting. We weren’t dating; he didn’t have to pay for me. And even if we were dating, I wasn’t the kind of girl who just assumed her boyfriend would pay for everything I wanted.
Moving to the doors to the gym, we peered inside and found the bleachers were pulled out, full of parents and other students. The two teams were on the court, doing practice shots. Loud music thumped in the speakers overhead; it would get turned off as soon as the game began. Off to the side, the cheerleaders were huddled in a circle, talking to each other. Through the crowd, Jessie locked eyes with me.
“Where do you want to sit?” Alec asked, oblivious to it all.
“Over there,” I said, pointing. Near the cheerleaders, pretty close to where our team would be during timeouts and huddles. Jessie knew I was here; it was time for Christian to see me.
I followed Alec along, heading up into the stands right behind the cheerleaders. As I turned to sit down and view the entire gym before me, I surveyed the half of the court where our team was. Our uniforms were mostly white with brown and orange highlights, and all ugly. The soles of their shoes squeaked on the floor, high-pitched and annoying.
“So, are you going to want food? During half time, the concession stand will be packed, so it’s better to get what you want now,” Alec started, but I had zoned out, staring at Christian on the field.
Christian was…something else when he was in the zone. Focused, his expression determined. Slightly coated in sweat, just from practicing. He looked hot, and I meant hot in the sexy way unfortunately. With his jersey, I could see the muscles on his arms tensing every time he made a shot or caught a ball thrown at him. He wasn’t the tallest one on the team, but he was easily over six foot.
Christian was up. One last practice shot as the court was cleared because it was game time. It took him two seconds to judge the distance between him and the net, and he threw the ball. The basketball swished into the net effortlessly. He made it look easy, and I knew it wasn’t. I sucked at basketball, if gym class had been any indication.
As the teams huddled up and the music overhead stopped, Christian glanced up, and even though he wasn’t directly staring at me, I knew he’d seen me, mostly because his expression darkened considerably.
I grinned as I finally told Alec, “I could go for some nachos.”
“I’ll be right back,” Alec said, hopping up and heading down the stands, to presumably buy me some nachos. I watched him go, mostly watching his backside as he went, but when I returned my attention to the court, I saw Christian was glaring at me.
He was glaring at me, not looking at his girlfriend who was cheering him on, and Jessie noticed.
Alec was back within minutes, and he had to climb through the stands while balancing two trays of nachos in his hands. I took one from him, leaning against him as I said, “Thank you.”
He nodded. The game had started, and we’d already scored. It was a while before he said, “I know you probably just wanted to come here to watch Christian, but I like spending time with you, El.”
“I didn’t come here for…”
Alec’s come on expression caused me to trail off. “I’m not stupid. I know you have something up your sleeves. I’m just hoping you’ll take it easy on me when it’s my turn.” His turn to, what? Be on the receiving end of my revenge?
Holding the nacho tray in one hand, I set my other on his knee, squeezing it as I said, “I like spending time with you too, Alec. If I’m honest, I didn’t think I would.”
“Ouch,” he said, grinning. He popped a cheese-dipped nacho into his mouth, chewing loudly.
“You and Xander are not what I was expecting,” I said, shooting him a look, watching his reaction to Xander’s name. Christian had disowned Xander, but why did Alec side with the head Dick on this? Why pretend Xander didn’t exist? It didn’t add up, not completely.
Alec coughed. “What do you know about Xander?”
I shrugged, saying, “Enough, I think. I know what happened to him, what he did. He told me Christian turned everyone against him when he came back. I can’t believe you weren’t there for him.”
“I was,” Alec spoke, a little too quickly. “I was there for him, but I…there were other extenuating circumstances.” A muscle in his jaw tightened, and I knew that was that. He was done talking about it, for whatever reason.
Extenuating circumstances. I had no idea what the hell Alec meant, and I didn’t want to know. My mood soured immediately. No matter what other circumstances there were, it wasn’t an excuse. Alec had abandoned Xander just like everyone else, and for some reason, I was feeling fiercely protective of Xander, now that I knew his secrets.
I shook my head, turning to watch the game. Alec could be nice to me all he wanted, but if he wasn’t nice to other people…maybe he hadn’t changed as much as I thought. People didn’t have to have a suicide attempt under their belt to merit kindness.
“You’re upset,” Alec said, green eyes lingering on me. It was as if there was no one else in the entire gymnasium, no game going on, not another girl around. I was the only thing he saw. Five minutes ago it would have made me happy. Now it didn’t.
“I’m fine,” I said, aware that it was the most typical, clichéd line I could’ve said. No one was ever fine when they said they were fine. It was impossible.
Alec mutely ate the rest of his nachos, and I took my time with mine, setting it on the empty space beside me as I watched the game. Christian was doing his best, but every so often, he’d miss a pass while looking up at the stands to me. Directly below me, Jessie saw it all.
I waited until halftime. Until our team of cheerleaders had done their performance and the opposite team was up, getting in formation to cheer-slash-dance with the music their squad had chosen. Alec had been silent for the last hour, so he said nothing when I got up. My phone
was in my back pocket, and as I headed down, I made sure it was on. With any luck, this would be ugly.
I was on the floor of the gym, moving through the cheerleaders to Jessie. The basketball team, Christian included, had left the floor, probably to go back to the locker room to regroup. We were winning, but barely.
Jessie’s face was all glittered up. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, a ribbon of orange tied around the hair tie. She hadn’t exactly been warm to me since the incident at her party, but it was something I understood. She hadn’t been mean to me, either. Hopefully, she’d react to this like I hoped she would.
“Jessie,” I said, “I need to talk to you.”
The other cheerleaders glanced to each other, and Jessie was slow to nod. “Okay,” she said, folding her arms over her chest. “Talk.”
I started moving backwards, to the door that led to the hallway. It was the back hall of the school, where the locker rooms were, so we didn’t have to worry about anyone overhearing. Or seeing. The concession stand and the bathrooms everyone used during games were in the front. We’d be okay here.
Jessie didn’t give me a chance to speak. “I thought you said there was nothing going on between you and Christian? You said—”
“There’s something you don’t know,” I said. “Something Christian told everyone to keep from you.”
“What?” Jessie was so clueless, and she’d done nothing to me, so I hated making her feel like this. Who knew? Maybe I misjudged her. Maybe she wouldn’t care about the truth. Maybe absolutely nothing would happen tonight, and it was all just a waste of time.
I inhaled a great breath, feeling my lungs fill up. For the first time, I was about to tell the whole truth. Well, I was going to keep the whole revenge thing to myself, but it was a lot to unpack to someone who’d been in a different class growing up. Someone who hadn’t witnessed their cruelty firsthand.
Spite: A Bully Reverse Harem Page 11
