by GG Shalton
“Pretty typical for a cheerleader,” he said nonchalantly.
I pinched my eyebrows together, not liking what I was hearing. “How did you hear that?”
“I overheard some kids talking about it in one of my classes yesterday. At least I assume it was you. Not too many people are named Ariel Burns.”
I stopped the car and looked at him. “I didn’t want to be a cheerleader. My father kind of heavily suggested it as an extracurricular activity, and my stepmother’s best friend’s daughter is the captain. Kind of had little choice.”
“And your boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Does he know?” he said teasingly as a grin spread across his face.
I shook my head. “I have no idea. He’s another suggestion of my father’s.” Why am I getting so flustered? I didn’t need to defend myself!
Jaxon’s grin showed he enjoyed my reaction. I pressed my lips together as he chuckled.
“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.” He shrugged and opened the car door. “Let’s get your tire fixed.”
Jaxon stepped out of my car and put a few coins in the air machine. He checked my tire and filled it.
I got out of my car to watch him, and he showed me how to do it. “It doesn’t seem that hard.”
“It’s not. But if it goes down again, you may have a leak and will need to get it fixed. My brother owns a shop. I can fix it for you if you need it.”
“That’s really nice of you. Thank you.”
He smiled as he wiped his hand on his jeans. “I’m going to grab a hot dog. Do you want anything?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good.” Getting back in the car, I noticed I had a text message.
Trace: Where are you?
Really? I decided to ignore him. It was none of his business where I was.
Trace: I saw you leave with that guy. I told you to stay away from him. This is ridiculous.
Me: I am at the gas station. My tire needed air. NO big deal.
I heard the car door open. Jaxon had a bag in his hand. “I got you a water.”
“Aww, thanks. But you didn’t have to.”
“It’s only a water.”
I laughed as I heard my phone ring. Looking down, I saw it was Trace, and I turned it off.
“Your non-boyfriend?” His eyebrows slanted as his voice took on a playful tone.
“He saw me leave and wanted to know where I was going,” I said, watching his reaction.
Cocking an eyebrow, Jaxon looked at me accusingly. “Hmm.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged and looked out the window. “Just kind of sounds like a boyfriend.”
“Well, he isn’t,” I said sharply.
“Okay.” He held up his hands as though he was surrendering.
“You don’t believe me?”
“It’s really none of my business.”
He tried to hide his smirk as we pulled into the school parking lot. After getting out of my car, I walked around, meeting him halfway.
“Thank you. I owe you.”
“It’s no big deal. You don’t owe me anything.”
I noticed a tiny scar on his chin that I must have missed before. His dark eyes held a bit of a mystery mixed with amusement. “I better get to class.”
I nodded. “Sorry about your lunch.”
“Are you kidding? That gas station had the best two-day-old hotdogs this side of Matter Point.”
My nose scrunched in disgust until I realized he was kidding, then I smiled. “Ha ha. See you around, Jaxon.”
He chuckled. “You bet.”
I watched him leave the parking lot before I walked the opposite way toward the school cafeteria. I spotted Paisley sitting with Gretchen and a few other cheerleaders.
She waved me over when she saw me. “You left school?”
I shrugged as I sat down. “My tire was flat. A friend of mine fixed it.” I grabbed a few of her chips. “Sorry to steal your chips, but I don’t feel like standing in the lunch line.”
She smiled and handed me a banana. “You can have it. I have an apple too.”
“Ariel?”
I turned at the deep familiar voice. I glanced up at Trace and acted as casual as I could. “What’s up?”
“Why did you ignore my call?” he said in an accusing tone.
The lunch table quieted as I took a bite of Paisley’s apple, ignoring his presence behind me. Chewing slowly, I felt the tension in the air. I finally swallowed as I shrugged. “I was driving and had to hurry.”
“I need to speak to you in private.” His voice sounded on edge, and I didn’t want to get up from the table.
Paisley looked between us as a few of the football guys joined the table. I took a deep breath as I felt Trace’s knees scrape my back.
“Ariel, I just want to talk.”
“Maybe you should go?” Paisley whispered.
I looked around the table. Everyone seemed to be staring at me. Trace’s hand touched my shoulder. “Only a minute.”
I had no idea how to get out of this, so I scooted back and followed him to the tree line.
He turned and stood close to me. “What is your problem?”
I met his stare. “What’s yours?”
“I’m trying to help you, but you seem like a glutton for punishment.”
“What does that mean?”
“Do you have any idea what your father would say if he found out that you left with that guy from Northside? Trust me, the guy was not being nice. He wants to sleep with you.”
My jaw dropped. “You don’t know him.” I crossed my arms, stepping back. “He was only trying to be a friend.”
He snorted. “You’re delusional. Please stop acting so naive. The guy only wants in your pants. He couldn’t care less if your tire is flat.”
“I need to go.” I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my upper arm. I pulled as hard as I could. “Let go.”
“Not until you start being reasonable. Your father personally asked me to watch out for you.”
“I am not a child.” His hold was strong, and I couldn’t get him away from me.
“Then stop acting like one.” He exhaled and loosened his hold. Leaning closer he whispered. “I told you there was nothing going on between Stephanie and me. Your point is clear. I won’t be messing around with her again.”
“I don’t care about Stephanie anymore. I’m not trying to prove any point.”
“Good.” He bent down and kissed my cheek, but I jerked my head away and stepped back. “My dad asked me about you last night. He spoke to your father and Amanda about you going skiing with us in Aspen over Christmas Break.” He smiled, seemingly forgetting that we weren’t a couple. “Your father gave permission for you to go and was happy that I would be spending more time with you. He was worried about you at going to school with the Northside kids.”
My eyes widened. “I don’t need your protection, Trace. I can take care of myself. I have for years now.”
His features softened as he pleaded. “Please just give us a chance.”
“Trace!” one of his friends yelled from across the field.
Trace looked over and held up his finger for them to wait. Turning back around, he kissed me quickly on the cheek. “Your father invited my family to join you for dinner tonight. I’ll be there at eight.”
He walked off and fist-bumped a few guys getting up from the table. I just stood there in shock.
Chapter 12
Jaxon
I walked into my brother’s shop and threw my backpack on the hood of the car I was fixing.
“What’s up, Jax? Matter Point as bad as you thought?”
“It’s exactly like I thought it would be.” I put on my overalls and g
rabbed some tools. “Fancy cars, designer clothes, and a bunch of douches.”
“How’s art class?” Jake always cared about my art.
“It’s the only reason I’m even going to that piece-of-crap school. I spoke to the art teacher there today. She’s friends with Trent.”
“The night school teacher?”
“Yeah, apparently they used to work together years ago on some project. Anyway, he showed her some of my pieces and she was impressed. She wants me to take some pictures of the work I did down by the bridge and submit it to this scholarship contest.”
“For real?” He stopped working on the Mustang as a smile came across his face. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Apparently they both think I have a good chance. Even with the probation, she thinks the Second Chance program won’t get in the way. It would pay for all the tuition; I would only have to get a loan for room and board. I just have to stay out of trouble.”
“Can you imagine going to college on an art scholarship? We have to tell Mom.” He seemed as excited as I was.
I lost my smile. “Let’s wait. I haven’t gotten it yet.”
“You will,” Jake said. “I know that once they see those submissions, there’s no way they’ll let you go. You are super talented.”
“You’re biased,” I said as I separated the tools on the counter.
“Hardly.” He came over and patted me on the back. “But those oil pans need to be cleaned. Don’t get too much of a big head on you. College kid or not, you still work for me for now.”
I laughed as I helped empty the pans and clean up around the shop.
My mom had left me a plate in the fridge. I took off the aluminum foil and heated it in the microwave. Her famous chicken and noodles were my favorite. I finished the plate and got a Coke as I heard a few guys enter the living room.
The speakers were beating when I entered the room and smirked at Lyle’s music choice. He was stuck in the eighties and mouthed the lyrics of the classic rock song. Same old Lyle. He never changed. Looking at his wrinkled clothes, I was pretty sure that he never changed his clothes either. That shirt had the same bleach stain near the armpit as the shirt he’d worn the last few times he’d come over. Hopefully someone had washed it for him, because Lyle wasn’t the type of guy who knew how to do laundry. And the strong cologne smell indicated that he may have been trying to drown out some sort of body odor.
“What’s up, Jaxon?”
“Nothing much.”
Lyle took a twelve-pack of beer into the kitchen. “Want one?”
“Nah, I have some homework to do.”
Another one of my brother’s friends came through the door and lit up a joint.
I waved my hand, blocking the smoke. “Come on, Frank. You know I have to drop every month.”
“You can’t get high off secondhand,” he said defensively. “I read it on the internet.”
“Don’t want to take chances.” I gave him a dirty look as I walked over to the other door near the hallway. “Tell Jake I went to my room.”
“You might want to change your mind. Paige is bringing her little sister by in a bit. Sure, you want to disappear?”
He was trying to tempt me, but I wasn’t biting no matter how easy the girl may be. I shook my head. “That girl is crazy. Not interested.”
Frank laughed. “Who cares if she’s crazy? The girl is smoking hot.”
“Says you.” The girl looked like a prostitute. Sloppy seconds wasn’t my style.
“You’re seventeen and she wants you. When I was your age, I would have already hit that many times over.”
Yeah right, the man probably had to pay for any play he got.
“Dude, don’t send her to my room again.” I pointed at him. “I will have the door locked.”
My brother was listening in the doorway. “Give it a rest, Frank. We don’t want his dick to fall off. The girls you hang out with will leave you something to remember them by.” Jake walked to the fridge and grabbed a beer. “Let me take a quick shower. Morris is bringing the poker chips.”
I walked into my room as they turned the music up louder, and I locked the door behind me. Opening my history book, I tried to concentrate on the homework, but all I could think about was the girl who had snagged my attention in history class. Ariel Burns. I wondered what she was doing tonight. Was she studying? Most likely she was with that jackass Trace Jenkins, the golden boy I would love to take down a notch. She didn’t seem interested in him, but all those rich pricks usually stayed together.
I shouldn’t think about her at all. It wasn’t like anything could happen between us. I put down the book and took out my phone. I went down my song list, hoping to distract myself with some music that wasn’t beating through my wall. My brother’s friends came by most nights to hang out and party. They were too cheap to go to the bar except on weekends, and they always brought over some trashy girls and thought they would throw some my way. But I wasn’t interested in the type of girls who hung out with my brother.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d gotten plenty of play at Northside, but never anyone serious. Last year, my friend Duncan had set me up with his cousin Rachel. We hung out when I wanted female companionship, but I wasn’t into falling in love. She’d called us a couple for a few weeks, and I didn’t correct her, but it didn’t feel like a relationship.
I closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep. Thoughts of my art filled my head, including the possibility of winning the scholarship. Winning a contest doing something that I loved to do seemed like a dream.
Chapter 13
Ariel
“I don’t want to go down to dinner.” I held my bedroom door open as Robbie stood in the doorway.
He eyed me cautiously. “I’ll tell your dad, but he seemed pretty adamant since his friends are here.”
When Robbie turned to leave, I said, “Wait.” I bit my bottom lip. “Did he seem in a bad mood?”
Robbie shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Great,” I said under my breath.
Robbie stared at me for a minute as if he was trying to figure me out. “You don’t like Trace?”
I contemplated what I wanted to say. I still didn’t know if I could trust Robbie. “I don’t know.”
He lowered his eyebrows. “Sounds like you don’t.”
“He’s just a lot take in.”
A smile slid across his face. “Really? I didn’t think you noticed his annoying side. Most the guys can’t stand him, but the girls fall all over themselves. He knows it too.”
“He is full of himself.” I let out a sharp breath and sat on my bed.
Robbie laughed. “I like this side of you.”
“I’m not as bad as you think I am.” I said smiling.
He smiled back as he shook his head. “See you downstairs.”
I closed my door and walked into my closet. Picking out my sunflower dress, I hurried and put it on, then slipped on my sandals. After taking the band out of my hair, I smoothed it down and went to the bathroom to put on some light makeup.
Walking down the stairs, I heard Trace laughing with Amanda. My stomach squeezed at his ability to charm the adults.
“There she is.” Trace walked toward the bottom of the stairs. He took my hand and kissed it. “I was wondering where you were.”
I noticed all the adults looking at me. “My apologies.”
Amanda smiled. “It’s fine. I was just telling Mrs. Jenkins that you made the cheerleading team.”
The woman standing beside Trace smiled tightly. Her blue eyeshadow highlighted her brown eyes with fake eyelashes to finish the look. “Congratulations. I’m sure Trace will enjoy seeing you cheering him on the sidelines.” She patted her son on the back.
“Yes, I bet he can’t wait,” I said mockingly, but Mrs. Jenkins didn’t seem to notice.
&
nbsp; Trace ignored my sarcastic response and put his arm around me. “Oh, come on, Ary. You know you like watching me.”
“Ary?” I asked as our parents talked about the golf tournament their club was having the following weekend. They called it a Jack-and-Jill event. Seemingly, it was for couples.
Trace whispered near my ear, “Don’t be mad. Most couples have pet names.”
“We aren’t a couple,” I said through my teeth. He was really annoying me.
“Come on, Ary, you don’t want to disappoint our parents.” He whined as he smiled and placed my hand on his arm. “Let me escort you to dinner.”
I rolled my eyes as we entered the dining room. Trace pulled out my chair and helped me sit at the table.
Ritchie giggle. “Ariel has a boyfriend.”
“Zip it,” was Amanda’s sharp reply as I let out a frustrated breath.
Trace sat beside me as Gayle brought out prime rib displayed on fine china. I noticed peas and potatoes already on the table.
My father used the opportunity to complain again about Northside attending Matter Point High School. “I’m just saying that our property taxes are through the roof on purpose. We provide the best educational opportunities in the state.”
Trace shook his head, agreeing with the adults. “We already had a guy kicked out of school yesterday for fighting. He brought a knife to school.”
Mrs. Jenkins gasped. “See, it’s already started. I don’t feel like the kids are safe.”
Trace took a bite of his roll then washed it down with a drink of juice. “Gretchen said a few of the girls from Northside were drinking in the bathroom.” I rolled my eyes. Gretchen was probably the one drinking. I saw her pour vodka into her Sprite at Chester Falls. She had a lot of nerve talking about anyone drinking.
“It’s a disgrace.” Trace’s mother put her napkin down beside her plate. “They’ll distract our children from learning.”
I put down my fork, tired of the banter. “They’re not all bad. I have some kids in my history class from Northside. They’ve been kind to me.”
All the adults stopped eating and looked at me as silence hung in the air. My father narrowed his eyes. “Don’t trust them.”
