No one speaks, and Bell continues to study me for a few more long moments before turning on her heel and moving away. “I like her. Can we keep her?” Her words sound oddly humoured, which is a stark contrast from the straight look on her face.
“Bell, if you keep showing Lexi your loopy side, then she’s probably going to run very fast, very far away.” Dale addresses Bell, and she simply shrugs, taking a seat on a log next to the tree where vampire guy is leaning. I still don’t know his name.
Maybe coming here wasn’t a good idea. Was ditching my boys really necessary? Just then, my phone starts to vibrate with incoming texts, and I pull it out of my pocket to read them.
Marcus Grady
You’re not in the toilets or the Library. Where are you hiding, Lexi?
Shaun Bossier
Maybe she’s behind the bike shed kissing Dylan and Hayden!☺
Marcus Grady
She better fucking not be!
Jared Crowley
Not helping Bossi! But funny ☺
Simon Hastings
We all know she’s hiding from you smothering arseholes.
Hey Lex, I won’t smother you. Where you at, girl?
Garrett Cole
Your presence smothers everyone, Hastings!
Simon Hastings
I’m standing right next to you. I’m not opposed to punching that pretty face of yours, Cole!
Rhys nudges me with her hip, “Who’s texting you? They seem keen. Or obsessive.” She wags her dark brows and glances down at my phone.
Sighing, I move to sit on the step, and Rhys sits next to me, leaning in when I put my phone on my lap, so we are both able to read the bullshit from the guys.
Garrett Cole
Try it, arsehole. I’ll knock you out in one punch.
I glance at Rhys. “I need to do something. It’s getting out of hand.”
Rhys gives me a mischievous toothy grin, and I cave, joining in the boy's group chat.
Lexi West
Garrett and Simon, keep your hands to yourselves!!!
Jared Crowley
There’s our girl!
“Ha! See! Our girl! You totally have a reverse harem.” Rhys bounces around where she sits in excitement.
I roll my eyes.
Marcus Grady
Where are you, Lex? We’re worried.
The toilets were empty, and your not so secret hideaway in the library was taken by some year nine girls.
Lexi West
How do you know the toilets are empty?
Shaun Bossier
That was me!! ☺
I’m a frequent visitor to the girl’s toilets.
“It’s true. I’ve walked in on Shaun getting blowjobs in there multiple times.” Rhys fills me in, making me cringe. Does that boy have no shame?
Simon Hastings
Yeah, because you have a pussy where your dick should be.
Shaun Bossier
Says the guy who checks me out when we take a piss and even asked me how long my giant cock gets when it’s fully erect!
Rhys bursts out laughing, clutching her stomach right as the bell rings, indicating the end of recess.
Lexi West
You lot are idiots!
FYI - I needed a breather. I’m okay. I’ll see you later.
Shaun Bossier
Give Dylan and Hayden a parting kiss before you leave them, Lexi.
Marcus Grady
Shut up, Bossi, she’s not with them!
I know I’m about to throw fuel onto the fire, but Marcus deserves this! Where does he get off telling me who I can and can’t fucking talk to?
Lexi West
Oh, don’t you worry, Shaun. I gave them both more than a kiss xx
Marcus Grady
What?
Jared Crowley
Oh, shit!
“Girl, you’re asking for trouble, and I love it!” Rhys rubs her hands together, and we stand to make our way to our lockers. “So, Ayden, hey?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, when you do, I’ll give you my shoulder to cry on.” Rhys stops walking and grabs my wrist pulling me to stop, and I witness her unusually serious expression.
“I may joke around and take the piss 90% of the time, but I know heartache, Lexi. I can stop being an immature fuck for the serious stuff. Just so you know.” She shrugs, honesty shining in her dark eyes that are closer to black than brown.
I like that Rhys pretty much says what she thinks. It’s refreshing. I wish more people were like that. I wish I could be like that.
“Thanks, Rhys.” I smile, and she gives me another toothy grin showing off her straight white teeth.
Throwing her arm over my shoulder, we continue walking to our lockers, getting all sorts of looks from the other students. Once upon a time, I would have feared being seen with someone so different, someone from the school's out-cast misfit’s group. Now it feels like home.
Mr Matthews is waiting for me outside my Pastoral Care class when I get there and asks if I can come and chat with him. One look at Mrs Monaghan standing at the front of the Pastoral Care class sends chills down my spine. I was in her class when the secretary came to get me and lead me to my kidnapper a few weeks back. Naturally, I choose to go with Mr Matthews because not only is Pastoral Care a bullshit class, but I don’t want to sit through it remembering that day.
“Let’s talk about what happened in the girl's toilets yesterday.” Mr Matthews starts after we take our designated seats in his office.
“You know, Stephen, it’s kind of creepy that you want to know what happens in the girl's toilets.”
He smirks, “Let me rephrase that, shall I? Let’s talk about what happened between you and Natasha Pritchard in the girl’s toilets yesterday.”
I sigh dramatically, trying my best to annoy him. “I don’t really want to. Let’s talk about you and Miss Dice. That sounds like more fun.”
“We aren’t here to talk about Amy. We are here to talk about you.” Mr Matthews grips the arm of his chair, trying to hide his frustration. He doesn’t do it well.
“Amy, hey? First name basis. So how long have you two been dating?” I’m smug as fuck when I see pink flush his cheeks. I think it even travels up to his shiny bald scalp.
“Lexi, I’m here to help you.” There goes his grip again. That poor chair! What did it ever do to him?
“And how are you helping me?” I sit forward, anger fuelling me. “Everything I say in this room will be recorded in that stupid file you have on your lap, and then the teachers can use it against me. Information is power, Mr Matthews.”
“What you say to me is confidential, Lexi. It doesn’t leave this room.” He bites back.
“Yeah right, until Child Services wants to see it, or a court judge wants it for evidence when the cops finally catch up with my brother or my dad. Fuck, even the students could get a hold of it if they really wanted to.”
“No students can get into the private files in here, Lexi.”
Sitting back, I cross my arms over my chest. “Really? Wanna make a bet about that?”
He stands abruptly, anger etched across his face and walks over to his desk, turning back to look at me.
“Fine Lexi, you don’t trust my ability to keep your records safe, then I’ll destroy them. He leans down and flicks a switch, igniting a grinding sound. I watch, stunned, as Mr Matthews feeds my file into a shredder.
Shit! He’s actually destroying the file. I didn’t think he would do that.
When he’s finished, he walks back to sit in his chair in front of me. I don’t miss the poor chair getting assaulted by his grip again.
“What the hell, Mr M! You can’t do that!” I protest, moving to the edge of the seat.
He shrugs, “Well, I just did it.”
“That has to be illegal or something!” I’m completely shocked for a moment, but then wariness flutters through my head.
“Now anything you tell me will only
be up here,” he taps the side of his head, “and if it’s ever disclosed, it will be hearsay.”
He’s totally bluffing. I mean, yeah, he shredded the files, but they are just pieces of paper. Everyone knows records are kept in the computer system.
“I’m not stupid; we live in the 21st century. You’ll just update your files on your computer. How about you put that through the shredder as well, and then I’ll talk?”
I expect him to get pissed off, but after a moment of his static stare, he erupts in a deep belly laugh. The rumbling sound goes on and on, and I fight against the urge to laugh too. He has one of those infectious laughs that affects everyone that hears it. Drawing in my top lip, I bite it hard to try and stop myself from reacting. When he calms, wiping at the tears in his eyes, he tries to compose himself.
“I say something funny?” I ask.
“Sorry, Lexi. I just never know what you’re going to say. It’s refreshing. You remind me of my sister. You both have the same quick wit and stubborn nature.” He takes a deep breath and morphs back to his serious self again. “I am trying to help you. I’m concerned about your anger. You were very quick to lash out at Natasha when you first walked in the toilets yesterday.”
“You’ll have to excuse me for not knowing what you’re talking about. The whole thing is a little fuzzy.” I lie, and he knows it.
“I believe the words Tasha used to provoke you were ‘you filthy whore, you allowed your brother’.” He doesn’t miss the fury that engulfs my face at him repeating Tasha’s words. “Then you reacted by trying to choke her.”
I laugh, “Hardly. I didn’t even squeeze tight enough to choke the bitch. I was going easy on her.”
Mr Matthews studies me for a moment, obviously considering his words.
“I get that you’re angry, Lexi. After what you’ve been subjected to, it’s totally understandable, but you need to learn how to control your anger. Mrs Rogan and I want to support you. We want to show you that you can trust again—especially adults. The thing is, we also have a duty to keep everyone that walks onto our school grounds safe.
We aren’t going to pursue further punishment for your part in what happened yesterday, but we can only do so much. If you show violence on the school grounds again, then we won’t have any choice but to discipline you in the appropriate manner.”
“Don’t do me any favours. I didn’t ask to be treated any differently.” I snap, biting back tears.
“We know that, Lexi. We do, however, want you to feel safe. But we also have to make sure the other 987 students in this school feel safe too.” Mr Matthews sounds genuine. If I wasn’t being a stubborn bitch, I’d have to admit that I like the guy.
“Fine, I’ll try to behave, but if anyone, male or female, student or teacher or even parent, tries to hurt me, then I will fight back in self-defence. I couldn’t care less about the damn school rules.”
“Agreed. Thank you.” Mr Matthews relaxes.
We’re both quiet for a few minutes. Mr Matthews is deep in thought, and I’m battling a war with my tear ducts. My emotions are shot lately. I’m totally blaming my monthly.
“Can we talk about something else?” I ask, needing to lighten the mood.
“Yes, of course, Lexi.” He grins, pleased.
“Have you kissed Miss Dice yet?”
CHAPTER TEN
After I left Mr Matthews, I went straight to English and ignored Marcus and his sulking. Jared was okay, though, and I managed to concentrate and plan out my essay for the upcoming assessment. After that class, I didn’t even go to my locker; I just bolted from the classroom to the back of the school and didn’t look back.
I’m getting good at ditching my shadow pack, as Rhys likes to call them. I spend lunch with my new misfit friends and ignore the messages blowing up my phone from the boys. They are pissed at me, which just pisses me off more, tempting me to be more defiant. Who the hell do they think they are?
After lunch, Maths is a struggle because once again, I’m reminded of Ayden. When am I ever going to stop thinking about him? When will I ever stop longing to inhale his addictive scent or to feel his gentle touch? When will I ever stop replaying his kisses in my head or the way he lit my body on fire on that rooftop? It’s safe to say that by the end of Maths, I’m a walking time bomb of mixed emotions, and even Rhys can’t seem to reach me with her witty conversations during after school detention.
When I walk out of detention thirty minutes later, I’m surprised to see Garrett waiting for me. The boys have football training on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, but I guess Garrett gets a pass with his injured hand.
“Oh, look, it’s the dark, broody one,” Rhys whispers too loudly in my ear as we approach Garrett. He smirks, and I roll my eyes.
“Hi dark and broody, I’m Lexi’s bestie, Rhys.” She offers her hand with dark cherry red painted nails, and Garrett hesitates a moment before taking it for a brief shake.
I’ll admit, hearing Rhys use the term bestie to explain our very new friendship makes me smile inside but hurts a little at the same time. Abbey held the best friend title for like fifteen years. Now, she’s my enemy.
“Hey, Rhys. I’m Garrett.” He drops his hand back by his side and looks at me before looking back at Rhys. “You’re her bestie, are you?”
“Sure am.” She grins pleased and links her arm with mine.
“So, if you’re her best friend, then I’m guessing you’re the one she’s been running off with at recess and lunch?”
“Of course. Lexi can’t handle Dylan and Hayden behind the bike shed all on her own. Sharing is caring, after all.”
I burst out laughing at Rhys’s words, and Garrett’s blue-grey eyes widen, looking completely stunned.
“Jesus Rhys, you’re gonna give Gaz an aneurism. That’s TMI. He doesn’t need to know what we do with our spare time.” It feels good to stir the pot. These boys deserve it, after all. I just wish they were all here to endure it.
“I really hope you’re just trying to fuck with me, Lex.” Turning his intense gaze on me, Garrett frowns.
“Why? What’s it to you who I get down and dirty with?” I’m being a bitch, and Garrett’s in the firing line, unfortunately for him.
His jaw ticks, “I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“Why? You never looked out for me before when I was on and off with Nathan. You never looked out for me at Tasha’s party a few weeks back when I was getting high and wandered off with Travis. Why are you looking out for me now?” Why am I being such a bitch to him?
“You wandered off with Travis? Travis Watson? I wasn’t even at that party. Otherwise, I totally would have stopped that shit from happening!” Garrett’s anger shocks me. Shit, was he really not at that party? As if I would even know. I hardly remember anything.
“Lexi West has a dark past. I love it!” Rhys adds, clapping, but we both ignore her.
“Yes, Travis Watson, and before you ask, it’s not like that. Nothing happened.” Well, if you don’t include breaking into and vandalising the very school we go to as nothing happening. Oh, and the kiss which I’m still in denial about since I can’t remember it.
“Jesus, Lexi. You had me worried.” If he only knew. What would he say if I told him what I did that night with Travis? Or the time I went to the party to give Travis the weed I stole from Mike in exchange for information. He’d finally see me for the trash that I am.
“Why are you looking out for me now?” My voice is low, just above a whisper. Shame twists like a knife in my heart. That night really was a turning point for me. The spiralling out of control started that night.
Garrett steps up to me and cups my face, his warm palm nearly breaking my walls down. I have to crane my head back to look up to his tall height, and I hear Rhys suck in a breath. She doesn’t let go of my arm, and I can see her out of the corner of my eye, watching every moment that passes.
“We’re looking out for you because we failed to do that before and look what happened
. Me and the guys can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt again, Lex.” Still holding my head in his hand, Garrett’s eyes bore deeply into mine, and I have the familiar urge to flee.
“I was right! You have a harem.” Rhys’s voice cuts through my emotions, and I push Garrett gently back from my personal space.
“I need to go.” I pull away from Rhys, but she just chuckles, not taking it personally.
“See you tomorrow, Bestie!” She calls.
I ignore her, knowing that my bitchy attitude could very well push her away and end our very brief friendship. I’m so over feeling so shit all the time. I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster getting whiplash every day.
Garrett doesn’t let me get far and catches up with me taking my hand in his to stop me. I keep my eyes cast to the concrete path at our feet.
“Lex, come back to my house for a bit. Let’s try to get you out of that head of yours.”
Peering up at Garrett, his concerned eyes roam my face. He has his own demons to deal with, but here he is, trying to help me deal with mine. Sighing, I nod, letting him lead the way to his house, and we walk in comfortable silence. The walk isn’t long, and less than fifteen minutes later, he leads me into a small generic red brick house in a part of town I’ve never been in.
I can tell he’s a little uncomfortable with having me in his house. A look I’ve never seen him wear worries his face. I hope he doesn’t think I’m so shallow to think less of him because he doesn’t come from wealth. I certainly don’t. My family is obviously better off financially than Garrett’s. Marcus and Jared’s families are much like mine, but Simon’s parents are the richest of rich. I have no idea about Shaun’s family, though. It changes nothing about the way I feel about any of these guys. My guys. Garrett included.
Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) Page 11
