He insists on walking in with me, so I stay a few people ahead in line. He’s at least in jeans and a t-shirt, so he won’t stand out as badly. He’s tall and buff like a bodyguard.
I’ve already warned him that he’ll be introduced as my big brother if the need arises. I have on a red, baby doll tee paired with black skinny jeans and black Saint Laurent Rangers boots.
I think they’re expensive enough that people here won’t even recognize the brand. I’m also wearing some jewelry I made myself. It’s become a hobby of mine since all this went down with Maxwell. I’ve definitely had the free time.
“You came!” Sierra says, squealing before throwing her arms around my neck. After letting me go, she grabs a hunk of my hair.
“Your hair is sick, Leah. You’re going to have to do mine. Parker will have a fit tomorrow over the red.”
“You think he’ll like it?”
“Most definitely. It’s sexy.”
I look up and see Gabe, Jarred and Troy walking toward us. “He showed, Sierra.”
“Are they behind me?”
“Yes,” Gabe says in her ear as he puts his hands on her waist. The look on her face is priceless. I think I see goose bumps on her arms.
He most definitely likes her, and I’m guessing he’s going to show it more outside of school. The three of them say hi to me and Jarred grins.
“Your hair is killer.”
“Thanks. I plan on changing it a lot.”
“I plan on checking you out a lot.” He winks at me. Wow, they’re being more forward than at school. I wonder if they were drinking before they came.
Chewing on my thumbnail, I look around the club. Paul is leaning against a wall with his arms crossed all bodyguard like, positioned so he could get to me quickly.
If Mom was so worried about my safety, you’d think she would’ve hired someone with some military, combat experience rather than a guy who makes films and lifts weights.
I think being a Boy Scout is the extent of his survival training. I sure hope he’s at least been in a few fights. He needs to stop staring me down.
I turn back around when the opening band comes out. They are some freaky looking dudes. This show is sixteen and over, and I’m surprised we’re allowed in after looking at some of the older weirdos who came to watch.
I grin thinking about the coronary Mr. Lane would have if he knew I was here. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has someone watching me. Now that I think about it, he could easily afford to have someone follow me.
“You OK?” Jarred asks, yelling in my ear. I turn to him and nod before directing my attention back to the band. They’re really good, so I finally loosen up and enjoy the show. Music is such an escape for me. I focus on the sound and let the lyrics take me somewhere different than my pathetic life.
The first band finishes, and considering how good they are, the next band must be impressive. The group of us are discussing music when I see Jarred staring off. He swats Gabe on the arm.
“When did Brandon Jennings start coming to Scope?”
I watch Gabe look the same direction, so my eyes follow theirs. Oh, the attractive football player is here, and once again, he’s piercing me with a stare. Did he come here because of me?
“Brandon likes this kind of music. I’ve seen him here before,” Gabe replies.
Jarred smirks. “I would’ve never guessed that, and it’s even funnier that Anthony is with him.”
“Which one is Brandon?”
“The one in the grey shirt,” Jarred replies.
Wow, Leah. Why don’t you be a little more conceited? I can’t believe I thought he might’ve came here to see me. It’s not like he’d even have a way to know I’m here.
I glance to him again, and I swear I think there’s a smile playing on his lips. My eyes go back and forth from his to Paul’s. Great, now Paul is staring him down. Geez, he really is like a big brother. At least I know Brandon’s name now. Why does he have to be so gorgeous?
Paul is holding his finger up, bending it toward him as a way to tell me to come over. Why would I want to do that? Is he trying to blow my cover?
“Leah, that older dude keeps staring at you,” Sierra says.
“Yeah, I see. Don’t worry about it.”
I’m not going to have a fingernail left after tonight. I have Jarred way into my personal space, hottie at two o’clock, and stalker Paul at three.
I glance his way and see him signaling me again, and this time he’s giving me a look that says, “If you don’t get your ass over here and talk to me, I’m throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you out.”
I let out a groan. “I’ll be back.”
Brandon
If Leah didn’t stand out from her hot looks, I wouldn’t have recognized her. She changed her hair since school today. At first glance, I was sad to see her light colors gone, but after getting a better look, that red is sexy. She is sexy, and she’s going to think I’m a stalker if I don’t stop staring at her.
I’m jealous at how close Jarred physically is to her. Maybe Parker was wrong, and Jarred and Leah are on a date. I look away, trying to calm my anger.
When I look back a few minutes later, she’s gone. I search the room, and see that she’s talking to a much older dude that’s leaning against a wall. They appear to be arguing, but it seems she’s letting him have it way more than the other way around.
Leah’s tough, and I find myself wanting to know everything about her. Surely, she doesn’t like this guy. He has to be way too old for her. Maybe he’s her brother.
Storming off with her arms crossed, she goes back to her friends. I look over, and the dude is glaring at me. I’m so confused. Damn, maybe he’d seen me staring at her earlier.
“Is that the new girl Cole makes fun of?” Anthony asks, pointing toward Leah.
“Yeah, that’s her.” I face the stage where the main band is getting ready to start. I can feel Anthony’s eyes going between Leah and me.
“You brought me here so you could see her. Didn’t you?”
How is he that observant? “Why do you think that?”
“You were taking up for her the other day, and I’ve seen you staring at her in the cafeteria. Conveniently, she’s here.”
I look at him and run a hand through my hair.
“OK, I knew she’d be here.”
“Is this band even any good?” he asks.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I really did listen to them online.”
“Damn, man. Why don’t you just say hi to her at school?”
“I don’t know. Don’t tell the guys. Cole will never leave it alone.”
“I won’t say anything, but you need to get the nerve to speak to her instead of behaving like a stalker.”
I look back to Leah again, but the lights are down now, so I can’t see her. She saw me here, so I accomplished what I wanted, which was for her to think we might have something in common. Now, I have to figure out what to do next.
Leah
Paul is so annoying! He was worried Brandon is stalking me all because he looked at me for longer than a second. He should be more worried about Jarred who keeps managing to brush my ass with his hand every five flippin’ minutes.
Paul had to go and ruin everything, so I had to tell my friends that he’s my big brother. The lies are beginning. I hate it. I don’t want to lie to anyone, but I’m trying to protect myself from further pain.
I guess the good thing is he could pick me up from school now if he’ll stay in the car. Of course, then I have to explain why I have such a nice ride. I’ll say it’s his.
The lies. This stinks. The concert ends, and I buy a CD and t-shirt from the last band, Circling Dundrum. Without even thinking, I purchase the guys and Sierra a CD, too. I’m not used to having to pretend that I don’t have money.
Luckily, they don’t make too big a deal about it. Paul makes it a point to be behind me on the way out.
“Can you wait in the car?” I ask him.
&nbs
p; “No, and you know this.”
“Fine.” I turn to my friends. “I have to get going. I guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
They take glances at Paul, who’s looking around for suspicious behavior. This is going to be a problem. Sierra hugs me, and the guys give me a wave before I walk away.
I sense a bit of disappointment from Jarred that we have to part ways, but he might as well get used to it. He’s cute, and we have stuff in common, but the attraction is not there.
I don’t feel the same tingle all over that I get when I see Brandon. He was actually here listening to the type of music I like. Maybe we have something in common, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a jock and has jerk friends.
Cat Fight
Leah
I go to my third class, which is calculus. It’s also the period that the mean girls are in. A couple of them are in other classes, but this is where they monopolize, so they feel they can gang up on me.
Their snide remarks and snickering is on my last nerve. I think it eats at me more since I used to hang around girls like them. I was never a bully other than by association, but now I see that counts.
Class ends, and Jarred approaches me.
“Don’t sweat it, Leah. I can tell you’re pissed, but everyone else knows how they are.”
“I can’t let it go. I refuse to be bullied.” I march out of class, and the girls fall in behind me.
“Wow. Look at that hair. I guess she’s trying to work in all the holidays. It was Easter colors, and now we have Christmas red. You’d think she would’ve fit Halloween orange in first.”
I already know it’s Nicole’s sneering voice since I’ve been listening to it for a month now. She has auburn hair and hazel eyes, and is very pretty, if you find witches to be pretty. I’ve had all I can take. A few days suspension won’t kill me.
I spin around and grab hold of her long ponytail that I fantasized about removing during class. Bending her head over to the side, I pull her close to me. “Listen very carefully, Nicole. I’m only going to say this once. If you say another word about my hair, I will cut yours off.”
I give her ponytail a hard yank downward before I let her go. She squeals and huffs as her eyes fill with tears. As soon as I let her go, I look around and lock eyes with the Brandon, who’s walking down the hall. He gives me the broadest grin.
For some reason, he approves of my terrible behavior. I thought he liked this girl since he sits with her every day at lunch. I’m lost in his smile, but it’s short lived since a hall monitor who witnessed the whole event is approaching me.
I don’t think I’m getting off easy this time. Jarred shakes his head at me and chuckles as I walk away with the teacher. Why do guys love chick fights so much?
The secretary in the office makes us sit in separate areas. Nicole is taken back first, and it seems she’s only in there for a few minutes. I’m finally called into a different room by Mrs. Grove.
I walk in, and my breath catches when I realize there are three staff members present. The principal is behind his desk, a lady I don’t recognize is in a chair next to the desk, and Mrs. Grove takes a seat on the other side. I hope I’m not getting kicked out.
“Ms. Lane, please sit,” Mrs. Grove says.
The only empty chair is right in front of the principal’s desk, so I take a seat.
“Ms. Lane, I’m the principal, Mr. Stewart. Could you please tell us what happened between you and Nicole Reagan?” Mr. Stewart is tall and almost bald. He has on glasses and a suit. He’s even wearing the jacket.
“She and her friends torment me every day. They tease me about my hair, my clothes and my shoes. I’ve had all I can take.”
“I want to introduce you to Ms. French. She’s the school counselor.”
This lady is young. I’d say late twenties. She’s wearing a plain Jane dress, nerdy glasses and is blonde. She’s very pretty in her own plain way. The difference between Nicole and me is I wouldn’t tell Ms. French what I think about her horrid style.
“Ms. Lane, we did a thorough look into your school file, and we know who you are,” Mrs. Grove says nervously. “Your enrollment papers are filled out as Leah, but the records from your old school say your name is Leeza. I asked the counselor to be here, so we could address why you’re going by a different name.”
“Do you honestly need that spelled out for you? No disrespect, but if Maxwell Lane was your father, would you want anyone to know who you are?”
The school counselor gives me a faint smile, and I see that she’s going to speak next.
“Leah, all of us can understand why you’re doing this. The question I have for you is what do you plan to do when the students of this school discover your identity?”
“I guess since I’m a senior, I was hoping no one would figure it out before graduation.”
“I looked at many photos of you online, and I see that your style is different. Maybe if you’d be yourself, you’d fit in. Your peers might surprise you and be more welcoming than you expect,” Mrs. Grove says.
“This is who I really am. Before Mr. Lane humiliated our family, I was not my true self. I was a lot like Nicole only nicer. I’m now dressing the way I want.” I take hold of my red strands. “This is how I like my hair. I have no desire to be who I was before.”
“You need to be prepared for the fact that someone is going to figure out who you are. We recommend you tell people the truth. Starting friendships based on lies will only hurt you and others in the long run. Also, any physical violence is not tolerated at this school.
“We feel with your intelligence, suspension would be a waste of valuable time, so instead of that as a disciplinary measure, we’re going to have you tutor a student after school three days a week for several weeks,” Mr. Stewart says.
“I’ve never tutored before,” I say anxiously.
“We’ve seen your grades and test scores, Ms. Lane. You’re highly intelligent. It’s something else that you seem to want to keep under wraps. Your teachers report you’re making perfect scores but don’t offer anything extra in the classroom,” Mrs. Grove adds.
“I know. I don’t want attention drawn to myself.”
“Then fighting is probably not a wise idea, either,” says Ms. French.
I let out a groan. I’m not getting out of this.
“Fine. I’ll tutor.”
Mrs. Grove walks over and rests her hand on my shoulder. “OK, we’ll get it set up. We have someone perfect in mind. It’s a male student who needs help with English.
“Please think long and hard about what we’ve said, Leah. The lies will pile up. You’re not really showing others your true self by hiding this information.”
By the time I’m dismissed from the meeting, lunch is starting, so I go to the cafeteria and see that Brandon is already at his table. I make sure not to look his way when I pass by it.
“Leah, are you OK?” Sierra asks, seeming concerned.
“Yes,” I reply as I take a seat.
“You are like everyone’s new favorite person around here. The entire school is talking about what you did to Nicole.”
I glance around the cafeteria and find many people looking back. More attention is not what I need. The next thing I feel is a mouth on my cheek. Parker’s arms are wrapped around me, and he’s giving me the wettest kiss ever while squeezing me to death.
“Girl, I don’t even know what to say. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Nicole is a bully, and you took her down a few notches.”
I glance to my right, and Brandon is glaring at Parker. First, I can’t imagine he’s jealous, and second, doesn’t he know this boy’s gay?
“Sit, Parker,” I say.
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want to get on your bad side. So, tell me all the details. What kind of trouble are you in?” Parker’s animated as he rambles off his questions.
“I have to tutor someone.”
“Tutor? Since when do they do that?” Sierra asks.
; “I don’t know.”
“You must be really smart,” she adds.
“You could say that.”
Parker pinches my cheek between his fingers.
“You are full of surprises, chick. Is there anything else you’re hiding that we need to know about?”
“What is it with you and my cheeks today?” I ignore his question, but I’m unable to ignore the knot forming in my belly.
“OMG, we haven’t even talked about your hair.” Parker flips it with his hand. “I love it. I might have to give crazy, colored hair a try.”
I run my fingers through the side of his soft hair.
“No, keep your red. I like it au natural.”
Parker taps his finger on his lower lip. “Hmm … looks as if a few guys are checking you out.”
I glance around again. “Who?”
“Jarred for one.”
“Ugh.”
“What? You don’t like him?” Sierra asks, sounding disappointed.
“He’s cool to talk to about music and stuff, but I don’t like him that way, and he was getting a little too handsy with my ass last night at the concert.”
Parker pushes my shoulder. “Sounds awesome to me.”
“Dang, I was hoping we could double date. Gabe asked me out after you left.” Sierra glances over at his table with a pouty face.
“We can still hang out. You should ask them to start eating with us,” I say.
Parker scopes the room again. “It appears Brandon is checking you out, too, Leah.”
I look over at Brandon’s table.
“Remember, Leah? He was at the concert last night,” Sierra says.
Parker’s head jolts toward me. “Brandon was at Scope?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, no reason. Did he try to talk to you by chance?” Parker is now drumming his fingers on the table and looking around the room with the guiltiest expression on his handsome face.
“You know something. What are you not telling me?” I ask.
My Lucky Charm Page 3
