by Remi Rose
The smug look on his face was driving me crazy. For someone so good looking, he really knew how to piss me off.
“Duh. If you think just because you got a job where I work means we're gonna be friends. You’re wrong.” I point out.
“You wound me.” He grabs onto his chest like I physically hurt him. “But in all honesty, I was going to look for a job anyway. And I thought, why not work with someone I know?”
“Wes, you don’t know me. You don’t know the first thing about me.” I shake my head.
“Then let me get to know you.” His voice seemed to have dropped an octave as he took a small step closer to me.
My eyes widen as they drop down his black and blue football uniform. He was trying to intimidate me.
Now I know where he gets it from.
“What? No. Are you even listening to anything I’m saying?” I shout, while trying to maintain my composure.
He doesn’t answer, but as I stare into his aqua eyes, I get all my answers from them. “If you don’t want work to suck any less for you, let’s make a compromise.”
Raising a brow, I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that your boss is a dick. Probably makes working there a living hell for you. And when I start, you’ll make it seem like it’s worse.” He goes on. “In school we can pretend we don’t know each other, but at work, we're friends. You help me and I help you.”
“So, what you’re saying is that outside of school you’d be my friend but inside school, when you're around all your friends, you’ll act like you don’t know me?”
Ouch.
“I want to be your friend everywhere.” He admits with a straight face. “But you don’t seem to be too keen on the idea.”
Frowning, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he wanted to be my friend so badly. He was everything I wasn’t. And no matter how much I’d push him away, he’d come crawling back. So, I nodded my head, agreeing to his terms. “Fine. Friends at work. But that’s it.”
Satisfied with himself, he gnaws on his bottom lip, grinning like a kid on Christmas. Opening his mouth as if he’s about to say something, he’s cut off by someone bumping into him.
“What you doin’ talkin’ to my girl, Fitzgerald?” Travis teases with a cocky smile. Throwing his arm over Wes’s shoulder, he eyes me up and down greedily, wetting his bottom lip. Dressed in the same uniform, they look almost identical other than the shade of their hair.
“Definitely not your girl.” My face puckers from the thought. His goofy smile forms into a frown before glancing at an irritated Wes.
“I see you met my boy Wes.” He drops his arm from Wes’s shoulder.
“Yah, we’ve met.” I mumble, peering around Travis for an escape route. Having both their attention was making me anxious and sweaty. Gnawing on the inside of my cheek, I feel my foot begin to tap on its own.
“We’re gonna be working together now.” Wes adds.
Travis seems to stand a little taller, gazing at the side of Wes’s face. “Really?” He sounds shocked with a hint of disappointment. “You? Workin’ at Cool Times?” This time he laughs, slapping Wes on the shoulder.
“Yah, I thought Becca here could use some friendly company at work.” Wes says in a baiting tone.
All Travis can do is shake his head and chuckle. “I bet.”
I couldn’t understand why they both had sour looks on their faces as they stood next to each other, until a thought popped in my head.
They were both jealous.
For absolutely no reason.
Stepping in, I immediately shut down any ideas they may have. “No need for the pissing contest.” I look between the both of them. “If you boys don’t mind, I have somewhere to be.”
Lifting my chin, I feel their eager eyes on me, surprised by my outburst. Stepping around them both, I can still feel them watching me as I scurry towards the parking lot.
There must be a full moon coming tonight or soon because I haven't received this much attention from guys in my whole life. And it’s only been a few weeks. I was always invisible, and now all of a sudden, I was desired.
By the two most attractive guys in school.
I couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t.
By the time I made it to my car, I could hear the faint sounds of a whistle being blown and the loud clashing and running of the football players. My eyes hover over a white sign hanging on the fence with the huge letters “Homecoming” written on it with blue paint.
I roll my eyes, I wouldn’t be caught dead going to a school dance. Especially homecoming. Josie and I made a pact freshman year, we’d stay home on every school dance and drink together while watching comedy movies.
It wasn’t like we were getting asked to go anyway.
Tossing my bag onto the passenger seat, I sink down into the drivers and start up the engine before peeling out of the place I hate most.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jack
It’s funny how life works. After six long years, my past comes back to haunt me, but in a more cruel torturous way than I expected. I would have much rather been tied up and beaten than to see her.
Again.
The minute she tumbled into my classroom and our eyes met, I recognized her. But oddly enough, she couldn’t seem to remember me. Perhaps in her nightmares she’d remember me, but now, all she could see was her new teacher.
As I took her in, staring longer than I should have, I came to the conclusion that she wasn’t the same little girl I remembered from that night. She was all grown up now. Soft blonde hair that rested just below her breasts, full lips and the small beauty mark just above her cupid's bow. She was going to be a problem, a huge one, if I didn’t keep my distance. And that was my plan, avoid her at all costs even if it meant being a dick.
That day I found out her name was Becca.
Becca O’Connor.
A tainted last name that only reminded me of thieves and liars.
After a few uneventful weeks went by, I was starting to feel hopeful that the school year was going to go smoothly until one morning I caught a pair of snooping eyes connected with mine. I was beyond livid, but she ran off before I could confront her. As I waited in class for her arrival, she didn’t come through the door until one minute before the bell rang. Even though my back was to her, I could still feel her presence as she scurried to the back of the room. Hearing a loud commotion, I quickly spun around and saw Becca grasping onto her desk with her legs behind her as if she fell. My eyes immediately drifted down to the stretched out foot in the middle of the aisle, and the short brunette who was giggling her ass off.
All I saw was red.
Hot, red rage coursed through me as I watched other students join in, laughing at Becca as she pulled herself up.
“Do we have a problem, ladies?” It comes out rough as I glance over Becca who’s watching me with fire in her eyes.
“Nope.” The brunette, whose name I forget, says a little too eagerly. “We’re all good.”
Peering over at Becca, then back to the brunette, I quickly spin around before I let my anger get the best of me. My fists unclench, and I let the blood circulate back to my hand.
I wasn’t her savior. If anything, I was the villain, not much different than the bitch that tripped Becca. But I was worse, the things I’ve done would make Al Capone look like a saint. After an hour of avoiding a certain blonde who made it a habit to disturb my class, the bell rang and she perked out of her chair, rushing for the door.
“O’Connor.” The words sting my tongue as I call out to her. She stops almost immediately with her back facing me. From behind, I take in her strange outfit. A baggy long sleeve tee that looked two sizes too big for her and a pair of shredded up jeans that apparently went through a blender before she put them on. Her shoes on the other hand were in worse condition than her pants.
“Yes?” It comes out more as a sigh.
“Stay.” I avert my eyes from her back, watching as t
he students who are walking out of class are chuckling. Once the last student leaves, I stare straight through her back, frustrated she’s not turning around to face me.
Time to face the music, sweetheart.
She slowly turns around with a worried grimace, ready for my attack. Little does she know I don’t strike immediately, I stalk my prey till I know they're at their weakest, then when they least expect it, I go in for the kill.
“Listening in on phone calls would get you killed where I come from.”
Her shocked gasp says it all. Lifting her head, she meets my stare. “I…I wasn’t…” She stumbles over her words as I rise to my feet.
“Spying?” I answer, circling around the desk, keeping my eyes on her. Her feet stay planted, but I can tell she wants to run off again. Brushing her bangs out of her face, I can tell she’s uncomfortable being alone with me.
I wouldn’t blame her.
“No, of course not. I was just… passing the classroom when you saw me.” She lies, horrible if I must say. She darts out her tongue, brushing it against her lower lip and my eyes follow the innocent gesture. She was a cute kid when I first laid eyes on her, but now, she was all woman. Even behind those baggy ass shirts she wore, you could tell she had a curvy figure. And she had a face that would bring a man to his knees with a simple smile.
Finally realizing I’m drooling over my student, I drop my eyes. “Don’t let those girls mess with you.” I change the subject and by the sour look on her face, I can tell she didn’t appreciate the advice.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She scowls curling her lip.
Pushing off my desk, I make sure to skim past her with an irritated frown. “I’m neither deaf nor blind. I see and hear everything that happens in and outside of this school.”
High schoolers think they’re discreet when they gossip, but anyone with two ears could listen in. Plus, you can’t trust anyone with a secret nowadays. Rumors fly around this fucking school like the flu.
“I’m fine. I don’t need help from a teacher.” She lifts her chin, which only makes me want to laugh.
“I’m not offering you my help.” It comes off rude, but I wasn’t offering. The last thing I needed was to get closer to her, or have her thinking I was her knight in shining armor. When in reality, I was the exact opposite. “I’m just telling you, you don’t have to put up with their shit.”
“I don’t.” She glares with pure fire in her gaze. “If that’s all, I have a chemistry class to get to.”
I let myself burn in her fiery gaze as flashbacks from that night enter my thoughts. Young Becca, terrified, blood… Shaking my head, I realize the class is filling up with students and nod my head releasing her. She quickly spins around, stomping out of the classroom, leaving me feeling frustrated.
And unsatisfied, more than anything.
A feeling I wasn’t used to, and a strange urge to pull her back in this classroom until I was fully satisfied. But I was done being the monster, the bad guy, I needed to keep my distance from O’Connor, even if it destroyed me.
******
Always around the same time at night, I found myself stuck in a comatose as I stared blankly at the TV. The house was quiet, almost too quiet until I heard the sound of the door slam shut. Twisting my head, I watched as Wes waltzed in, dropping his practice bag on the floor.
“How was practice?” I set my cup beside me, while he looked less than thrilled to talk with me.
“Fine.” He shrugs.
“And school?”
“Good.” He pulls out his phone, staring down at the overly bright screen.
This is how it’s always been between us. Ever since his mother dipped, he rarely ever has any words for me. It was more frustrating than anything, to want to connect with him but he immediately shuts that down the minute I open my mouth.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” I add, begging he at least meets my stare.
Just give me something.
Sighing, he looks up from his phone. “Yah dad I know. I’m just sweaty from practice, tired and have homework to do.” He says impatiently.
“Yah.” I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “Go ahead.”
He quickly runs off to his room, leaving me alone in the living room once again. Our relationship was deteriorating more and more every day. It was a blow to the gut knowing my own son didn’t want to talk to me, but it was partially my fault. If I would have known Tia was pregnant, I would have dropped everything to be there. But that’s what I get for knocking up a stripper, she ends up having my son and doesn’t tell me for eleven years, or until she was done being a mother and wanted to drop him off at my doorstep. And here we are now, seven years later. Where I’m still trying to form a relationship with my son, he can’t wait to graduate and get the fuck out.
Pulling myself out of the chair, I head for the cabinet and pull out a bottle of Jack, the one and only thing that seems to ease the pain.
CHAPTER SIX
Wes
Westwood fucking High.
A school I was dreading to start at until I ran into a blonde-haired beauty with a sharp tongue. My dad and I moved to Logansport for a fresh new start, where he was offered a new job, and I was going to be the new starting quarterback for the Knights. An undefeated team that was scouted by only the best of the best D1 Colleges, and I planned on getting a scholarship so I could get the fuck out of here. I guess that was the one silver lining for starting at a new school senior year.
After my first run in with Becca, I sensed she didn’t like me after I spilled my water all down her white shirt. But now, I’m positive she doesn’t. Our second run in wasn’t much better, I showed up at her work trying to defend her honor after Vicky dumped her ice cream all over the clean floor, but apparently, she didn’t like that. And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why she disliked me so much, so I did what most guys would do in my position and I got a job at her workplace.
We’d be working every weekend together.
All day.
Alone.
Maybe then I’d figure out why she loathed me so much.
Dressed in my hot ass football uniform, I sluggishly passed the ball over to number fifty-two. I was still figuring out names.
“Think coach will let us skip practice today?” Someone groaned next to me.
“Yah, maybe if you blow him. Heard he has a thing for pussies.” Travis smacked his helmet, causing everyone to laugh around him.
“Fuck off, Travis. It’s hot as shit out here.”
He wasn’t lying. With the sun beating down right on us and no breeze to cool us down, it was going to be a miserable practice.
My eyes wavered over to the building when I saw a flash of blonde hair. Landing on the headphones around her neck, I knew it was Becca.
“Hey, I’ll be right back.” I announce to no one in particular as I begin jogging towards her. When she realizes someone is following her, she speeds up.
“Hey, wait up!” I shout, trying to get her attention. Okay, now she knows it’s me and she’s still running. Picking up my pace, I quickly run in front of her, almost causing her to crash into me again. I gently grab onto her shoulder to stable her. “You tryin’ to run away from me?” I joke, peering down at her small frame.
“Actually, yes I am.” She steps back creating space between us. Her bluntness causes me to hold back a smile. For such a small thing, she sure did have an attitude.
Removing my helmet, I brush a hand through my sweaty hair, noticing Becca watch my movement closely. Maybe she wasn’t all that immune to me after all. “Why?” I manage to say with a straight face.
Her hands fly to her hips as she glowers at me. “You seriously don’t know why?”
My eyebrows knit together in confusion when in reality I knew exactly why. Finally, I grin. “You’re pissed about me getting a job with you.”
“Duh, if you think just because you got a job where I work means we're gonna be
friends. You’re wrong.”
I hear her words, but my eyes are too busy taking her in to concentrate. She dressed different than most girls I knew, dark clothing that had a certain edge to them, and her headphones that were practically glued to her skin. It wasn’t what I was used to, but I was beginning to like it.
“You wound me.” I grab onto my chest playfully. “But in all honesty, I was going to look for a job anyway. And I thought, why not work with someone I know.” It wasn’t a total lie.
“Wes, you don’t know me. You don’t know the first thing about me.” She shakes her head causing her bangs to land in front of her eyes.
If she only knew just how much I wanted to get to know her.
“Then let me get to know you.” I take a step towards her and I’m surprised when she doesn’t move away. But her eyes do seem to bulge out.
“What? No. Are you even listening to anything I’m saying?” She shouts clearly flustered.
I stare down at her for a moment, when I realize this isn’t going to be easy. She’s a tough nut to crack, stubborn and headstrong but little does she know I’m the king of nutcrackers. “If you don’t want work to suck any less than it already does, let's make a compromise.”
“What do you mean?” She lifts a brow intrigued.
“What I mean is that your boss is a dick and probably makes working there a living hell for you. And when I start, it won’t make it any better.” I continue. “In school, we can pretend we don’t know each other, but at work, we're friends. You help me, I help you.”
“So, what you’re saying is that outside of school you’d be my friend, but inside school, when you’re around all your friends, you’ll act like you don’t know me?” She says confused but I can sense the hurt in her tone.
“I want to be your friend everywhere.” I confess. “But you don’t seem to be too keen on the idea.”
I wish she’d just come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to go away, especially now that we were going to be working together. By the slight roll of her moss colored eyes and the way her shoulders dropped, I knew she caved in.
