by L A Cotton
“It doesn’t matter. Now everyone thinks you—”
I glared at her. “Not helping, Flick.”
“Sorry, I just... shit, Hails, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing. I’m going to do nothing.” If I didn’t stoke the fire, the flames would die out.
“When Jason finds out—”
“He’ll what? Drive across river and defend my honor? Please.” It came out bitter. “He won’t care about this crap. We should get back in there.” I flicked my head to the doors.
“Seriously? I thought we’d at least skip the rest of classes.”
“It’s one photo. I’m not going to hide because of one photo.” Even if I did look like an advert for a cheap porn movie.
“Okay, if you say so.” Flick trailed behind me as we re-entered the building. “What class do you have now?” she asked.
“Math.”
“Asher’s in that class with you, right?”
I frowned unsure where she was going with this. “When he can be bothered to show up, yeah. Why?”
She gave me a sympathetic look, and said, “Because something tells me this will only get worse before it gets any better.”
Flick wasn’t wrong. In math I received four hate-notes, had numerous paper balls thrown at me, and some of Khloe Stemson’s friends spent the entire class kicking the back of my chair.
As I expected, Asher didn’t show, but I’d spotted the team through the window, running drills on the athletic field.
“How was it?” Flick grabbed my arm as soon as I filed out of the room, keeping me close to her as we fought the crush.
“Is math ever fun?” I gave her my best smile, and she returned it with a pointed look.
“Okay,” I conceded. “It was bad. By game night I fully expect to be forced to wear the foam Eagle costume and be thrown onto the field to receive a public beating from Vinnie the Viking.”
Flick smothered a chuckle. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, but that conjures up all kinds of crazy visuals.”
“Gee, thanks.” I pressed my lips together, rolling my eyes, as we made our way down the hall. If I concentrated really hard, I could almost block out the insults.
Almost.
“Do you know what really pisses me off?” I said as we reached our locker bank. “When Cameron humiliated me, no one stood up for me. But now they all think I’ve been cavorting with the enemy and everyone is on a personal mission to defend them. It’s pathetic.”
“It’s football,” my best friend shot back.
I traded some books and closed my locker. It was history next, the only class I shared with Cameron… if he showed.
“Okay,” I announced as we stopped outside my next class. “Wish me luck.”
Flick rested her hands on my shoulder. “You got this. And if anyone gives you shit, just remind them that you ride Raiders and suck Eagles dick. Hell, girl, that’s jersey chaser goals right there.” She winked before spinning me around and shoving me into the room.
All eyes fell on me as I walked to the back of class. I liked to think I had excellent patience when it came to my fickle classmates, but after an hour of being kicked in the back last period, a seat on the last row seemed like the safest bet.
“Eagles whore,” someone whisper-hissed as I passed them. But I didn’t bite. I didn’t hang my head or lower my eyes.
I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
But my silence only fueled them, and the hushed insults began to ripple around the room like a rising wave, until the teacher, Mr. Henson finally intervened.
“Sorry I’m late, Sir.” Cameron burst into the room and I dropped my head onto the table with a muted groan. I could survive fifty-five minutes of hearing I was a traitorous slut, but I couldn’t handle hearing it in front of him.
His eyes found mine across the room, growing dark as he began to stalk toward me.
“Mr. Chase.” Mr. Henson sounded pissed. “I’d like you take your usual—”
“Change of plan, Sir.” He didn’t even look at Mr. Henson. “I’ll be needing a seat at the back. Jones,” Cameron addressed the guy beside me. “Move.”
The low rumble of chatter followed him as he reached the desk beside me. The guy already sitting there almost tripped over himself to move.
“Now, if everyone’s in their seats,” Mr. Henson cut Cameron with a harsh look, “We can get started.”
Ten minutes into the lesson, Cameron rapped his pen against the edge of my desk. “What?” I mouthed, our hushed voices drowned out by the discussion happening between the teacher and a couple of kids up front.
“You okay?”
“What do you think?” I whisper-hissed, returning my gaze to the front of the room.
I ignored Cameron for the rest of class. When the bell finally went and everyone started packing up their things, a paper projectile landed on my desk. I casually opened it, keeping my hand over the page to avoid any wandering—namely Cameron’s—eyes. Someone snickered as I balled up the vile note and stormed out of there.
I’d barely made it out of the door when I heard, “Who the fuck wrote this?” The harshness of Cameron’s voice reverberated through me, making me flinch, but I didn’t glance back.
I couldn’t.
“Hailee, wait,” he called, but I started pushing through the crowds as fast as I could.
I thought I could handle it. I thought it didn’t matter what people said about me; the lies they told. But apparently even I had a line. And that line was a detailed account of what someone thought a traitorous whore like me deserved.
Traitorous whore.
Anyone who knew me, really knew me, knew I didn’t date, let alone hook up with random guys.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I burst through the main doors into the fresh air. But I wouldn’t cry. Not over a bunch of kids who had been all too happy to ignore me for my entire high school existence. Besides, it was anger, not pain, I felt.
“Hailee, would you just wait up—”
“Go away, Cameron.” I waved him off over my shoulder as I made a beeline for the parking lot, ignoring the fact he’d called me by my name and not that stupid nickname he usually loved so much.
“Hey.” His hand curved around my shoulder.
“What do you want from me?” I spun around, shrugging him off, narrowing my eyes right on him.
“I...” His response died as he stepped back, putting some distance between us. He swept a hand over his short hair.
“Just leave me alone, okay?”
But Cameron didn’t move. He didn’t do anything. He just stood there, watching me, his expression dark; his gaze so intense I felt stripped naked. I went to walk away, but he moved quickly, his hand snagging my wrist. “It’s been like that all morning?”
“What do you care?”
Something flashed in his eyes, but he didn’t offer me an answer, and I let out a heavy sigh. “You know,” I said. “All I wanted was to get through senior year. I knew nothing would change with Jason, knew he’d still be obsessed with playing his stupid games. But I was fine with that. It was between us. I could still stay in the shadows…”
“I’ll fix it,” he said cryptically.
“Fix it?” My voice was incredulous. “You do know it’s your fault I’m in this situation, right?”
“If you hadn’t gone to that part—”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me? What is wrong with you? I’m seventeen, Cameron. I’m supposed to be going to parties, meeting boys, and getting drunk. But wait, I can’t do that because you and my asshole brother made damn sure of it.”
A couple of kids walked by us, their eyes wide with curiosity. Cameron grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his truck until we were secreted away between his vehicle and the one beside it. “I know we give you a hard time but it’s better this way.”
“Better?” I sucked in a harsh breath. “For who? You? Jason?” Anger vibrated in my chest as I glared at him.
&nb
sp; “I…” he breathed out. “Look,”—Cameron pressed his hands either side of my head, caging me in. “I only did what I did at the pep rally because Jason was ready to destroy you.”
“So you were saving me? Please.” Bitter laughter rose up my throat. “You did what you did because you’re just like him. He dishes out the orders and you come running like a good little—”
“Watch it, Sunshine.” His words were low. Gravelly. As if this was all some game to him. But it wasn’t a game, it was my life. And it was falling apart all because of them and their stupid rivalry with Rixon East.
“Or what?” My back pressed further into the side of his truck, pinned in place by his intense gaze.
“You really want to know the answer to that question?” Cameron’s brow rose, a silent dare.
This felt different. I was angry, yes, but I couldn’t deny there was something else simmering beneath my skin. Something unfamiliar. A deep yearning I tried to fight, tried desperately to ignore, every time I found myself in close proximity to Cameron Chase.
“What’s the matter, Sunshine?” He leaned in, dipping his face to mine. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Why?” The word spilled from my lips. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“What is it you think I’m doing?”
I swallowed as his eyes flicked to my mouth, the way they had before in the janitor’s closet and again in my kitchen the other morning. “Toying with me like this,” it came out a whisper.
“What if I told you this isn’t a game?”
Not a game?
What the hell did that mean?
“I- I don’t understand.”
Cameron moved closer, his legs brushing mine. My hands flew up, landing on his chest, desperate to keep him there. But the second I touched him, his eyes shuttered, a carnal growl rumbling in his chest. He swallowed it, shaking his head a little. When he met my gaze again, his irises had turned dark. His eyes hooded.
“Cameron?”
“Just give me a minute...” A beat passed, and another, energy crackling between us like an electrical storm.
I needed to go. I needed to push him away and move. But I was rooted to the spot, lost in his gray-blue eyes and all the things he wasn’t saying. My heart galloped in my chest, my mind swimming with confusing thoughts. Cameron wasn’t the good guy here, I knew that. Yet, I couldn’t break whatever spell he had cast over me.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Cameron,” I finally said breaking the tension. “I should go.”
“You can’t go,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“Cameron, I’m not doing this.” Whatever this was. “I’m not—”
One of his hands slid along my collarbone, gliding up my neck, his thumb stroking the skin there. I fought a moan. “You can hate me, Hailee. I deserve it, I know that. But don’t insult me by pretending you don’t feel this.” He dropped his head to mine, inhaling deeply. “Tell me you feel it.”
I could feel something all right, digging into my thigh.
Swallowing hard, I tried to process what was happening. Why my heart was a runaway train, crashing against my ribcage as if it was trying to escape. Why my skin tingled and I felt hot all over.
“You feel it,” he whispered again, his warm minty breath dancing over my face. “I know you do.” If I lifted my chin a fraction our lips would touch. We’d be kissing. But I didn’t want that.
Did I?
“I…” I wanted to tell him I didn’t feel it, that I had no idea what he was talking about, but there was obviously something very wrong with me because, I felt it. I did. But I couldn’t tell him that.
I wouldn’t.
Instead, “I hate you,” spilled from my lips.
Before I could take back the words, Cameron’s other hand cupped my neck and he fixed his mouth against mine, his tongue gently parting my lips and slipping inside. He kissed me slow and deep, right there in the school parking lot against the side of his truck.
And all I could think was Cameron Chase is kissing me…
Cameron Chase is kissing me…
Kissing me.
Heat flooded my stomach, making my thighs clench together, as he plastered me against his truck, kissing me deeper, harder. Our tongues dueled, fighting for dominance. But he won, and I softened under his touch. The way he nipped my lip, tracing his mouth over my jaw, my neck, sucking and nibbling.
“Cameron.” It was supposed to be a warning, a signal for him to slow down. A reminder of where we were and what we were doing.
A reminder for myself to get a grip.
But pleasure escaped my throat, and I moaned softly.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he murmured, his lips and hands exploring my skin, my body, as if he couldn’t get enough of me. Which made no sense because we hated each other.
I hated him.
I hate him.
“Wait.” I broke away and he groaned, dropping his face to the crook of my shoulder. “What the hell are we doing?” My voice trembled as I tried to regain control of myself, my stupid fickle emotions.
“Cameron,” I said jabbing my fingers into his ribs when he didn’t move. “Get the hell off me.”
He stepped back, his lips curled in an annoyingly sexy smirk. “You’re not making this easy, Sunshine.”
“I swear to God, if you call me that again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Kiss me?” His smirk morphed into a smug grin.
“I’m leaving now,” I said roughly. “Please don’t follow me.” Because I might beg you for things I shouldn’t want. I slipped out from between him and his truck and started walking away but his hand snagged my wrist. “Cameron.” His name left my lips a gentle sigh.
“Just tell me one thing,” he said.
“What?” I gave a frustrated sigh. But it wasn’t only Cameron I was frustrated with.
“Does hating me feel as good for you as it does for me?”
“Goodbye, Cameron.” My eyes dropped to where his fingers were curled around my wrist and he released me.
“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” He had to have the last words. “But just remember, Hailee.” My name on his lips made my stomach do a little flip. “You can run but you can’t hide.”
Cameron
Hailee hurried back into school, but I didn’t go after her. I needed some air. The girl got under my skin until I couldn’t think straight.
When I’d followed her out here, I hadn’t planned on kissing her again. I only wanted to talk, to find out what the hell was happening. But then I’d pulled her around the side of my truck and the temptation was just too damn much. Watching her fight herself over whether to admit she felt this thing growing between us, was the final straw.
Fuck.
She was messing with my head. Making me want things I couldn’t have. But there were bigger things happening right now, like the fact someone had sent her a note in history loaded with dirty disgusting things that made me want to punch something—or someone.
When practice had ended and Jase had showed me the photo Thatcher had added to his Snapchat story, I’d almost lost it. What I hadn’t expected though, was how the rest of the kids at school would react. The second I’d found her sitting at the back of class, I knew something was up. Hailee didn’t hide; she usually sat up front, eager to answer questions and participate. But she was quiet, hiding behind her glasses, her eyes void of the usual spark I saw there. And the second I’d watched her read the note, saw her expression harden, the blood drain from her face, I knew it was only the tip of the iceberg.
Stuffing everything down, I went back into school heading straight for the cafeteria, surprised when I saw Hailee sitting with Felicity at their usual table.
“That shit Thatcher posted is everywhere,” Asher said, coming up beside me, his eyes flicking over to the girls. “What did she say in history?”
“Not a lot, but someone sent her a note and it was
bad.”
“I heard a group of guys in the hall talking about her like she was—”
“Don’t,” I ground out.
He glanced at me. “What’s up with you? You seem tense? Maybe you need to call up Miley and get her to help you work out those—”
“Seriously, bro, I said don’t.”
“Jeez, someone’s on their period. Or is it this shit with Jase and Hailee? It’ll blow over, you know?” He clapped me on the back. “Thatcher has bigger fish to fry.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
Even though the photo of Hailee was obviously manipulated, kids saw what they wanted to see, and thanks to Thatcher, Hailee had become public enemy number one. It didn’t matter I’d done something similar at the pep rally because that hadn’t pitted her against us. For as fucked up as it was, to most girls at school, getting called out for riding Raider dick would have been a badge of honor. But sleeping with the enemy, even if it was only a rumor, was a crime our fans would not forgive.
“Come on, I could eat a small horse.” Asher shoulder-checked me, moving ahead of me to the line. Except he didn’t wait, he slipped right to the front, giving the diner lady a huge grin. They made small talk about the upcoming game Friday, while I grabbed a sub and added it to his tray. He worked his charm until she gave him a knowing wink, letting us slip past her without paying.
We wound our way through the tables toward Jase who was already sitting at our table, Jenna Jarvis practically dry fucking his leg. “What’s up?” he said coolly.
“We’ve got a problem,” I replied under my breath, motioning over to Hailee.
“She’ll be fine.” Jase swallowed his words as we watched a guy approach their table. Flick glowered at him as he dropped down on the bench beside Hailee.
“Maybe we should—” I started but Jase cut me off with a shake off his head. “She can handle herself,” he said.
I didn’t doubt that, but she was in this situation because of him. Because of us. And that didn’t sit right with me.
