Huh. A new girl. I almost didn’t notice her because she seemed content to sit there quietly, her head buried in a notebook as she scribbled something, unnoticed and ignored by the other students around her.
An unexpected stab of jealousy shot through me. For a second I wished I could go back in time and be the new girl all over again. But this time I’d avoid catching Danny’s attention. Maybe then I could’ve been like this girl. Anonymous and alone.
Weird, I know, but that sounded kind of awesome.
Adrian, one of Danny’s friends, fell into a seat behind us with a loud clatter. “What’s this I here about Rosalie and the new guy?” His voice was loud and filled with laughter. “What’s up, Rosalie? You gonna risk mingling with a mere mortal?”
Tara giggled.
Adrian took that as encouragement. “You ditched Danny for some loser? That’s cold, girl, even for you.”
“She’s not into him,” Allie said, her tone brooking no argument.
“So you’re not dating him?” Tara asked.
I glared at her but her confidence was growing now that she had an ally in Adrian. She widened her eyes in fake innocence. “What? You two would make a cute couple.” She eyed me again. “We all know you’re so perfect, and he’s…” She paused for effect before giving a little shrug. “Hobo chic?”
Adrian gave an approving laugh that made her eyes gleam with triumph.
“He is hot in a grungy sort of way,” Erika said, ignoring the dig and the laughter and making Tara’s triumph morph into irritation. She matched Tara’s wide-eyed innocence as she squared off with the younger, far less powerful cheerleader. “Don’t you think?”
Tara’s mouth flapped open and shut. It was one thing to subtly mock me, but it was another to openly defy Erika.
But to agree would put her at odds with Adrian.
Being popular in this school was basically like walking a balance beam all day long. It was exhausting, but no one wanted to fall.
We all waited to see what she would say.
Finally, she shrugged. “I guess. If you’re into that sort of thing.”
“Hot guys?” Allie mocked. “Uh, yeah, I’d say we’re into that sort of thing.”
Erika laughed. “Aren’t you, Tara?” Her voice held a new edge. “I mean, you are still single, aren’t you?”
Tara didn’t reply. The fact that she was still single after being dumped by a basketball player was still a touchy subject for Tara and we all knew it.
Allie leaned forward. “Jealous much, Tara?”
Tara’s eyes flared with anger as Allie turned to me with a smug grin.
I shook my head, torn between admiration and irritation. I loved my friends, I really did. But sometimes they just exacerbated the problem.
Like right now, for example. Adrian had been listening and seemed to read way too much into their teasing.
“So it’s true? You’re into the guy?” He sounded a little alarmed—no doubt worried he’d have to break this news to Danny, who for whatever reason still acted like he had some sort of claim on me.
“Of course not.” I finally spoke up and my voice was even colder than I’d intended. All eyes were on me, including the students at neighboring tables. “I’m not into him. I’m not into anyone.”
That shut them up, but I saw Tara’s eye roll and heard her barely concealed giggle as she traded a look with Adrian at my expense.
3
Conner
It was official. I had no idea where I was going.
The second bell had rung and everyone was scrambling around me to get to their classrooms.
Too bad I’d been so distracted by the pretty blonde cheerleader I hadn’t exactly registered what room I was heading to next.
“Hey, man, you lost?” A lanky guy loped over toward me. He was taller than me and seemed to be all limbs and extremities. At first glance he looked a bit like a giraffe with his dark blonde shaggy hair, the long nose, the gangly thin arms and legs.
“Uh, yeah,” I said, scratching the back of my head as I looked up and down the hallway like there might be some sign hanging overhead. Remedial math classes this way.
After an encounter with the world’s most clichéd cheerleaders, I’d walked away, toward my next class, although truth be told—I had no idea where I was going. I’d started in this direction more for show than anything. There was no way I was going to stand around looking lost while half the school was watching to see my reaction to being so thoroughly dissed.
I was man enough to admit it—and quite frankly, I was still a little shocked.
Girls liked me. Actually, most people liked me. I just needed time, that was all.
Still, I was off my game if I couldn’t make a cheerleader smile. Truth be told, I’d been off my game ever since I’d stepped foot in this building.
Not that I would ever admit this aloud, but it was possible that Harley had the right idea by studying her class assignment before the day started.
As it was, I’d had to spend way too long in the office as they’d printed it out and a bored, nerdy kid who looked like he hated me at first sight gave me a mumbled speech about how the school was set up and where to go for my first class. I’d caught one out of every three words, which was why at this particular moment I had no idea what wing I was supposed to be in let alone how to find it.
“Here.” The gangly kid reached for the paper in my hand. “Math, huh?”
I waited for some sort of joke about how I was in a class that was usually reserved for stoners and idiots.
I wasn’t a stoner, so what did that make me?
I stiffened, ready for the laugh, but he just lifted his head in a sort of ostrich-like bobbing movement. “I’ll show you how to get there.”
“Oh. Uh…thanks.”
“No biggie,” he said, an affable smile on his face. “I’ve got a free period anyway. I’m Lars, by the way.”
“Conner,” I said.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve heard about you.”
I tried not to wince. He wasn’t being mean, but the way he said it—it didn’t sound like what he’d heard was particularly good.
Like I’d said, I was totally off my game today.
“Besides, I saw what happened back there.” He shook his head, his eyes alight with laughter that didn’t seem to be cruel, though it was clearly at my expense. “Dude. You’ve got balls of steel to go straight for Rosalie.”
I ignored the balls of steel comment, because yeah…confidence had never been my issue. But…Rosalie. So that was the pretty blonde’s name. More importantly my attention caught on the way he’d said her name, with more than a hint of awe.
“So she’s the queen bee around here, huh?” I asked.
Figured. A girl like her had alpha mean girl written all over her. From her long blonde hair to her pert little nose, she’d looked like a fairytale princess. No one was that pretty and nice. That would just be too good to be true.
“She’s the queen all right,” he said, his tone amused. “But Erika and Allie, the other girls you royally pissed off?”
I nodded. Sure, I remembered the brunette and redhead. Stunning and sexy was how I’d labeled them in my head, but sure, Erika and Allie worked too.
Lars was eyeing me oddly, his eyes lit up with…I don’t know what. Something weird. A new interest. “They’re the ones you really need to look out for. It’s usually best to stay off their radar—”
“Too late,” I said as I followed him down a near empty hallway I hadn’t noticed before.
“Yeah, exactly.” He cringed, looking sorry for me, although he still had a bizarre eagerness about him that put me on edge. I nearly stopped in my tracks. I was more than just off my game if a nerdy, gawky nerd like Lars was feeling sorry for me.
“Whatever, they’ll learn to love me,” I said with an easy smile.
Lars didn’t look so sure but he didn’t argue. “Anyway, those two are the ones who’ll publicly humiliate you—as you just found ou
t.”
“I wouldn’t say I was humiliated—”
“But basically the three of them rule this school, along with the guys on the football team.”
“Yeah, I think I met them this morning.”
Lars arched a brow in disbelief. “You think? I heard they were laughing at you in front of the whole school.”
“What?” I jerked my head to the side to look at him and he looked totally serious. “Who told you that? They weren’t mocking me, just…” I waved a hand. “It was just your typical razzing.”
Razzing? That was a word I’d never uttered before. It was a word my grandma would have used.
Lars eyed me oddly, and I could have sworn his eyes were gleaming with mischief. It was official, this kid was a freak.
Then he smiled and that weird look was replaced with the nice friendly, helpful geek. “Okay, well, let me tell you as someone who’s been going to Talmore his whole life. Razzing by the guys on the team? It’s never a good thing.”
Before I could respond, he stopped in front of a classroom door. “You’re in here.” He started to walk away but called back, “I’ll come and get you after class and take you to lunch.”
I opened my mouth, ready to protest. I wasn’t a child, I could find my way to lunch. But he was already off, and I was…late.
With a sigh, I pulled open the door to find a glaring teacher turning to face me. “You’re late.”
I held back another sigh but just barely. No, really? Instead I smiled. It was a smile designed to make teachers love me. It had always worked before.
It did not work now.
The teacher’s brows arched. “Got lost, did we?”
“I decided to take the scenic route,” I said as I walked inside and faced a sea of blank faces.
“Next time ask someone for directions,” the teacher said as he handed me a pop quiz.
“It’s my first day,” I said. “How am I supposed to take a pop quiz?”
He didn’t answer.
Nope. This was definitely not my day, and it wasn’t even lunchtime.
4
Conner
Lunch was no picnic either. If I’d thought my day might turn around with some greasy cafeteria food and a whole lot of stares and attention from my peers, I was wrong. True to his word, Lars had fetched me from class and led me to the cafeteria, sitting next to me at a table in the back.
Great, not only was I the new kid, I was now the new kid who was friends with the class loser. That was the only explanation for why Lars found a spot in social Siberia and why no one came over to join us.
But that was fine. I mean, Lars might have been an odd duck—no, scratch that. He was definitely an odd duck, no ‘might have beens’ about it. His big bulging eyes were too interested, too eager, too…excited. Like I was his shiny new toy and he couldn’t wait to dissect me and check out my innards.
He was kind of creepy, to be honest.
What had my life become that I’d gone from the king of my former school to this?
But whatever, it was just a matter of time, right? I’d never started over at a new school before but my bet was, this was totally normal. To be expected, really.
I was ignoring Lars’ neverending questions and eyeing the cafeteria trying to get a sense for the social hierarchy when I spotted Harley hovering with her tray near the front of the line, eyeing the crowded room like she was about to forge into battle.
I raised a hand and flagged her down. Relief flickered across her features before she clearly remembered that she didn’t like me.
That was fine. Join the club.
To be clear, I normally did not do wallowing, but I was pretty sure anyone who’d had the morning I’d had would be experiencing at least a little self-pity. I introduced her to Lars when she reached our table and he thrust a hand out to her, once again overly eager and a little too excited like his day had just been made because the weird new artsy chick had graced us with her presence. She shot me a quick questioning sidelong glance before giving his hand a little shake dropping it.
When she sat across from me she arched her brows. We might not have been close, but I didn’t need a sibling bond to know what she was thinking. Really? You’re sitting with this guy?
I shrugged. Honestly, I’d sort of figured Lars might totally be Harley’s type, but apparently even Harley had her standards and Lars was clearly freaking her out with his creepy wide-eyed leering.
A freak like Harley was probably exactly Lars’ type. Maybe they’d get together and have freakish babies one day. Still, I stared at Lars until he seemed to sense my annoyance and he quit it with the leering and the ogling.
As if there was anything to ogle. Harley had dressed for her first day at Talmore like she’d always dressed at our old school. Which was to say, weirdly. Her dark curls were held back with a bandana and she looked like she might disappear without a moment’s notice, swallowed alive by the oversized hoodie and the too-big jeans.
“I hear your day is off to a phenomenal start.” Harley took a bite of pizza, her eyes meeting mine with barely concealed amusement behind those coke-bottle glasses.
“I’ve had better days,” I agreed. “How about you? How are you holding up?”
I was sort of hoping to hear her tale of woe, to be honest, but instead she grinned. “Better than you?”
I frowned. “Funny.”
“Seriously, I’ve been hearing about you all morning,” she said. “What did you do to piss everyone off so badly?”
“I didn’t do anything—”
“Except hit on one the team’s girls,” Lars said.
Harley’s nose wrinkled in disgust at the phrasing and I couldn’t say I blamed her. “She belongs to a team?” I asked.
Lars looked nonplussed as he ate his bagged lunch of a tuna sandwich and chips. “You know what I mean.”
“I don’t actually.” Here was the thing. I might have been a player, but I wasn’t some backwards misogynist living in another decade, which was what seemed to be the case with most of Talmore High. The team’s girl? What did that even mean?
Harley was barely suppressing a laugh as she watched me. “I heard about that.”
“You too?” I rolled my eyes. “I hit on a gorgeous girl. So sue me.” I shook my head as I picked up my own slice. “What, does she have a boyfriend on the football team or something?”
“Worse,” Lars said. “She has an ex-boyfriend on the team.”
“And he wants her back?” Harley asked.
Lars shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know he doesn’t want anyone else to have her.” Lars smirked and any good will I’d felt toward this kid for helping me when I was lost went right out the window. “Not that he’d ever needed to worry. No one ever dared go near Rosalie…well, not until now.”
Harley laughed. “Way to go, Conner. Making enemies on day one.”
“Shut up,” I muttered. “Besides, all I did was tease a cheerleader a little.”
“She’s not just a cheerleader,” Harley said, sounding like the ultimate know-it-all, although amusement laced her voice. “She’s the ice queen.”
Harley sort of hissed her name like we were telling stories around a campfire. I choked a bit on my pizza as I laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”
The girl I’d seen had been quiet, sure—in fact, she never said a word. And true she had a bit of an arrogant spoiled brat look about her—chalk that up to an upturned little button nose and an absurdly perfect face. But the look in her eyes when she’d met mine was not even remotely cold.
I couldn’t say exactly what she’d been feeling but I could have sworn I’d seen a storm cloud of emotions. Sadness, bitterness, wariness…maybe even fear. But I hadn’t seen cold and unfeeling. Not at all.
“That’s what they call her,” Harley said with a shrug.
Lars nodded. “It’s true. Everyone calls her that.”
I stared at him, waiting for him to explain but he resumed eating as though the fact that everyo
ne called her that was reason alone to believe it to be true. “Whatever. I’m not intimidated by her.”
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot,” Harley said, her voice low and flat. “You can have any girl you want.”
Lars nearly choked on his sandwich. “Is that true?”
I lifted one shoulder. I mean, I wasn’t one to brag, but…
“But the things people are saying about you,” Lars said, with a little shake of his head. “It’s not good, man.”
Thanks, Lars. Thanks a lot. “Just give ’em time,” I said, repeating what I’d been saying to myself all morning. See, I’d learned a very valuable lesson all those years ago after my dad left. For a while there my classmates acted all awkward around me. In hindsight, I totally got it. Our town was a small one and everyone knew everybody else’s business.
I’d realized pretty early on that I could either let them tell me how I should be reacting to my family’s drama or I could show them what I wanted them to believe. At the time that just meant not breaking down into tears when a well-meaning teacher would take me aside to ask how I was holding up. But over the years I’d taken that lesson and adapted it into something so much bigger, and way more powerful.
You could either let the world tell you who you were, or you could show them what you wanted them to see. Me? I preferred to make my own story. Craft my own image. Be my own man. Walk my own walk.
I was basically a walking Nike slogan right here, and no amount of jeering jocks or stuck-up cheerleaders could change that. Harley couldn’t hide her smirk as she ate her food and it nagged at me. I should’ve let it go but… “You’re enjoying this,” I said, my tone accusatory.
“Watching the king of my old high school finally get a dose of reality?” She shrugged. “I’m not hating it.”
She was loving it.
“What about you?” I asked. “I suppose you’ve had an amazing morning befriending people left and right.”
Her cheeks turned pink and I waited for her to snap back, but her attention had been caught by one of the jocks from the middle of the cafeteria who was heading straight for our table. I turned to watch him too, adrenaline pumping as I braced for impact. He was a big wall of a guy sporting a football jersey and an unreadable expression.
Charming the Cheerleader (The Bet Duet Book 1) Page 3
