Good @ Games (Book Four, The Flirting Games Series)

by Wilkinson, Stella

  Byron was about to decline when he suddenly realised that he might actually like to go. “Yes, why not? I don’t think I’ve been once this year, and The Fox and Hounds is quite nice in winter; they’ve got a log fire.”

  Byron wasn’t quite sure what had come over him. He usually hated being in large social gatherings, especially with kids from school.

  “Great! Shall I meet you in the front hall after lunch, around half two?” Jessica looked as excited as if she were going to opening night, and Byron felt strangely glad to be a part of it.

  ***

  Jessica frowned into her cola as she watched Byron put the moves on Amy. She knew he couldn’t help himself – the presence of an attractive girl was like catnip to him – but she had hoped he would at least pretend to be normal for one afternoon.

  Byron was doing what Jessica had coined his Italian routine, calling Amy “bella cara”, which she knew meant “beautiful darling”, and being all touchy-feely.

  Amy blushed a bit, but didn’t seem completely won over. In her usual forthright Australian manner she told Byron to “give it a rest” and pulled her fingers back before he could start kissing them.

  But his presence at their table was causing some interest around the room. Girls were pointing and whispering from all corners, and Jessica could begin to see why Byron didn’t like putting himself out there. He wasn’t just handsome and clever, but he was something of an oddity because he had such a big reputation but was so rarely seen.

  It wasn’t long before they had some company. But what really surprised Jessica was that it was Bianca and Prisha.

  The two girls had entered the pub and stood indecisively at the bar for several minutes before clearly coming to a decision and making their way over to where Jessica, Amy and Byron were sat.

  “Do you mind if we join you?” Bianca didn’t look at Jessica and instead addressed the question to Amy.

  Amy’s eyes flicked to Jessica, who shrugged to show she wasn’t bothered either way. Jessica in turn then looked at Byron to see if he had any objections, but Byron was looking at Prisha’s legs, so Jessica rolled her eyes and gave Amy a nod.

  Bianca sat down opposite Byron and folded her arms on the table so as to press her breasts together. Byron smiled at her cleavage and then switched straight back to Prisha.

  “Have we met?” he asked her.

  Prisha giggled. “Yes, Byron, we’re in the same school house! You used to sit next to me in English for all of Year Two.”

  “Did I really?” Byron looked genuinely surprised. “Did you have those fantastic legs in Year Two?”

  Prisha giggled some more. “Well, they were shorter back then, if that’s what you mean.”

  Bianca looked furious and stopped pressing her cleavage. Instead she deliberately stretched out and crossed her own long legs.

  Jessica tried to catch his eye to tell him to knock it off, but he was oblivious to her as well, so she kicked him under the table.

  He gave her a wounded look and she glared at him.

  Suddenly Prisha stood up. “Actually I need to get back to school. I’ve got some letters to write that I want to get in the five o’clock post tonight.”

  Bianca picked up her drink, clearly about to polish it off and head back with Prisha, but Byron beat her to it.

  “Let me walk you back, I’ve got some things I need to do myself.” He smiled at Prisha, who nodded enthusiastically.

  Bianca opened her mouth to protest but Prisha sent her a beseeching look. After a moment of hesitation, Bianca closed her mouth again.

  “See you later then, Prish” Bianca eventually said with just slightly more than a hint of irritation in her voice.

  “He’s clearly more of a legs man than a breast man,” said Amy. “Bad luck, Bea.”

  “Do I look bothered?” Bianca said, while looking extremely bothered.

  “I think he’s an anything-that-moves man, actually.” Jessica quipped. “And knowing his appetite for it, that probably includes a lot of the prettier boys as well.”

  “Well, I for one have better fish to fry tonight,” Bianca stated. “And someone else just waiting on my call, actually.”

  “Yeah, because the boys are just beating a path to our dormitory,” said Amy sarcastically. “Who’s this date tonight then?”

  “As if I’d tell you!” Bianca sniffed snootily. Then she walked off to join some other friends.

  A couple of hours later Jessica was heading back to her dorm room to study when she remembered she had left her notepad in the music room. She went up to the first-floor landing and followed the gallery round the top of the hallway, approaching the music room from the opposite end of the corridor than she usually did. About halfway along, just as she was passing a heavily curtained window, Jessica heard a very familiar giggle. Surely that was Bianca? Jessica thought back to Bianca’s secretive behaviour in the pub and decided to sneak a peak at who she might be with.

  On the other side of the curtain was a big cushioned love seat set in the bay window; kissing and groping each other on that seat were Bianca and a boy with almost-white blond hair.

  It took Jessica a moment to recognise him and then she gave a choking sound. The pair instantly sprang apart.

  “How dare you spy on me?” Bianca hissed.

  “I wasn’t spying on you!” Jessica raised her voice. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “It’s none of your business!”

  “It bloody well is my business now. I didn’t mean to see you, but Flora is my friend! How could you do this?”

  Michael Brenner edged away. “Uh, I think I’d better go.”

  Bianca grabbed his arm. “Don’t, Michael, Jessica isn’t going to say anything. Are you, Jess?” She added the last bit in a threatening tone.

  Unfortunately for Bianca, Jessica wasn’t the least bit threatened. After all, she had taken on girls far tougher than Bianca in her last school.

  “Too right I’m going to say something.” Jessica gave them both a scathing look and then closed the curtains on them again.

  She stormed up to the music room, just in time to see Prisha leaving it looking upset.

  Inside, Byron was doing up his shirt buttons.

  “Oh, hey, Chase,” he said, pulling a comb out of his back pocket and walking over to his reflection in one of the display cases.

  “Don’t you Hey, Chase me!” Jessica shouted at him. “Why was Prish looking so upset when she left here? What have you done now?”

  Byron looked bewildered at her anger. “Nothing. Nothing awful anyway. She wanted me to meet her again tomorrow night and I said I was busy, that’s all.”

  “That’s all, is it?” Her voice rose almost hysterically. “You just screw them and then ditch them, is that it?”

  “What’s gotten into you? Of course I didn’t screw her, as you do delicately put it. You know what, Jess, you can see how you were raised when you get all crass like that.”

  “So I’m not posh enough for you now? Is that what it is?” Jessica screeched.

  Byron strode across the room and took hold of her arms. He looked down into her blazing eyes and silenced her the only way he could think of.

  He kissed her.

  For a couple of seconds Jessica completely forgot what she was so angry about. Byron’s kiss was like honey. Sweet and seductive. Her brain struggled to focus as she briefly tasted him, then she shoved him hard.

  “Get off me! You deranged Lothario! Isn’t it bad enough that you’re messing with half the girls in the school, but you have to try it on with my friends as well?”

  “I’m sorry, Jess, but I can’t work out if you’re jealous or just crazy.” Byron gave her a cold look.

  She hit him in the chest. “Just grow up! Why do you have to act like that? Why can’t you just be a nice guy and not hurt people? What issues do you have that you’ve got to keep proving you’re wanted?”

  Byron stepped back. “I don’t have issues. I just enjoy girls, is that
so bad? I’ve never set out to hurt anyone. If it bothers you so much then I won’t.”

  “You won’t what?”

  “I won’t get involved with anyone, I won’t kiss anyone or chat anyone up. I don’t need to do it.”

  Jessica gave a nasty laugh. “Oh, that’ll be the day! You couldn’t stay celibate for one day, let alone a week or two.”

  “And you’re holier than thou?” Byron crossed his arms defensively. “Playing the martyr in your bedroom, while sexting with your fantasy guy? When are you actually going to grow a pair and meet him, Chase? I think you’re afraid that the reality won’t live up to your perfect ideals, and you’d rather just cling to the fantasy.”

  “Well, at least I don’t have anyone else,” Jessica shot back. “At least I’m consistent. He’s the only one in my life, and for your information, I am going to meet him, so there!”

  “Oh ho, really? When?”

  “Tomorrow!” Jessica turned on her heel and slammed the door on her way out.

  As she walked back to South Tower, Jessica’s steps got slower and slower, and her anger began to seep away.

  What had just happened? She’d let loose on Byron because she was angry with Bianca, and then she’d said she was going to meet her mystery man tomorrow!

  She touched her lip. Byron had kissed her… Now she knew what all the fuss was about – it had felt beyond wonderful!

  But… tomorrow? Could she do that?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jessica decided she couldn’t face going back to her room and instead went back down the stairs to hide out in the library.

  She found a free school computer and booted it up. There was an email from The Eagle, sent only fifteen minutes earlier, and he was still showing as logged on. He was probably up in his room, wherever that was. Jessica decided to take the plunge.

  “Hiya. How’s it going?” she started.

  “Hi, Gorgeous, I was just thinking about you,” he replied instantly.

  “How would you feel if we met and it turned out I wasn’t gorgeous after all?” Jessica typed, wondering if he had any of the same doubts and fears that she did.

  “I’m already in love with you,” he typed, “so it wouldn’t matter.”

  Jessica touched the words on the screen with a smile. Did he really mean that?

  “I feel the same, but I’m still worried. What if I just didn’t fancy you in the slightest bit? How would that work?”

  “If we both felt like that, then we would just be the best of friends instead. Love each other loads but maybe not be in love?”

  Jessica shook her head in wonder. How could any boy really be that perfect? How could he say exactly the right thing? He was already her best friend and she was terrified of losing him. But now he was saying that if there was no spark between then that they could stay as best friends. That would be so great if it were true. On the other hand, how wonderful if they did fancy each other, and her best friend could also be her boyfriend. They could share everything and stay as close and intimate in person as they had become through email and text.

  Yes, it was time.

  “I think we should meet,” she typed.

  “About time! I’m going crazy for you. ” he replied.

  “Is tomorrow too soon?” She wanted plenty of time to make herself look as good as she possibly could. And the following day was also a Sunday, so she wouldn’t have to wear that awful school uniform either.

  “Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”

  Jessica looked around her, seeking inspiration. It was too cold to hang around outside to meet, but there weren’t many places in the school that offered much privacy. Then she remembered the table where she and Reed had kissed; it had been in a fairly deserted part of the library.

  “There’s a table in the library, by the physics section. Shall we say three o’clock?”

  “I know it. Will you really be there?”

  “Yes. See you then. xxx” Jessica logged out before she had time to change her mind. So it was done. Just like she’d said to Byron, she was meeting The Eagle tomorrow!

  Jessica felt sick to her stomach about what she had to do next, but it was another thing that she didn’t want to put off. But she wasn’t sure she could bear to see the look on Flora’s face, so she texted Ellie instead and asked her if she could come to the library alone.

  It didn’t take long to spill everything to Ellie, who was practically spitting fire at the news. But she agreed that it would be better if she told Flora on her own, and Jessica felt guilty at being so relieved at not having to do the deed herself.

  She made her way back to South Tower with mixed emotions, only to stop short as she entered the Common Room and found Byron sat on a sofa group with her roommates.

  She took one look at the nasty expression on Bianca’s face and decided to walk on by, but Prisha called out to her.

  “Jess? Please come over. I think Byron has something he wants to say to you.”

  Jessica reluctantly changed direction and sat on the arm of the sofa furthest from Bianca.

  “Yes?” she said in an unfriendly voice.

  Byron frowned. “I’m sorry I upset you, Chase. You were right, and so I came and apologised to Prisha. She’s okay with it; I hope you are too?”

  Prisha nodded. “It’s fine, honestly. It was just a kiss, nothing more. You two shouldn’t fall out over it.”

  Jessica hunched her shoulders. “I don’t care what happens between you, I was just fed up with Byron hurting people. You shouldn’t do something that might hurt someone else.” She said the last bit directed completely at Bianca, but Bianca stuck her nose in the air and pretended not to know what she was really talking about.

  Byron looked contrite. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, Jess. Please stop being mad at me.”

  Jessica squeezed his hand. “I couldn’t stay mad at you, you’re too charming.”

  “Well, this is all very heartfelt and sickening. What’s the deal? Are you ever actually going to get together? Or are you still trying to make Reed fall in love with you as well?” Bianca asked in a catty voice.

  “What are you talking about, Bianca?” Jessica narrowed her eyes on the other girl. “I’m not trying to make anyone fall in love with me, and anyway I have a date tomorrow.”

  Byron snatched his hand away from Jessica. “You were serious? You’re going to meet The Eagle? Do you know who he is now?”

  “What’s that?” Bianca was straight onto it. “You’ve got a date and you don’t know who with? That’s priceless.”

  “It’s some guy she’s been swapping emails with who calls himself The Eagle,” said Byron, clearly displaying how unimpressed he was by the situation.

  “The Eagle?” Bianca pursed her lips. “As in, David Emery in Year Six?”

  “What? Who is David Emery?” Jessica and Byron spoke almost in unison.

  “David, in the year above us. He’s the Cox on the school rowing team. They all call him The Eagle. Really cute, but going out with Charlotte Wilson. They’ve been together since last year. How interesting. So you’re going on a date with a boy who has a girlfriend?” Bianca gave Jessica her nastiest smile and Jessica felt her stomach drop away.

  Was it him? Was Bianca right? Jessica couldn’t think why it had never even occurred to her to ask him if he was seeing someone!

  Chapter Fifteen

  Bianca sat at the South Tower breakfast table and stared at the back of Reed’s head. It was such a lovely head, and he really did have such broad shoulders. She had always enjoyed having Reed as a sort of secret backup, but she knew that being seen with him would be social suicide, and being popular was so important. She had worked hard to become a leader rather than a sheep, but it could all be destroyed in seconds if the other girls suspected she had feelings for such a massive loser as Reed. Why did he have to be such a nerd? With his looks and money, surely he could have tried to climb up the social ladder a bit? Then she might be able to date him. But h
e never did try; he didn’t seem to care about important things like having other people be jealous of you.

  Sometimes Bianca wished she didn’t have such a longing for him, but on the other hand he had always been there when she’d called. She made a very clear point of never mixing their relationship with school. Compass Court was just too small for that to happen. So she made do with having him in the holidays instead.

  She wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t think that was enough for her anymore. It was all Jessica’s fault. She had somehow raised Reed’s social status just enough that other people were starting to notice. She had seen him laughing and joking in the Games Room with Jessica and a bunch of other kids. Kids like Ellie Parkhurst, whom Bianca hated, simply because Ellie was so popular without ever even seeming to try. Reed had seemed so comfortable with Ellie and her gang. Bianca was actually starting to get nervous that some other girl might see what she had always been able to see, and then she might lose him.

  For a short while she had thought Jessica might be that girl, and since discovering that Reed was tutoring Jessica she had considered her the enemy. But now, thankfully, it seemed as though Jessica had her eye on someone else. Bianca knew everyone thought she was jealous of Jessica and Byron, but that was just a blind. She quite frankly didn’t give a stuff who Jessica dated, as long as it wasn’t Reed.

  As she looked at the East Tower table she noticed two girls from the year below. They had their heads together whispering but every now and then they looked over at Reed. Bianca recognised the looks, they were interested in him. Bianca felt a moment of panic.

  Then, as if he sensed her staring, Reed turned his head and caught her eye. He smiled briefly and then turned away. It wasn’t much, but it warmed her heart. He was still hers… for now.

  ***

  Byron sat in the music room drumming his fingers. He wasn’t at all happy about Jessica meeting up with The Eagle, and felt like he ought to do something about it. But what? He hated the idea that they might get together. On the other hand, Jessica had never been his and he suspected that she never would be as long as she was hung up on her "mystery man" as she sometimes called him. She needed to meet this Eagle character and realise he wasn’t perfect after all. Then maybe he would stand a chance with her himself.