“Anyway, our parents were concerned that kids would give me a hard time. There was talk that the boy she’d been with had already moved on with someone else and that’s why she wouldn’t say anything. Your mother was a good person. I think for a long time she tried to protect him, even though he’d left her.”
“But why would she do that? He got her pregnant and abandoned her.”
Aunt Liz gives Uncle David a sad look before her gaze lands on me again. She blinks away tears forming in her eyes. “Oh, sweetie. I think she held out hope right up until you were born that he’d change his mind.”
Chapter 23
I’m so preoccupied by everything my aunt told me last night it hardly even registers that I have English this morning—the first time back following the tripping incident. All is quiet when I get there, and despite Max’s protests, I insist on sitting in my usual seat. I know if I back down or show fear where these assholes are involved, they’ll just keep bullying me. Because that’s what the dick pics and groin thrusts and taunts and laughing have all been—just a big bunch of overgrown assholes who get off on bullying someone they think can’t take it. Why? Who knows. Because it makes it more fun, I guess. Regardless, I spent a lot of time last night working through everything in my head and for once, my mind is crystal fucking clear where these idiots are concerned.
I won’t let any of them get to me.
Not even Xander.
In the middle of the essay we’re writing, Micah reaches across the aisle, pointing at the charm bracelet my mom gave me. “Do you always wear that bracelet?”
I look at it, fingering the cute little charms, most of them a reminder of places I’d gone with my mom or things we’d done. “Why?”
He shifts in his seat with a grunt. “It constantly makes a little tinkling noise as you write.” He gives me a sheepish half-grin. “Kind of annoying.”
I take a deep, calming breath. “Not that you’d care, or that it’s any of your business, but it’s from my mom. Maybe pay attention to your essay that’s due at the end of class instead of me.”
He leans forward in his seat, getting Beau’s attention. “I think she’s trying to say something about my shitty-ass grades.”
Beau snickers at my side, “Well, she does have a point. Your gradessuckright now.” He nudges my arm. “Coach put him on blast this week.”
I gulp and peek at Micah, feeling like shit for the inadvertent insult. “I didn’t—”
Micah raises his hand, like it’s nothing. “I just get easily distracted. It’s all good.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I fumble with the clasp of my bracelet, pinching my finger between the fastening and the sun charm before finally undoing it. I hold his gaze as I put it into a pocket in my backpack. “Hopefully that helps.”
He inclines his head. “Thank you.”
I sneak a glance behind me at Xander, who’s been watching the entire exchange. He raises his brows, and I quickly shift back around in my seat.
I’ve just gone back to working on my essay when Beau chuckles under his breath. “Hey, Micah, maybe she’ll give you her homework to look at again.”
My eyes narrow as they whip back and forth between them before landing on Micah. “You took it?” A swift rush of disbelief courses through me.
He doesn’t answer, just gives his signature shrug.
Who the hell knows what that means?
Scared of what I’ll find—or rather,notfind—now that it’s been brought up, I open my notebook to where I keep my homework. Sure e-fucking-nough. My heart sinks as I glance up at Mrs. Harden who is sitting at her desk taking advantage of the class time to grade papers. I turn fully toward Micah. “Did you seriously take my homework? Twice?”
He eyes me for a few seconds before he says under his breath, “Actually, no. I’m not completely stupid. But thanks for the vote of confidence.” Micah’s reply has Beau cracking up.
Out of nowhere, Xander’s rough voice grates through the air. “Give it back. Whoever took it. Right now.” His tone is so commanding, it hits me low in the belly and then snakes lower.Oh, crap.His deep voice messes with my head, not to mention other parts of my anatomy.
Action from the other side of the room attracts everyone’s attention. I shift in my seat toward it. In a huff, Aria opens her folder, yanks out a piece of paper, and passes it to the guy next to her. She crosses her arms over her chest, sulking. What’s really weird is Xander never looks her way once. He’s completely unsurprised, like he knew she had it all along.
He looks down at his essay, his pen gliding across the paper again. His voice rasps, “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 24
Later that evening, I’m working my ass off at Teri & Terry’s Ice Cream when my least favorite group of cheerleaders walk through the door. I straighten my spine, determined not to let them get to me, as they saunter up to the counter like they own the place. I truly don’t give two shits what they think or do. Their whole we’re-better-than-everyone, entitled attitude simply grates on my nerves. I’d also bet these girls haven’t had to work a day in their lives. And apparently, they don’t think they have to do their own homework either. I roll my eyes a little and smirk as I remember the astonished look on Aria’s face when Xander demanded the return of my work.That was too good.
“Hey. It’s Scarlett, right?” Aria shoots a beguiling smile at me. As if she doesn’t know who her man can’t keep his eyes off of lately. Or, for that matter, whose homework she’s stolen.Twice.