Page 146 of Rebellious

One of the girls at CJ’s table, a pretty blonde who wore her skirt a little shorter than most school districts allowed, raised her hand.

That was when everyone noticed him, standing just inside the doorway.

The girl with the raised hand gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

“That’s not Channing Tatum, Skye,” CJ said irritably. “Why the fuck would he be at this fucking school anyway?”

“How’d you know what I was thinking? Are you, like, that into me?”

“Oh, please,” the other one said, a Black girl equally as gorgeous as Skye. “You think he’s interested in you?”

Skye made a face at her. “I do, Jaleena.”

“It’s obvious what you were thinking, Skye,” CJ said, still grouchy, throwing Jaleena a warning glare. “I wondered the same thing.”

Skye looked Easton over, eyes glued to his face before turning to CJ again. “Is he related?”

“I am not, Skye,” Easton blurted, taking mercy on CJ.

Wilhemhein lifted a brow. “We don’t address our students in such an ordinary manner, sir. She’s Miss Ratcliffe.”

Easton had forgotten Billson’s mini education yesterday. “Apologies,” he said to the math teacher, then looked at Skye. “To you as well, Miss Ratcliffe.”

“This is Jaleena Davis, East…Mr. DeLuca,” CJ said, nodding to the other girl at his table. “Er, Miss Davis.”

Easton nodded to every student CJ introduced him to before Skye raised her hand again.

“Yes, Miss Ratcliffe?” Wilhemhein sounded so fucking over the day.

“Will you dock points from CJ if he doesn’t help me like he promised?”

“You’re the math whizz, remember, Skye?” CJ drawled.

Before Skye responded, Jaleena turned on the stool and looked at the teacher. “Skye asks a good question, sir. CJ’s very smart. He isn’t working with us because he isn’t capable. He said he doesn’t want to work with us.”

“I don’t,” CJ snapped. “You two have been sniping at each other for thirty minutes. We aren’t getting work done.”

“Mr. Wilhemhein should’ve let you choose one of us,” Jaleena said with a pout.

CJ shoved his fingers through his hair. “I need a fucking cigarette.”

Fuck, that made two of them.

Wilhemhein looked like he’d sucked on rancid ass. “Young man, did you just swear in my presence?”

“He did!” Skye cried and pointed at Jaleena. “But it’s her fault. She annoyed him first.”

“And you did it second,” CJ retorted, getting to his feet and stalking to a desk, where he sat. “Fail me, sir. I am not fucking ruining my goddamn days working with those two. I’ll fail anyway. Save all of us the fucking trouble—”

“CJ!” Easton inserted, unsure of the protocol in this situation, but unable to let the disrespect pass, even if Meggie and Christopher owned the fucking school.

“What, Easton? This day has been entirely fucked. I should’ve brought my happy ass back home after I saw…after I realized the cologne…” He snapped his mouth shut and groaned. “Never mind.”

Skye raised her hand again. “CJ and me are friends, Mr. Wilhemhein, so we should be partners.”

“CJ is my ex-boyfriend,” Jaleena inserted, surprising Easton with that knowledge.

Folding his arms, CJ glowered at the board.