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“I’ll handle it,” I said, standing and walking to the bed, where I scooped up the spreadsheet I handed him. “I’ll just do it all. It’ll be easier that way.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute.” He grabbed my wrist, stopping me, then yanked the paper out of my hands. “We’re supposed to do this together, remember? Or has your little bump to the head made you forget.”
My nostrils flared, and his eyes hardened on my face, unapologetic, but I stood my ground. No way would I give him the upper hand.
Realizing his hand was still around my wrist, I shook him off and pointed at him. “I heard what she said, and I know what peer mediation is, thank you very much, but seeing as how you have no time to spare—”
“I’ll make the time.” The muscle in his jaw flexed.
I wanted to say no. To refuse. But I could hardly do that, could I? As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. We were supposed to work on this together, that was the whole point, and if we didn’t comply, Mrs. Parks would have no choice but to suspend us.
“Fine. Sunday, then. After whatever thing you have going on.”
“Fine.” He crossed his arms over his chest, taking a defiant stance, and I wanted to tell him to stop because it only made his shoulders look broader, his arms bigger. Blech.
I cocked my hip, shifting my gaze. “We’ll start with putting the tree up Sunday then go from there. Sound good?”
“How’s four o’clock work? You may as well come to dinner after. Ethan will want you to, and my parents adore you.” He rolled his eyes. “Though I don’t know why.”
I smiled tightly, but inside, I was thrilled at the prospect of another peaceful meal away from home. “They love me because I’m the daughter they wish they had instead of their firstborn.” I turned from him and said, “Now, let’s go over this list.”
CHAPTER FIVE
I flipped the visor mirror back up and turned to Ethan. “Okay, so my eye still isn’t great despite my epic concealer blending skills and the translucent powder I used.”
Ethan raised a brow. “I don’t know what you just said, but it’s not that bad. There’s just a little bruising. Don’t be so self-conscious.”
“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled, because when you grew up with hair the color of sun-ripened peaches and skin as white as snow, you kind of had a complex about your looks.
“No one will even say anything about it. It’s old news. Remember that time Kent and Brian got in that fight last year over Lori? It was over the next day.”
I exhaled. “You’re right.” I nodded and chewed on my lower lip before getting out of the car and following Ethan inside.
What was I so afraid of, anyway? It was no secret Carson and I were rivals. Who cared if people heard I finally snapped and went after him? It shouldn’t be a surprise. If anything, I deserved an award for putting up with his torment all these years. I was practically a saint.
Ethan said goodbye and headed for his locker shortly after we walked through the door, leaving me alone.
I received a couple raised brows. Or maybe I was just paranoid.
When I got to my locker, I quickly entered the combination, popped the lock, and put my things inside.
I grabbed the books I needed for the first couple classes, then slammed the door shut and spun around, but not before Carl Macky stopped across from me and put his hands up by his face and flinched. “No. Don’t hurt me. Please.” He fake-cowered.
Confused, I glanced around, but the only kids nearby were his friends and a couple random spectators. And then it clicked.
He moved his hands in front of his throat and told the guy next to him. “Protect yourself. Randalls is lethal.”
They were making fun of me. Great. Even though I had expected this to happen, it still made my stomach clench and my palms sweat. I laughed like I actually thought he was funny instead of the total jerk he was and rolled my eyes, playing it off. “Good one.”
Carl chuckled and high-fived his friends like he accomplished something worth celebrating then sauntered off.
I guess ten seconds was enough to get his kicks.
I lifted my hair up into a ponytail with my hands, wondering if it was a waste of time to curl it into soft waves if all people were going to do was focus on my face, then I let it drop and fall over my shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Mia,” I murmured to myself. “Just get through the day.”
With a sigh, I pushed off my lockers, then headed to class, where I had trouble following along. Instead of discussing the relevance of A Tale Of Two Cities in today’s modern world, I was silently dreading the rest of the day and the weekend because Sunday meant spending more time with Carson.
After this week, there was only one week of school left before we’d be out for winter break. One week left to find a date to the dance. With a swollen eye and my newfound reputation for strangling my classmates.
