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“Who’s dipping what where?” Scar says, coming out of nowhere. She’s empty-handed, which makes me think she ate already, which goes against the rule that she eats lunch at our table.
Her arms cross over her chest, eyes dancing from person to person. “Well? Is someone planning to tell me what you’re talking about?”
Shoving my chair back, I stand up and ask the question burning in my brain. “What happened with you and Neo in class?”
Scar’s face goes ghost white. It’s all the answer I need, but I wanna hear the words from her mouth. She looks at Neo, then back to me. “None of your business.”
I catch Neo smirking out of the corner of my eye and it’s enough for me to grab him by the back of his shirt and yank him out of his chair.
“What the fuck is your problem?” He shoves my chest. “Are you really pulling this shit again?”
“Crew!” Scar stammers, trying to intervene. “Knock it off.”
Why is she protecting him?
I drop my hold on Neo, who’s casually smoothing his hands down his shirt like nothing happened. Just as I turn to Scar, I feel his fist fly across my face. My head whips to the left, and I bite down so hard, I catch my tongue between my teeth. Blood pools in my mouth and I spit it out on the dining hall floor.
“You son of a bitch!” I charge at him, grabbing him by the waist and taking him straight down to the ground. He’s got more muscle and body weight than I do, so I know it’s a losing battle, but my rage-induced adrenaline doesn’t care.
“Quit it, you two.” I hear Scar shouting with panic in her voice. “Jagger! Stop this!”
Through thrown punches, some that land and some that don’t, Neo ends up with both my hands locked in his. He pins them over my head, gets in my face, and seethes, “You’ve done fucked up. You chose her over us for the last fucking time. I’m done with you. You hear me? Done!”
In an instant, he lets go, climbs off me, and takes off.
Jagger extends a hand to me and I grab it. Once I’m on my feet, I spit out another mouthful of blood.
My eyes shoot to Scar, who looks distraught. “You’re unbelievable,” I tell her.
I storm out of the dining hall in the same manner Neo did. Told these guys bringing Scar here was a bad idea. Then I fought them on her and these games because I knew Neo would use it to his advantage. Neo said we’re done, and right now, I’m pretty fucking okay with that.
* * *
“Getyour head in the game, Vance,” Coach shouts at me for the fourth time since practice began an hour ago.
He’s the only person at this place I take orders from and he has no problem throwing his authority at me any chance he gets.
Dexter snaps me the ball. I check Davis, motioning him to the left as the defense prowls after him.
“Throw the damn ball, Vance,” Coach growls.
I hesitate, my eyes briefly skimming the field before I throw the ball to Davis, knowing he won’t make the catch. Brady dives out of nowhere and intercepts the ball. His legs don’t stop moving…and he scores.
Shit.
“What the hell are you doing?” Coach says, storming on the field. He grabs my face mask, pulling me toward the edge of the field. “You’re damn lucky this is a scrimmage. You play like this Friday night, and I’ll bench your ass.”
“Sorry, Coach. Got a lot on my mind.”
“Well, clear your damn mind. And get some sleep. You look like hell.”
Coach calls practice and I’m dragging ass, like a sore loser, to the locker room.
Clear my mind. As if it’s that easy. Doesn’t anyone understand the pressure I’m under right now? Everything I’m doing is for my future, and it feels like it’s all about to implode. Neo made demands when it came to Scar and I did everything he asked of me. I gave her up. I forced myself to hate her. Gave her hell. Only for both Neo and Jagger to turn around and try and take her for themselves. The difference is, they just want her body, and I’ve always wanted so much more than that.
At least, I did.
Fuck. I don’t know what I want anymore. Once these games are done and Scar is promoted, I’m hoping we can ease up a bit and try and have a decent school year.
