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Bexley releases a frustrated breath, placing a hand at the locker beside my head. I know what he’s doing; he’s giving me no chance of escape.
Asshole.
“Don’t tell me you like the guy? He’s a piece of shit Heighter that doesn’t belong here.”
“Wow, you really are a judgmental prick.”
“Remi, come on. The guy broke my nose and for what? To make his mark? Please.” He scoffs. “He’s a fucking liability. I can't believe they let him transfer here."
I press my lips together in defiance. It’s not that I want to defend Ace, but I don’t want to side with Bexley, either. That ship has long sailed.
As far as I’m concerned, they can both go to hell.
“All I’m saying is, do you really want to start a war with someone like Ace Jagger?”
Bexley’s expression darkens. “He came to my party and broke my fucking nose. This is Seahawk territory, and he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
And that is precisely why I no longer have a membership for the Bexley Danforth fan club. He’s everything that’s wrong with this world, and it makes me sick.
He makes me sick.
“Did you forget I no longer hold the required qualifications to be in your little club? Or are we just going to pretend that isn’t an issue?” I bite back, so over his pretentious bullshit.
“Come on, Remi, you know it’s not even like that.” He runs a hand down his face.
“Yeah? Try telling that to Michaela and her band of bitches.”
“You know I love it when you get feisty.” He inches closer, his expression softening. “Go out with me. Just say yes. Come on,” his voice is low and husky, “you must have thought about it. It’d drive Michaela crazy.”
My heart sinks. Bexley has been after me for a while now, but not because he wants me. No, that would be too simple. He wants me because I don’t want him.
I never have.
I just want my friend back. I want the Bexley who used to try and teach me to surf for hours in the summer. The Bexley who held me when my dad left, who let me sleep in his bed because I hated my mom’s boyfriend and couldn’t stand to be under the same roof as him.
I miss that Bexley.
But that boy is gone, replaced with a young man who looks at me and no longer sees his friend but a challenge.
A prize to be won.
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Hope glitters in his baby blue eyes.
“Actually,” I say coolly, “I’m thinking about what happened to the boy I used to know. See you around, Bex.” I shoulder past him, and don’t look back.
The rest of the day passes without any drama. I heard Ace took off after leaving Triskin’s class—someone saw his bike speeding out of the parking lot. He’ll never last at Sterling Prep, but then, maybe he never planned on it.
I still can’t figure out why James is so set on them coming here. They’ve spent their entire life in the Heights. Asking them to forget their roots and play nice with a school full of rich kids seems unfair... or completely stupid.
Whatever.
I have bigger things to think about, like the text I got earlier from my sorry excuse for a sperm donor.
Throwing some books in my locker, I slam it shut and make my way outside. I walked to school today. It takes me about thirty minutes along the coastal path, but I enjoy the fresh air, and it means I don’t have to listen to Mom try and coach me on how to fit in. The path takes me parallel with the football field, where the team is busy practicing. I spot Bexley and a few of the other seniors. It looks like they’re giving shit to some of the new recruits.
Oh crap.
My eyes widen at the sight of Cole Jagger going toe-to-toe with Hayden, Bexley’s best friend and the star running back for the team. Even from where I’m standing, I can feel the hatred sizzling between them. Cole is an outsider, and despite the blue and white jersey and standard issue shoulder pads he's wearing, there’s no disguising that he’s different.
