AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I glanced up, meeting the gaze of the six-foot-tall, good-boy-looking guy.
“Yeah, why?”
He held his hands up, a genuine smile on his face. “I know you’re having a hard time, and I’m sorry about that.”
He grasped the back of his neck, his cheeks turning a slight pink as he glanced away from me. He was way too timid for me, but maybe that was the issue. I never went for the good guy or girl. There was just something about danger that got my blood pumping. Just thinking about it brought up four people that were so far off-limits I had to shake myself free before the wild daydreams took root.
“Huh, sorry,” I said, missing everything he’d said.
He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you wanted to get a bite to eat. We can meet at the best diner in town.”
“Diner?”
“Yeah, a date.” When I said nothing, his brows dipped. “Oh, um, if you don’t like that—”
“No, I was just expecting you to say something crazy like dinner on your yacht or something.”
He laughed. “Not everyone is super rich here. Most of us, in fact, aren’t rich. You just happen to always be around the elites of this school.”
“Like?”
“Mac, Nelly, and the kings.”
Huh, probably should have checked to see if Mac was an elite. According to this guy, he was. Nelly was a no-brainer. “I don’t hang out with the kings.” Or Mac, for that matter, not from his lack of trying. I just wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. Sure it was childish and petty, but fuck, sometimes it was the best response.
He nodded. “Yeah, I noticed. I wasn’t going to ask you out, but these past few weeks, I noticed you don’t sit with them or anything.”
“Now, if only the rest of the school would have observation skills half as good as you.” I grabbed my backpack and flung it over my shoulder. “This weekend, I’m busy.”
He frowned. A part of me wanted to tell him to give up and find someone with fewer issues, but where in the hell would he find someone like that in this world? Everyone had some kind of trauma regardless if they accepted it or not.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I started to walk away.
“Mind if I walk you to your car?” he asked.
I shrugged. There was no way I was sticking around smelling like old milk. Not that the principal gave me much of a choice. Fucking asshole knew I didn’t do this to myself. Every whiff smacked me in the face. I had to choke back my vomit. “Sure, but what’s your name?”
“Oh, right. I kind of figured you’d know since we have three classes together.”
We do?
He laughed. “I’m Jamie, and don’t worry about it. The kings are also in those classes, and at least one of them is always near you.”
“Right.” I wouldn’t apologize for not noticing him. I had no idea what he wanted.
After five seconds of talking to him, I was exhausted. He didn’t seem like a bad guy. He gave me space and attempted to keep his face impassive, although I smelled like I’d rolled in cow shit and then nose-dived into it trash can full of rotten food. I checked my messages, but none from my mother, no surprise there. Her worry was only due to her husband wanting to know. There was one I was reluctant to open, but waiting was only going to make matters worse. I clicked on the message from Wakeman.
Wakeman: Change of plans, something came up. I’ll send someone to pick it up.
My thumbs moved quickly. I was all for not seeing Wakeman or having his sleazy gaze on me, but I didn’t need him knowing where I lived. I quickly sent off a text asking him where to meet. The reply was swift and precise, not giving me any options.
Cheri’s Diner. Back booth on the right, closest to the kitchen.
“The homework in biochem is—”
“Hey, what’s the name of the diner you wanted to go to?” I interrupted whatever he was talking about. He’d been nothing more than background noise as we walked.
“Oh, Cheri’s Diner. They have the best pancakes and pies. Not even the high-end chefs here have been able to replicate them.” Jamie continued to ramble on.
