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Red rolls her eyes as she looks at me. “Sam, he just helped me pick up some books. That’s all. He’s not exactly a hero.”
“Excuse her, she must have hit her head when she fell.” The little girl with the funky taste in clothes holds her hand out to me, and I shake it. “I’m Sam, and this is Ronnie. We are so incredibly grateful for your kindness.”
“I’m Sawyer, and it was no problem at all.”
“Sawyer, Sawyer, that’s an unusual name.” Sam taps her finger against her lips. “You wouldn’t happen to be Brad’s cousin Sawyer would you?” She smiles as if putting together a puzzle in her head.
Fuck, I’m tired of everyone knowing who I am. It was nice to not be recognized for a moment. “Yes, that would be me. Nice to meet you ladies, and have a good day. Ronnie, keep dreaming about your guy Isaac.” I step back and tip my imaginary hat. “Most of us aren’t worth your time.” I know I sound a little bitter but I can’t help it. I know Red will probably get most of my history from her friend and think I’m even more of an asshole. For some reason, that bothers me. It’s strange because I haven’t really cared about what anyone thinks of me in a long time.
Ronnie’s eyes widen and she gives a small, nervous wave as if she doesn’t know what to do with herself. I turn my back on both of them and stride back to my truck. I’ll wait in the hot truck for Brad from now on.
Chapter Two
Revenge may not be the most noble cause, but a least it gives me purpose. After all, my high school counselor once said I needed a goal. -Sawyer
Sawyer
I feel someone shove me from behind as I’m walking. I turn around, fists raised.
“Hey cuz, you ready to get out of here? I have to be at the country club at four for doubles practice.” Brad’s whiny voice makes me cringe. I lower my fists and stare down at him in silence. Brad is a little shit who loves to remind me of my station in life on a regular basis. I stare at him and he reddens a bit. He hates to be reminded that I could still beat the shit out of him. He’s a couple of inches shorter than me. Since I know it bothers him, I take every opportunity to loom over him.
My cousin Brad is like the rest of my mom’s family. He’s privileged and shitty about it. I like to think we’re nothing alike down to our looks. He got his dirty blonde hair and blue eyes from my mama’s side and I got my black hair and my brown eyes from my Guatemalan father.
I turn around and stalk towards my truck. Brad keeps mumbling as he follows me.
He climbs into my truck and groans. “What happened to the Mercedes Frank reserves for clients? This truck is gross, plus I’m gonna be sweaty by the time I get to the club.” I can’t help but sneak a small smile. I’m what happened to the Mercedes. Frank said I had to pick up my cousin, but he didn’t say what I needed to drive in to pick him up. I knew it would annoy Brad to have to drive around in my hunk of junk. I don’t reply, but I know I don’t need to. Brad loves the sound of his own voice more than anything else in this world.
“Did you see the sick ride Neil got from his parents? Rumor is his dad just gave some YouTube star new boobs and now he’s gettin’ mad business from all the celebrities.” I roll my eyes and let him continue to chatter on.
YouTube stars, NFL players, famous actresses and actors…the kids that attend Riverton Prep have changed over the last twenty years or so. Due to low taxes for filming, Atlanta has become the Hollywood of the South. The small town of Five Oaks is located forty minutes away and has quickly became popular with the rich and famous for the massive mansions and gated communities. I’m sure the old-money people that had been here for generations loved it when actors and musicians started moving in and bringing diversity and paparazzi. The old white men that built this school are probably spinning in their graves somewhere.
I back out slowly, and I can still see Ronnie in front of the school talking to her friend Sam. Her eyes cut to my truck when it starts with a loud roar. Her friend is now gesturing wildly and talking a mile a minute. I can imagine the lovely back story she’s telling about me, and about my reputation as the prick who cleans up Brad’s messes. It’s okay because Ronnie should know that I’m not the kind of guy that was meant to be anyone’s hero. She should keep her guard up. Believing in fairy tales and happy endings is okay for a little girl, but the real world will eat her alive soon enough.
“Who you lookin’ at cuz? Missin’ some of that high school pussy you used to get? Man, you were the king. At least back in the day, right?” He grins over at me deviously and I shoot him a blank look in response. I will not give this little fucker any satisfaction by responding to him.
“That redhead up front? You see her?” He nods his chin toward Red and I just glare back at him. “That’s Ronnie Hester, the principal’s daughter, and the next piece of ass I’m about to get. Guys even made a bet with me about her. I’m plannin’ on sealing the deal in a few weeks at dad’s cabin. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’ll be just another notch soon. She fuckin’ thinks she’s too good for me right now, but she has no idea. I’ll get her in the end. I always do.”
I screech on my brakes and Brad almost hits the dash, face first. “Damn, cuz.” He straightens back up. “Did you forget how to drive? What’s wrong with you?”
I shrug. “Thought I saw a dog,” I say gruffly. I put my foot back on the gas and move slowly out of the parking lot. What Brad chooses to do with some girl I don’t know is none of my business, even if the thought of it does make me squirm a bit. The conscience I thought I no longer had wants to reassert itself. Fuck that. I only have one purpose, and it doesn’t include saving little girls. Maybe I can even use his distraction with Red to my advantage. My mind whirls with the possibilities. See, tried to tell you I wasn’t meant to be a hero.
I hear Brad mutter the words ‘crazy asshole’ and smile to myself. Yep, that’s exactly who I am.
Chapter Three
If high school is the prologue of my life, then I’m not sure I want to read the rest of the chapters. - Ronnie
Ronnie-Two Weeks Later
“Come on, Ronnie. You know you want to go. It’ll be a good chance to get to know some of the girls. All of the guys are bringing someone. You don’t want me to be the only one alone, do you?” Brad leans in and places his hand over my head as I stand against my locker. God, he smells good. I can feel myself weakening. It doesn’t hurt that he resembles Leonardo Dicaprio, and he sure knows it. He also has a rep like Leonardo, meaning he bones all of the model-like creatures that roam the hallways of Riverton Prep. I honestly don’t know why he’s switched his attention to me. Needless to say, it makes me slightly skeptical of his intentions.
I sigh. Brad’s not a bad guy, but he’s probably the cockiest person I’ve ever met. For some unknown reason about a month ago, he suddenly decided he couldn’t live without me. I went from being a nobody around this school to having guys wink at me. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I’ve told Brad over and over again that we can be friends. He keeps saying he’s fine with that, but sometimes he doesn’t seem like it. Right now, he’s trying to get me to go to his family’s cabin this weekend with the popular crowd.
“Brad, I don’t think I’ll feel that comfortable. I don’t know any of the people going that well.” That’s putting it mildly. I don’t mind being a book geek. In fact, I love it, but it doesn’t make me the most popular person here. Going on a trip with the guys from the football team and a bunch of cheerleaders does not sound like something I want to do.
“I know, I know, but I want you there. It’ll be fun. We can build a fire outside and make s’mores. There’s a hot tub on the deck too.” He waggles his eyebrows and I laugh.
I push him back slightly. “Brad, if I go on this trip, it doesn’t mean anything. I told you we’re just friends and you said you were okay with that.”
