AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Frankie chuckled. “My brother sure does know how tomake ’emrun away.”
I popped the back of his head.
“Alright, if our artist will come back up, we’ll announce our grand prize winner.”
Frankie hugged Josie, who chuckled. “Frankie, I’ve never entered a contest before, don’t get your hopes up.”
“I think you’ll win.”
She smiled softly, her eyes growing distant as she glanced up at me. The announcer made a grand speech about joining the arts, while I tapped my fingers anxiously wanting to see Josie’s work.
“Okay. The grand winner’s piece is entitledBully.”
My heart stopped. The air around me heated and I felt fire in my chest. Josie’s mouth popped open as they turned her piece around for everyone to see.
It was me.
The dark shade of my hair matched the hard part I got the week before, and my jersey number stood out clearly in a slew of purple and gold. My fingers clutched into a ball. The oohsandaahsof the crowd heightened as Josie walked up and received an envelope full of cash.
Frankie let out a low whistle beside me. “Dude, she hates you.”
India hugged her tightly, jumping up and down excitedly next to her. Josie beamed, her gaze drifted toward mine and held. It almost looked like a deliberate smirk on her face.
I took a step toward her, wanting to … I didn’t know. Kiss her? Crawl between her legs and show her how much of a bully I could be, but I knew better.
I deserved this. All of it.
The crowd slowly departed, and a professor approached Josie and spoke to her for several minutes, handing her a card that she tucked inside her pocket. I desperately wanted to confront her, but I couldn’t with an audience.
India hugged her after talking for what seemed like an hour. Frankie approached her while I watched from afar, my fingers clutching and unclutching rhythmically. Josie stiffened when I walked over, her dark eyes meeting mine in a challenge.
“Look at this,” Frankie said showing me the canvas.
“I see it,” I snapped. He rolled his eyes. “Go, get something to eat,” I said to him, shoving money into his palm.
“I’m not hungry—,”
“Do it,” I barked.
Frankie mumbled something as he walked off toward the food court.
Josie gave me a look that I’d never seen from her, and turned around to leave. I watched in amazement that she thought I’d not follow her. She walked up the steps to the quad, and I followed closely behind her, my anger rising with each step she took.
When we made it toward the classroom buildings close to the parking lot, I grabbed her elbow and dragged her into a small alcove between them. Her breath hit my mouth in a huff.
“What was that,” I whispered.
Josie lifted a brow at me. “What was what, Maverick?”
I reached down, our bodies touching from the smallness of the bricks surrounding us to the painting in her hand, and she let out a shaky breath. The art was stunning. I hated it, but it was beautiful. I swallowed hard. “This, everyone knows my number and knows this is me.”
Josie gave me aso whatlook.
“You think it’s funny?”
“Did you? All those times you pressed me against the lockers, knocked books out of my hands, and kept guys away from me? Was that funny to you?”
“No,” I chuckled humorlessly. “It wasn’t funny. It was the only way I knew how to...” I stopped myself. “I didn’t want anyone talking to you.”
