The very morning we met.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“So you’re telling me that Daddy’s little mistress relented and let you get your car?” I taunt.
A chorus of confused murmuring follows, likely because nobody else knows who I’m referring to, but regardless, Jase doesn’t seem to appreciate me airing his dirty laundry. Every muscle in his face tightens as he grinds his teeth.
“I knew the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. My only mistake was believing you were like yourmother.” I know I plunged the blade in just the right place, because there’s no mistaking the hurt flashing in his eyes as I turn to walk away. I don’t give him the chance to respond, charging back down the hall.
More barking and snickers follow me the entire way down several corridors, drowning out any chance of hearing the footsteps coming up behind me. Not until Jase calls out, “Birdie!” does everything around us come to a halt.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise in response, preparing for Fight or Flight as the hallway goes quiet. Our audience evidently wants to see this train wreck crash in real-time, but it’s the plea in Jase’s tone that has me bristling. To anyone else’s ears, he sounds desperate. All I hear is more bullshit.
“Did you know about the bet this entire time?” I demand.
His voice drops to a whisper, as if it’ll help cushion the blow. “Yes, but it’s more complicated than that.”
To even my own surprise, I laugh, but it’s closer to a scoff than anything resembling humor. “Wow, I’ll at least give you points for finally being honest.”
“I never lied to you—”
“Oh no? Then why did you start talking to me?”
I don’t give a shit that everyone’s staring, but Jase looks as uncomfortable as he should.
“Can we please talk about this somewhere private?” The jackass tries to steer me towards one of the empty classrooms, but I shove his hand away.
“I saw the flyer for the dogfight, Jase! It was a thousand-dollar buy-in. No one strong-armed you into playing.”
“Please just let me explain—”
“Did you pay the buy-in or not?” I snap.
“Yes, but…” He grinds his jaw together, looking at the crowd gathered around us.
I wait, and wait, and wait, but there’s nothing. No explanation. At least not one he feels comfortable sharing with everyone else.
“Fuck you.” I turn back around and continue to charge down the hallway, but fingers wrap around my upper arm. Thankfully, it’s not remotely tight, only meant to grab my attention, so I’m able to rip my arm away.
“Birdie—”
Jase gets what he wants, because I whirl around to face him again, though he earns more than my attention.
Without thinking, I draw back my fist before launching it at his face. I can’t help it. The shattered fragments of my heart continue to slice apart the inside of my chest with every distant bark and whisper I hear.
Little old me is hardly a heavyweight contender, but given Jase’s response, you’d think I’m Mike Tyson. Maybe it’s because he wasn’t expecting the hit, or perhaps I’m just that angry, but he staggers back, nearly stumbling before he catches himself on a locker.
Unsurprisingly, the act earns a chorus of “ooooh”s and “holy shit!” from our live audience.
Part of me finds it satisfying, but another part, mainly my hand, doesn’t appreciate it. I’ve never had to punch someone before, and my technique must not be very good, because I mayas well have slammed my fist into a cement wall for all the pain radiating through my fingers. Still, I refuse to cradle my hand, no matter how badly it throbs. Not when I can feel the sudden heat of at least thirty different phones center on me.
Late to the party, Sienna rounds the corner not ten feet from us, looking bored and ordering Jase to escort her to the science lab.
He doesn’t move. He just stands there, leaning against the locker with the back of his hand pressed against the welt forming on his face, his breathing hard.
“Jase?” She actually pats her thigh, like she’s summoning a dog.
He looks between us, as if it’s really a contest. The second Sienna snaps her fingers, he seems to move on instinct, ready to cater to her. Jase doesn’t even realize at first that he’s taken a step toward Sienna, like he’s been preprogrammed.
