It was finally Friday, and I had a fight tonight, andthank God.
All week was an exhausting battle of the wills between me and Kenzlee, and that shit was exhausting as fuck. I needed a fight to purge all the frustration eating me alive with that girl.
We got the point where she’d let me walk her to our classes, but that was all the give she gave. If I wanted to hold her hand, I had to grab it and damn near break every bone in it to hold on. If we ate lunch together, I had to abandon my regular table and go to whatever table she chose to sit that day. And any affection between us was in the form of my kissing her on the side of her head whenever I had to leave her, but that was it.
And then there were the rumors running rampant all over school. Because Kenzlee was still walking around with a scowl on her face every time I was near, people were still confused as to what we were doing. Now, normally, I didn’t give a fuck what people said about me, but I cared what they said about Kenzlee.
It wasn’t her fault I...fell for her. It wasn’t her fault she made me feel what no other girl on the planet has ever made me feel. And it wasn’t like she even tried. She fucking ran into me.
That’s it.
That’s all.
She ran into me and Ifelt.
She ran into me and she’s all I’ve been feeling since. I stopped questioning it last week and if people wanted to label it love at first sight, well, so be it. I’m still not exactly sure what it was, but whatever it was, it was strong enough for me to know that I wasn’t giving her up no matter how pissed off she was at me. And if she was only walking around with me to keep Jason from getting his ass kicked, I’ll take it.
Now, I was headed towards third period gym, and for the first time in years, I was looking forward to it. I had so much pent up frustration, I felt sorry for the poor sucker who’s scheduled to fight me tonight. The moneymakers will be upset at the quick show, but I didn’t care.
I was rounding the corner into the hallway that led to the gymnasium when I saw Tammy Jones leaning up against the side of the building.
Motherfucker.
She stepped to me as I walked past her towards the gym’s double doors. “Talon,” she said, stepping in line with me.
“Tammy,” I replied, trying to ignore her, but not be a complete dick about it.
“Do you have a minute?” she asked, even though it was clear everyone was scrambling to get to class. The second warning bell had already rung.
“Not really, Tammy,” I answered, trying not to grit my teeth. “I need to get to gym.”
She touched my shoulder, and I couldn’t help it, I jerked back and turned to face her. “This will only take a second,” she assured me as she snatched her hand back, knowing she went too far.
I’ve known Tammy for years. We were brought up through the same school system all our lives. We weren’t neighbors, but I’ve always known who she was. I also knew she was bad news. Normally, I didn’t care about shit like that, but her thinking she could approach me and touch me was a problem. I’ve spoken maybe a handful of sentences to her during our entire lives, I didn’t owe her anything.
“What is it, then?” I asked as we stopped in front of the gym doors.
Tammy started gnawing her lower lip, and I was quickly losing my patience. She finally spoke, and I wasn’t surprised. “Are the rumors about you and the new girl true?”
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “And which rumors would those be, Tammy?” I asked, irritated as fuck. “There is a shitload of rumors going around about Kenzlee and me.”
She straightened her back, pushing her tits out, and I resented her presence immediately. “The rumors that you and her…that she’s your girlfriend,” she answered haughtily.
I took a deep breath and did my best to get my point across. “Tammy, not only is Kenzlee my girlfriend, but she’d be my wife right now if I thought she’d go for it.” I ignored her shocked gasp. “Does that answer your question?” Now, granted, I wasn’t ready to get married, what with my plan to help Edie and Mom first, but I figured if I threw that in, there’s be no mistaking my intentions where Kenzlee was concerned. I didn’t need this girl thinking she could come between me and Kenzlee with a flash of cleavage or anything else.
I didn’t needanygirl thinking she could turn my attentions from my obsession.
“Are…are youserious?” she squawked.
“If there’s anything I’m serious about, it’s Kenzlee, Tammy,” I said, making sure she heard me correctly.
“Why?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said, finally at my wits’ end of dealing with this girl. “Just know that if you fuck with Kenzlee, you’re fucking with me.” I didn’t wait for her to comment. I turned my back on her and entered the gym.
I threw head nods at the random greetings that met me as I made my way to my gym locker, but other than that, I didn’t make any small talk.
I knew Kenzlee would be a target amongst the girls and a curiosity amongst the guys, but I was arrogant enough to believe my reputation would keep her safe. However, having Tammy approach me, I realized that wasn’t true. I could beat the shit out of any dude who bothered her, but I didn’t put hands on females. Well, except for Kenzlee because she made me murderous, but other than her, I didn’t touch girls out of anger.
