I stop by my locker to dump all my books in and replace them with my lunch when a heavy body falls into the locker beside me. “There you are,” Aiden says with a sigh. “This place is confusing me. You know, I just walked into the chicks’ bathroom by accident. Half of them squealed while the other half tried to maul me. I think Haven Falls Private was about to host their first senior orgy.”
“Trust me,” I grumble. “It wouldn’t be the first. Probably not even the second or third.”
“Bullshit.”
“And don’t for one second,” I continue, ignoring his disbelief, “try to tell me that it was an ‘accident’.”
“I swear,” Aiden laughs. “Watching chicks fawn over themselves and compare lip shades is not exactly my idea of fun. Besides, if I was going to purposefully walk in somewhere, then wouldn’t the chick’s locker room be better? At least I’d see some titties in there.”
I roll my eyes. He has a good point. “Alright. I’ll believe you this once, but if it happens again, you’ll forever be labeled as a perve.”
“Fine by me,” he laughs before trudging along beside me.
I start making my way to the cafeteria, pointing out all the important things about the school such as the best supply closets to use for those times of desperation. “So, have you met the guys on the team yet?” I question, wondering why the hell he’s still hanging out with me when half the day has already gone.
“Nope,” he says as we get closer to the cafeteria. “Meeting them after lunch.”
“Ahhh, that explains it.”
“Explains what”
“Why you’re still hanging out with me.”
“You don’t want me to?” he questions, raising a brow at me before continuing. “You’re a cool chick, Henley. A bit rough around the edges, but so far so good.”
I laugh out. “Is that a nice way of saying I’m a bitch but still alright to chill with?”
“Yep, I mean, I’m assuming you didn’t take down the cheerleader by being a pushover.”
I grin up at him. “And don’t you forget it.”
Aiden rolls his eyes as we push our way through the doors of the cafeteria. “Alright,” I start, giving him the rundown. “Jocks sit over there,” I say pointing out the area which I’m sure he’ll be hanging out in tomorrow. “Be careful though. The swim team cannot sit with the football players, but don’t ask me why.” I move on to the other tables. “Cheerleaders. Stoners. Nerds. Cool nerds,” I turn to the opposite side of the room. “Science geeks. Mean girls. Whores, and of course, the hippies. Don’t get caught up there though, they’re big on their baked goods and they’re fucking strong. If you get caught with that shit you’ll be off the team in seconds.”
“Right, good to know,” he says. “So, which table are you at?”
I turn to the one table I haven’t pointed out and find Noah laughing with Jared. “There,” I say feasting my eyes upon my boyfriend and taking in the way his white shirt hugs his body and puts those magnificent tattoos on display. “That’s my boyfriend, Noah. The guy who runs shit around here.”
Aiden takes him in and I watch him. It’s always interesting to see people noticing Noah for the first time. They’re usually instantly envious of him. His body, the way other chicks are drawn to him, the status, the whole freaking package. Envy, jealousy, and admiration are usually the reactions Noah gets; yet something is different here.
It’s the same as when Aiden first laid eyes on me this morning. Something is different. Right now, the look in his eyes is one I’ve seen before only it’s not the one that I usually associate with other dude’s laying their eyes on my boyfriend, it’s the look I see from other women. Hunger.
It all suddenly makes sense why he didn’t gawk over my body or why he hasn’t been hitting on me all morning. He didn’t even make comments about the chicks he saw in the bathroom. I mean, it’s possible that he’s just a good guy and isn’t interested in being a douche like that, but guys, especially guys on the football team, simply can’t help themselves. No, Aiden is different. He’s gay, and right now, he’s looking at my boyfriend like his next meal.
“Woah, cowboy,” I call, yanking on his arm and drawing his attention to me. “That bad boy is taken. Feast your whorish eyes upon someone else’s man or I’ll be forced to kick your ass just like all the other skanks around here who think they’re entitled to a piece of his meat.”
Aiden spins around, completely in shock as he stares at me wide-eyed. “Excuse me?” he stutters out. “What did you just say?”
I cross my arms over my chest and raise a brow. “You heard me. He’s mine and I don’t share. You can’t have him, but if you want, I’ll point out the ones you can try your luck with. I’m sure a few of the guys around here are on the fence anyway.”