Maybe Mr. Winters overhears, maybe not, but he glances my way and does a double take. “Ah, so the new student finally shows up.”
I grin at him. Is it my imagination, or is Tyler squirming a little in his seat? No, of course not.
“Mr. Winters, I’ve heard about you,” I blurt out.”
“Oh?” He perches on the edge of his desk, crossing his ankles and his arms. “You have an advantage over me…”
“Erika. Erika… Armstrong.”
Mr. Winters gives me a cocky smile that begs for me to divulge what I overheard.
I glance at Tyler, who is scowling deeper than ever before, and I shrug. “It’s not really something to repeat.”
“Miss Armstrong, you wouldn’t have said anything at all if you wished for me to remain ignorant.”
“Someone told me you’re a dick.”
I cannot believe I just said that.
Actually, I can.
Some of the guys in the back laugh. A few of the girls even giggle, probably from shock. Several throw me dirty looks.
Mr. Winters throws back his head and roars with laughter. “Why am I not surprised to hear that? Well, Miss Armstrong—”
“Don’t worry,” I cut in. “I’m not a follower. I do what I want. I think what I want, and I form my own opinions.”
“Forward thinking. I appreciate that. Now, about what’s coming up for the school…”
The other girls hang onto his every word, but I zone out. I don't know if I'll bother with any extracurricular activities here. Maybe in a month, but then it'll be February, and graduation will be that much closer. What will be the point? Other than being a selling point on my transcript to help get into college…
Besides, as hot as Mr. Winters is, I don’t think he’ll be foolish enough to get involved with a high schooler. The girls wouldn’t all be so obvious about their infatuation with him if he already was involved with someone, student or not. Then again, some girls don’t care if the guy is unavailable.
“You have balls for telling him the truth,” Tyler murmurs.
“Lady balls.”
“Bet they’re hairless.”
“Maybe.” I shrug and hate that I want to smile.
Tyler confuses the hell out of me. He’s cracking jokes and maybe at my expense, but they lack the bite they had when he had been with his friends.
I open my mouth and shut it. As much as I want to ask him why he’s friends with those assholes, I can’t. I don’t want to know. I shouldn’t entangle myself with any one of them.
Honestly, Corey’s more the type I go for, looks-wise at least. I’ve always been drawn to blond-haired hunks. Piercing eyes, though, doesn’t matter the color. I’ve dated guys with all kinds of eye colors.
I’ve also dumped every guy I’ve dated, so maybe I should stay away from blonds.
Ugh. No. Bad Erika. Stay away fromallguys.
“Are you Jekyll or Hyde?” I murmur.
“Back to literature?” Tyler grins. “I’m more Sherlock.”
“No, that’s me. I’m Shirley Holmes.”
“And what mystery are you trying to solve?”