Rory
“HeyCassie,”Madisonsaysoffhandedly. Speaking to the girl that’s my partner for the rest of the week. “Do you know what’s white and red all over?”
We were partners by default. The only two left standing while everyone else scurried like mice to cheese finding someone.
Badminton was the theme of gym this week. Coach Boone throwing us in a tournament, so he had an excuse to put his focus elsewhere. Mainly training with the boys. Giving the girls attention an omission to his title.
“Um, a polar bear who’s embarrassed?” Cassie—learning her name for the first time—answers, nibbling on her lower lip.
She seemed like the reserved type, and I wasn’t one for small talk, so we didn’t press each other for a lot of detail.
“No.” Madison scrunches her nose. “Your face giving head to Anthony Carter and then throwing upallover him.”
She starts making fake gagging noises and Cassie’s entire face goes pale and then beet red. Madison’s cackle of a laugh bouncing off the walls drawing in more attention, the sound heinous and cruel.
“H-how did you…” Cassie’s voice trails off, eyes ping-ponging around the room. Chin wobbling as a line of unshed tears rims her bottom lashes.
Her retreating footsteps squeak along the polished floor. The sound of her racket echoes, bouncing off the ground.
You want to replace those grommets. No, then don’t drop the racket.
Coach’s warning scrambles my brain. Gravity following the reinforced plastic’s rebound until it stables, hushing.
I do the opposite.
“Hey Montgomery, know what’s also red and bad for your teeth?” My voice slicing through her fits of laughter. “A brick, so shove it.”
Her eyes flame, lips thinning out. “What did you say?”
“Are you dense? Or do you not know what a brick is?”
Fits of hushed laughter come from somewhere. Her enthusiasm goes tepid.
A gurgling noise spouts from Madison’s mouth and before I know it, a racket’s hurtling toward me. I hear the whoosh of it rushing past. Missing me,barely.
The distraction is the perfect opportunity to strike.
Pouncing, her fingers dig into my arms and torso, shoving me back. Something tears but I’m more focused on her fingernails scratching at my skin than anything else.
Those talons she calls fingernails, pointed and sharp.
Fine, she wanted to play this game, let’s see how pretty she’ll look after I rip all her hair out by the root. A growl rips from my throat, charging.
My feet are lifted, I was floating, and then I wasn’t. A vise grip locking around my torso is the only thing from giving her a mullet.
“Calm the—fuck down,” Cole snaps.
“Let go!” Twisting, I try to break free. It does nothing. His hold firm against my back. “This isn’t your problem,” I grit out.
“Youare my problem.”
Grunting, I try again but fail. Cole’s grasp is strong.
“I’m all for a chick fight,” Finn chimes in. “But if we’re going to do this, let’s do it right.” He taps at his chin, contemplating a thought. “I’m thinking some baby oil and a swimming pool?”
Finn’s eyes widen at the prospect, amused. Mine narrow.
I look past him; Madison struggling as hard to get out of Eli’s hold. His constraint as solid. She tries kicking his shin. Catching it, he stops her before she can. Only making her more irate.