Rory
“Youknowwhat’scrazy?”Hailey asks.
I pretend to stew it over. “The fact that you think pineapple tastes good on pizza?” I joke, laughing as she nudges my shoulder.
Pushing the doors open, we leave school for the day.
“No—which you’re wrong about, by the way. The fact that you got an A on your essay, and I got a C.” She groans. “Please teach me your wise ways, oh master.”
“I’m not a master.”
“You’re the only one I know who seems to understand Shakespeare. I mean, who talks like that.” Hailey rolls her eyes. “Worst. Romance. Ever.”
“First off, it was a tragedy, not a romance and, second, it was written in blank verse. It’s like a more fluid form of poetry. Less constructed.”
“If you mean constructed like a building without a foundation. Miraculously, surviving for centuries then, yeah, I understand,” Hailey ridicules.
I yank the paper from her hand when she grumbles, smashing the material between her fists. “This grade is not that bad.”
“Scholarship student, remember,” she points out, snatching the crumpled paper back tucking it into her bag. “I have to manage a certain grade average.”
“Okay, okay I’ll help.”
Hailey squeals. Her hair bouncing off her shoulders. Jumping up and down, thanking me repeatedly while hugging me tightly.
Letting go, her smile drops. Someone bumping into her.
“Hey—”
“Didn’t know everyone was handing out donations. No tip jar, Hailey?” Madison scorns spitefully. “Sorry I only carry hundreds.”
Flipping her hair over her shoulder. Madison continues heading past us without a backward glance.
Her spiteful attitude carrying no limits.
Nodding my head, Hailey follows my line of sight. Madison nudging herself between the hellhounds. The three of them looked to be in some sort of debate. Heads tucked in closely and rigid postures.
They were at least. Breaking up as soon as Madison strutted across the street that divides the quad from the parking lot.
“Cole and Madison aren’t together, are they?”
Iceman told me as much. But, after what happened with us on the top of his car, his lips savagely claiming mine in a sweltering hot kiss. I needed to know for certain.
A strange noise that sounded like a mix of someone choking on something and a grunt, sprouts from her mouth. “She wishes. Cole doesn’t really date anyone.”
“Like ever?”
She ponders that a moment. Hmmphing, “I’ve never seen it.”
Something drops in my gut. Like a boulder sinking to the bottom of a river at her words. It almost stung.
I had no right to feel hurt by that, but I did.
Hailey stops. Stalling me with her hand.
“Why do you ask?” she questions suspiciously, arching a brow. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
My lips smash together. Yes, no—yes. I’ve been deliberating on how to tell her all day. Coming close several times too, but still trying to process it myself. I mean, Cole Kellet kissed me, and I kissed him back just as greedily.