When the bell rings, I can’t stop my frown. I am so not ready to go back to class, French might not be one of the classes I’m having issues with, but I'm starting to panic at how behind I’m getting in Business and Statistics. Focusing on those lessons is beyond hard. Paying attention for four lessons in a row isn’t a strong suit of mine. I really do miss my chaos breaks.
“I’ll see you after school?” Indi asks, and I nod.
“Sure thing. You still good to give me a ride?”
“You know it!” She blows me a kiss before scurrying out of the lunchroom and off to class. If I had my car, I might just head out to the beach by my damn self and skip the rest of the day. You know, if that 4.0 GPA wasn’t hanging over my head. I let out a deep breath and grab my bag.
“I’ll walk you to French,” Raleigh says as he waves off his boys. I can’t help but smile. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as sweet, yet as cocky, as him.
“You totally don’t have to.”
He scoffs and drops his arm around my shoulders. “It’s on my way, and I wanted to talk to you about Friday.”
“About the game?” I ask as we head out of the cafeteria. I can’t help but catch Finley’s eye as we’re walking, and his stare is like a brand on my back as I leave with Raleigh. A part of me wants to shrug off Raleigh’s arm because I don’t want those three going after him too, but I don’t want to cower from them any more than I already have. I hate feeling so weak, especially where they’re concerned.
“Kind of. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after. Just the two of us…” he trails off as we hit my locker, and I swap my books over.
“You mean like a date?” Color me fucking shocked. I mean, I know he’s been a little tactile, but I figured that was just his way.
“Yeah, I mean like a date.” He hits me with that megawatt smile of his, and I find myself nodding, despite my reservations about going on a date with him. This probably isn’t a good idea, I don’t think him and I will ever work, but one date can’t hurt, right? Maybe I’ll be wrong, and it won’t be so bad.
I can’t help but think this is likely going to piss off the guys even more, but fuck it. That’s their problem, not mine.
“Awesome.” His excitement is contagious, and I find myself smiling up at him before letting him walk me to class.
He kisses my head when he leaves me at the door to French before running off toward his own class when the warning bell sounds. Maybe this isn’t a bad thing… Except I’ve never actually been on a date. The guys I dated before now were all roadies or people I met out on tour, and we hung out on tour, so actual dates weren’t really a thing.
Nerves hit me as I take my seat at the back of the room. This totally isn’t what I had on the cards for this year. It’s just one date, what harm could it do?
* * *
My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I sneak a peek at it while the teacher isn’t looking.
Indi: I am so sorry, but my mom called an SOS. She had a fender bender and needs me to pick her up from the garage. I had to leave early.
Me: Dude, no sweat. I hope your mom is okay, I can get myself home.
Indi: Thank you, I hate letting you down.
Me: You’re not, I have legs and if all else fails, there’s Uber.
Indi: Sorry! I’ll make it up to you.
I can’t help but laugh at her. Not giving me a ride isn’t the end of the world, but her sunshine heart really is just that big. While the thought of walking home doesn’t exactly fill me with joy, things could be much worse.
Then I realize she’s not going to be around for Gym.
Fuck my life.
I groan as the bell rings, knowing I’m going to have to face the bitch squad alone. Here’s hoping that my weirdly quiet day continues. The only hiccup in my whole day was lunch when Maverick joined me uninvited, and I’m hoping that this new turn of events continues.
I pack my shit away and head to the locker room, grabbing my gym uniform on the way.
It’s only once I get to the locker room, and the stares intensify, that I really even notice them. I head to my locker, keeping my head held high. Being the nation’s princess for the majority of my existence taught me a few things, and keeping your head up despite the bullshit is one of them.
I change in silence, double checking the lock on my locker once I’m done before heading out to the gym. I’m practically the first one out of the door, despite being one of the last in.
What the fuck’s happened now?