He clenches his fists, but I spin to shut my locker then head down the hall with Indi toward English.
Could this day possibly get any weirder?
* * *
My afternoon breezes by pretty easily. Lincoln was almost nice in Business, and it shocked the shit out of me. Not to mention, Blair was noticeably absent after our run-in earlier today. It would’ve been nice if her bitch squad weren’t in hyper mode about what happened yesterday while we were in Gym, but East shut them down so beautifully I almost wept.
There’s nothing better than seeing bitches put in their place by the guy they simp over so much.
“V, you got a minute?” East asks as we’re heading to the lockers after Gym finishes, and I can’t help but laugh at how alike he and Lincoln are. I say a quick goodbye to Indi before turning and heading back to East.
I haven’t really seen him much outside of class since the wholehim saving me and making the others call a trucething. I should probably thank him for what he did, but the time I spent in his bed after being locked away made things feel weird and tense between us. I’m at a bit of a loss about what to even say to him now that we’re alone. “What’s up?”
He looks more than a little conflicted when he looks down at me. “How are you doing? With everything?”
I tuck my hair behind my ear where it’s escaped my ponytail, wishing this didn’t feel so freaking awkward. “I’m okay. The nightmares have almost stopped now. So I’m actually mostly good.”
He clenches his jaw and uncurls his fists. “Nightmares?”
My eyes go wide because I figured if Lincoln heard my screams, he would’ve too. “Yeah, I thought you knew. Lincoln said he could hear my screams when he…” I shake my head, trying not to trip over my words or let it slip that Lincoln snuck in my room and stayed more than a few times when I definitely shouldn’t have let him.
“When Lincoln what?”
“Nothing, it isn’t important. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much since that weekend. I still haven’t thanked you properly.” I wring out my hands, trying to think of a way to make it up to him. “You want to hang out soon? Maybe have a pizza and Xbox night or something?”
He beams at me in a way that makes my heart race. “Yeah, that sounds like fun. Let me know when.”
“I’m free tomorrow if you want to chill?” I swear I feel like a girl who’s never hung out with a guy before. East literally bathed and dressed me when I was catatonic, and now I’m a blushing mess over a night of pizza and Xbox? God, I’m so lame.
He grins and runs a hand through his light brown tresses, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. “Sounds good. I’ll text you later?”
“Okay.” I nod before turning and heading toward the locker room. I can’t help but glance at him as I walk away and catch him checking me out. He has the decency to blush, and I laugh, shaking my head as I leave the room.
Most people have already left by the time I hit the locker rooms, and Indi’s sitting on the bench flicking through her phone when I reach her. “You don’t have to wait. I’m going to shower and then head home. Tonight is totally a study night for me.”
She smiles up at me and slides her phone into her pocket. “Okay, sweet cheeks. I’m going to go catch Jackson. But don’t book Friday night up. I have plans for us.” She winks at me as she stands, and I laugh a little.
“How mysterious.”
“Jackson told me about a fight night that’s happening. Sweaty hotties, all kinds of adrenaline… It’s just yummy.” Her grin is so devious, I love it.
A thought hits me and puts a damper on it. “Is Jackson going?” I don’t tag on Raleigh’s name, but it’s more than implied.
“Nope,” she says, popping her p. “He was complaining that he couldn’t go because of the game.”
My grin is firmly in place as I grab my crap from my locker. “Perfect! I’m there.”
“Fabulous. I’ll see you in the morning.” She waves before floating out of the locker room, and I realize I actually have plans like a normal teenager, like, twice this week.
Who would’ve thought?
I hurry through my shower, not washing my hair, and change into my uniform before heading out. East is leaving the gym as I reach the hall, and he grins at me. “You’re running late.”
“I wonder why.” I stick my tongue out at him, and he bumps his shoulder against mine. We walk through the halls, keeping a reasonable distance. Despite the fact that he’s only four years older than me, and we’ve been friends our entire lives, he’s still my teacher, and people are weird as shit about stuff like that. Especially the petty jealous bitches around here who simp over him and wouldn’t think twice about trying to fuck me over.
I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to date East. It’s not only that he’s beautiful and has a body that would make the gods weep. The protective side of him both drives me nuts and makes me gooey all at the same time. He’s just so fucking nice, which doesn’t sound like the compliment I mean it to be, but that doesn’t make it any less true either.
He opens the main door for me, and I walk through, smiling at him. But then he looks over my shoulder and his smile drops. He looks fucking terrified.