Page 46 of Drifting

“I had tears in my eyes, it was so bad. Believe me when I say I will never be late for Mr. Davis’s class again. Does he always have a stick up his ass? Or is it me?” I take a bite of my turkey sandwich.

Paige laughs. I enjoy hearing that sound coming from her. “It’s not you. He’s always like that. When Mav got up, I almost fell out of my seat. I’ve never seen him care about anyone other than his brother and the football team.”

I scowl. “I punched him after class. I don’t need help. I can take care of myself. Plus, I don’t like to be embarrassed. I can do that all by myself.”

Her eyes widen. “I can’t believe you punched him! And he did nothing about it? You’re brave.”

“If someone does you wrong, you need to stand up for yourself, or they’ll walk all over you,” I say, munching on a chip.

“I wish I could be like that,” she mumbles with her head low.

I don’t get to answer because a girl comes up and slams her hands down on the table, making us both jump. “Carrie wants to remind you she’ll be back tomorrow.”

I can’t stop myself. “Well, good for her.”

Her head snaps toward me. “Stay out of it, trash.” She straightens and snaps at Paige, “She wants all her homework done for her before she gets back.”

I recognize her as one of Hannah’s friends from the party. I don’t know her name, but she sat on Cam’s lap.

Paige’s face turns red, and she sinks lower in her seat.

“Carrie also wants you to do better on her English this year. She wasn’t happy with getting a B+ last year. Her parents expect better of her.”

Paige’s head snaps up. “I did the best I could. I spent more time on her homework than I did on my own. My grades slipped because I spent every weekend on her homework.”

The girl bends, bracing her hands on the table as she leans toward Paige. “Your grades don’t matter. You better find the time, or you know what will happen to you.” She stands up and smirks at Paige.

“Why the hell doesn’t Carrie do her own damn homework?” I snap.

I should mind my own business, but this poor girl does her homework plus this Carrie girl’s.

Hannah’s friend eyes me. “Excuse me, but who the hell are you again?” She crosses her arms, checking out her nails.

She knows damn well who I am, she wants to play games. I’ll play. I lean in, putting my elbows on the table.

I smirk. “There’s no excuse for you, and it doesn’t matter who I am.”

She snickers. “Oh, yeah, now I remember. You’re the recent charity case for the Tates’.”

I inwardly cringe. That word has always set me off.

She turns, starts to stroll away, but stops and glances over her shoulder at Paige. “Remember, Carrie has eyes everywhere.”

With her warning delivered, she continues on her way.

“Who the hell is that?” As the bitch makes herself comfortable on Cam’s lap, I take my eyes off her to look at Paige. “How often does this Carrie chick make you do her homework?”

“Her name’s Liv. She’s Carrie’s second in charge. As for the homework? Every day.” Paige covers her face with her hands.

“Who’s Carrie?”

“She’s the head cheerleader and the bane of my existence.” Paige plops her head on the table.

“And she forces you to do all her homework while she does who knows what?”

Paige nods.

That’s screwed up, but do I want to get involved? I peer down at Paige.

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