Page 37 of Five Summers

“Whenever you're ready to turn around, Savannah Gibbons,” the teacher says. “I'll wait as long as necessary, and I'm even down for lunch detention if needed.”

I keep glaring at Savannah as she turns around.

As the teacher starts talking, I discreetly reach for my phone to check my mother's message. Upon lighting up the screen, I am taken aback by the sight of an unknown number and message. When I open it and read the words. I know exactly who it’s from.

Xander: WTF happened 2 u Princess?

Poppy: HTF did u get this number?

The bubbles appear on my screen.

I peek up and see the teacher at the front, recounting some historical event leading up to the war in the 1940s. When hesearches for something on his desk, I sneak a peek to see another message from Xander.

Xander: Tell me what happened to your lips and I’ll tell you how I got your number.

Poppy: Blow job gone wrong.

Xander: What did the guy have blue balls or something?

I burst into laughter, but hastily attempt to repress it. But it’s way too late; both the teacher and all the students sitting in the classroom shift their attention toward me.

“Is something amusing, Miss Reeves?”

“No, sir,” I reply, placing my phone face down on my desk.

“Well, you seemed to enjoy something, so do share with us what’s so amusing, Miss Reeves.”

I look up at him and see everyone staring at me. There's giggling and I can't tell if it's because of my stained lips or if I'm the joke of the day.

I'm sitting there, not saying a word, watching the teacher.

“Out you go,” he says, pointing towards the door.

“What?” I ask, not sure if I heard correctly. Savannah’s intimidation earlier didn’t result in her being sent to the principal’s office. However, I am the one who has to go because I refuse to disclose what I was laughing at. This is bullshit.

I'm staying put at my desk, watching him.

When I don't make a move, he signals towards the door. “Get out of my classroom. I won't stand for any disruptive behavior in my class.” He walks around his desk and taps on the keyboard of his laptop. “The principal's expecting you.”

Man, can this day get any fucking better? I release a frustrated sigh and snatch my bag off the floor as I head towards the door.

As I'm making my way to the principal's office, my phone buzzes.

Xander: I got your number from Zoe Mitchell.

I should've realized that. Zoe Mitchell helps out in the school office every now and then. But Xander doesn't really talk to Zoe. She's not one of the girls he usually hooks up with.

With my thumbs poised ready to ask him how he conned Zoe into giving him my number, another text comes through.

Xander: You won't believe the lengths I went to get your number. So don’t ignore me. Answer the fucking door next time.

I don't know how to respond, so I just turn my phone off.

My phone pings again and I'm so tempted to just ignore it, but it's from Xander, the guy who's always on my mind.

Xander: Did my text make you so excited that you died or something? Quit fucking ignoring me.

I smirk as I type out my reply.

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