Page 91 of Bad Boy
“That sounds awesome, Preppy. I could use some chill time.”
“Me, too. We haven’t swam together in years, Linc,” Sierra says, and Grady hums his agreement.
Our weekend plans get interrupted by a cold, callous voice that causes a knot of worry to form in the pit of my stomach.
“How can you even be friends with him?”
My cheeks burn as humiliation washes over me.
Remi sits up straighter, muscles tense and ready to strike. Brandon is oblivious to the apex predator in front of him, scoping out the best way to take down his prey.
He continues on, unaware, spewing his hateful vitriol at myboyfriend.
“He thinks he’s too good for everyone else here. Living up on his hill like he’s above us. Never hanging out with anyone. Never inviting anyone over. Never going to any parties. Makes me fucking sick. Stuck-up little prick.” He turns his angry sneer to me, hatred seeping from every pore.
“Did you know your dad bought my dad out of his own business this week? Our entire family legacy.Gone.Taken by force. Bought out from right under his nose. Swallowed up byAnderson Holdings. Now there’s nothing left for him to pass down. Your parents are fucking soulless bastards. Just like you. Except they’re manipulative and calculated.You.You’re just a fucking robot.” He practically bares his teeth at me, and I can’t help but shrink back into Remi as Brandon looms above me.
I never react to him. Never give him the satisfaction. I choose to suffer in silence and remain quiet in the face of my bullies, but I know it pushes his buttons even more.
Carry on. Keep strong.
“Whoa. Whoa. Back the fuck up. Right now, Brandon,” Remi barks, grabbing hold of my chair and sliding it away from Brandon’s spiteful presence. The metal legs screech across the cafeteria floor, garnering more attention.
Remi jumps up, placing his body between Brandon and me and hollering for Gus, who rushes over from across the room where the other jocks are sitting with mocking grins on their faces. I don’t know why when the jerk at the center of them all is sitting there with his face all busted up. By Remi.My boyfriend.My overprotective-hothead-with-a-heart-bigger-than-most boyfriend.
I’m tempted to just tell everyone we’re together right now. Get it over with. But I can’t risk it getting back to my parents before I tell them myself. My best hope for something amicable coming out of this is to be honest and tell them as soon as possible. Sierra and I will not be putting on a charade. Not even for one night.
Gus’s dark eyes track over the drama-fueled scene in front of him. Sighing heavily, he asks, “What now, new kid?”
“Dude. It’s not me. I swear. It’s your bullying, bitch-ass teammates that keep harassing me and my friends. We were just sitting here eating lunch. Minding our own fucking business. As usual. But this fuckface justlovesto come over and talk shit.”
Remi turns his cold stare to Brandon. “Fuck your family’s company, you prick. We don’t give a shit. That has nothing to do with Linc. Or me. Or Grady and Sierra. And since you can’t listen and back the fuck off. . .”
Folding his thick arms across his chest, school blazer nearly bursting at the seams, Remi glares at Brandon but speaks to the whole room.
“I formally challenge Brandon Fuckface Halliday to a duel. A fight to the death!” he bellows, throwing his fist up in mock triumph. Remi cackles wildly, the sound echoing around the nearly silent cafeteria.
Brandon pales, eyes darting over to Connor’s ruined face, then back to Remi. His mouth opens and closes a few times like he wants to protest but knows that will only make him look weak.
“Twenty-five hundred plus bets,” he adds, a confident smirk tugging at his lips.
“What’ll it be, Brand?” Gus asks impatiently. “I have a spot open tonight. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait two weeks. I got family stuff going on next weekend.”
Swallowing thickly, Brandon hesitantly agrees, looking way less sure of himself than when he came sauntering over five minutes ago, threatening me. I hate that Remi is fighting because of meagain. I hate it so, so much. But there’s nothing I can do. He won’t let Brandon or Connor or anyone else get away with bullying.
Remi is a crusader, a fierce champion.My champion.
And maybe I just need to get used to that.
* * *
My parents are in New York for the weekend at some kind of Columbia Business School alumni function. I’m just thankful they didn’t drag me along. Probably because of the unsightly bandage around my knuckles that I told them happened when I accidentally closed Remi’s car door on my hand. It wasn’t a far stretch from something that’s happened before, so they didn’t even bat an eye. They just turned their noses up at me, like the fact that I hurt my own freakin’ handdisappointsthem.
It makes tonight easy. Remi didn’t have to sneak in, and I didn’t have to sneak out. We had to take a rain check on swimming, though. But we did talk Grady and Sierra out of coming to the fight. I feel bad for telling them maybe next time because, in all honesty, I’m hoping there won’t be a next time. But they’re only seventeen, and Remi can’t watch out for all three of usandfight. It’s not fair to him.
This time his friend Ivan will be there. I only know him as the stoner kid with blue hair, but I’m supposed to stand with him so Remi can focus on the fight. And I’ll do it. Because as much as he hates seeing me hurt, it feels even worse to watch someone hit him. To see the deep bruises mottling Remi’s pale skin and know there’s nothing I can do. It’s a helpless and vulnerable feeling. One I don’t wish to experience regularly.
We’re lounging in my room, wasting time before we head out. I swivel around in my desk chair. “Remi, you really don’t have to fight because of me.” I have to reiterate it. I just have to.
