Page 30 of Love Me Steadfast
I pick up my gear and follow, eager to get out of the rain. And to put this night behind me.
Once I reach the gravel parking lot, I head for the beacons of light coming from our buses. There’s a line of kids waiting to get on—teammates, band kids, cheerleaders. The bus engines are on and I start moving faster because I’m fucking freezing. I loaned my team jacket to Tori after the game because the cheer team’s rain jackets are shit and she was shivering.
Voices carry from the opposite side of the bus. “Stop lying!”
“I didn’t take it!”
I walk around the front of the bus and peer down the side, towhere two cheerleaders and someone I can’t see are huddled in the darkness.
“You saw me take it out of my bag.” Recognition fires in my brain—it’s Tori. Still wearing my jacket. It’s so big on her, she’s got it wrapped around her body like a robe.
“So did half the bus,” the girl in shadow replies. Panic hits my bloodstream. Charlotte. What the hell is going on tonight? First Shane starting shit, and now, some kind of catfight?
I hurry over. “Hey. What’s this all about?”
Tori whirls around. She’s not using the coat’s hood so her soaked hair stays plastered to her face. “This grubby little geek stole my Chanel eye liner.”
The insult burns. I glance at Charlotte. She’s doing her best to stare the cheerleaders down, but she’s also shivering so bad her teeth are rattling. “Go get on the bus,” I say to her. It comes out harsh, but it’s the quickest way to end this bullshit and get her warm.
She sends me a glare. “I didn’t steal.”
“I know.” I jerk my chin toward the bus. I still feel like shit for my little temper tantrum in the library last week. Not that this could make up for it, but at least she’ll know I’m not about to let anyone fuck with her.
Still glaring, Charlotte marches past us.
“William!” Tori says, stomping her foot.
“What the hell is your problem?” I say. Maybe I’m still stewing from that scuffle with Shane, or maybe my patience snapped the second she insulted Charlotte.
Tori’s mouth drops open. “You’re taking her side?”
“If you’re accusing her of stealing, yeah, I guess I am.” From the bus windows above us, a couple of my teammates have noticed what’s going on, and everyone’s crowding in to watch. Great.
Tori’s eyes narrow.
“C’mon, Tore,” her blonde sidekick whines in a babyish voice that sets my teeth on edge. “It’s fucking cold as balls out here.”
Tori slips off my coat and shoves it at my chestas she walks by, purposefully stomping in a puddle to send muddy water all over my shoes.
Awesome.
The rain turns to snow that night and it storms all weekend. Tori doesn’t call, making it clear that I’ve fucked something up. But what was the alternative? Letting her bully Charlotte? Insult her? I couldn’t stand by and let that happen.
On Monday, I’m on edge as I walk the halls, but I don’t see Shane. We do a lab in biology. Charlotte’s in the group behind mine, so in the noisy few minutes it takes everyone to get out the microscopes and check out the materials, I lean back.
“So what was that Friday night?” I ask.
Charlotte gives me a one-shoulder shrug. “Surprised your girlfriend has a mean streak?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
Charlotte’s gaze locks on mine. Maybe because she’s mad, but her eyes are more green than hazel, with yellow flecks that remind me of sunlight. “Oh. You broke up with her?”
Now it’s my turn to shrug. I guess I should have been more upfront about not wanting to be a couple, but it’s a moot point now. “She’s not talking to me. And I…don’t really care.” The moment the words are out of my mouth, their truth is like having a weight lifted off my shoulders.
Charlotte’s lips twitch with the hint of a smile. “Tried to warn you, QB.”
I laugh. “Promise I’ll listen to you next time.”
