Page 33 of His Pretty Little Lies
“I’m going to be leaving for the day, so everyone needs to head out.” Mr. McIntyre completely jumps around Jax’s question. I don’t blame him. McIntyre here might have ten yearson Jax, but that’s all he’s got. I’m sure he has already been made aware of who's who in this school.
He is very much the stereotype of a geeky media guy. “If she’s not ready, then we’re not going anywhere,” Jax tosses right back.
“Jax.” I touch his arm, wanting to pull his attention back to me before things get out of hand.
Before yesterday, I don’t think I would have called Jax laid-back, but if you left him alone, he left you alone. He doesn’t go out of his way to push people around. It's why a lot of people give him a wide berth. They know he’s not the type to throw his family's power around.
It doesn’t go unnoticed that now he’s snipping at people. I’m not one of those people, but I do wonder if I’m the cause of it. He’s more short-tempered when it comes to me, and I’m not sure how to handle that or what to think of it.
“He doesn’t get to be a dick because he’s the teacher, and you're worried he’d fuck with your grade. Isn’t that right, Jim McIntyre? You wouldn’t do that, would you?” Jax may pose it as a question, but I can hear the underlined threat in it.
Blair's perfect eyebrows are almost up to her hairline as she enjoys this back and forth. Mr. McIntyre here is now shifting around in his seat and seeming to pack up his crap for the day, or he’s trying to appear busy. Likely the latter.
At this point, I don’t know if I should laugh or feel bad for him, but he’s the one who was being a smart-mouth dick first. It’s easy to be a dick when you don’t have to worry about pushback. Especially when you’re in a role of authority and you’re being that way to a bunch of women. That is, until there is someone who will push you right back. Push isn’t the right word. Jax will yeet the man out of the whole city.
“It’s been a long day, and I’m supposed to lock up the room.” Mr. McIntyre’s tone totally changes.
“Right.” I have never heard one singular, simple word sound like a threat before, but Jax just did it. The whole energy in the room shifts. Blair even rolls her chair back a few inches. Jax turns to face me. “Are you hungry?”
“She’s busy trying to find out about homecoming,” Blair tells him.
“Homecoming?” Jax’s expression gets complex.
“You know. The whole crowning at the football game on homecoming.”
“That’s not this week.”
“No, it’s not this week,” I confirm. “Do you really not know you’re up for homecoming king?”
“I didn’t enter into that shit.”
“You don’t enter, dork.” I laugh, making Jax smile.
“I still haven’t gotten that kiss.” He leans down, pressing his mouth to mine before I can respond. “If I’m the king, then you’re the queen.”
“Still not how that works.” I let go of the front of his shirt that I hadn’t realized I’d grabbed on to. It must have happened when he kissed me.
“You ready, Bunny?”
“That’s cute, that you call her Bunny.” Blair starts shoving things into her bag.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” I pack up the rest of my stuff. As we pass by Mr. McIntyre, Jax pauses and knocks on the end of his desk.
“You have a good night, Jim.” Jax’s hand goes to the small of my back, leading me out of the classroom.
“Jim?” I ask. “You looked into him.”
“I pulled his name to have him looked into. Need to know who he is if he’s going to be around you.”
“Anything else you’ve been up to?”
“I guess I’m becoming king or some shit.” His expression is one of annoyance, making me laugh.
“You know about homecoming king and queen?”
“I know of it. I thought you entered or something. You want to go to the dance?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
