Page 38 of His Pretty Little Lies
We get in line together. I can’t help but overhear a few girls from another school talking about Jax and how insanely hot heis. Blair flicks a look toward me. There are a couple of people behind us.
“Wait, her shirt.” I hear one of them say it, and I know they are talking about me. Jax’s name is across my back, and it’s not as though you buy players’ jerseys for high school players.
“Excuse me,” one of the girls calls. “Marino.” I slowly turn, knowing they aren’t going to stop.
“Me?” I’m not a Marino, so I’m not sure why she’s calling me that, even if it is on my back.
“Yeah, is your brother going to the after-party?” The girl is blond and almost as tall as I am. Though she is in heels. I find it strange to come to a football game in heels, but to each their own. If it were me, I’d break my neck.
“I’m an only child.”
“Oh.” Her perfect nose scrunches.
“Cousin?” the girl beside her asks. She, too, is blond and a touch shorter but has striking green eyes. They are both dolled up like they are going out; I suppose they are, to the after-party. I have only gone to a couple of them, and that was to get information.
I always felt out of place with them. I didn’t drink or play the party games. Sure, I can chat with anyone, but it never goes past that. I’m actually pretty good at getting people to admit shit. It’s not as hard as you think. You only have to pretend you’re not supposed to be interested. Then people will overshare.
"I'm not related to him."
"They have a thing." Blair fills them in. Both their eyes widen in surprise. Ouch, way to take a shot at my ego.
"Like a situationship?" the green-eyed girl asks.
"Well, don't you have to be fucking to have a situationship?" I ask right back. I don't know what to label Jax and me. We haven't had a conversation about it, but he's also making it clear to everyone that I'm his.
I know he’s been into me for a few years, but he’s only recently said anything. Also, I think part of the over-the-top kissing me around everyone is to offer me protection from whoever was in the warehouse that night.
If they think we’re really together, then they might leave me alone, not wanting to poke the Marino beast, but who knows? They did, after all, show up to a Marino warehouse.
Why choose that place to do whatever you were doing? All of this isn’t adding up, and it’s making me bonkers. The more I think about it, the more my thoughts get twisted. One being, maybe I’m being naïve still about Jax and why he led me there that night.
“You aren’t fucking?” the other blonde gasps, too loudly. I inwardly cringe because we’re surrounded by people who I’m sure are listening. I would be, but I’m nosy as shit.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Does he go to the after-parties?” Green Eyes asks. How do I get out of this whole conversation?
I hate the jealousy I’m starting to feel bubble up inside of me. Both of them are beyond gross. I know I’m not ugly, but I’m plain. Forgettable, really, which suits me normally. Now, not so much at this moment.
“Annie.” The taller one elbows her in the side. I’m sure she sees that it’s a fucked-up question. That Jax and I have something going on, even if it hasn’t progressed to fucking.
“What?” Annie hisses back at her friend.
“Drop it.” She says it under her breath, but I catch it.
“Next,” the boy behind the counter calls to take our order. My stomach isn’t feeling so great anymore. My appetite is completely gone and replaced with a green-eyed monster.
Blair steps up and orders enough for everyone. “What? The only fun part of these games is the food and people watching.” I can’t argue with that.
I try to forget the two girls and how they are both hoping Jax will be at the party tonight, but it’s not easy. It doesn’t help that they aren’t the only girls I hear talking about him. This is a reminder of what I’ll have to deal with if I were to date Jax. The unwanted attention would be constant. I’d have to get used to the stares and whispers.
“Ignore them.” Blair must catch my mood shift. Thankfully, she’s the only one; everyone else's attention is on the field. “He’s not going to the after-party. Not his scene.” I nod. Your own mind can often be your own worst enemy.
The rest of the game is pretty anticlimactic. They’re up by thirty points, and the coach has pulled Jax off the field. I learned that happens when the team is up by so much that it’s not worth the risk of the quarterback getting hurt. I don’t think he would. Damon makes sure no one comes close to Jax, protecting him at the line.
“You want to ride with us, honey?” Cosima asks me when the game is over and everyone is packing up.
“I think I’m riding with Jax.”
