Page 6 of Ruthless Rose

Chapter 5

Scarlett ushers me to a quiet corner. I look down at my shoes as she shoots one question after another at me. “What was that all about? Daphne, does this have something to do with the call from the headmaster this morning?” Then, without waiting for my response, “Would you breathe, please?”

I guess I’d been holding my breath because it all comes out in a whoosh. Bending forward, I plant my hands on my knees as she rubs my back. “Do we have to eat lunch in the cafeteria?”

“Nope. Lemme text Max and ask him to get three to-go lunches.”

While she pulls her phone out and leans back on the locker beside me to take care of it, I straighten and put my hands to my flaming-hot cheeks. “I don’t understand why he’s so mad,” I whisper.

She tugs on my elbow. “Come on, let’s go. Hopefully once you’ve had a chance to calm down you can explain things.” We hurry down the hallway, but instead of going through the cafeteria, we bolt out the side door and around the building until we get to a grassy area dotted with picnic benches.

Max looks up from where he’s unpacking our lunches. “I got a turkey and cheese, a ham and cheese, and a peanut butter and jelly.” He shrugs. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”

Scarlett sits down and, with a sigh, I throw my leg over the bench, sit, and slip the other leg over, joining her. “It doesn’t matter.”

Max laughs. “In all the time I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat peanut butter.”

I reach for the turkey and cheese. “You’re right.” I give him a small smile that I know doesn’t reach my eyes.

He stops with his hand in his bag of chips, eyeing me carefully. “Daphne, Daphne. Don’t hold out on me. What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, I take a bite of the sandwich and slowly chew.

“She had a little … altercation with Micah after class just now.”

Max’s lips part. “Say what?”

I take another bite of my sandwich, shaking my head.

“When Xander and I got there, Micah had her up against a locker and was shouting in her face.”

“The fuck?” Max’s head rears back and his gaze darts from me to Scarlett. “Why was he in your face?” He stares at me while I uncap my water and take a swig.

Scarlett reaches out and grabs my left hand where it rests on the picnic table. “Explain what the hell was happening when we showed up. Because I’m about up to here with drama right now.” Her hand flies up to show me just how done she is.

Max rolls his eyes to the sky. “Fuck, you aren’t kidding.” He brings his attention back to me. “Talk, Daphne.”

I wipe my lips carefully with my napkin, taking a few seconds to decide how to put this. “The meeting with Gilmore this morning? When I got there, Micah was on the bench outside the office. I thought nothing of it until the headmaster called me into his office and Head Coach Roland was in there, too.”

“Uh-oh. I see where this is going.” Scarlett winces.

“Where? What am I missing?” Max’s brow furrows.

“They want me to tutor him.”

Max’s eyes shoot to his hairline. “Oh, wow.”

“They’re really worried about his grades that much?” Scarlett frowns, fiddling with her water bottle cap.

I nod. “Yes. Apparently, he’s close to being benched over it.” I catch my lip with my teeth. “And he really doesn’t want me to help him. He keeps saying he doesn’t need a tutor.” I blow out a breath. “He was pretty pissed off when we left the office, and we had a few words. But then in Spanish some girls were talking about what went down with you this weekend, and he shut them down. I was going to thank him for having your back that night, but he thought I was going to pester him about the tutoring again and got all growly. So then I did pester him about the tutoring again, and he got really pissed. That’s when you showed up, Scarlett.”

Max grimaces. “Uh. I hate to ask how you’re going to deal with Big Man if he really doesn’t want help. I’ve never seen him do a fucking thing he didn’t want to.” He snickers. “Including that chick he lost to in strip poker last weekend.”

Scarlett kicks at his shin under the table.

“Ow!” He laughs some more.

She purses her lips. “You deserved that.”

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