Page 21 of Ruthless Rose

Chapter 14

Awhile later, I grab my bag, pick up my lunch tray, and check to make sure I have my phone. Before I can push my seat back, a hand clamps down on my shoulder. “Daphne Davis. How’s it going, Double D?”

I turn my head to see Alora standing behind me, several cheerleaders flanking her. Farrah Kendrick, Danica Seeger, Cindi Traverse, and Melanie Underwood snicker, covering their mouths.

I cringe, shrug out of her grip, and toss my response over my shoulder. “Real creative—my initials.”

Laughter bubbles from Alora’s mouth. “Right, right. Going to the game tonight? Your favorite football player is starting, as usual.”

“No, I probably won’t, but thanks.”

Scarlett turns in her seat, glaring. “Alora, is there a reason why you’re bothering her? Where’s your captain? Isn’t Aria supposed to have you on a leash or something?”

“Funny.” She shrugs, taking a second to look at her carefully manicured nails, focusing her attention back on me. “It was interesting to hear all about how things went yesterday afternoon with your tutoring session.” She smiles smugly. “Micah told me you’re a complete fucking geek. Something about how you tried to talk to him about all sorts of weird sci-fi shit.”

I blink, my lips parting in dismay. And here I thought there was a possibility that I had found common ground with him, even if he’d had his hand up my skirt while I’d spewed verbal Star Wars diarrhea. I’d been proud of myself for finding conversation topics that I thought might halfway interest him. Apparently, I’d been mistaken. My heart sinks like a rock, and I bite down on my lip, staring at the food tray in front of me.

Max bolts to a standing position, his chair shooting out behind him with a loud scraping noise across the floor. “Alora, fuck off.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

The longer she stands here taunting me, the more my skin crawls with distaste. Against my better judgment, I sneak a peek in Micah’s direction only to have my stomach twist. He’s watching this whole exchange—watching these bitches pick on me like it’s their job or their right or their reason for existing. And while Xander and Beau have just stood up and are watching our table, Micah stays planted in his chair like he couldn’t care less. He’s definitely not the person I thought he was. Not anymore.

Alora laughs as she and the other cheer bitches act like they’ve lost interest. “See you at the committee meeting tomorrow at ten,” she throws airily over her shoulder at me as she saunters away.

“That whole thing definitely had something to do with Micah,” groans Max as he drops back into his seat.

“You think he told her to do that?” Scarlett looks like she’s about to jump out of her seat and go pound on him.

“Uh-uh. That was jealousy driven, pure and simple. Makes me wonder what he’s actually said to her about you, Daphne, and how much is just shit she’s making up.”

I lift my shoulders, then drop them, dejected. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with it.”

I’ve just curled up with a new release from one of my favorite urban fantasy authors when my phone buzzes beside me on the bed. It’s about eight, so I know the football game has started—the beginning of another insane evening, no doubt. The game and party to follow are exactly the kinds of gatherings I avoid at all costs.

Max:Hey, Daphne.

Max: You sure you don’t want to join us?

Scarlett:We’re just hanging out by the fence at the end zone nearest the building so I can watch Xander play.

Me:I’m really fine at home.

Me:I’m reading.

Max:But you have all weekend to read.

Me:LOL and that’s exactly what I intend to do.

Scarlett:Funny girl.

Scarlett:Well, this is probably going to be a flop of a suggestion, but do you want to meet us at the party later?

Me:Whose house?

Almost a minute passes before the dots start to jump with a message. I have an odd feeling that Scarlett and Max have been discussing what to say to me offline.

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