Page 51 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part One

“Yeah, I’m exhausted with classes and practice. It’s taking a lot out of me. I was out at the library studying late last night,” I lie—bend the truth.Technically, I was at the library. I just didn’t get any studying done. Thankfully, Jensen lives in my neighborhood, so they could park my SUV and walk to his house. I’d have to give them a ride to the library at some point today so they could get their wheels.

“I bet you are,” Mom coos as she seeks my calf and squeezes it through the covers. “Take all the time in the world. Daddy and I will be back later. We need to decide who you want to invite to your birthday party. Jonas’ parents have already asked to see if we want to have it at the country club. We could invite the entire senior class if you want to.”

“Mom, a lot of them are out of state. They’re not going to drive back into town for my party. Plus, I don’t want Jonas there. We broke up, Mom. I don’t really want him around.” Mom frowns, but it’s not a look of sympathy. No, she’s more upset that we aren’t together because of appearances and money. She’s not worried about my broken heart. It’s been long enough, so I should be over that by now. Leaving Jonas didn’t break my heart, so I guess that’s a good thing. I was more pissed at who I’d become and the fact that he cheated on me. I don’t think they’ll ever understand that I want a relationship based on love, not mergers.

“Okay, sweetheart, we can discuss it later.” Meaning she will invite who she wants to invite and we will probably have it at the club like she wants. I’m not sure why she is bothering to even consult me on what I want. Just for show, I guess. She pats my leg and moves to stand. “Have a good day.” She smiles again, her emerald eyes warm as she regards me. I wish they heard me and would realize that I’m not the daughter they would have had if I shared their genetics. They’ve tried and tried to mold me into the person they need me to be, but I can’t get on board.

Dad leans down and kisses my forehead. “I saved you a cinnamon bun. It’s in the oven, hidden, so Kai can’t get it. Make sure you heat it up for a few seconds before you eat it.”

“They’re better that way,” I finish for him. He winks at me, his lips curving into a lopsided grin. My father is a handsome man, short but fit. He too knows how to dress himself, always in suits and, if not, at the very least a dress shirt, bowtie, and slacks. His salt and pepper hair is cropped on the sides coiffed into a side swoop and slick with gel. Everything that my rough-and-tumble, raven haired brother is not.

“Thanks, Dad,” I murmur, yawning. He tucks the blankets around me and, when satisfied, he heads to the door.

“Enjoy your Saturday, lovebug,” Mom exits the room in a sweep of love. She is always consistently inconsistent with the nicknames she chooses for us. They are rarely the same in a single visit, but always the same from one to the next.

“Will do.” I cuddle deeper into my comforter, knowing that I don’t have to face the conversation of my birthday party until later. At least I can get high and escape the overdone ridiculousness that will be that night. My thoughts flicker to Riggs for a moment and a smile inches across my lips.

“Get some more sleep. You look like you need it,” Dad adds before he closes the door.

I doze off for a few more minutes before Kai knocks on my door. By this time, I might as well get up. His hazel eyes sweep the room as if he’s looking for something and I yank the covers up even further. He smirks when he finds me in bed.

“Thought maybe I’d find your new boyfriend sneaking out,” he says as he laughs. I suck in a sharp breath, a flush meeting my cheeks. My new boyfriend? What the hell? Jensen must have filled him in last night, or hell, Riggs could’ve. They’re friends now, after all.

I jerk a pillow from my bed and chuck it across the room. Kai catches it with anoomphand steadies his balance on the door frame.

“I don’t have a boyfriend. I smoked pot with someone who looked like they needed a friend last night,” I say matter-of-factly.

“Not yet,” he jokes, and I narrow my eyes into slits at him. I should’ve known better. “Jensen said you guys were pretty cozy last night outside the library.”

“Fuck off,” I growl. I can’t be too annoyed. He’s only teasing. But given my history with Riggs, I don’t want this getting blown out of proportion. I can only imagine what they are all thinking. Then again, they’re all friends with him, and they see nothing wrong with it. None of them are trying to keep us apart, so maybe Riggs is as good as he seems.

“I’m going to lunch with J and after that we are going to pickup. I thought you might want to tag along,” he states. A game of pickup on the ice would be great and make up for my lack of a workout this morning. It doesn’t take me long at all to decide that I’m going, grateful for his offer. “And no, your honey will not be there.”

I roll my eyes, disregarding him. Besides, I already knew that because one, Riggs doesn’t play hockey, and two, I remember—a somewhat fuzzy memory—that he mentioned he had to work today. Not that I care he has to work, that’s his business.

I say nothing to Kai and just climb out of bed to get myself dressed when he exits the room.

I takemy chances eating on campus today. I have a lot of course work to do after failing to get anything done Friday in the library. My Saturday night was unproductive, although I think I’m getting better at smoking. I learned to use a bong that has water in it. Kai thought that show was rather amusing, so I guess I’m glad I made his weekend almost choking to death.

On Sunday, mom and dad took us out to the flea market then to lunch and when I got back home, I passed out while trying to finish some of my work. I’m not sure why, but my parents are on a level of clinginess right now that I’m not enthused over, neither is Kai. But we are going along with it because sometimes they get like that. I think they need to feel connected to us, to reassure themselves that we are indeed their children. All the meals are good though, especially because right now they are all about trying fresh places.

I buy a salad and a soda, large because my body needs some junk food, and make my way to join the other students. Their voices are loud, a roar in my ears that I’m not happy about today, but whatever. I guess I’m not in the most sociable of moods. Last night I tossed and turned more than I slept. More than two nights of good sleep must be too much to ask for.

I’m tired and I’m cranky. Working out this morning didn’t help my mood either, especially because I didn’t leave the house to go run. Since Jonas showed up and ruined that for me, Chandler has kept a lock on my activities in the neighborhood. He’s joined me a few times to run in the morning, but it doesn’t help clear my mental state like I need it to when someone is with me.

So today, I’m having a large frigging soda to drown out my sorrows.

Foxy is nowhere to be seen. She warned me she would probably be off campus for the afternoon. Her evening class was canceled, so she was going to catch up on some errands. Funny, though, I don’t see Jensen or my brother. The dark storm cloud following a particular person, however, is visible a mile away.

Riggs sits at his usual table, hunched over a tray of untouched food. He has on a black beanie with vertical white stripes, a black hoodie with the hood pulled up, and blue jeans. His posture warns off anyone who dares try to join him. One of those swim-at-your-own-risk sorts of vibes. His lean arms are curled into his chest, his elbows resting on the tabletop, and he’s staring at nothing. I can’t see his eyes because they’re tucked under the brim of his hood, but I can see a red tinge mottling his cheeks and his lips appear puffy. He isn’t even playing that stupid game on his phone. He always plays that game.

You know… that I’ve seen. Not like I pay much attention to him daily.

Exactly the reason you’re considering sitting with him, like you’refriends?

No point in fighting it. What happens, happens.

With a sigh, I let my feet carry me through the cafe. My mind is saying not to, but my legs have already made up their mind. We’re going to attempt to sit with Riggs today. There’s a strong possibility we will get our asses chewed out, giving his current state of disarray, but we agreed a long time ago that there is something about him.

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