Page 23 of Overdue

“So, you're going with me to prom.” Really?

“I’m sorry, was that a question?” I grab my algebra book out of my locker. I close the door and give Chad my best disinterested look.

“Nah. I’ve seen you checking me out,” he says. “Makes sense we go together, knowing that’s how we’ll end the night anyway.” Oh barf. I might have just thrown up in my mouth a little. Did this ever work? Based on a few of the racier rumors, it must occasionally.

Rolling my eyes in dramatic fashion, I spin around to make my dramatic exit, only to run squarely into a wall of muscle. I take a step back and look up. When had Reed gotten so…hard?

“Take your shit somewhere else, Weston,” he growls, ignoring me completely.

“Rumor has it, you’ve already laid claim on this one’s virginity anyway,” Chad shoots back. Now I’m sandwiched awkwardly between them as they glare at each other. If I’m not careful, I’ll have to duck so I’m not slapped by the testosterone flowing.

“Fuck it. I’m not interested in your leftovers anyway.” Chad flips off Reed and stomps off, hunting for his next prey, I'm sure.

“If that’s the best you can do,” Reed snarls. “I’ll take you myself.”

“You think I’m so desperately pathetic that I would go with Chad to prom after that proposal? Do you think I would sleep with someone just because they crook their finger?” I start to back away from him down the hallway toward class. Even if I need to set Reed straight once again, I can’t be late for math.

“Maybe I’ll just get the annual and work my way through it alphabetically by grade,” I yell. “The best pickup line wins. And guess what, Reed Campbell? Everyone gets a turn but you.” I’m getting louder, but I can’t seem to stop.

“That’s right.” I mean, I’m on a roll now. “I’ll have hot, sweaty, angry, animal sex with every guy in this school but you!” There, I’ve struck a glorious blow to every male ego around the world.

“Miss Caraway, my office!” I jump at hearing the principal growl behind me. Shit. Where had he come from? Didn’t he have a job to do somewhere on the other side of the school? “Mr. Campbell, you can join us.”

“Nice job, brat,” Reed snarls as he passes me on the way to the principal’s office.

* * *

“I spent an incredibly mortifying fifteen minutes sitting next to him listening to a lecture from Principal Powell and Mrs. Jones about abstinence, safe sex, and proper decorum in the hallway. All because of him,” I point out.

“If I remember correctly, and I was there so I do, it wasn’t Reed’s fault. It was yours, and the only man’s ego you managed to crush was his, by screaming at the top of your lungs that he was the only man in the school you would never have sex with. Hot, sweaty, angry, animal sex,’ as I recall. I assume that included Principal Powell and Old Man Epstein, the biology teacher,” Eliot pointed out.

“Are you really taking his side?”

“It’s not about taking sides. It’s like a spiral the two of you can’t get out of. You are the only person in this town that Reed gets nervous around. He blurts out something totally ridiculous because he can’t think past the boner he gets when he’s close to you.

“You become this raging bitch and take it out on him in nasty ways. Which, in turn, makes him even more stressed the next time he sees you. Have you ever thought about letting the words go and trying to see their intent?”

I slump back into the booth. Is that really how I react? I never meant to start a war with the boy from down the street. It just seemed to dissolve into one.

Now, though, we aren’t kids anymore. I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want to be the one who immediately flies into a rage at the smallest thing. That grouchy old woman who raises cats and shakes her fist at the neighborhood kids.

“Oh god. I’ve turned into Old Lady Barrett, who used to scream at us for riding our bikes down her sidewalk when we were kids,” I moan.

“I don’t think you’re that bad,” Eliot laughs. “Not yet anyway. Do me a favor, though? The next time he does something stupid, shut your pie hole, and try to find the real meaning behind it. You might be surprised at how much he has to offer.”

I nod my head. I could do that. I can learn to listen first. Really listen. After a moment of Eliot’s words soaking in, I smirk.

“Pie hole?”

“Yeah, well, it seemed appropriate. I have to get back to work.” Sliding out of the booth, Eliot snatches the bill before I can. “This one's on me. Now go play nice.”

nine

REED

I’m back at the library. I caught back up with the landscaping crew and spent the rest of my work day trimming hedges. Now, freshly showered and changed, I’m back for more punishment.

The idea should make me avoid the library like the plague. But Austen is just too much of a draw for me. Her attention, even negative attention, focused solely on me makes my skin tingle. Maybe everyone is right. There’s something wrong with me.

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