“Shut it, you shithead,” Rock grumbled. Preston only laughed in response.
“I’m . . . we aren’t . . .” I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be explaining this or not.
“Yeah, we aren’t,” Rock finished for me, glaring at Preston. Then his hand released mine and I felt cold. And alone.
“Let’s get you to first period,” Rock said in a strained voice.
Something was wrong with him. His tone was hard, and I wasn’t used to that from him. At least not since we’d become friends.
“Okay,” I replied.
Rock
I stood at my locker, trying not to grab my books and start throwing shit. I was in the f**king friend zone with Trisha, and I was seeing now that I was stuck there. She didn’t see us any other way. I’d tested it this morning by holding her hand. She’d been blushing when I’d picked her up, and then she’d shivered when I’d touched her hand. For the first time I’d thought maybe I had gotten under that thick skin of hers.
I was wrong. Dammit.
Slamming my locker door, I took one more deep breath. I had to get control of this. Fact was, I wasn’t going anywhere. She needed me, and my infatuation with her was something deeper now. Stopping it seemed impossible. But if I was going to survive this, maybe I needed to shield my heart.
Hands slid up my back and nails scratched at my neck.
“Missed you this weekend at the party,” Rose said from behind me. She was pursuing me like her life depended on it.
“I was busy,” I replied, moving back a step out of her reach, then heading for my first-period class.
She fell into step beside me. “I heard you brought Trisha Corbin to school this morning. Are you two a thing now?”
No. But not for lack of trying to get her to trust me. “We’re just friends,” I said, hating the way it tasted. I wanted to claim her as mine.
“Oh, well, that’s good. My parents are out of town this week. I was hoping you could come over tonight and stay . . . all night.”
I knew if I went, I’d get laid. Hell, I’d probably get several blow jobs too. Rose was known for her killer blow jobs. But I wasn’t even slightly interested. Not in the f**king least. Which only told me I was too far gone with Trisha.
“Can’t. Got plans,” I told her, then stepped into my literature class.
Marcus was already there, sitting at his desk and flirting with some new girl I didn’t recognize. I didn’t pay any attention to her as I sat down beside him.
Marcus didn’t look away from the blonde he was flirting with. He was a man on a mission, and I had no doubt he’d succeed.
“You up for some fun tonight?” Marcus asked me, and I turned my head to look at him.
“What?” I asked, confused. I hadn’t been listening to his conversation with the girl, so I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Hillary here has a friend named Chandise who has a thing for you. They want to know if we’re up for a good time tonight. I told her we are always up for a good time.” Marcus was grinning like he’d already gotten laid.
I hated to c**k block him, but I wasn’t going with them. “Sorry. I got plans. Ask Preston instead.” Who we all knew was always up for a good time.
Marcus frowned. “Her friend hates Preston.”
No one hated Preston unless he’d f**ked them and left them. Oh. That was it.
“I see. Then Dewayne,” I replied.
Marcus sighed. “Yeah, but she wants you.”
I wanted Trisha. We all f**king wanted something. Didn’t always get what we wanted. “Can’t,” I replied, and opened my notebook.
Marcus got the message and dropped it.