“No. I meant normal friends. As in, you respect my boundaries, and I respect yours. Stop. Getting. So. Touchy.”
“So, you mean, I can’t slam you against the wall and fuck you?”
Sweet Jesus, help me, or I was going to murder this dude.
Exasperated, I gave him a look that said it all. “That’s the opposite of friends, Maddox.”
“Well, that’s disappointing. You’ve seen how good I am on the field, but I was looking forward to showing you how good I am at thrusting.”
There was a flash of mischief in his eyes, and my lips twitched. He was being annoying on purpose, the dumbass. Sure, we were still stumbling over this new friendship thing, but it wasn’t so bad. At least, I didn’t find any more cockroaches in my sweater today and no pink dildo for Maddox.
As expected, when we walked into Mrs. Levi’s class, all eyes were on us. The attention had me on edge, but with Maddox constantly at my side, I was starting to get used to it.
People always stared, after all, Maddox was the center of attention. He loved it, practically feeding off it. His chest puffed out like a proud peacock, eyes gleaming, and his signature smirk plastered on his full lips. Girls fawned, and guys burnt with jealousy.
Now that I was on Maddox’s side, more like he kept me next to him all the time, we turned heads wherever we went. People assumed we were sleeping together, and I was his latest conquest. Some said I was his girlfriend.
No one believed we were just…friends.
Even Riley was suspicious at first, but she finally understood the nature of our relationship when Maddox stole my apple, and in revenge, I sprayed ketchup on his crotch. Childish and stupid, right?
But there was just something about Maddox that made me feel…carefree.
I ditched the front row and followed Maddox to the back of the classroom, where he always sat. Settling next to Maddox, which put me in the middle of him and his friend, I gave Colton a nod in greeting.
He smiled and fist pumped Maddox. “The whole school is talking.”
My lips flattened in a straight line. “They need to stop gossiping.”
“That’s their job. To gossip,” Maddox said with a lazy smile. “What’s so bad about being my girlfriend, Garcia?”
“Because I’m not.”
“You sure?” Colton shot back.
There was one thing I learned during these three days.
Colton and Cole were twins, but they were nothing alike. Cole was more reserved, the quiet type. He didn’t always hang around with us, and he was less of an asshole and more of a gentleman. In fact, you’d think Colton and Maddox were twins because… they were both pompous jerks. Attitude and personality, both were fuckboys and infuriating.
Now that Maddox and I were friends, that meant his friends were mine. Poor Riley got dragged into this mess, too.
Riley was ready to deck Colton any time now, and I wanted to raise my white flag in defeat, but refrained from doing so. My mama didn’t raise a quitter.
“If you two are going to gang up on me, I’m going back to the front row.” I went to stand up, grabbing my bag with me.
Colton raised his hands up in mock defeat, and Maddox grinned. “Keep your ass seated on that chair, Garcia. I’ll drag you back if I have to.”
I plopped back on the chair. “I’m not your pet, Coulter.”
He leaned closer, his lips next to my ear, so he could whisper while Mrs. Levi started her lesson. “You’re kinda cute when you’re pissed off.”
“Shut. Up.”
He sat back in his chair, looking quite satisfied with himself, like he had just tamed a dragon. As if. I ignored him and focused on the lesson instead. Sure, he was distracting, but I wasn’t going to let him affect my perfect GPA.
Hours ticked by, slowly… so goddamn slow...until the final bell rang. It was a long day of being scrutinized and glared at, and the whispers followed everywhere I went. It didn’t matter if Maddox and I were enemies or friends; I was an outsider, always had been and always would be.
Some were curious, some were just plain mean about it.
I heard she’s poor. She’s probably just fucking him for money.
Desperate whore.
She’s not even that pretty.
Do you think she’s sleeping with Maddox’s dad, too? I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a sugar daddy.
Oh my God, that’s so funny! Both father and son. Her hole is probably so stretched out.
She might be fucking her way through the whole football team.