Nine
Jensen
Eighteen years old
For the first time in my life, I actually found myself looking forward to going to school. I didn’t give a shit about my classes or anything like that. It was all about her. After that near kiss, I’d backed off, deciding to give her a bit of space, but I’d only been able to do that because I knew at least I’d get to see her every day.
Those few glances, the long, lingering looks I’d give her in the hallway or cafeteria, watching as her cheeks burned with red before she quickly looked away, had been enough to tide me over. It helped that I’d distracted myself with the other assholes I went to school with. Rumors of my fight that first day and my family’s money had spread fast, giving me an instant popularity I hadn’t earned or given a single shit about. I was constantly surrounded by people I didn’t really know—or like, if I was being honest.
It had been a week since I saw her in that ice cream shop, and when I woke up that morning I decided enough time had passed for her to come to grips with what was happening. She’d had a reprieve, but it was ending that day, and with that decision made, I’d gotten ready and headed to school with the strangest feeling. Anticipation mingled with excitement squeezed at my chest. It was a sensation I’d never felt before.
When I parked in the student lot—making sure not to take one of the handicap spots, even though I fucking hated having to walk all that way—I’d actually had a smile on my face. Not that bullshit smirk I always wore as a mask to hide the truth of my messed up life from everyone around me, but a real, genuine smile. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually smiled. It felt a bit stiff and weird, but also kind of nice.
I climbed out of my car and started for the building; halfway there someone jumped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Hey, Jensen.”
I gave the chick in front of me a cursory once-over. I recognized her from all the times she’d tried to get my attention since I started there. Rina Martin. She had a reputation at school for being the kind of girl who was down for pretty much anything. She was also Shane’s friend.
I tilted my chin up, muttering, “What’s up,” distractedly. I had a certain girl on my mind I wanted to get to, and the one standing in front of me was not her.
“You look really good today,” Rina said, her voice coming out like a purr as she reached out and dragged her finger down my chest. “Like, really good.” She bit down on her shiny lip and looked up at me through the mascara she’d caked onto her lashes, going for sexy even though it wasn’t working for her.
She wore way too much makeup, and she didn’t wear it well. It looked streaky and I could see the lines where her foundation didn’t quite meet her neck. The black eyeliner around her eyes had obviously been reapplied after sleeping on it, leaving dark smudges beneath that made her look strung out. I could see her black bra clearly through the thin white material of her skin-tight T-shirt, and it was obvious she’d taken a pair of scissors to her denim skirt to make it even shorter, leaving the hem jagged, uneven, and short enough that if she bent over, everyone would know exactly what was under there.
Nothing about her did it for me, but in the past that wouldn’t have mattered. I wouldn’t have blinked at taking this girl up on what she was offering, fucking her just to temporarily escape the misery that was my life.
But not now.
Even if she hadn’t been friends with Shane, I wouldn’t have gone there, because no one but Shane was doing it for me. I went from nailing a different chick whenever possible to jacking off to the mental images of the honey-eyed girl I was quickly becoming obsessed with.
“Thanks. Gotta go,” I mumbled, side-stepping Rina and starting for the school.
Not taking the hint, she whipped around and raced to catch up, having to speed walk to keep pace with my long strides. “I don’t know if you heard, but my folks are out of town so I’m throwing a party at my place this weekend. You should totally come. It’s gonna be awesome.”
“I don’t