know,” I answered distractedly. Honestly, I had no interest in going to her party. The only way I’d go was if Shane was going to be there. “Maybe. We’ll see.”
“You really should. Like, everyone’s gonna be there.”
The words fell out of my mouth before I could think. “Will Shane be there?”
Rina snorted, and rolled her eyes. “Probably not. Shane’s not into being social and stuff. But who cares if she comes? She’s a total dud.” My fists clenched tight at the blatant insult of her friend. I didn’t care much for Rina Martin to begin with, but now I was starting to not like her at all. Not sensing the change in me, she skipped a few steps ahead so she could walk backward while giving me another one of those stupid, seductive looks. “If you come, I’ll totally make it worth your while.”
I highly doubted that.
I let my attention drift with an annoyed sigh only to catch sight of Shane standing a few feet from the school’s entrance, her gaze pinned on me and her so-called friend, and I could have sworn I saw hurt in her eyes. She quickly jerked around and hurried inside the building.
Before I could think my actions through, I placed my hands on Rina’s shoulders to move her out of my way and picked up my pace. “Shane, wait!” I called out, practically at a full run by the time I reached the doors. I didn’t give a damn that I’d left Rina behind, ending the conversation right in the middle of it. I didn’t give a shit about her. I only really cared what one person thought, and the idea that she might think I was interested in her friend in any way left a sour, acrid taste in my mouth.
I spotted her down by her locker, quickly shuffling through her books, her motions hurried and frantic. Ever the diligent student, she wanted to escape me, but she wasn’t going to risk not having the right materials for her class.
“Shane,” I called again, slowing to a jog then stopping altogether once I reached her side. “That wasn’t what it looked like, I swear.”
She kept her attention on the contents of her locker, refusing to look at me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She was so full of shit. She knew exactly what I was talking about, and it bothered the hell out of her. “Me talking to Rina. It wasn’t what you think it was. She just came up to me in the parking lot and started talking.”
She finally looked at me, but the light and animation were gone from her eyes, leaving them flat and lifeless. I fucking hated that.
“I honestly don’t care who you talk to, Jensen. It’s none of my business. Besides, I already told you Rina has a thing for you, so I’m glad you guys were talking.”
“Bullshit,” I snapped, calling her out. For the life of me, I didn’t understand what it was about her that caused such an intense reaction, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to question it, not when she was the first person to ever make me feel alive. “You saw her making a pass at me and you didn’t like it. You can lie to yourself, but I’m not stupid.”
“Okay, I didn’t like it,” she admitted, slamming the locker door closed. That smile started to pull at my lips again and hope ignited in my blood. I was finally getting in there, digging my way under that wall she had up around her. Or so I thought. But then she switched tactics. “But it doesn’t matter. She’s my friend and she’s into you. I’d be a shitty person if I got between that.”
My top lip curled up in indignation at her defense of Rina. “Hate to break it to you, but you aren’t the one who’s a shitty friend. You’re being loyal to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Doesn’t matter. That’s just how I am.”
She tried to step around me, but I got in her space, backing her up until she was pressed against her locker. “It’s never gonna happen between me and Rina. I’m not interested in her.”
She rolled her eyes like she didn’t believe me. “All guys are interested in her.”
“Well I’m not,” I demanded. “And there isn’t a damn thing she can do to change that.” Bracing my hands on the wall of lockers on either side of her head, I leaned in and lowered