took on a spiteful gleam. “If you get off on being treated like shit,” he said, getting so close I had to crane my neck to keep his face in view, “I can certainly oblige you.”
Foolish, Lace, letting War kiss you and thinking that it meant anything.
“Screw you, Randy.”
My eyes stung and I blinked back tears. I wanted to run away and hide, but I also wanted to lash out. What Randy said in front of everyone was humiliating, and it hurt. More than it should have. Yet I clenched my hands into fists and held my ground.
Sudden, unexpected warmth hit my back. I turned my head, then cranked my chin up. Way up.
Chad from the party gave me a grim nod and then shifted his gaze to Randy.
“Stay out of this, Phillips,” Randy told him.
“Quit being an asshole,” Chad said, not seeming to care or was unaffected by the threat Randy represented.
“Lace is a nice girl.” Chad kept his voice even as he gave my shoulders a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “She’s my friend, and you’re bullying her just because she refused to go out with you. So I guess what they say about bullies is true.”
“Which is what?” Randy asked.
I wanted to smile. He’d fallen right into the word trap, not bothering to deny he was a bully.
“Only people who are unhappy with themselves are mean to others,” Chad said simply, and I nodded at his wise words. He was right.
Mr. Schubert loudly cleared his throat. “Class, take your seats. Show’s over. The bell has rung. Time to learn something.”
I shot Mr. Schubert a grateful look, and he gave me a nod.
Turning around to face Chad, I said, “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“You didn’t need a rescue. But you’re welcome.” He gestured to an empty desk, closer to the middle of the room than the back. “Wanna sit here beside me today?”
“Yeah, I would. Thanks.”
I took off my backpack and slid into the seat. He started unpacking his stuff, and I did the same.
“Tempest.” Mr. Shubert drew a line beneath the title he’d written on the blackboard. “Let’s begin this discussion with what we can learn from Shakespeare that’s relevant to today. Valerie.” He pointed with his chalk to a blonde in the front row wearing a cheerleading outfit. “Power and control. Calliban’s pursuit of justice. Is it subjective manipulation or personal revenge? What do you think?”
I zoned out as she babbled a reply about costumes in the movie production of the play that had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Schubert’s question.
My mind spun as I kept replaying everything War had said. He’d come on strong. I didn’t understand why he’d made all the fuss, only to lose interest within hours. It didn’t make any sense, but maybe it wasn’t supposed to make sense.
When the bell rang, it surprised me. In a daze, I gathered my things. A shadow fell over me.
“Can I walk you to your next class?” Chad asked.
On any other day, I might have said no. I liked him as a friend, but I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. On the other hand, I didn’t want to be alone when I was feeling emotional and vulnerable.
“Sure.” I nodded.
“Want me to carry that?” His gaze dipped to my backpack.
“No, I have it.”
I was dense, obviously, given my mistake about where I ranked with a guy like War, which wasn’t at all, but I wasn’t totally clueless. Letting Chad carry my books would give the impression that he and I were romantically involved. After what happened with Warren, I decided I wasn’t going to be serious with any guy. They weren’t trustworthy.
“All right, if you’re sure.” Giving me a funny look, Chad gestured for me to precede him.
I slid the straps of my backpack into place and marched determinedly down the aisle. From now on, I was a one-woman show. No guy was going to mess with my head.
But as soon as I exited the classroom, I saw War and stumbled to a stop. Hurt careened around inside my chest, a possessed pinball inside a machine on bonus round.
“Hey, Lacey.” War pushed away from the row of lockers where he’d been leaning, obviously waiting for me. Another white T-shirt stretched distractingly across his pecs and wide shoulders as he moved toward me. Even in a hallway crowded with students, he was given the right of way. He stopped in front of me, his wallet chain