best drummer you’ll ever hear,” he said, and my brows rose. “I’m also Lace’s friend.”
“Wannabe boyfriend, you mean.” I took a step closer, rethinking the violence. I could jack him up if I needed to, even though he had at least fifty pounds on me. I had my rep for a reason.
“No.” He shook his head. “Though I’m not saying never on that. She’s tough as nails. Pretty. Smart too.”
Another interested party. Was there any guy in this school who didn’t already have a thing for her?
“Lace defended you in class today,” the basketball player said as he came closer. I’d noticed Chad hanging around while I was talking to the Latino, even though everyone else had taken off. The tardy bell ringing was imminent.
“Defended me how?” I asked, suddenly very interested.
“Randy gave her a hard time before class, in front of everyone.”
Ah, so that’s what she meant about guys intimidating her.
I fisted my hands, ignoring how the rings on my fingers cut into my skin. It was time that I had another word with that asshole. No switchblade, but it didn’t matter. My rings were effective for leaving cuts and bruises.
“When she turned him down again,” Chad said, “he laid into her about you being with Missy Rivera last night.”
My head snapped to the door Lace had gone through. So that was it, why she was pushing me away. She knew about Missy and me. Fucking shit.
“Randy called you a loser and some other stuff that set her off. She defended you in front of the whole class and put him in his place. She didn’t back down an inch.”
“Didn’t back down yesterday either.” Long layers of King’s black hair moved with his head as he nodded approvingly. “Even though Belinda pulled a blade on her.”
My eyes grew wide. Something warm and unfamiliar burned inside them, and inside my chest too. No one besides Bryan had ever defended me.
“May have to rethink my not-now and throw in a bid for Lace too,” King said in his slightly accented voice. “That white girl is the shit.”
“Lace thinks you’re worth defending.” Chad got in my face, staring down at me. “So be worth defending.”
“You thinking you have a play with her?” I asked, giving him back the attitude he was serving me, but also holding my breath as I waited on his reply. I’d seen the soft way she’d looked at him at the party before I made my move.
“I think Lace is her own person,” Chad said, not really answering. “And if I, or you, or anyone else,” he glanced pointedly at Juaquin, “wants a shot with her, they better treat her right.”
“Who the fuck made you her spokesman?” I narrowed my gaze.
“No one. I like her, and she seems to like you, or she did. Before you screwed up.” He continued staring me down as I glared up at him.
Fucking hell, I had more problems than just Lace. I needed to be meaner if a straitlaced motherfucker like this guy didn’t think he had to cower from me.
“I know you can fuck me up, War,” Chad said, apparently not done. “I get that you’re tough, and have friends in high places and shit. But Lace showed me something today, showed everyone. There are too many bullies at Southside, like you and Randy, running all over the rest of us. I’m not turning away or running anymore. If Lace needs me, I’m there for her. Just wanted to make that clear to you.” Lifting his chin, giving me some respect, he turned away.
The tardy bell rang. Chad had said his piece. It was a nice speech, but he was going to be late for class. That made me happy, or it would have if I weren’t so worried I’d blown things with Lace.
Word choice intentional.
Lace
“Bry,” I said, acknowledging him before I turned away. I didn’t want him to see me like this, weak and emotional.
“Lace.” Placing his hand on my arm, Bryan gently turned me around to face him.
My skin tingled, registering the warmth of him beneath the woven yarns of my sweater. I also noted the comfort of his grip.
“You look upset.” His brows drawn together, he flicked his cigarette aside and crushed it under his boot heel. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Nothing.” I blinked rapidly, attempting to diminish the wet sheen of hurt and frustration.
“Not nothing.”
Releasing my arm, he gently grasped my chin and lifted my head to study me. That gorgeous gray-green gaze I’d gladly drown in drifted