Page 14 of Broken Track
I stop. Slowly, I glance back at them, forcing a smirk. “Embarrassment?” I echo. “Like the kind you felt when I left you in my dust on the track?”
Lisa’s face flushes, but Tara recovers quickly. “Sweetheart,” she purrs, stepping closer. “Racing and Homecoming are two different worlds. And I hate to break it to you, but this?” She gestures to the list. “This is our world.”
Xavier chuckles lowly beside me, but I don’t take my eyes off Tara.
“You’re right,” I say easily. “This is your world. The drama, the fake smiles, the desperate need for validation.” I lean in slightly, my voice dropping to a whisper just for her. “But the thing about me, Tara? I don’t play by your rules.”
Her jaw clenches slightly, barely noticeable, but I see it.
Lisa crosses her arms. “Then why not back out?”
I flash them a slow, lazy grin. “Because now? Now Iwantto win.”
Mia squeals behind me, Nolan chuckles, and Xavier smirks as if he saw this coming from a mile away.
Tara huffs, flipping her hair. “We’ll see about that.”
She storms off, Lisa right behind her. The second they’re out of earshot, Mia grabs my shoulders. “THAT WAS ICONIC!”
I shake my head, rubbing my temples. “I swear, I don’t even care about this.”
Xavier loops an arm over my shoulder, his voice dripping with amusement. “You do now.”
And damn it, he’s right.
Chapter Eight
Xavier
Iknew Homecoming was going to be a mess the second they posted the nominations. I was hoping this would be a fun time for Izzy and me, that we’d bond over it and grow our relationship into something more. But this? This is straight-up warfare. Fuck, I didn’t see this coming.
The halls are buzzing with it. Whispers follow Izzy everywhere she goes, eyes darting toward her as if she’s got a scarlet letter slapped across her forehead. Yesterday, people were hyped that she made the court. Today? Half of them are acting like she murdered a puppy in cold blood, and I know exactly who’s behind it.
Tara and Lisa, in all their designer-clad, snake-in-the-grass glory, have been running their mouths since the list went up. Because people love a good scandal, it’s spreading like wildfire.
“Did you hear? Izzy was only nominated because the faculty felt bad for her.”
“I heard she cheated in the voting. No way people actually like her enough to vote.”
“Someone said she was kicked out of junior prom for fighting.”
It’s all bullshit. Andeveryoneknows it. But the thing about rumors? The truth doesn’t matter. Volume does.
I slam my locker shut, scanning the hall until I spot her. Izzy’s shoulders are set, her chin high, looking like none of this bothers her. But I know better. The way her hands tighten into fists at her sides, the way her jaw ticks, shows she’s pissed.
Mia’s at her side, fuming, probably plotting some psychological warfare in retaliation. Nolan’s got his phone out, scrolling through what I’m guessing is a Homecoming drama group chat, because yeah, those exist. And me? I’m two seconds away from doing something stupid.
Instead, I push off the lockers and make my way over, blocking a sophomore who’s whispering too damn loud. “Move,” I growl. He practically jumps out of my way.
Mia spots me first. “Please tell me you’re about to start throwing hands because Iswear!”
“Not yet.” I look at Izzy. “You good?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’mgreat. Nothing like starting the morning with a smear campaign.”
I tip my head toward Tara and Lisa, who are standing by the trophy case, fake-laughing and flipping their hair like they didn’t nuke Izzy’s reputation overnight. “Want me to handle it?”
Izzy raises a brow. “You think I can’t?”
