Page 21 of Eighteen (18)

“What?”

“Now, Shannon.”

Chapter Nine

My phone dings in my backpack while I’m in the bathroom.

Sunday: What time?

Jesus Christ. I managed to stay away from boys for a whole month and then in one day, I’ve got two guys. It’s not my fault, and I should not lead Sunday on, but I need to get out of here. No way I’m staying.

Shannon: Now.

Sunday: On my way.

I can’t even go back in that classroom. I cannot believe I just let Mateo fuck me like that. Slut.

Two knocks on the door, and then Mateo peeks his head in. “Let’s go.”

I shake my head at him. “No. My boyfriend is coming to get me.”

He stares at me. Expressionless. Several seconds flash by. “You do not have a boyfriend.”

I nod, slowly. “I do. And… and… I don’t care if I fail or if I never graduate. I’m not coming back here. I’m gonna do those science tests at home this weekend and be done with this.”

He considers this for a moment. His lips purse a little and his eyes briefly fall to the floor, then recover and find mine again. “You should’ve said no if you didn’t want to.”

“I shouldn’t have had to say no. You’re a fucking teacher.”

“I’m not really a teacher, Shannon. I’m a private contractor. And you never said no.”

“I never said yes.”

“You think I raped you?”

“No,” I say, swallowing. I don’t really think that. I’m pretty sure girls who come like that aren’t getting raped. But this guy has bad written all over him. “You’ve been watching me? How long? A month, you said? You didn’t even know me until yesterday. So just what the fuck?”

He rubs his scratchy beard and I have to close my eyes as I imagine how that felt nestled between my legs. “You need a day to process? Fine. But you better be here tomorrow.”

He turns to leave, but I stop him with, “Or what?”

He doesn’t turn back. Just lets the door close in his absence.

I stay in the bathroom for a few more minutes, trying to plan my escape from the building. But it’s dumb. Mateo is gone. Probably walked straight out of the building.

And he lied. There are people here. A janitor, one class still going. A lady in the office. Jesus Christ. Did any of them hear me? See us?

I feel a little pool of wetness between my legs at that thought.

Outside it’s cool and dark, but only because it’s January. I hate the weather here in Southern California. Hate it. I can’t even explain how three hundred and sixty days of sunshine pisses me off. And that rain yesterday just fucked with my head. Made me homesick or something.

Sunday. He was a good find though.

Mateo. He was… well, a good fuck, for sure.

I spot Sunday’s black Acura and walk out into the parking lot to meet him. It’s only then that I realize Mateo is sitting in a white Mustang with double blue racing stripes running down the hood a few rows away. He’s fucking watching me.

And who drives a car like that? I mean, come on.