Page 28 of Disobedient Pawn

“So an outing together on a specific date. It’s a date.” The mischievous grin he gave me had me shaking my head. I could see now why he and Myles were friends.

Ignoring the comment, I turned around as the teacher, Mr. Martelli, walked in. I think I was just tricked and was already regretting saying yes.

* * *

November 5 – Friday 1:15 pm

Nash

I released Vicky’s face from the tonsil fucking I was giving her. She was a decent kisser, a little sloppy, but that wasn’t the talent I wanted from her mouth anyway.

“I hate that you’re gone all weekend,” Vicky said, her bottom lip pushed out in a pout.

“I’m looking forward to this meet and kicking Austin’s ass,” I said. There was no point in saying shit like I’ll miss you too when it would be a lie. I never missed her, and I had a date with a Grove Academy girl after the meet was over. I’d never said we were exclusive. That was the label Vicky put on us.

“You’d better get going, or we’re both going to be late for class.” I could see her gearing up to ask, ‘Would you mind if I came to watch?’ Or offering, ‘I could go with you if you want.’

No thanks.

“Okay, well, good luck, baby,” she said.

As she walked away, I turned my head to look down the hall and spotted my target coming toward us. The two women glared at one another as they passed. Before I could grab Ren, she darted into the biology classroom with a group of other students. Smart girl.

“Hey man, how’s it going,” Liam asked, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“We’re about to find out.” I leaned against the locker, not worried about being late or whoever sat where I wanted. They’d move. There were a very select few in this school that dared to push me. The rest scattered like insects running from my boot. “We need to have a meeting when we get back from the meet,” I whispered.

“You got it. I’ll make the arrangements. I have one that would like to be inducted. You want me to bring him along?”

I ran my thumb over my bottom lip. “Sure, I could use a good hazing.” The bell rang, and I pushed away from the wall. “See you when class is over.”

The moment I stepped into the doorway, I knew where Ren was. Even if the silvery hair didn’t give her away, I felt her eyes on me. The moment mine met hers, she casually looked down at the textbook in front of her. I couldn’t read the rest of what she mouthed, but the word fuck, made me smile.

Walking over to the long desk, I stared down at the girl in my seat. She glanced up, and her eyes went wide as she gathered her things and took off, almost knocking the tall stool over.

Ren glared at me from the corner of her eye as I sat down. Up close, I could see the appeal that Myles saw. She was sexy in this unique way, and I could also understand why Vicky hated her. It was obvious she had something that almost everyone inside these walls lacked, a backbone.

She didn’t squirm under my glare. In fact, she didn’t acknowledge me at all. I stared at her face wondering who’d given her the black eye. Was that why she and Vicky had glared at one another? I wasn’t sure how I felt about the two of them throwing punches. If they added whipcream I’d be down to watch that shit all night long.

She scribbled across the standard issue lined paper rather than typing the notes into her laptop. Ren remained completely focused on her task, and with a quick glance, I could tell she was much further ahead than the lesson we were on. No wonder Theo was pissed at this girl.

“Hey, don’t I know you? I know I’ve seen you around before,” Axel said as he turned around and leaned on the desk. Ren didn’t bother looking up. There were no flustered comments or batting of her eyes for the captain of the football team.

“You almost ran me over the other day,” she said. “All my stuff went flying, and you made a sexual gesture before you walked away.”

“Shit, yeah, I remember now. I might have been a little wasted in my defense.” He held out his hand, and Ren’s pen stopped as she looked up at him. “Name’s Axel. I’m the captain of the football team.” Axel looked at me, and I instantly knew he knew about the bet. He was working at fucking things up for me. He must have put money on either Myles or Blake.

“I know who you are,” Ren drawled, her tone saying volumes about how unimpressed she was with his title. I snorted, unable to keep the laughter in as Axel pulled his unshaken hand away.

“Wow, bitch much,” Axel said, his eyes darkening with anger.

“Yup, that’s me, la bitch extraordinaire,” she said and flicked the page in her textbook. I had to admit she’d piqued my interest ever so slightly. Very few girls—unless they only liked other girls—refused to bow down to the captain of the football team. The only one higher in the school’s pecking order was me, and she wasn’t falling all over me either.

“Do you like girls,” I asked, and the tables around us got quiet.

Ren finally lifted her head, and I liked that her eyes matched her hair. That was pretty fucking cool. I’d never seen anyone with that combination before other than in movies.

“And what would it matter if I did?”