Kissing in Cars (Kiss and Make Up #1)(24)

God am I starving.

I almost make it as far as the lunchroom when Alexis Peterson flounces up to me and rests her small hand on my upper arm. I let out a loud groan of frustration, but that doesn't stop Alexis from latching on. She's this smallish cheerleader type who appears everywhere she's not wanted, apparently. I mean, hasn't she heard of personal space? Even though she's grabbing my arm, she's bouncing in place on the balls of her feet. You know, like Tigger - only more annoying.

"Hey Wes, you have practice after school?" she practically purrs, giving me a toothy grin and twirling a lock of her black hair. I notice that she has lipstick on her teeth and battle the urge to curl my lip in disgust.

"Uh yee-ah, Alexis. Just like every single day of the week..." Now, at this point in our short conversation she's running her index fingernail up and down my arm, which is bare because I'm wearing a cut off shirt. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I want to swat her hand off me, but instead I just give my arm a quick shake.

It has no effect on her whatsoever. What is it with this chick, can't she take a hint?

Seriously man, all I want to do is eat...

The cafeteria just behind her is getting crowded and the lunch line is growing. But Alexis isn't done with me yet. "So, like, my parents are going, like, to be out of town this weekend..." her voice trails off meaningfully at the end. I look at the lunch line, than impatiently back at Alexis.

What is she freaking talking about?

"Uh yeah," I say mindlessly staring straight over her head. "That should be fun. You should throw a party." From where I'm standing, I can see Erin Blazer and Derek Hanson taking trays at the beginning of the lunch buffet. They're laughing at something Samantha Granger is saying, and even from here I can see Sam swatting at them and is royally. Pissed. Off. Those two are sucks dicks.

I stifle a laugh.

"Are you even listening to me," Alexis pouts, pulling on the front of my shirt like a sulky kid begging for attention. I look down to see that her bottom lip is thrust out. Uh, newsflash ladies: guys don't like girls who act like spoiled brats. The toddler look is a total turnoff.

"Alexis spit it out, because I'm hungry as shit and Blazer's getting all the bread."

"I was actually thinking you could maybe, like, come over and we could like, do stuff."

Like, do stuff?

"Uh, gee Alexis, I have a date, so... I'll be doing stuff... Just. Not with you." I am able to shrug her off so I'm able to hike my backpack up onto my shoulder and push the hair out of my eyes from under my ball cap. Alexis just stands there, blankly staring at me as if I've sprouted three heads, and I can't help but look at her curiously. "Are you okay?" I ask (and just so we're clear, I don't really give a shit if she's okay. I'm just asking to be polite).

I wave a hand in front of her face to check for vitals.

She finally blinks. Satisfied, I shrug and turn to walk away. I am mere seconds away from being sated by as much government regulation pizza and accordion fries that I can eat...

I guess being a guy, I'm not particularly observant.

Especially being as hungry as I am. If I was even a tiny bit observant, I would have seen Alexis stiffen and her small fists clench at her sides. And I definitely would have been prepared for what came next.

"You what?!" Alexis screeches from somewhere behind me.

She sounds like a banshee.

Dude, there is no way in hell I'm turning around, even though everyone within fifty yards turns to gawk. That chick is obviously batshit crazy, and clearly there's a reason I had the good sense not to hook up with her. Instead, I book it to my regular lunch table and dump my backpack before making a beeline for the food.

***

"What the hell was up with Alexis Peterson?" someone asks me a few minutes later as I'm dunking five fries at once into the sea of ketchup at the edge of my tray.

I stuff my mouth. "Batshit crazy," I mumble somewhat audibly.

"Well. I'd still bang her." Erik Gunderson practically shouts, and a chorus of raucous laughter erupts.

"Gunderson, you'd bang your own sister for a slice of pie." Rick hollers in his loud ass voice. Out of the corner of my eye I can see the cafeteria attendant taking notice of us and change direction, heading right for our table.

"Dude, shut the f*ck up. Keep your voice down," I hiss. I swear, my friends are freaking idiots...and I, unfortunately, am their leader.

"What the hell was Alexis blabbering about anyway? I saw Kristy Rose haul her off into the bathroom." This observation is from Rick. He's sitting across from me eyeing up the last slice of pizza on my plate.

I cover it with my free hand.

"I don't know man, I wasn't listening to a thing she was saying. Something about me going to her house this weekend and mess around, I guess." As I'm saying this I arrange the last of my fries onto my pizza, fold it in half like a sandwich, dip it in ketchup and bite down.

"That is f*cking disgusting," Rick says.

I shrug, chewing. "It all ends up in the same place anyways..."

Rick leans his arm over across the table and his index finger lingers near the corner my mouth. "Dude, you have a little ketchup right....here...."

I slap his arm away. "Get the f*ck away from me you idiot." But I laugh, because sometimes he can be funny, even if he is a complete and total dick.