Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(27)

With a half smoked cigarette in it.

Just like the cigarette Barr had left in my bathroom sink. Which I had to fish out by hand. The paper and tobacco spreading everywhere, leaving a yellow-brown trailer of grossness in the water.

I slammed the locker shut, telling myself not to let that ruin the half decent good mood I was in.

I spotted Gi and Iris and ran to catch up to them.

I looked back once because I had that strange feeling of someone watching me.

But nobody was watching me.

Nobody was following me.

Hopefully whatever message the Rulz wanted to send me was done now.





“You’ll figure out the groups quick enough,” Gi said as we sat on the bleachers.

On the field were a group of guys playing football. Shirtless, sweaty, all worth looking at.

“I really don’t care about the groups,” I said. “I mean other than… you know who. Why aren’t they ever around here?”

“Trust me, they are,” Gi said. “They know and see everything.”

“I just don’t get it,” I said.

“You don’t have to,” Iris said.

“Wish I was able to so I could get them off my back,” I said.

“Still bothering you?” Gi asked.

“You can’t imagine.”

“Hey, if they keep fucking with your locker, you can share mine,” Gi said.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, look at you two,” Iris said. “In love. You should just make out and get all these jocks hard. Watch them try to run then.”

“That would be a show,” I said. “I’d watch.”

“Whore,” Gi said and elbowed me.

“Oh, please, she’s not a whore,” Iris said. “She’s all pretty and untouched.”

“I’m dirt poor, remember?” I asked. “You can’t imagine the things I’ve done for a hot meal.”

Iris curled her lip. “Whatever.”

“Why are these guys practicing football now?” I asked. “Isn’t that for the fall?”

“They never stop,” Gi said. “They play games even when it’s not football season. Jocks fighting jocks.”

“They’re all horny for the HCH guys,” Iris said.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“HCH,” Gi said. “Hidden Creek High. Rival school.”

“Oh. Right. What about east?”

“What about?” Iris asked.

“Just curious what the deal is there.”

“No deal,” Gi said. “Just old money and new kids. Everyone loves to fight.”

“And fuck,” Iris said.

“Makes sense,” I said. “You fight and then fuck.”

“I think you really are a whore,” Gi said.

“Don’t get too close you might catch something off me,” I said.

Gi put her arm around me and kissed my cheek. “Bring it on, poor girl.”

“Careful what you wish for, rich bitch,” I said.

“Oh, careful, you’ve got eyes now,” Iris warned.

Gi and I had gotten the attention of the football players.

“Don’t worry about Maverick,” Iris said. “He loves everyone.”

“What does Maverick do?” I asked.

“Wide receiver,” Gi said.

“Hey, Ti,” Iris said. “Maybe you could play wide receiver for him.”

I laughed.

Maverick gave a wave and winked.

I lifted my hand to wave back at him.

I mean, come on, hard glistening skin, tone and cut… hhhheeellloooo…

Someone else quickly grabbed Maverick’s shoulder and ripped him away. He turned and faced off with the other guy, who simply just pointed.

“Fuck,” Iris said.

I looked where the other guy had pointed.

“What’s Brando pointing at?” Gi asked.

I slowly stood up and looked down to the bottom of the bleachers.

Holy. Shit.

Standing there with his mile wide shoulders was tall, hot guy.

Pres.

Staring right at the field.

Right at Maverick and Brando.

I never saw someone go from flirty and happy to scared so fast.

Maverick ran across the field to a bench and grabbed a bottle of water.

Gi and Iris were in silence.

Pres stepped forward two steps and slowly turned away from the field. He gave me a quick side eye glance and walked under the bleachers.

I hurried to climb up to the top of the bleachers so I could look over them.

The entire football field area was like a professional stadium.

My hands tightened around the top railing and I waited for Pres to emerge.

When he did, he just walked toward the parking lot like nothing had happened.

He eventually disappeared without even looking back.

“Wow,” Gi said next to me.

I didn’t even realize she followed me.

Iris too.

“That’s what they do,” Iris said.

“I can’t fucking take it,” I said. “I need to know why. The only one who actually talked to me like a human was Kip. Maybe I should go talk to him.”