Jaded (Jaded #1)(5)

Mr. Dwellsworth weighed his words, but he responded with forced politeness, “Miss Jeneve, when I ask to debate the decisions of my classroom, you may talk then.

Right now, I am the teacher and I will tolerate your disrespect no longer.”

“So are you going to have us leave?” I asked, looking almost bored.

His eyes narrowed as they took in my relaxed state and saw that Bryce mirrored my look. It had been practiced and perfected throughout our lifetime because of unjustly parents who thought they could tell us what to do. Or, at least, that’s what my third shrink told me when I made the not-so-startling revelation that I struggled with authority. It was because my parents were never parents to me. The little they chose to stick around didn’t grant them the right to suddenly turn parent on me for two holidays of the year.

I had liked that shrink, but my parents hadn’t.

“No, Miss Jeneve.” He sighed and shook his head. “No, I am not. Unlike every other adult figure in your life, I’m going to make you learn something. I think, from now on, you and Mr. Scout will be tutored in the library by two of my student aides.”

Shelly gasped beside me and I cast a curious look her way.

And to this, she ducked her head back into her book and tried to ignore everything else. Interesting.

“Are you serious?” Bryce yawned. “We get an hour to ourselves in the library instead of coming here?”

“Trust me,” Mr. Dwellsworth grinned, in all his evils delight that a teacher could muster. “You won’t be enjoying yourselves.”

I didn’t really care what our ‘discipline’ was, but I spoke up, “Are you serious?

Just because I spoke up for a friend doesn’t give you the right to suddenly expel us to the library. You have no reason to remove us from this class.”

“Oh, Miss Jeneve.” Mr. Dwellsworth shook his head. “You are not being removed from this class.”

“Shut up, Sheldon,” Bryce murmured. “We get out of here.”

It wasn’t the point.

“You may both leave now, but if you are not in the library when my student aides report there, you will receive detention for the rest of the week.”

Well, it was pretty obvious to everyone what we were going to do. Detention it is!

Bryce stood and waited at the door for me.

I heard Chad starting to laugh just before the door shut behind us.

In the hallway, Bryce asked, “What was that about?”

I shrugged, “I had a point.”

“Whatever. I think he’s getting used to us after two years.” Bryce chuckled.

“Wanna skip?”

“That’s what got us into this punishment in the first place.” But we both knew we were going to go.

Bryce shot me one of his melting grins. He tugged me close and rested his forehead against mine. As his lips rested just above mine, he said again, “Let’s go somewhere else.”

“And do what?” I smiled and enjoyed the brush of my lips against his. Bryce transferred my book into his hands and clasped me closer to him. I reached around his neck and brought my body flush against his. Bryce turned and backed me up against a locker. He started to kiss my neck.

“You guys need a room.”

Who else? Only a few would dare…

Corrigan.

Bryce didn’t stop.

“What are you doing out of class?” I asked as I remained in Bryce’s arms and tilted my neck for better access.

Corrigan leaned against the locker beside us and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He looked dejected when he mumbled, “Nothing. I could go for some food.”

If memory served correctly… I teased, “Isn’t Becky Lew in your second period?”

Corrigan rolled his eyes and pushed off from the locker. “You guys coming or not? My treat.”

I sighed and Bryce felt it when he stepped away.

We shared a glance and both turned to follow our best friend. When we got outside, I saw that Corrigan had taken up residence in my car.

“Of course,” I said sarcastically as I took the driver’s seat. “You’re the one who’s up for food, but I’m the one driving.”

Corrigan grinned cheekily at me and remarked, “You like driving stick, Sheldon. We all know it.”

I shared a resigned look in the rearview mirror with Bryce before he laid down in the backseat.

“No sleeping,” I remarked as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yeah. Yeah,” Bryce mumbled back, but Corrigan turned and punched his best friend in the stomach.

Without shock, pause, a reaction, anything—Bryce reached up and slammed Corrigan’s head against his headrest. It happened so quick…this is why we were best friends.

I shook my head, grinned, and pulled out into the street.

“Oomph,” Corrigan breathed.

Bryce laughed and punched Corrigan in the shoulder before he laid back down.

“So what’s up with this impromptu food trip?” I asked, shifting gears.

“No reason. I’m just hungry,” Corrigan murmured, vaguely, as he turned back in his seat. He tapped the dashboard absent-mindedly and reached to change the radio station.

Bryce sat up and our eyes met again, but not in shared lust.

Corrigan was evading my question. Corrigan only evaded when he was upset.