Nets and Lies(33)

The bell rang, and I gratefully gathered up my books and ran for the door. I waited for Lauren, but she was nowhere in sight. Finally, I decided I’d better go on since I didn’t want to be late. I was halfway down the hall when I ran into Will.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hey,” he mumbled, as he continued walking past.

“Will!”

He whirled around to give me an exasperated look. The annoyance gleaming in his eyes made my stomach churn. “Are you not even going to talk to me?”

“I said everything I needed to say last night. Either you’re my girlfriend and you’re with me this afternoon, or you’re not.”

And with those words, he turned on his heels and hurried down the hallway. I stood frozen, stung by his cold attitude and bitter words. I couldn’t believe he was acting this way.

The bell rang over my head, but I never made it to 2nd period. Instead, I breezed right out the gym door and headed for the parking lot. When I got into my car, I texted Lauren and told her I was leaving school. I didn’t call my parents or anyone else. I just drove home and climbed into my sanctuary and fell asleep.

Chapter Ten: Jordan

The rest of that Thursday back at school passed in a slow hell. Being treated like shit by the student body was one thing, but as the day wore on, I realized I had a new enemy—the teachers. Not that I’d ever been a teacher’s pet or a great admirer of them. No, I already had a top spot on their shit lists. But there was a different feeling in the air. I’d taken out one of their own, and hatred for me simmered underneath the surface.

When I asked to go to the bathroom during fifth period, Mr. Guyer, one of the freshman basketball coaches, refused to answer or even look at me. Finally, I simply snatched up my stuff and stalked out. Let him write me up for skipping. I wanted to shout as I slammed the door, “I dare you to do it, ass**le!”

The truth was I hadn’t wanted to go to the bathroom. Instead, I wanted to clean out my locker. I knew I’d never let the jerks have the satisfaction of seeing me go to it again. Not with ‘whore’ and ‘slut’ gracing the outside.

Never in my life was I more thankful than when the bell rang at the end of the day. I headed straight for the parking lot since there was no one to stop and talk to. People avoided me like a wadded up piece of bloody tissue—including my two ex best friends. Even to the extent that kids crossed the halls to get away from me. Like brushing up against me equaled social suicide.

Yeah, screw you. I quickened my pace when I got outside. I just wanted out of there, to be home, to be away from the looks of hatred.

I slowed to a crawl at the sight of my car. “What the hell?” I cried. From the back fender to the front tail light ran a silver scratch. It wasn’t just a quick slide either. Whoever did it took their time digging the key into the paint. I walked around to the other side where I found a matching scratch. Close to the back wheel was the world ‘liar’.

I raised my eyes to see several kids staring at me. With a steely determination, I shouted, “What the f**k are you looking at?” They ducked their heads and continued walking. I threw my bags in the front seat and cranked my car.

When I left the parking lot, the tears flowed. It was all so unfair. The whole damn school acted like Coach T was some untouchable saint. And me, I was the villainous slut who ruined his good name. Because after all, no one knew the real truth. I’m sure they’d be singing another tune if they found out what the son of a bitch had done to Melanie. Yeah, it’d be a hell of a lot different then.

Even though I wanted to tell them to all kiss my ass, it wasn’t that easy. In less than a week, everything I held dear had been stripped from me. The man that I loved, my friends, acceptance at school—it was all gone.

At work, I went through the motions like a zombie. I’d almost made it through the night when a table of four basketball players from one of the other county high schools sent me over the edge. They plopped down at a table in my station, outfitted in their practice uniforms.

When I walked up to take their order, I caught them snickering and elbowing each other. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, it wasn’t rocket science to imagine that once a night some sober or inebriated guy was gonna hit on me. I usually ignored them, and I could always rely on Marcus or Anthony to have my back if anyone got too physical.

“Jordan,” one of the guys said—his voice low and husky. The way he said my name creeped me out. Like he was trying to be all seductive. Ugh. Not to mention he was stroking his upper-thigh when he said it. I fought the urge to slap him.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“I’m Damon by the way.”

I gave him a quick nod. “So what can I get you guys to drink?”

“We’re not really thirsty, are we boys?”

“Nah,” they agreed, snorting their laughter back.

My patience was wearing thin. Out of the corner of my eye, I searched for Marcus or Anthony. “Okay, then, what can I get you to eat?”

“We’re really hungry,” Damon drawled. “You know about being hungry, don’t you Jordan?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Look, just cut the shit and tell me what you want to eat!”

He grinned wickedly. “I bet I know what you’d like to eat.”

“Excuse me?”