Empire High Betrayal(30)

“No, not… No. I’m not going to marry you because it’ll make your mom happy. That’s ridiculous.”

“Do it for me then,” James said, like what he was proposing wasn’t insane. Which it was. Because he was proposing a proposal and apparently every boy at Empire High had lost their minds.

“You don’t even like me!” I pushed his hand away.

“That’s not true. I told you the other night that I did. And it’s the truth that I can’t get you out of my head. I’ve been dreaming about kissing you again.”

“Well, stop dreaming that. And try harder to get me out of your head.”

“No thanks,” he said. “Come on, Rob, help me out here. Don’t you think we’d make a great couple?”

“Actually, yeah I do,” Rob said. “Look how happy he is, Sanders. He doesn’t usually look like that.”

I stared at James. He did look happy. The real kind. Not the fake smile that he gave to strangers. Why was he looking at me like that?

I couldn’t be responsible for his happiness. I couldn’t even handle the weight of my pain. I couldn’t possibly bear his too. I shook my head at the same time James’ eyes landed on my left hand.

“I guess I’m too late,” he said and finally got off one knee. His eyes stayed trained on my left hand.

I clenched my hand in a fist. Of course he’d seen the ring. It was impossible not to see.

“What the hell is that thing?” Rob asked and grabbed my hand.

“It’s a…promise ring,” I said.

“It looks like a freaking engagement ring to me.” He whistled.

I pulled my hand back. “I really need to get going.” I couldn’t be here with them talking about stuff like this. I was in love with Matt. Period. And if that meant I couldn’t be friends with them, then that was how it had to be. Even though I hated when James’ smile turned to his usual frown.

“I thought you were too much of a diva to walk?” Rob said.

“Shut up, man,” James said and lifted one of my slippers off my feet. “She’s hurt. Not lazy.” He tossed the slipper at his brother.

Rob’s eyebrows pulled together. “Shit. I’m sorry, Sanders.” He reached out and ran his thumb along the bandages on my feet.

Why did they both keep touching me? “It’s fine,” I snatched my slipper back. I didn’t want either of them staring at me like I was some kind of dainty damsel in distress. I didn’t need saving. The bandages made it look worse than it was. “James can fill you in on what did and didn’t happen at homecoming. And you don’t need me to plan a prank against Isabella. I’m just gonna head back.”

“Hey,” Rob said and put his hand on my shoulder before I could move. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were hurt.” He turned his attention to James. “A heads up would have been nice.”

“It wasn’t my story to tell,” James said. His eyes dropped to the ring on my finger again.

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want him looking at me like that. Or being so nice. I needed to get out of here.

“Come on, Sanders,” Rob said. “Stay. It’s gonna be fun. And we definitely need the story about how you got that ring.”

I looked down at the beautiful diamond on my finger. It didn’t feel right to talk to them about this. I’d already messed up just by leaving Matt’s house. “I can’t be here. I promised Matt. Please just let me go.”

“We won’t tell anyone you were here,” James said. “Come on, I promise I won’t propose again.” He lifted up a notebook that had been on the floor. “Isabella deserves to pay for what she did to you. That’s what we meant to talk about. So let’s just stick with that. Any ideas on how you want to get her back?”

I stared at James for a moment. He’d just lost two of his best friends. He was fighting with Rachel. I certainly wasn’t giving him the answers he wanted. And I shouldn’t have cared, because Matt didn’t want me to. But I did. I cared about James. The more we hung out, the more his cracks were starting to show. And just because Matt had stopped worrying about him, it didn’t mean I could shut it off so easily. If Matt wasn’t looking out for him, who would? And I’d agreed to come with Rob so that I could try to fix the rift between the Caldwells and the Hunters. If I left right now, I would have just made everything worse. “Just a silly prank?” I asked.

James smiled again. “Yeah. Something to embarrass her in front of everyone.”

I leaned back. “As long as it’s not revenge.” Matt was right. I wasn’t and never would be more Pruitt than Sanders. And that meant no revenge. Even if I did want Isabella to die.

“It’s not technically revenge,” Rob said. “Because we’d already started plotting before Wizzy tried to kill you. Pre-emptive revenge maybe…”

“Just a prank,” James said. “Something epic.”

Something epic. Hmm. “You know what would make it more epic? Getting the whole gang back together,” I said. “The Untouchables back at it again.”

James shook his head. “The Untouchables? I always hated that nickname.” He doodled something in his notebook. “Who came up with that? Clearly whoever first said it was dead wrong.”