Chapter Thirty-Four
Jared
I texted Juliet Sunday night and she didn’t respond. I texted her before school, and she wrote back, “We’re never happening. Stop texting me.” I don’t know how things went terribly wrong so fast, but it did. The other problem, I’ve no idea how to correct it when she refuses to talk to me.
Before first period I thought I might get a chance to speak with her, but she blasted me in my shin. “Stay away from me, you ass-clown!”
“What did I do?” I ask.
Adaline points a finger at me. “You know what you did.” Then they stomped down the hall together.
What the hell? I thought we were going to try being friends. I snatch Mark up by his collar. “Did you do something?”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about dude.” I push him into the lockers. “Jeez man, what is your problem?” he snarls.
“If she’s not speaking to me because of some bullshit stunt you pulled I will kill you.”
He shoves me. “I didn’t do anything but if you’re talking about Juliet I hope she did ditch you. You get everything just handed to you like some freaking golden ticket. I’m glad she’s not buying into the crap everyone else here does. She finally sees you for the jackass you are. You’re no better than anyone else here.”
I shove him back.
“That’s right Jared, show everyone what kind of temper you really have,” Mark eggs on.
I take a step back and notice there is a crowd formed around us. My dad is cutting through the crush of people. “Move it! Jared. Mark. My office right now!”
Shit. Today cannot get any worse. “Jared! Baby!” Kimber throws her arms around me and presses her mouth to mine. I try to weave out of her grip or at least let that scene go unnoticed, but everyone has seen. Even freaking Chase, I want to stop him and tell him not to tell Juliet but it’s too late. He’s hauling down the hallway.
“Jared! Now!” my dad yells. I unlatch myself from Kimber. She pouts but there is nothing I can do at this point. I told her I didn’t want this.
I move toward my dad’s office. I’m preparing for the ass chewing of a lifetime. I know that’s what is coming to me.
As I take a seat on the couch the door slams shut. I keep my sight glued to the floor. “What is going on with you two?” my dad yells.
I say nothing. Mark pipes in, “He started it!”
“What exactly did my son start?”
I can feel both of their stares on me. “He had a crush on this girl. Juliet Valentine. I dated her, and we broke up. Your son is all pissy because she won’t even talk to him let alone go out with him. He’s taking it all out on me because he has no game when it comes to girls.”
I wish I hit Mark in the face. Maybe then his jaw would be broken, and he wouldn’t be yapping to my dad about any of this. Yes, Mark got the girl first, but he conveniently left out he cheated on the girl. He also left off the fact that he said something to scare her off because she refuses to talk to me. I know it has something to do with him.
“Is any of this true?” my dad asks.
I continue to look at the floor. “Yes.” Some of it was true.
“I told you a million times! Girls cause drama. Drama leads to poor plays and poor judgment. This will ruin your career. Don’t throw it all away over some high school puppy love! Get to the damn NFL before worrying about getting a girlfriend!”
Please let him lose his voice or something. I can’t take this lecture any longer. This is my life. My freaking life and I will never play in the pros because I will purposely not try out. I will refuse to play in college. I won’t regret it because I never wanted it anyway.
He rambles on and on about duty, responsibility, and regrets. The only thing I wish I’d done sooner was kiss Juliet and have her as my girlfriend. Not let my dad dictate my life and all the things I need to be doing.
“Get out!” my father finally yells, and I go out the door.
First period sucks. Really sucks. Juliet flips me off when I look at her. I try catching her as the bell rings to at least talk to her, but she darts out of the room. Every class seems to be like this.
Lunch. She can’t escape me here. I scan the open room and sure enough, she’s not here. I snatch Layla up and steer her over to the vending machines.
“Jared, for goodness sakes let me go.”
“I need to talk to her. Where is she?”
She rolls her eyes after I release my grip. “She’s not here. How could you pull a Mark in the opposite order? My sister is not down for that. No matter how much she may like you.”
“What? No!”
“Bull. People saw your little display with Kimber this morning. Boys like you need to be castrated!”
I frown. “It’s not like that. I swear Layla. I love your sister. Kimber grabbed me in the hall and kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back.”
“You sound exactly like Mark.”
I know. “All right. Never mind. I’m sorry.”
She groans. “Do not make me regret this Jared. I swear I don’t give a crap if you are Tyler’s best friend I will murder you and bury your ass where not even the devil himself will be able to find you. Got me?”
I nod slowly. Layla officially terrifies the shit out of me.
“Good. She’s in the library. Tables in the back. She’s tutoring.”
I peck Layla on the forehead. “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver!”
I hurry to the library and make my way to the study areas. Juliet is setting out her lunch upon a table in the back. Drake Armstrong is beside her. He keeps staring at her backside as she digs through her backpack. I crack my knuckles as I take a step closer to them. Juliet turns toward the popping sounds and scowls. “What do you want?”
“We,” I motion a finger between her and me, “need to talk.”
“There isn’t anything to say. I thought about what happened between us and realized it was foolish of me to kiss you. We’re better off this way.”
I lay my hand upon hers and gaze into her eyes. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything.”
“I believe she just did Bro. Can I have my tutor back? I kind of need her help before I’m ineligible for the Basketball tournament next week,” Drake interrupts.
Like I give two shines about his academics. I need Juliet. “I really need to get back to this Jared,” she says.
“I love you,” I blurt out.
She stands up and her hand strikes the side of my face. My jawline tingles from the impact. “Don’t you dare say stuff like that to me! Don’t you even dare! You are only saying that because you think it’ll get you a shot to get into my pants. Let me tell you something right here right now Jared Black, I don’t care if you go on to be a Heisman winner you will never ever get in my pants. No one from this school will!”
“I never … did Mark tell you that? Because my feelings have nothing to do with that.”
She whips around and plops back down in her seat. She’s closing me off. Her stubbornness is killing me. I want to talk to her but there is no way I will get through to her when she’s made up her mind.
“I’m leaving. Good luck with your studying Drake. Sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s cool man. She’s a great tutor,” he says then they go on to study what looks to be Math while I head out of the library.