Chapter Eight
Juliet
“Juliet, you better not let Mom see you,” Layla says.
“Why? I brushed my hair.”
“Not that, your shirt. And what kind of example is this setting for the Junior Elites fundraiser?”
Like I care about that fundraiser. I told them selling flowers and candy was ridiculous. There are a lot of single people, and that’s just rubbing it in their face. What are they supposed to do, buy themselves a sucker and pretend it’s from someone else?
I push past my sister, jacket unzipped and make my way out the door. Tyler rolls up in our drive, laughing. He gets out of his Cherokee and says, “Juliet, your shirts get better and better every day.”
“Don’t encourage her. Our mom will kill her if she sees her in that.”
I roll my eyes.
Tyler kisses my sister then goes around his SUV and opens her door. Ugh. It’s so sweet; it makes me mad. Layla never cared about chivalry before. I, on the other hand, have dreamed about guys opening doors for me and lending a hand every once in a while. Here she is getting all of it. Why? Don’t get me wrong I’m happy for her but it sucks watching her live out her happy ever after while I’m miserable.
I slide into my Wrangler, toss my bookbag in the back then leave. On my way to Adaline’s, I hit almost every red light. As I’m sitting at the last light waiting for the dumb thing to turn green, an old truck pulls up next to me blaring music so loud, I can no longer hear my own. I look over at the driver to glare at him. It’s Jared.
What, having every class with me and trying to steal my top of the class spot isn’t good enough? Now he wants to ruin my morning by drowning out my Oasis with his … What is that he’s listening to? Ememin?
He won’t win this battle. I roll down my window and crank the volume, face ahead, and dance to Wonderwall.
I glance over at him. He stares at me with a cocky grin. Jared revs his engine. I do the same because I’m not going to be outdone.
When the light turns green, I zip past him, laughing. I glance in my rearview mirror and notice Jared is still at the light. Hahaha. I win.
“Wow,” Addy eyes my shirt. “You’re um … really taking this whole ‘I hate love’ thing to a whole new level,” Addy says as she slips into my Wrangler. I hate driving with a coat on, so my clothing choices are always out there for everyone to see, even in winter.
“What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“Your shirt says, Bite me Cupid. How did your mom react to that?”
“She didn’t see it.”
I pull out of her place and head back to the light where I’d left Jared in the dust.
“Hey, isn’t that Jared Black? He looks like he’s having car trouble.”
Jared’s leaning over his car, hood up, tinkering with the engine and blowing on his hands every few seconds.
Part of me feels guilty that his truck is all broken down. To make matters even worse, here comes my uncle Harvey.
“Crap,” I say as my uncle waves at me. Now I can’t just keep driving and pretend I don’t see Jared. My mom will have my hide if I don’t offer him a ride to school.
So, when the light turns green, I turn and pull off to the side of the road. “Um. What are we doing?” Addy asks.
“Gonna see if Jared needs a jump or a ride or whatever.”
I get out as Addy looks like she’s about to watch the most entertaining show on Earth. I stomp over to my uncle and smile. “Don’t tell me you’re having trouble too?” he says.
“Nope. Besides, you know I can fix it if I was.”
He nods. “Damn right, you can. You know this one then I take it?” he juts a thumb at Jared.
“He’s my lab partner, so I can’t afford for him to be late.”
“Ah. Well, you better get a move on then.”
Jared’s back in his truck by now.
I walk over to the passenger side. He’s banging on the steering and cursing. I try the handle, and lucky for me the thing is unlocked. “Hey, let’s go.”
Jared looks over at me. His blue eyes are wide and almost dazzling. Oh jeez. Dazzling eyes? Get a hold of yourself, Valentine.
“What?”
“It’s quite simple. I’m giving you a ride to school.”
“Uh …” He rubs the back of his neck. This must be a habit of his whenever he’s stuck on what to say or something. It’s kind of cute, but right now I’m getting annoyed.
“Jared, get your butt in gear. I can’t be late.”
“All right. I’m coming.”
He finally gets out, grabs his things, and he goes over to talk to my uncle. I give them both the wrap it up sign. My uncle pats Jared’s shoulder and then Jared makes his way toward me.
“Jeez, you take forever,” I growl.
“You need to learn some patience.”
“You could say thank you.”
Once he’s in the vehicle, I take a deep breath and instantly regret doing this. He smells delicious, and man I hate it! I put on my turn signal and pull onto the road the second the road is clear.
“Is my seat up far enough for you, Jared?” Addy asks.
I roll my eyes. God, her too. How many people just go around falling all over themselves for him?
“It’s fine. Thanks for asking.”
He says thanks to her but not to me for giving him a ride? Great. This will be the last time I will ever be nice to him.
“Are you ladies excited about the love-gram sales?” Jared asks.
I make a grunting noise. Addy says. “Absolutely. This one here not so much.”
I narrow my eyes at her then grumble as I shift back to the road. “It’s dumb, just like having those hearts everywhere.”
Turning us into the school’s parking lot, I roll up to a spot and park. Addy gets out, but Jared remains in the back. “Are you waiting for something?” I ask.
“Not really. I just wanted to say thanks.”
“Took you long enough.”
“I know.”
What the heck is that supposed to mean?