“Screw you, Daniel.” I shifted in the seat so my back faced him. The creep didn’t speak another word after he started up the Audi. A few blocks from the school, I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to be in the same city with him, much less the confined space of a car. “Pull over and let me out.”
“What?” He glanced at me briefly.
“I said stop. I can walk the rest of the way.”
“Whatever.” Daniel swerved dangerously and bumped the curb.
“Don’t you dare come near me ever again,” I hissed. Without looking at him, I swung the door open, leaped out and slammed the door shut. His tires screeched behind me.
Still trembling from rage, I texted my mom to tell her I’d been delayed, then sprinted to the school. The run felt good, liberating. Barely winded from the exertion, I climbed into my car and leaned back in the driver’s seat.
What an ass. I shouldn’t have waited so long to dump him.
A knock on my window made me jump and my stomach clenched, thinking it was Daniel. Not out of fear, but revulsion.
Zack motioned for me to roll the window down and I did. A whiff of his woodsy, earthy scent invaded my nose and I stared into piercing green eyes.
“Car not starting again?” He pulled his cell out and looked at the screen.
To check the time, I assumed. Apparently, subtlety wasn’t a quality Zack possessed. If he was short on time, why did he bother stopping at all? “What are you still doing here?” I asked.
“Detention.”
“On your second day at a new school?” I scrunched my nose.
He exhaled and aimed his eyes at the sky. “Tried to break up a fight, then your boyfriend said I started it.”
Daniel rated high on the douche meter, for sure, but that high? “What about the guys who were fighting? They pin it on you too?”
“Yep.” He straightened and folded his arms over his chest.
I made a conscious effort to keep my jaw from dropping. Zack didn’t seem the type of guy to let someone walk all over him that way. Daniel and his creepy friends would fully deserve anything Zack dished out.
He rolled his eyes. “Are you stranded or not?”
I blinked, still stuck on Daniel and his evil deed. “I haven’t tried.”
“Why don’t you try it now?” He lifted one brow.
“Geez, no one’s forcing you to stay. I’m sure you have more interesting things to do.”
“Yeah, like get to work, which I’ll be even later for if you don’t speed things up.” He gave me the hurry up motion with his hand. “Start it.”
I turned the key and the car fired to life right away. My gaze returned to the open window, but Zack was already yards away.
“Zack. Wait.” Leaving the motor running, I scrambled out of my car and chased after him.
He pivoted on his heel and faced me. “What?”
“Did you fix my flat?”
His eyes darted to my tire. “Somebody did.”
“So it wasn’t you?”
“You think I fixed it for you?” Zack gave me a really good are-you-crazy-look.
I lifted my chin. “You didn’t answer the question.”
“Really?” Zack laughed once. “You’re going to make me even later to work for small talk?”
“I just want to know if I should thank you for fixing my tire. You don’t have to be such an ass.”
“You and Daniel act like you’re better than everyone else, but I’m an ass?” He shook his head, his mouth twisting.
The thought of being lumped in with a guy like Daniel made my stomach churn. I opened my mouth to tell him that Daniel and I were so over. “Listen—”
“Spare me your devotion to him, okay?” Zack grimaced. “You guys remind me of this lady when I was a stock boy at Dollars and Deals. She’d come in with her fake blond hair and fake boobs and treat me like her personal slave. Ran me around and never once thanked me.”
“Uhm…” I didn’t get it. My boobs were real and I wasn’t blond. He should’ve been able to figure out by looking at my car that I wasn’t rich either.
“One day, this guy came in and we ended up talking about cars. After a while, he shook my hand and thanked me for my help. All I did was point him to the paper towels.”
I frowned, trying to guess Zack’s point to the story.
“Turns out he owns all the Dollars and Deals across the country, yet he didn’t act like he was better than me. After talking with him, I felt good about myself. It made me realize that truly decent people treat others with respect. That’s what makes them better. Not how many things they own or how popular they are.”
I tilted my head, hoping he wasn’t saying what I thought he was saying.
“They don’t go around acting like they’re superior and making everyone else feel like crap.”
“Oh.” I blinked, finally getting it. My mind reeled in outrage. “You mean like what you’re doing right now?”
Gina was a hundred times the snob I was — if I was one at all. Why was Zack nice to her? And if Zack was right about me, I wouldn’t be friends with John or Ashley.
But seeing him scowl froze the words in my throat. Next thing I knew, Zack had turned his back on me and lithely jumped into his Jeep. As he disappeared beyond the gate, my hands balled into fists.
I couldn’t let myself care what he thought.
After texting my mom, saying I was still alive, I hopped into my car and drove. I took the long way home, through windy roads that hugged the edge of the forest, until my anger dissipated.
Once at my house, I found my mom sitting in my dad’s lap on the couch.
“Hey,” I said. “Dad, were you at my school today?”
“No, why?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Thought I saw you from the back.”
My mom smiled. “He was home with me all day.”
So who fixed my flat?
After dealing with my ex, then putting up with Zack, I wasn’t very hungry during dinner. I ate anyway while doing my best not to think of radioactive spiders and exposure to toxic chemicals.
I couldn’t have been the only person in history to have strange powers. There had to be someone I could talk to or somewhere I could go for information. Other than a doctor.
After dinner, I quietly retired to my room and ignored the stream of apologetic texts from Daniel as I continued my research.
† † †
As I drove to school Tuesday morning and thought of Daniel, my blood boiled. His behavior yesterday made civil conversation with him impossible now. Little quivers of revulsion traveled my body at the thought of him ever touching me again.
Later, when I entered the cafeteria for lunch, he and Gina huddled next to each other at our table. As I made my way through the room, I saw her glance at me. I smiled, but she immediately averted her eyes without even a nod. Did Daniel tell her what happened or was she mad at me again? Whatever. All I cared about was avoiding more drama.
I snagged a tray and stood in the food line, leaning over to peer through the glass and see what they were serving today. My entire body went stiff, sensing who was behind me in line.
Vowing to ignore Zack, I continued to scan the food bins ahead. As I moved forward to close the space between me and the person in front of me, I felt him move up as well. He was so close, I could feel the warmth radiating from him.
I spun when he leaned into me and inhaled. “Did you just sniff my hair?”
His brows rose in innocence. “Why would I do that?”
“Never mind. Just give me some elbow room, would you?” Maybe some distance would silence the fluttering in my belly.
The corners of his mouth curved up. “Flatter yourself much?”
My eyes narrowed. “Now I’m a snob and conceited?”
“If you say so.” He twisted to face the trays, as if the food was infinitely more interesting than anything I had to say.
I clenched my fists and held my tongue until it was time to co
llect my food, then wasted no time getting to my friends’ table. I’d even found a spot where I couldn’t see Zack. As though sensing my mood, John and Maya didn’t ask why I’d skipped sitting with Daniel and Gina. As the minutes passed, I chilled and the smiles came easier.
Daniel materialized next to me as I walked to fifth period, grinning. “Hey, babe. Will you wait for me after school? We can do something together after.”
I stopped right in the middle of the hallway and turned on him. “Don’t act as if nothing happened yesterday,” I said, struggling not to slap the smile off his face.
“Oh, I know nothing happened yesterday.” He snorted.
My palm twitched. “You know what I mean.”
He must have realized how truly pissed I was, because the cocky grin disappeared and his gaze dropped to the ground.
“I know and I’m sorry. I was about to apologize, but I’m just so happy to see you.” His eyes focused on my chest.
I stared at him, knowing we had less than two minutes before class — not adequate for everything I burned to say.
“Just to be clear, Daniel, we’re over.”
“What?” His mouth dropped open. “Because of yesterday?”
I scoffed. “Yes.”
“Oh, come on. I was just playing around.” He gave a short laugh. “You’re not breaking up with me over that.”
He was acting like it was some big joke. Whatever. He’d figure it out eventually. I spun around and rushed to my next class.
At the end of the school day, Maya found me on my way to my locker. “Going straight home?” she asked.
“Almost. I need to talk to Daniel really quick.” I dropped books and a notebook into my backpack and threw it over my shoulder. “I dumped Daniel at lunch and he won’t stop texting me. If he has any hope we’ll work things out, I need to crush it.”
“Wow.” Maya’s eyes bulged, then her face broke into a grin. “That’s a pleasant surprise. Details, please.”
“Sure. But later, okay?” I wiped my moist palms on my jeans.
She grinned. “Alright. I’ll walk with you for moral support, but we need to stop at my locker first.”
As I shadowed Maya down the corridor, I noticed Trevor and Zack approaching. “Now’s your chance. Don’t forget to smile,” I whispered. “And slow down, so we don’t have to screech to a halt in case he looks like he wants to talk.”
Trevor’s eyes moved to Maya and her face lit up.
“Hey, guys,” she said.
Trevor looked like a speeding freight train was headed straight for him.
“You can do it. Just stay friendly,” I whispered in her ear. “Ask him how he is.”
“How’s it going?” She smiled at them.
Trevor nodded, still staring. Zack nudged him in the ribs. When Trevor still didn’t move, Zack dragged him forward by his arm.
Maya didn’t miss a beat. I wondered if she’d ever taken acting classes.
“How was the party last Saturday?” she asked Trevor.
Trevor flinched when he got another jab in the ribs. “It was okay.”
Zack’s lips moved, but with the mob in the corridor and locker doors banging, I couldn’t make out the words.
“I didn’t see you there.” Trevor shoved his hands in his pockets and inched toward Maya, his eyes darting around. Definitely not the usual confident Trevor I’d noticed. Zack punched Trevor in the arm and took off.
“I didn’t go. Daniel’s bashes are too much like what I imagine frat parties must be like.” Maya wrinkled her nose.
“Can’t say I blame you.” Trevor smiled, looking a little steadier. “What did you end up doing?”
“I have to go,” I whispered.
She nodded emphatically. I left, glancing back to see them smiling at each other. Maya would be just fine.
I exited the building and traveled the concrete path toward the asphalt parking lot. At the last second, I decided to go to the restroom first to check my face. If I was going to dump Daniel once and for all, I wanted to be cute while doing it.
The football field bordered the parking lot and beyond that was a building with another bathroom, which was almost always empty. As I walked the stretch of grass, students became scarce. But, of course, there was Zack about a hundred yards to my left, talking with Coach Hanson.
The bathroom door was propped open. As soon as I walked in, I spotted a pair of converse high tops facing two cute, pink stilettos together in one stall. They were identical to the heels in my closet at home. Wait. No, Gina had borrowed them a month ago.
I was about to back up to avoid Gina when I heard a male voice.
“Mmm. That’s nice.”
Daniel.
Gina in a bathroom stall with my boyfriend? Well, he wasn’t my boyfriend anymore, but only Maya knew that.
Even though I didn’t want to know what they were doing, it was as though a giant magnet stuck me to that spot. Leaning against the wall, I melted into a shadow.
“No, not here,” Gina said between moans.
“You didn’t mind small spaces Saturday night.”
My body froze. Saturday night before I’d dumped him? That wasn’t a shock, but with Gina? Just because I’d wanted to ease up on the whole bestie thing didn’t mean our friendship had meant nothing. My throat swelled with her betrayal. Feet rooted to the tile floor, I wrapped my arms around my waist to silence the trembling.
This little scene explained why Gina wouldn’t spill about her new guy. And why she didn’t acknowledge me at lunch. She hadn’t been saving me from Daniel. She was saving Daniel for herself.
Well, she could have him.
The high tops backed up and the door swung open. Daniel came into view, laughing like someone had playfully pushed him. Gina came into view, giggling and lunging for him.
“Yeah, I didn’t mind then, but now sharing is getting old,” she said, her bottom lip thrusting out. “You’ve been stringing me along for a week.”
A week?
“Aw, don’t be like that, baby.” Daniel got a handful of Gina’s butt and she hooked her fingers around his collar, yanking him against her. “You know how I feel about you,” he cooed.
Their mouths met and the smacking sounds made me want to vomit. Slipping out unseen would’ve been easy. I’d just slide against the wall and slip through the door. However, if I caught them in the act, they couldn’t try to weasel out of it later by saying it was my imagination or not what I thought.
I stepped forward. “Really, you guys?”
They vaulted from each other like I’d sprayed them with a fire hose.
“Autumn.” Daniel wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Gina stared at me, bug-eyed.
“My boyfriend and my friend.” I struggled to keep my voice from shaking. I couldn’t bear for Gina to know how much she’d hurt me. “Such a cliché.”
Gina’s eyes were cautious, shifting from him to me. “Autumn, I—”
“Save it.” Another emotion blended with the fury — disgust. “Daniel and I were over anyway, although you wouldn’t know it by all the I love you texts today.” I whipped out my phone and thrust the screen at her. “You guys are so perfect for each other.”
My face fell as soon as I turned away. How could they? I’d finished with Daniel days ago, but the betrayal stung just the same. Gina had a big mouth and could spread word faster than Twitter. She’d be only too happy to twist the truth and brag that Daniel had dumped me for her.
I halted, right in the middle of the field, as if paralyzed. Everyone would be talking about it, whispering to each other and feeling sorry for me. Whether I stayed in town two days or two weeks, being the victim of gossip still sucked.
My eyes stung. I looked back to see if Gina or Daniel had followed, but they hadn’t. Maybe they were relieved to end it, too.
Turning back toward my car, I trudged on. When I glanced up, I saw Zack heading right for me.
I slowed. Had he seen anything? Was he there
to gloat?
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded, surprised he’d stopped to ask.
He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t look okay.”
“Like you care.” I wanted to tell Zack the truth, although I had no idea why. I gave a watery laugh as hot tears burned my eyes. “I just walked in on Daniel cheating on me.”
Zack sighed, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t drive when you’re upset. I’ll take you home. Can you get a ride back in the morning?”
I grabbed my backpack out of my car, tossed it in the Jeep and hiked up into the front seat. Zack to the rescue again. With his habit of saving me, he had to have been the one to fix my car.
“So you just happen to have a pump in your car, so you can fix flats during lunch?”
Zack sighed. “It’s a compressor, actually. Figured it would be faster than doing it after school when it’d be completely flat and you’d be there to distract me.”
Why did he have to be such an ass about it though?
“Well, thanks.” I sniffed, trying to erase the image of Gina and Daniel from my head.
“Who’d you catch him with? Anyone you know?” he asked, navigating the Jeep onto the street.
He’d find out soon enough, but drawing any more attention to how disposable I’d become as a friend and girlfriend was not something I wanted to discuss with Zack. “No one important. Why are you going out of your way to give me a ride?”
“You didn’t seem in any shape to drive. If you died on the way home and I could’ve prevented it, I’d feel bad.” He checked over his shoulder to make a turn. “Daniel is scum. I think that’s a rotten thing to do to anybody, whether they deserved it or not.”
“Are you implying I deserved it?”
“What?” His brows shot up as we passed through an intersection.
I’d had enough of people who thought I wasn’t worth treating right. I’d certainly had enough of Zack’s crap. I’d rather walk than spend one more second with him and his attitude. No matter how beautiful he was.
“Stop the freakin’ car,” I hissed. “I don’t need your charity or your attitude. I can walk back to school and get my car.” The Jeep still hadn’t slowed. “Stop the damn car,” I growled.