“Well, thanks for your help,” I say as I turn toward my car and reach for the door handle.
“Wait.” Jaxon grabs my hand. I turn toward him, and take in the sight of his worried expression. Those dark blue eyes are crinkled in concern, and his shaggy brown hair ripples in the slight breeze. “You’re upset. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Well, it’s not your fault. I just found out someone hates me. That’s a hard pill to swallow.”
“I could be wrong,” he says quickly, but I know it’s a lie. He knows what he’s talking about. Someone slit my tire. Someone hates me. And as much as I want that guitar, I can’t just ignore this fact.
If one of my ex boyfriends did this, what might the next one do?
Chapter 4
Last night, Dad took my car into the shop and got a brand new tire put on. He grumbled that it cost over a hundred dollars but then he wouldn’t let me pay him back with my own money. I didn’t tell him that Jaxon suspected it was slashed, and I hope the guys at the tire shop didn’t say anything either. I’d hate for my parents to realize I have enemies at school.
Now that I have to go back there for another stupid day of education, I’m feeling really weird about it all. I didn’t tell Jacie about the slashed tire when I recounted to her the story of Jaxon coming to my rescue. For all she knows, it was just a stray nail that got stuck in my tire. I don’t want anyone to know what I know – that someone hates me.
It takes a lot of energy to drag myself to school, because all I want to do is sleep.
During the morning announcements, our principal’s voice comes on the speaker. This makes everyone kind of take notice because he never does the announcements unless something unique has come up.
And it has. I listen intently as he describes a series of vandalism acts that have been taking place at our school. He said that teachers have had their cars keyed, spray painted, and worse. Like slashed tires.
Then he says there have been reports of vandalism to cars in the student parking lot as well. Some other people around me react normally, worrying about their own cars or laughing about how someone will eventually get caught for doing it. But all I can think about is the huge relief I feel.
I wasn’t targeted on purpose. I was just a victim of random vandalism. That’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned.
I feel the knot in my chest loosen. It wasn’t Chris. It wasn’t another ex-boyfriend. It was just some idiot who will probably get caught because idiots always get caught.
In the hallways between classes, I keep an eye out for Jaxon. I know we’re both in the same grade, but I have no idea what classes he might take in relation to mine. I’m not even sure if we have the same lunch period, but as luck would have it, I notice him walking toward the cafeteria.
“Hey!” I say, rushing up to him. “My tire savior.”
He grins. “I wouldn’t call myself asavior.”
“Does hero work better for you?
He nods. “Totally.”
“So did you hear the awesome news?” I ask, picking up my pace to keep up with his long strides.
“What’s that?”
“There’s a car vandal going around the parking lot.”
“Ahh, yes, I did hear that. So maybe you weren’t targeted after all.”
“Thank God,” I say, putting a hand to my chest. “I can’t live with the idea that someone hates me.”
“Do you have lunch this period?” Jaxon asks as we near the doors to the cafeteria. And this is when I see my chance to seize that guitar.
I smile sweetly. “Yeah, but I hate cafeteria food. Want to go off campus with me?”
He shrugs. “Sure. I’ll drive.”
“I got my tire fixed,” I say as I flirtatiously bump into his shoulder. “My car is safe, too.”
“Yeah, but I don’t mind driving.”
