“What’d you say?”
“Um, I said you care about me an awful lot,” I backtracked, remembering her threats.
“You’re helping Jasper with his homework. End of story.”
Her tone made me jump out of nervousness.
“Oh no. I’m not setting foot in there again.” I dug my heels in. “You don’t want me to see James, and then you’re sending me to his house?”
“As a matter of fact, he won’t be there. He’s staying at a friend’s house whose parents are traveling. Jordan asked me for a favor, I’d ask for you to listen.”
“I’m not going!” I declared.
“We’ll see.”
“Listen carefully. Ready, Mom? I’ll spell it out for you. I’m not go-ing!”
She was used to my childish tantrums and didn’t take me seriously.
“Something tells me you’ll go, otherwise the rules will change. Like I’ll take away your phone as soon as you get home. And you won’t go out anymore.” I glared at April, the blackmailer extraordinaire.
She pretended to be a painter and dreamer when the truth was that she was a heartless bitch.
“I’m going to bed!” I hollered, walking up the stairs in a rage. I brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas, and opened the window to let the fall breeze in.
Beckett was being unfair, and he was originally only mad at James. Who knew why he’d changed his mind. Not to mention that the vice principal had given me an assignment to do with that absolute moron.
The mere thought of it made my throat close up until I almost couldn’t breathe.
Falling asleep proved to be difficult. I tossed and turned until I seemed to have found a solution to all my problems. I’d mentioned it casually to Will, but it was really the only feasible option. I’d do the assignment alone and tell the vice principal I’d did it with James.
It was double the work, but at least I wouldn’t be around that hateful creature.
38
Jackson
“Are you avoiding me?”
“No, Blaze. Of course not. Why would I?”
My sarcastic tone bothered him. I concentrated on fixing my jacket just so I wouldn’t look at him.
“Jackson.”
He took off his hat, and a lock of hair fell on his forehead.
“Look, don’t you have other friends?” I admonished him.
I was tense. Being near him always made me tense. And I didn’t want the others to see us talking.
“Oh, because you and I are friends?” Blaze raised his eyebrow.
Did he always have to ask me that when I was two drinks in?
“I want to talk to you,” he continued, in a strangely firm voice.
I leaned my elbow on the bar and looked at the whiskey bottle behind the bartender’s head again.
