“Jasper’s so sensitive . . .”
James was clearly irritated by how I was acting, and he had no intention of hiding it.
“If it wasn’t for my dad, you wouldn’t even be here at my house.”
We were too close, so I took a step back so I could breathe.
“Look, for the sake of peace, let’s not be too hard on each other.”
“Why?”
“Because we have to do an assignment together.”
James frowned. “What the fuck are you talking about, White?”
“The vice principal assigned it when you didn’t show up at his office.” I saw him put a hand to his temple to push back a rebellious lock of hair.
“I can’t believe this. Well?”
“I’ll take care of it under the condition that—”
He raised his eyebrow, a sign that I had his undivided attention.
“—you stop harassing me at school.”
His neck tensed. James sneered, as if my suggestion wouldn’t be enough.
“Since when do you think you’re smarter than me?”
I decided to see things from a favorable point of view for me—he was just a spoiled idiot who was looking to get slapped. I was mature enough to not do that to him. Even if he’d deserved every slap. Every single one.
“I think you have to accept my proposal if you don’t want a bad grade. The umpteenth, probably,” I challenged him, my head held high.
“Are you a blackmailer, White?”
“It works a lot when my mom does it. Who knows if it works on meatheads like you.”
He surrounded me by putting both of his fists on the wall behind me. “Okay, princess. I’ll accept the truce, but you have to stay away from me too. Can you do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t ever come back to my house, and maybe I’ll mind my fucking business and not tell William that Hood’s into you. And about how you like it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I hissed.
“Do you think I was born yesterday?”
“Look, I don’t care about Brian, I just want things between me and Will to work out.”
“You have no idea how in over your head you are, White, no idea.”
“You’re talking about your best friend. I know that you care about him, so why would you say that?”
“If I say something like that, believe it,” he barked seriously. I felt trapped. I was short of breath, but I certainly wouldn’t show him.
“Are you that scared that I’ll find out what you’re hiding, Hunter? You’ll do everything to have a clear conscience, right?”
James lifted a corner of his mouth. “I just want to protect Will. But you’re at my house, and I’ll make you regret ever coming.”
