Oh, hell no. Now I’m not just curious. I’m pissed.
But before I can press him, Axel blurts, “Come eat lunch with me and my friends.”
That throws me. I study him for a second, trying to figure out the angle.
Lunch with him? Could be a social landmine. But sitting with a group might deter another Darren-style drive-by. Safety in numbers. Or something like that.
“Fine,” I say, just as we pull into his usual spot. We walk into school together.
Axel sticks with me all the way to my locker. I was bracing myself for stares, whispers, some kind of fallout from yesterday’s courtyard disaster. But to my surprise, no one’s looking at me sideways. If anything, people are minding their business. Focused elsewhere.
Thinking about what Axel said, I decide not to pry. A win is a win.
Jessie’s already at her locker when I arrive, pulling out astack of books.
“Hey,” I greet her, trying to sound nonchalant.
She flashes a quick smile, but her voice dips to a whisper. “Hey, girl. How’re you doing? I, uh… heard you had a panic attack or something in the courtyard yesterday?”
I groan, dragging a hand over my face. “Knew it. Everyone’s talking about the new nutcase, huh?”
“Oh no—no, no!” she rushes to say, her eyes wide. “I didn’t mean it like that. No one else is talking about it. They wouldn’t dare.”
I frown. “Why not?”
Jessie peeks the surrounding area like she’s checking for spies. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this or not… but Axel kind of made an example out of Darren. And he told people, well, more like, threatened them… that if he caught anyone gossiping, he’d do the same to them.”
My brows shoot up. “What?! What do you mean, he made an example of him?”
Jessie’s lips twist into a mischievous smirk. “Oh, girl. You’ll see soon enough. Let’s just say Darren won’t be running his mouth for a while.”
She slams her locker shut and hoists her books with one arm.
“I’d steer clear of Darren and his friends, but I really don’t think you have anything to worry about anymore. See you around!”
And just like that, she disappears down the hall, her long red hair swishing behind her. I’m left standing there, still trying to process what the hell Axel’s done. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the backup, but I didn’t ask for a personal bodyguard.
The warning bell dings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I scramble to grab my stuff and head to class, brain spinning with one repeating question:
Why would he go to those kinds of extremes for me?
Chapter 10
My morning classes fly by. A few people glance my way, but they’re always quick to avert their eyes. No one says a word about yesterday. No whispered rumors. No mocking looks. I make it to lunch unscathed.
While standing in line for food, I scan the cafeteria, searching the tables for Axel. The line creeps forward, and I still don’t see him.
Dread starts to rise in my chest.
Did he change his mind? Maybe he realized bringing me to his table would be social suicide. Maybe he just said it to be nice and now he’s going to pretend it never happened. The thought of sitting alone is soul crushing.
I grab one of the flimsy blue plastic trays just as a voice murmurs, “Boo,” right in my ear.
I shriek and spin, nearly flinging the tray like a weapon.
Axel stands behind me, laughing like it’s the funniest thing he’s seen all week.
“You’re such a jerk!” I snap, smacking his annoyingly solid bicep.
