“Yeah. I usually go and sit in the library.”
“Want some company?”
I stop at my locker so I can pick up a couple of textbooks that I’ll need later. “Don’t you have AP Physics to get to?”
A confident grin quirks his mouth. “I see I’m not the only one keeping tabs,” he says, referring to my comment on Monday morning about him knowing my work schedule. My face blushes hot. “I’m willing to skip Physics if it means I get to spend time with you.”
This guy. “Jackson.”
His eyes dilate, which in turn makes my heart skip a beat, or three.
“How about lunch then? Meet you in the quad?” he asks, biting his bottom lip and giving me the cutest puppy dog look with his big, deep blue eyes.
Do I want that? Do I want to spend more time with him like we did yesterday, just goofing off and being silly? Am I willing to open myself up to whatever it is I’m starting to feel for JD, no matter how scary it may be?
“Okay.”
Chapter 10
“You are not bailing on us again,” Dustin complains as I hurry out of class, eager to meet up with Aurora. Hopefully, I’ll get thirty uninterrupted minutes with her for lunch.
“Yes, I am. Catch up with you at practice.”
“Come on, man. I can’t sit there and listen to MB and her sidekicks bitch and complain for half an hour. Can’t me and Prez join you guys?”
I don’t stop walking. “No.”
I like how my friends have taken Aurora into our group, no questions asked, but I want time alone with her. I don’t know why Cam kept us away from her all these years. She could have been a part of our group the entire time, but Cam refused. It’s like he wanted to keep her all to himself.
“Please.PleasePleasePlease,” he begs, going down on his knees in the middle of the hallway, hands clasped in front of him.
Prez walks up. “I don’t even want to know.”
I look up and my laughter at Dustin’s antics die like a popped balloon when I see Austin through the window walking over to where Aurora is sitting under the pine tree in the quad.
“Changed my mind. Come on,” I tell Dustin, pushing the double doors open, not waiting for either of them.
My sights are locked on the guy now talking to my girl. I’ve waited over three years to be in Aurora’s orbit and I’m not going to allow Austin, or anyone else for that matter, a chance to try and make a move on her now. When I reach them, I catch the tail end of whatever she was saying to him.
“Why Austin? I don’t think we’ve ever had a positive interaction with one another the entire time we’ve been at Highland.”
“Hey,” I say to Aurora, and I don’t miss the brightening in her eyes or the smile on her face when she sees me.
“Hi,” she beams, and it’s like fucking rainbows appear with that glitter shit the cheerleaders wear raining down all around her.
Dustin and Prez, the lovable assholes that they are, sit right down next to Aurora and start talking to her. I meet Austin’s hard stare.
“JD,” he says in greeting, not pleased that we’re here. He looks back down at Aurora. “Will you think about it?”
“Yes. But honestly, I’m already swamped with my own stuff and work on top of that,” she replies.
“Think about what?” Prez asks, being nosey.
“Austin asked if I could tutor him.”
Not to be deterred, Austin adds, “I’ll pay fifty dollars an hour.”
Aurora’s eyes grow big, and she starts choking on the bite of apple she just took. “Seriously?”
