I freeze and turn to him yet again. “You’d pay me to take your sister to the dance?”
He holds up his hands. “She really wants to go with you.”
“Why?”
He shrugs like he has no clue. “Will you take her?”
I shake my head.
“How does a hundred bucks sound?” He slips his hand into his pocket and pulls out a wad of hundred dollar bills. My eyes nearly pop out. I’ve never seen, or evenheld, that amount of money in my life. My parents and I had always been poor, but we managed fine. And Grandma isn’t exactly rolling in dough, either. She gets by. But now that I’m living with her…
Jason slides the bills back into his pocket. “If you’re not interested…”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “A hundred bucks?”
That would get me closer to the limited edition guitar I’ve been saving up for. It costs a few hundred dollars. I’d never ask Grandma to help pay for it. Heck, truth is we hardly speak as it is. Not her fault, though. That’s all on me.
A small smile tugs Jason’s lips. “Yeah, a hundred bucks to take my little sister to the dance. But I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
He leans forward. “Look man, I don’t know you, but my sister wants to go to the dance with you, so I want to make that happen.” He pauses. “I’ll drive you guys, you keep the touching to a minimum. Definitely no kissing. You treat her right. With respect. If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
I just look at him. “You’re making demands when I’m doing the favor?”
“You want the money or not?”
I stare him down. I don’t know much about the kids at school or the people in town, but I know he’s the mayor’s kid. And he’s from one of the founding families. He’s rich. Stinking rich. If all I have to do to get that money is take his sister to the dance and follow a few rules, then I’ll do it.
“Fine,” I tell him.
A satisfied smile washes over his lips. “Good.” He stands. “You might want to ask her today. Then I’ll give you the money.” He faces me. “Remember, if you hurt her, you’re dead.”
He leaves the room.
I stare after him for a little bit before resuming my artwork.
Chapter Four
Artemis
I stab my macaroni, over and over and over again. This food sucks. Or maybe I just don’t have an appetite. The dance is this weekend. And still no one even looked at me. And Ryan? Forget about it. I’m pretty sure there’s zero chance we’ll go to the dance together. I guess I’ve given up.
“I wonder what happened to Jason,” Jenna says, her eyes scanning the cafeteria. “He never skips lunch. It’s, like, the only time we get to spend together at school.”
I sigh, poking my food some more. “Bet he’s off planning something big for your three-year anniversary.”
Her eyes widen. “You think?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
She gets this dazed look on her face. I want that. I want to be head over heels in love. Books and movies can only satisfy me a little. I need more. I need the real thing. But it probably won’t ever happen to me.
“Hey,” Jason says as he sits down near my best friend and pecks her lips. “Sorry I’m late. I had to take care of something.”
Jenna gives me a knowing smile. I can’t stop another sigh from escaping my lips.
Jason turns to me. “You okay, sis?”
