“What?”
“Nothing.”
Why wasn’t James telling the truth? Wasn’t I the one who’d asked him to stay?
“It was me, Will,” I said.
Jackson was the first to turn around. His eyes widened as if to tell meWe all knew it, but you could’ve fucking kept it to yourself!
“I told you, I called him. And I was the one who asked him to stay.” Jackson’s glare worsened.
“You called him and not me.”
“But I already told you, Will,” I continued, sounding slightly irritated. We’d talked about it already, so why was he acting this way now?
Jackson shook his head. I moved closer to William, who seemed skeptical, examining the teddy bear.
“Because even though you’re with me, you wanna bang him. Right, June?”
“What? No, how could you think something like that?” I went on the offensive.
“Will, come on, leave her alone. You’re drunk. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.” Jackson put his arm around Will’s shoulders, but Will pulled back.
Will wasn’t just drunk; he was hurt. And that puzzled me.
It couldn’t be because of me. He’d only known me for a month. As much as we liked each other, his reaction was excessive.
“It seems like I was wrong. You really are like all the other girls,” he yelled, finally walking back into the place, enraged.
Who did he mean byall the others? Why did it seem like this had already happened?
“What did you tell him to piss him off that much, James?” Jackson argued when Marvin came back with the wipes.
“Nothing.” He grumbled, blowing the smoke out of his lips.
I looked at James, then pointed at the direction that William went in.
“Can you go get him? Can you talk to him and take him home?” James ignored me so I looked at Jackson.
“Guys, please. I don’t want him to be like this because of me.”
“Try not to feel guilty, White, Will isn’t like this because of you,” Jackson said. I was shocked. I finished cleaning my hand and gave him the teddy bear that was now just an obstacle. Then I moved closer to James.
“I’m just asking you one favor. You can’t leave him here.”
He rolled his dark eyes.
“Did you not just see me take a hit? I have other things to worry about that are much more important than your fucking song and dance.”
“I’m thinking about the important things I’ll have to do!” I retorted, imitating his rough voice.
“You’re so childish, White. I have a fucking ritual to follow since it’s your fault that I haven’t done it for a few nights.”
“Meaning?”
“It doesn’t include talking with you. That’s all you have to know,” he spat.
“Don’t leave him here,” I reiterated insistently.
