“June, I don’t like insinuations.”
She walked into the kitchen, filling the room with her Dior perfume. I grimaced.
“Then have the courage admit it, dear April. And to think you don’t have the guts to do so at your wise age.”
She walked to the counter to grab the iPad that she couldn’t live without, but not before glaring at me through narrowed eyes. So that was how to hit her where it hurts.
“June, don’t call me by my first name! Besides, I told you, what had barely even started is already over.”
She fiddled with her blond bun then checked in the fridge to see if there was even the minimum amount of provisions necessary for my survival.
“It ended in your bedroom,” I muttered with my mouth full. My mom almost tripped.
“Young lady! Since when are manners optional in this house?” she yelled, putting both hands on her hips.
“Since you started dating James Hunter’s dad!” My exclamation exuded frustration and bitterness, feelings that I really felt more about myself. The truth was that I wasn’t upset with my mom or with Jordan. I was upset with James, or rather, with myself for letting myself get dragged into this mess.
“That’s true. I was at his house the other day. But we ended it. I need time for myself now,” she declared, waiting for my reaction.
“What an epic love story. Four days, right?”
“June!”
Her admonishment hit me like a ton of bricks. I got up from the table, put my bowl in the dishwasher, and left home without saying another word.
>> <<
“I got a B on my homework.”
Blaze’s announcement in the hallway took me by surprise as I headed to my locker.
“How about you, June?”
I hadn’t done it because I was wreaking havoc with James and William in the California desert.
“Uh, I’ll get it tomorrow. Besides, you got a B, and you’re telling me with that tone,” I responded, having noticed the disappointment in his voice.
“My dad wasn’t happy.”
“Blaze, I know your dad’s the principal, but I’ve never seen him at school.”
“He’s been away for a bit for personal reasons. He’s coming back tomorrow.” Blaze pursed his lips. He looked like he didn’t really care to discuss the subject. Our walk came to a grinding halt when we got to his locker. James leaned against the metal door talking with Taylor as she fixed the tie around his collar.
“Oh no,” I murmured instinctively.
“What’s going on?” Blaze looked at me quizzically.
“Nothing, I meant . . . I gotta get to class.”
“You’re not gonna get your books?” he asked in a confused tone when he saw me turn around.
“Oh, right.”
My gaze dropped to the floor at the exact moment I saw James restrain Taylor’s slim figure against the locker, plunge his fingers in her long blond hair, and kiss her. It felt like I was having déjà vu for a moment. It was the same scene I’d seen at my house with Tiffany. Nothing different.
“Hey, you.” Taylor’s shrill voice hit me squarely in the ear.
“What do you want?”
