"Drop it," I say in the tone I use when I want him to back down. He knows that tone, and knows if he keeps pushing the issue he'll get my fist in his face. I haven't hit him since freshman year, and now I regret doing it, but that fight was enough to make him back down when I tell him to, even three years later.
We're almost at the front of the line when Brook comes up to me. "Is it okay if I come over a few minutes early tonight? I checked the bus schedule and it gets to your street at six forty-five. Even with the walk to your house, I'll still be there early."
"Yeah, that's fine," I say, wanting her to go away. Kendrick's going to want to know what she's talking about and I really don't want to explain.
"Should I bring anything? I was thinking I could—"
"No," I say, my jaw tight. "I'll see you tonight."
She backs away, looking confused why I'm acting angry about something I asked her to do. I'm not angry. I just want her to go away. She finally does, mumbling something to herself. I'm sure it's something about me being an ass, which is good. I want her to think that. It'll keep her from trying to be friends with me.
Kendrick laughs. "THAT'S the reason you're skipping out on Leah tonight? You're doing it with the new girl?"
"That's not why she's coming over."
"She's not bad looking but she's not exactly your type. I heard she used to go to Haverhill Prep, that fancy rich school on the other side of town."
Haverhill?That's where she went? Shit, that place costs a fortune. I heard it's thirty thousand a year but I can't remember who I heard that from. It's probably not right but I bet it costs close to that.
"I hired her," I say, moving up in the line. "To tutor Jacob. She starts tonight."
"You're paying her?"
"Yeah. She's not doing it for free."
"You don't have money for that. You're supposed to be saving up to fix your car."
"The car's never getting fixed. The transmission's shot. It'll cost over a thousand to fix, even if I go to Kenny."
Kenny is a mechanic who works at a garage down the street from my house. He dated my mom for awhile. He was a good guy. He'd fix my mom's car for free. When they broke up, I stayed friends with him, hoping he'd give me good deals on car repair. He does, but it's not like he can do the work for free, and replacing a transmission costs more than I can afford.
"So let the rich girl stay with your brother," Kendrick says, "and you can meet up with Leah."
"For the last time," I say, in that same tone that's telling him to back down. "I'm not seeing Leah tonight. Just drop it."
He gets quiet, and remains quiet as we move through the line. I like Kendrick, and consider him a friend, but he gets on my nerves when he won't let something go. He thinks I'm crazy for turning down Leah so I can spend the night with Brook and my brother, but I don't give a shit. My brother's my priority. He comes before anything else, including sex with a hot girl.
I'm actually kind of looking forward to tonight. I really want this tutoring thing to work out. And if I'm honest with myself, I want to see Brook. I want to figure her out, and figure out why my mind keeps going back to her.
Chapter Eight
Brook
As I'm leaving the cafeteria, someone grabs my arm. I look back and see Eve.
"We need to talk," she says, pulling me down the hall.
"Why? What's going on? Where have you been all day?" I ask because she wasn't in class this morning and wasn't at lunch.
"I had a migraine this morning so I stayed home." She opens the door to an empty classroom. "In here."
I go in there and wait for her to tell me what she wants.
"Is it true?" she asks.
"Iswhattrue?"
"Are you sleeping with Dean?"
