Alicia
I heard about the fight at lunch and checked around for Oliver. The jock’s table was a place I never attempted to go, even though I was a cheerleader. The boys were so immature and so worried about getting laid that they held no interest. Oliver wasn’t there, although the team was and appeared subdued.
Sam was sitting there with Carmelle, both looking pissed. I wondered why. Nobody had said what the fight was over, but Carmelle was sending me filthy looks. The other cheerleaders were at their table, which was behind the jocks, and I didn’t feel welcome. I picked a table to eat at alone and sat down.
The jocks kept glancing over, worried, and Sam sent me a dark, nasty look. Devon, who was in an even worse state, joined him. What on earth had Oliver done?
The cheerleaders offered similar looks, and my stomach soured. I wasn’t really one of them, but because of my athleticism, I was part of the squad. My mother had been overjoyed, as she’d been a cheerleader once. Dad wasn’t so impressed.
A tray banged down, and I looked up into Oliver’s handsome face. A grin crossed his lips as I checked him for injuries.
“What happened this time?” I inquired mildly as Oliver sat.
“Taught some assholes a few lessons,” Oliver replied, taking my apple and swapping it for a peach.
“Sam and Devon? Oliver, you busted their faces,” I reprimanded.
“They deserved worse,” Oliver stated without guilt. “Fuckers made comments about your body.”
A blush wound its way up my face from my neck. I’d been slender and almost waifish until the summer. Then my breasts grew, and I developed an ass. I now owned a figure most girls my age craved, and I hated it as it drew attention I didn’t want.
“Oliver, you need to stop fighting over me; people will think something’s going on,” I replied, and Oliver shrugged. “Carmelle’s not stopped sending dirty looks. Join them. You know I’m the token pity vote,” I pushed.
Oliver banged his drink down and glowered. He pointed a finger in my face, and I barely held back the urge to bite it. “Never put yourself down like that.” Everybody close glanced over and, spotting Oliver’s expression, looked away again.
I rolled my eyes and let him witness it. “Your temper doesn’t frighten me.”
“Everyone else runs or pacifies me, not you, Alicia. You should be scared,” Oliver said, pointing a fry at me before biting it.
“Nope. I remember the kid who punched Grayson Ames in the mouth when we were five years old. Oliver, I’ll never be frightened of you.”
“Good. I don’t want you to be,” he replied with a confident smirk.
“Oliver, seriously, go join Carmelle.”
“No. I’m tired of Carmelle’s demands. Bitch thinks she owns me,” Oliver scowled.
“Oliver,” I said with a sigh. He smirked again and ate a fry. “Tell her.”
“And deal with the drama?” Oliver shook his head.
“You can’t leave Carmelle hanging!” I exclaimed.
“Fine.” Oliver shoved the last of the fries into his mouth and stood up. “This scene’s on you.”
“Oliver!” I whispered, but he was already walking over to the jock’s table. Carmelle saw him coming and perked up. I wish I had Carmelle’s confidence, although I knew what Oliver was about to do, and I cringed inside.
Oliver was the kindest person in the world to me, but to everyone else, he was a cocky, arrogant asshole. Still, Oliver looked out for me when others judged me, and that sealed him as mine.
“Oliver!” Carmelle’s excited squeal reached my ears, and she stood up. Her short skirt showed off her long legs, and usually, I hated Carmelle for them. But right now, pity was all I felt.
Oliver was going to be brutal.
Carmelle latched onto Oliver’s arm, and he glanced down at it and then sneered. Oh, here comes the shitshow!
Oliver
Christ, Carmelle could hold a grudge. I’d dumped her four weeks ago, and Carmelle’s eyes still welled with tears when she saw me. Was I meant to feel guilty about the breakup? Who wants to date someone they hate? But Carmelle had made a massive mistake. She’d picked on Alicia. Now that bitch was about to learn a lesson.
