Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I cast an amused look over my shoulder at Hollis. His features go from angry to surprised to horrified. I’m quite pleased with myself by the time I make it into the hallway. It’s stupid to continually get kicked out of class, but it sure beats doing the schoolwork. I start down the hall and then footsteps follow after me.
“My laptop is in my bag,” Hollis tells me snippily as he approaches.
I turn on my heel and glower at him, forcing him to stop right in front of me. “So?”
“So, it’s expensive.”
It annoys the fuck out of me that he’s barely been at this school half a day and I’ve already encountered him flaunting his money twice now.
“Get the fuck out of my face,” I sneer.
He gapes at me. “What is your problem with me, man?”
“I don’t associate with your kind.”
My words hit their intended target because he flinches. His blue eyes flash me a wounded look before he averts his gaze. I scrutinize him openly for a moment since he’s standing right in fucking front of me. Shorter than me but built enough that he might take me in a fight. Dark blond hair that makes him appear sort of innocent. And sad eyes. How the hell a rich kid who drives a purple Mustang could be sad is beyond me. If I were rich, I’d be happy as fuck.
He’s a rich prick and I’m me.
Our kinds don’t play nicely together.
I shove past him, clipping his shoulder. He lets out an annoyed groan. Stalking down the hall, I try not to think about how pissed Ms. Frazier will be. Last time I got sent to her office, I thought she was going to skin me alive. As soon as I make it to the front office, I smirk at Miss Fields, the office secretary. She’s young—fresh out of college. My buddy Cal is positive he’s going to fuck her before the year is over.
“Frazier,” I clip out to her.
Miss Fields gives me a snooty once-over. “Have a seat. She’s with another student.”
I plop down in one of my usual chairs as Hollis enters. Her face lights up at seeing him.
“Hey, honey. How’s your first day going so far?” she chirps, smiling fondly at him. “Ms. Sommers said you got into all the classes you wanted.”
Of course she’d love the pretty new boy. If I had to guess, he has a much better chance at fucking Miss Fields than Cal does.
“It’s fine,” he says in a bright voice that doesn’t at all seem defeated like it was moments ago. “Is it supposed to snow today?”
While they start talking about the fucking weather, I slouch in my seat, stretching my long legs out in front of me. We have basketball practice after school and then I have to haul ass to my after school job. Mondays and Wednesdays are always long ones. And now that winter break is over and I’m no longer on vacation, I’m back to work this week.
Ms. Frazier’s door opens and Terrence storms out. I lift my chin at him. We fist bump as he walks by, neither of us saying a word. He’s pissed, though. When Ms. Frazier sees me, she lets out a heavy sigh.
“It wouldn’t be a Monday if I didn’t see all my favorite Hood River boys,” she grumbles. “Were you involved with the vending machine incident?”
“Nope.” I pop the ‘P’ in an obnoxious way that makes her nostrils flare.
“What then?” she demands. Her eyes drift over to Hollis, who’s gone quiet, and she gives him a concerned smile. “Everything going okay?”
He shakes his head, briefly looks over at me, and then forces a smile. “I got kicked out of class.”
Ms. Frazier blinks several times in confusion. “Why?”
“I cursed in class.”
Her face turns red with anger. “And why did you curse in class?”
His eyes dart my way and then he looks at his feet. “I don’t know.”
Ms. Frazier sees right through bullshit, though, and doesn’t believe him. “Roan,” she barks out. “What happened?”
I clench my jaw and shrug.
“Both of you. In my office now. You both know me well enough to know I’m not going to let this go until I have answers.”
How the hell does rich boy know?
It’s his first damn day.
With a huff, I rise to my feet and stalk past her into her office. I plop down in a chair. Hollis takes the one beside me. Where I’m all sprawled out and uncaring, he sits rigid and straight like he’s here for a fucking Harvard interview. Unbelievable.
Ms. Frazier glares our way as she takes her seat. Without missing a beat, she launches into her lecture. “I won’t stand for disrespect at my school. Mr. Henley is fair and only asks that you show up, shut up, and do your work. It’s not that hard. Hollis, you excel at math. The fact you’re getting kicked out of algebra on your first day is uncharacteristic for you.” She hardens her eyes at me. “Roan, what happened?”