Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Melody screeches and lunges for the trash. “What in the hell are you doing?”
“Nothing.” I block her path.
“That was my tutor change request.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you tear it up?”
“Because I’m your tutor.”
“Not anymore.” She tries to snake past me but I kick the trash can out of reach.
“Look. I don’t like you. In fact, I sort of hate you so why should I have to use you as a tutor?”
“You didn’t act like you hated me last night when your tongue was down my throat.”
She throws back her head and releases a bitter laugh. “Men are so dumb. You can kiss people you don’t like. You can have sex with people you don’t like. I know from personal experience.”
The thought of her with another guy, having sex with someone that she doesn’t like or that doesn’t like her when I’m here ready to throw myself over any holes in the ground so that she doesn’t stumble even once is enraging. A fury grabs hold of me and burns through my good sense. The words fall out before I give them another thought. “Then you can fuck me, too.” I stand up, hands on the fastenings of my jeans.
She slams two hands on the table and leans close. “I’d rather fuck a cow,” she spits.
“Good thing you don’t have to. I’m right here.” Our noses are about an inch apart when Carter strolls in.
“Am I interrupting something?” He arches his eyebrow.
“Only Melody trying to scrape the inside of my guts out, so go ahead.”
“Maybe we can talk later.”
“Nah. I got nothing to hide.”
“Fine.” He shrugs. “Principal Sweeney called my old man last night and said that the school has had a number of mainframe break-ins. They think they know who is behind it and are bringing in a white hat hacker to lay a trap.”
I maintain a bored look but my mind’s racing. I haven’t done Mark’s grade yet and I need his cash. I already ordered Belle’s shoes and something else along with it. If I don’t have the money, I’m going to be in the hole.
“Sounds like the system needs it,” I say laconically.
Carter gives me a skeptical look. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
He turns to leave but stops at the door and glances back. “Also, be nice to Melody. She’s a friend of a friend.”
“What about me?” I declare. “Who’s gonna tell Melody to be nice to me?”
“You don’t have friends so probably no one,” Carter replies as the door shuts behind him.
“Why are you guys so mean to each other?” Melody says. Her anger seems to have left her. She sags against the table.
“He’s not wrong.” It’s never bothered me before. I don’t like FU High and its stuck-up airheaded kids who are here because their parents fell into some cushy job or married well or were born with a gold spoon in their mouths, but I also don’t like looking like an outcast because Melody’s not the type to go for guys that her social circle doesn’t like.
“Maybe if you weren’t an asshole and you came to school and stuff, you would have friends.”
“Sounds like a lot of work and not very much fun.” I pull out a chair. I knew that trying for Melody was trying to bat in the major league when I didn’t even belong in the minors.
“What are you going to do about Mark?” she asks.
I jerk upright. “How do you know about that?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not like you’re a super spy. You guys were talking about it on the sidewalk outside of Missy’s yesterday. Anyone could have heard you.”
Fuck. I guess I should’ve been more careful.
“So?” she prompts.
“So what?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why are you asking?”
She thrusts two hands into her cotton candy, unicorn hair and screams quietly. “Why are you so difficult? No wonder you don’t have any friends!” She snatches her backpack up and marches for the door. “You’re dumb to do anything to help Mark. He’s an asshole and deserves to fail. If you save him and get caught, you’ll be as dumb as him.”
That sounds suspiciously like concern. My heart beats a little faster. “And if I don’t get caught? Will you give me a prize?”
Instead of a smart retort, though, a slightly sad smile crosses her lips. “No. You’ve gotten the last of my cookies.”
Chapter 10
Melody
My phone vibrates as I exit out of the side door of school. I’m supposed to be heading to my tutoring session with Brad but I’m skipping out. I ultimately decided to go a different route and find someone else to help me. I checked with one of the local colleges and they found someone. They are actually meeting me at my house in fifteen minutes. I know I’m being a little bit of a brat but I can’t deal with Brad. Even more so now after the you can fuck me comment. Whatever. It’s easier if we stay away from one another at this point.