She hangs her head down low, forbidding me from seeing her face, and before I know it, she’s storming away. Only she doesn’t head to the party, she heads down a trail.
Oh fuck. Don’t do it, Jasper. She’s not your problem.
I find myself chasing after her. I’m an asshole, no doubt. But I don’t take pleasure in making girls cry. Especially the ones who I didn’t know could.
“B, wait up.” I jog towards her. “Blakely,” I yell, realizing it’s the first time I’ve ever called her by her name.
She stops. Standing as still as the lake. I walk up slowly behind her.
“It should have been mine.” She buries her face in her hands. “Petra isn’t the Queen of this school, I am.”
I don’t know what to say. I just stand there, waiting for her to speak again. Only she doesn’t. She wipes her hands under her eyes and turns around. A smile on her face, “Whatever, it is what it is.” Her makeup is smeared, and I’m not even sure if I should tell her at the risk of losing my balls out here. “If you’ll excuse me, there is some free beer to be drunk by yours truly.”
She heads back down the trail, “Blakely, wait.” I walk briskly to her side. “Turn around.” I lean closer to examine her eyes as much as I can in the dark.
“Don’t you dare try to kiss me,” she growls.
“Don’t flatter yourself.” I take the sleeve of my hoodie and wipe it gently under her eye, searching her face for approval. When she doesn’t stop me, I wipe the other side.
“Why did you do that?” She remains still, and for a moment, a very brief moment, our eyes lock, causing me to lose my train of thought.
“I...umm.” I shake my head to regain my focus. “We wouldn’t want anyone knowing that Blakely Porter actually has a heart, now would we?”
Her lips part and a smile slowly grows on her face. If I wasn’t convinced before, I am now. She does feel emotion.
“Right.” She walks away, leaving me questioning everything I thought I knew about the Queen B of Redwood. I wait a minute before heading back to the party.
Chapter Seven
Blakely
I walk away, running my fingers under my eyes and trying to wrap my head around what just happened. Through the sleeve of Jasper’s hoodie, I felt a jolt of electricity. I can still feel it working its way through my body, escaping at my toes.
I spot Talon by the fire, a couple of girls hanging at his side. I suppose I should get used to seeing him at parties, considering he’s a sophomore now. I give him a double take to make sure he’s not drinking. Talon’s had a hard time dealing with life lately, and he seems to think the answers are at the bottom of the bottle. As I do, at times. But, he’s just a kid. I guess he’ll always be just a kid to me.
I’m about to join the group by the keg, but a change of heart has me checking on him. I maneuver through the underclassmen who are all grouped together. I guess I should get used to seeing my little brother at some of the same parties I attend. Afterall, Redwood isn’t very big. When someone says, party, everyone attends.
A petite little brunette is cut off mid-sentence when Talon acknowledges my presence. “Hey Blakely,” he muses, and I can tell right away that he has been drinking. “That was a hell of a game tonight.”
At least he didn’t bring up the crowning. I could go without that humiliation tonight. I watch as the brunette girl takes a sip from her red cup, peering at me over the rim. She looks at me like I’m some sort of threat.
“Does Mom and Dad know you’re here.” There, that should squash her fears.
“Who fucking cares if they do or don’t? They don’t give a damn what I do.” He growls, grabbing the cup from the girl and sloshing the liquid contents on her. He doesn’t even apologize; he just slams the cup and tosses it to the fire.
“Maybe we should get you home.” I pull at the sleeve of his hoodie. He puts up a fight and pulls back even harder.
“I’ve got him tonight. He’s crashing at my place again.” His best friend Alex comes in to view and hooks an arm around his neck. “You good, bro?” He looks to Talon who gives a lowkey nod. “He’s good.” He turns to me and smiles.
“Take good care of him, Alex. And, call me if you need me to come pick his ass up later.”
Alex is a good kid, and exactly what Talon needs right now.
“And, Talon? Please take it easy on the drinking.” I give him a serious glare that he looks straight past.
He waves his hand through the air in an attempt to brush me away.
I let him. I know that I should do more. I’m just at a loss at how to help him anymore.
I turn around and search for my group of friends, spotting them by the keg. I approach Knox and his crew as they all stand around watching Laney attempt a beer bong. She gags as the liquid goes down the tube, but to my surprise, she takes it all. She turns her back to the circle and begins dry heaving. “Hold it in, girl.” I hear Axel tell her as he rubs her on the back.
“How are you doing?” Knox throws an arm over my shoulder, pulling me close.
I nuzzle my head into his shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“I know what fine means. Do you wanna go talk?”
I shake my head no. I’m perfectly content in my best friend’s arms. He’s always been my safe place.
“Hey Blakely, how’s that ego? Getting weighed down by that crown on your head?” Kip says, “Oh, wait... my bad, you didn’t get the crown and nothing can weigh down your ego.” Laughter erupts following his joke.
I look around and every single person in sight has their eyes on me and is finding hilarity in his words. I can feel the pulse in my throat as the pressure collapses on top of me, pushing me further into the dirt than I already am.
“Knock it off guys.” Knox comes to my defense, giving Kip’s shoulder an aggressive shove.
“Shut the fuck up, all of you.” I turn to walk away, but Knox grabs ahold of my arm. I jerk it away with a snap and pick up my pace, hoping that no one has the balls to follow me. I will not be able to refrain myself from losing my shit. I will victimize every single one of these losers.
I walk into the house and search for Meg and Chloe. They said they’d meet me here, but I can only assume they’re running late because I have yet to spot them. I try and find an unoccupied room. After opening and closing a few doors, I find myself in Axel’s little sister's bedroom. I sit on the end of her pink and white checkered bed and grab ahold of a stuffed unicorn, squeezing it to my chest—fighting back the tears.
I won’t let them break me. Lord, please don’t let them break me.
The door swings open, and I jump up, tossing the unicorn to the floor.
“Go away,” I tell Knox, but he ignores my demand and closes the door behind him. He walks over and doesn’t speak; he simply puts his arms around me as I break.
“Pay no attention to Kip, he’s an asshole.”
“It wasn’t just Kip. It’s all of them, Knox.” I pull away and the tears continue to drop one by one, landing on the unicorn that lays at my feet. “They have been waiting for this moment my whole life. They want to see me weak, and they want to use it against me.”