“Don’t listen to him. It’s that Jones charm. Gets to the best of us.” She looks at me. “Mabel’s niece, you say?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The woman takes me in from head to toe, stopping at my face. “Yes, I can see it. It’s those eyes. Bradley, don’t deter my customers.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he echoes.
The woman, Letty, grabs my hand and pulls me inside the little diner. It’s nice, cozy, and there are quite a few customers for this time of the morning. “What can I getcha?”
She pushes me into one of the empty chairs at the counter before getting behind it.
“Just coffee would be nice. If you can make it to go, that’d be great.” I check my phone. “Gotta make it to school.”
Letty’s brows shoot up. “You going to Bluebonnet High?”
“Yes, we just got here not that long ago.”
I watch as Letty works behind the counter, grabbing a to-go cup and pouring some coffee inside. “Your momma too?”
“No, she’s back in California.” Letty looks at me expectantly. “Work.”
“Oh, right.”
I’m not sure if I’m imagining it, but her smile falls a little.
Letty puts the cup on the counter in front of me, then grabs one of the muffins from the display window. “On the house.”
“What? Oh, no, I ca—”
“Nonsense.” She covers my hand before I can give her the cash. “This one’s on the house. Now hurry so you won’t be late getting to school.”
By the time I arrive to school, the hallways are already buzzing with activity. Keeping my head down, I walk through the people until I get to my locker, where I make a quick exchange of books.
Zipping my backpack, I let it slide back down and close the door.
“You’re the infamous Katherine Adams.”
“Holy shit.” My hand flies to cover my racing heart as I turn around and face the girl that’s legit ambushed me behind my locker.
How’s that for southern charm? I want to ask, but I bite my tongue as I look at the girl.
She’s beautiful. I have to give her that. Dressed in a flirty knee-length dress, her makeup and hair done to perfection, she’s what you’d imagine a perfect southern belle to look like.
“And you are?” I ask, my brows rising. Surprisingly, so far, most people have stayed back and watched, commenting on all the things they found out, or they thought they found out about me, behind my back.
Two girls behind her exchange a look. They almost look like perfect carbon copies of the one standing front and center.
“Rose Hathaway.”
Her tone might be soft, but there is an underlying bite to it that indicates it’s something I should have known.
So much for the warm welcome.
“Well, nice to meet you, Rose.” I look up and add, “And friends. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a class to get to.” I smile as I walk around her.
“Wait.”
I stop, debating if I should actually listen. But then I remember this is a small town where everybody knows everybody, as I just witnessed, and I’m the odd one out. Maybe her mom or somebody is friends with Mabel, and the last thing I want is to offend somebody or cause trouble for my aunt.
“Yeah?”
“I’m a part of the Bluebonnet welcome committee, and I just wanted to wish you a warm welcome to our school.” Rose smiles sweetly. “I wish I were there yesterday to help greet you, but something came up.”
So, she’s the one who ditched me.
“No problem, really. I found my way around.”
I’m about to get on my way when her words stop me yet again. “Yeah, I saw you were sitting at the football table.”
The way she says it has goosebumps rising on my skin. “Oh, did you?”
I knew people were watching; hell, they’re still watching as this unfolds. I can feel their curious eyes on me, but the way she says it sounds like she’s implying something that I can’t decipher.
“You’re the only thing everybody’s been talking about. It’s a hard thing to miss.”
There it is again, that tone. I’m not sure what she’s trying to get at. Oh, I know all about high school hierarchy and cliques, but I never thought too much about it. I don’t care about popularity, who’s hanging out with whom, or who’s sitting at what table. Hell, I wouldn’t even have gone to that table if it weren’t for Becky, who was in the line behind me and saw me looking for an available place to sit.
“Well…”
Before I can think of what to say, Becky slides next to me as if I called her out of thin air. “Pull in your claws, Rose. There is no actual territory for you to mark.”
A frown appears between Rose’s perfect brows. She crosses her arms over her chest, a sour smile twisting her lips as she takes Becky in.
“Becky Williams, I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about.”
Becky rolls her eyes at Rose. “Oh, you understand all too well. Let’s not fool ourselves.”
Rose huffs and flips her hair over her shoulder, lifting her chin up just a tad to look at us down her nose. “No, I don’t think I do.” Tuning Becky out, she turns toward me. “Well, I’d love to show you the school and town, give you a proper welcome. You should join us for lunch today and we can discuss it.”
“I—”
Becky loops her arm through mine, pulling me closer. “I don’t think it’ll be necessary. She already has a place to sit, Rose.” And then, if that wasn’t clear or territorial enough, she adds, “With us. At the football table.”
The tension fills the space between us so much it’s almost tangible. Rose’s lips twitch. She looks at me as if waiting for me to say something different and accept her offer. She seems like one of those people you shouldn’t turn down. It’s a shame I’m not one to give in easily.
“I guess I have a place to sit.” I shrug helplessly.
Rose’s eyes narrow at me. “Fine. C’mon, girls.”
As one, they turn and sashay away, leaving Becky and me standing by my locker.
“Did they practice that trick in the circus?”
Becky turns to me, eyes wide. We exchange a look and burst into laughter so hard people start turning in our direction to see what’s going on.
“I can see we’re going to be very good friends.” Becky bumps her shoulder into mine playfully. “And to answer your question, I wouldn’t be surprised. Just ignore her. She hates that she’s not the center of attention and that she was never offered a place at the football table.” Becky shakes her head. “Welcome committee, my ass. People move here once in a decade or so.”
Together we start walking down the hallway.
“She doesn’t seem to like me,” I point out.
Becky waves her hand nonchalantly. “Rose doesn’t even like her own reflection. Plus, you’ve got Emmett’s attention.”
I raise my brows. I try to act casual, but there is a slight twist in my stomach. “Are they a thing?”
“Rose and Emmett?” Another shake of her head. “Only in her dreams, bless her little heart.”