Scowling I made my way to where my bike helmet hung by the side door, fixing it to my head.
"How're you heading to school? I doubt you can ride my handlebars, you'll end up tipping the bike." I told her, pushing the door open knowing she'd follow me. Squinting at the sky I hazarded a guess as to whether or not to grab a raincoat as April responded.
"Very funny, Bow-Bow. And believe it or not, Thomas is driving me to school."
I gaped at her. "Why the hell do you get a ride to school? I'm far more deserving."
"You have a bike. Use it." She huffed back, going so far as to stick out her tongue, turning to storm back inside.
"Asshole," I mumbled at her retreating form, watching until the flared ends of her pajama pants disappeared before pulling my bike up from the grass. The chain creaked when I pushed off the sidewalk, making me wonder if all the rain had done some serious damage. Either way I made it to school in one piece.
Crouching down by the school's bike rack I ran a hand along the chain, frowning at the rust that decorated my palm after. Unable to do much I made a mental note to bring up the issue with Dad and started to secure the bike, though if someone were to steal the thing I wouldn't have cried over it.
Looping the chain I glanced up at the sound of my name being called from across the main field. Squinting I made out the figure of the last person I wanted to see. Ever.
"Jessica."
Pausing to catch her breath, Jessica flashed me a smile that did little to kill the dread building in my stomach. Glowing as always she dropped to her knees on the grass, searching through her bag while offering me a wide-tooth grin. I offered a mental condolence to her white shorts, truly being mascaraed against the wet grass that she seemed to pay no mind, the lean muscles of her toned legs relaxed.
"You're a hard guy to track down, Beau. I had to follow the whispering to find you," she said, chuckling to herself while I turned red. Sometimes I forgot the very real neon sign that stood above my head, bellowing "FUTURE CONVICT... AND BROTHER OF THOMAS MINDERS".
"People never forget, huh," I muttered, gazing across the parking lot behind me and making out Barkers' Prius. I shuddered at the mere memory of that night and forced my gaze back to Jessica who held a slightly rumpled cupcake in her hands.
"What's this?"
"For your birthday, silly." she scoffed, prompting me to take the thing. I knew she most likely didn't poison it, but I hadn't been the kindest to Jessica, and given the fact I made out with her boyfriend less than a week ago I couldn't stop the guilt that filled me at the mere idea of taking her gift.
"You didn't have to do that," I told her, earnest.
Jessica rolled her eyes, standing up so gracefully I almost wanted to push her over just to watch her do it again.
"It's co-gifted. Clark's out sick today and I know you're his 'Number One'... Plus, it's tradition to have cake on your birthday, so take it," she said, waving the thing in my face until I stood up and plucked it from her grip.
"It's Tony's recipe. Well his mom's, technically. She owns the bakery down on Pint Street." she added when I studied the thing curiously. It was red velvet, my least favourite flavor, so I made a note to pawn the thing off to Tommo when I saw him.
"Never been there," I answered when the silence stretched too long and Jessica's smile had turned painful. "Thanks."
"Happy birthday, Beau," she said, tone softer, and I startled when she laid a hand on my forearm. "I hope to see you later on, it's been a while since we caught up."
YOU ARE READING
Prince Charmings (BOOK ONE)
Teen FictionLIFE IS ALL BUT A FAIRYTALE IN WAITING In which Beau Minders inability to think for himself lands him in legal hot water, and the only way for him to drag himself back to safety is in playing the lead role in his local town play alongside the very d...
