“Yeah.” He grins.
“We’re about to grab lunch, and I thought you might want to join us.”
“Actually…” I am about to tell them that I already have plans when I spy Killian coming around the corner with his arm around that Jackie chick. My face goes pale, but I try to recover before anyone notices. “That sounds perfect,” the words come out quickly.
Ben looks down the hall and his lip curls up in disgust. “She’s nothing but a fuckin’ slut, man,” Woodrow tells him, and I stay quiet. I don’t know her enough to really say anything but from what I’ve seen of her he isn’t exactly wrong.
Her and Killian pass by us, and he has the audacity to wink at me. I turn my nose up at him and walk off with Woodrow and Ben feeling confused. I thought Woodrow and Killian were friends. When we get to the cafeteria, I spot Hayley and Liam. She waves me over but then Killian and Jackie sit in the empty chairs at her table. I wrinkle my nose and shake my head at her.
Woodrow hands me my bag. “Just sit wherever you want. I’ll get you a tray.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“I’m not hungry,” Ben states and tugs me along with him by the strap of my bag. These guys are kind of pushy, but I go along with him until I see where we are headed. He takes me to a table by where Hayley is sitting that is full of beefy jocks. Killian is smirking at us, and I want to melt into the floor and become invisible. I look to Hayley for help even though I don’t exactly know what kind of help I need. Maybe mental help for thinking Killian was actually interested in taking me to lunch. Against my better judgment I sit at the other table with Ben and his teammates whom I have learned are all football players. Woodrow returns carrying two trays and orders some guy out of his seat so he can sit next to me. I am already over all these boys. I would have been better off grabbing a bag of chips and hitting the library early.
I pick at my salad, shoveling the cucumbers around with my fork. Like Ben, I find my appetite has escaped me. “Are you guys back together,” I hear a nasally voice question.
“Maybe. We’re seeing
how things go,” Jackie answers and my heart drops to my stomach. It’s crazy to be this effected like this over a guy I hardly know.
Ben bangs his fist down on the table next to me so hard that my tray bounces. He turns to glare at Killian and Jackie before storming out of the cafeteria. Laughter erupts from the table behind us, and I can feel Woodrow stiffening next to me.
I look to him and dare to ask, “What was that all about?”
“Fucking Jackie. She bounces back and forth between Killian and Ben and anyone else who will give her any attention. She’s nothing but trouble. Killian doesn’t even like her, he only goes along with her because he hates Ben.”
“Sounds like they both need to tell the skank to get lost,” I mutter.
“What’d you say about me?” I freeze and Woodrow cracks up. I’m afraid to turn around and hope if I ignore her, she will simply go away. Only that’s not what happens. Jackie shoves my shoulder. “Turn around and face me. I heard what you called me.”
Dang. I do the only thing I can at this point because the cafeteria has gone eerily quiet, and I can feel everyone staring at me waiting for me to make a move. I turn around. In the movies when you stand up to a bully, they aren’t expecting it and they back down. This is probably another dumb mistake on my part but, I say, “You said you heard me so obviously you know what I called you.” I smooth my features and try not to laugh.
Hayley covers her mouth trying to stifle her giggle. Liam is gaping at me and Killian looks amused. Woodrow has his hand on my arm ready to intervene.
“Ugh,” she scoffs. “Whatever, virgin. That’s the only reason Woodrow is giving you the time of day.”
“You say virgin like it’s a bad thing,” Woodrow cuts in. “Of course I’m going to be interested in her. Who wants to be with someone that everyone and I do mean everyone has already had?”
“Screw you both,” she seethes and looks to Killian to defend her. He is staying out of it though. He turns his head and looks out the window.
Woodrow chuckles. “You aren’t our type, sweetheart.” Woodrow looks at Killian as if he is asking for permission. A silent conversation transpires between them with only a few looks. “You think he gives a shit about you? All you are to him is a toy. A dirty fuck to use whenever he wants to take a dig at Ben. And Ben, I don’t know why he is hung up on you, but he is. You look like a dumbass hanging all over a guy who doesn’t want you and won’t even make a move to defend you.” His words are harsh, but they are true from what I gather.
I look to Killian and wonder if he’s even listening to any of this. He appears bored by the whole thing, and I don’t know what I thought I felt sparking between us, but I see him clearly for the jerk that he is cute or not. I don’t want to end up like Jackie.
“This isn’t over,” Jackie threatens, narrowing her eyes at me before she stomps out of the cafeteria the same direction Ben left in.
“Don’t pay her no mind. She’s all bark,” Woodrow says, and an afterthought hits me. How did they all know that I’m a virgin unless Killian, Liam, or Hayley said something?
“I’m just that great at making friends.” I offer him a weak smile and push my tray to the side.
Hayley comes over. “Can I borrow you for a minute?”
I look to Woodrow. “I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for having my back.”
“Yeah you will. I have been wanting to put that bitch in her place for a long time for ruining our group.”
I nod and grab my bag to follow Hayley outside. She pulls me along to an empty picnic table in the courtyard.