Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

“Hey,” he says when he finally reaches me and drops down beside me, leaning back on his hands. “What’s going on? How’d the rest of your Friday night go?”

“I’ve had better Friday nights,” I tell him as the girls openly gawk at me, wondering what the hell I’m doing talking to Jackson Millington. I guess I never got around to telling them the whole story of Friday night.

“I bet. I hope your special little guy didn’t come down too hard on you.”

“Which one?” I scoff.

“Both,” he laughs.

“Don’t worry about me,” I tell him. “I can handle them.”

“Alright,” he grins as he looks across at me. “But just saying… if you need some ideas, I have two years worth of plans that I still want to see through.”

I let out a breath and turn to face him front on. “What are you doing over here, Jackson?”

He narrows his eyes on me in consideration for a second before a softness seeps into his gaze. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought we could be friends. You know after I saved your ass and all.”

“I’d hardly call it saving my ass,” I tell him. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you drove me to a party that you were already going to. You should be thanking me for the in car entertainment.”

“Shit,” he laughs. “Every time I think I’ve got you, you go and put me back in my place.” He watches me for a moment longer. “Alright, I’m going to be real with you,” he tells me. “I like you and now that you and the douche patrol are done, I want you.”

Oh shit. Never going to happen, buddy.

“Did you consider that I don’t want you?”

“I did,” he grins. “That’s why I’m going to win you over.”

“Jackson,” I say, giving him a firm look. “I’m in love with Nate. That’s not just going to change overnight.”

“I know,” he murmurs. “But it will fade and eventually you’ll be ready to move on, and when you are,” he adds with a growing, smug grin. “I’ll be ready. You know, at the races, I saw you storm off and I ran faster than I ever have so I could be the one to save you.”

What the hell? Is this guy for real? “That was kind of creepy,” I tell him. “Do I need to file a restraining order?”

His brows pull down as he thinks it over. “Yeah, it was kind of creepy, huh?” he agrees. “But I promise, I’ll keep it cool.”

“What the fuck is going on here?” a chirpy Jesse says from behind me as a sandwich drops into my lap.

“Thanks,” I smile, looking up at him. “I was just reminding Jackson that he’s not all that.”

“Good, well if you’re done,” Jesse says turning his gaze on Jackson. “Then you should be fucking off now.”

Jackson winks at me before pushing himself up to his feet. “See you ‘round, Tora,” he tells me before walking back over to his friends.

“Um… what the fuck was that?” Jesse asks, dropping down beside me into Jackson’s vacated spot. “Nate’s over there about to beat the shit out of him.”

“What?” I gasp, looking over my shoulder and searching him out to find those dark, furious eyes on me, clearly having witnessed the whole Jackson declaring his interest and making me feel like complete shit. “He’s smoking again,” I grunt, noticing the lit cigarette between his fingers. “He got so far.”

“Yeah, well, it’s the only thing keeping him calm at the moment,” Jesse says before looking down at the sandwich between my fingers. “Eat.”

I was more than happy to eat before I knew Nate’s eyes were on me. Now, I feel sick. “Would you tell him nothing happened with Jackson?” I ask. “He just wanted to talk.”

“Uh huh,” Jesse grunts, getting back up. “That’s twice I’ve had to get rid of him.”

“I swear, Jess,” I tell him. “Nothing’s going on with Jackson. I’m desperately in love with your douchebag big brother and I don’t see that changing any time soon.”

“Good,” he says. “Now I have to go and convince him not to get his ass thrown out of school for beating the shit out of Jackson.”

“Ok, I’ll see you later,” I tell him before he turns and walks away. I let out a sigh and start picking at my sandwich when I realize it’s way too quiet. I look over at the girls to see them all still gawking at me, completely confused and probably concerned for my wellbeing after Jackson’s stupid declaration. “What?” I grunt.

Brooke’s eyes narrow before she crosses her arms over her chest. “Start talking, Tora,” she says. “You’re not going anywhere until we know the whole story.”

“Shit,” I sigh. “Ok.”

Chapter 19

I stand under the hot spray of my shower on Friday night, hating how this week has gone. Jackson has tried talking to me every day and Nate has seen it every time, but what’s worse is that I’m realizing Jackson isn’t so bad. I mean, I’m not wanting to date him anytime soon, but as a friend, he might just weasel his way in. Besides, it will never get that far with Jackson because I’ll be getting Nate back as soon as I can.