My Sweet Bully

“What the fuck, James!” Amy yells, cutting in. She squeezes my upper forearm tight and pulls me behind her so she can cuss him out. “What the hell is wrong with you? Were you dropped on the head as a baby or something?” Her lids are razor thin, brows digging deep into the bridge of her nose. “Why do you have to be such an ass all the time?”

James laughs again, leaning into his friends like this is hilarious, like almost hurting someone is a fucking joke. I could have broken my ankle; does he not realize how dangerous his little stunt was?

“Amy? Is that you? Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you without your legs wrapped behind your head.” He holds a hand to his chest, pretending to be surprised.

“Fuck you, James,” Amy snarls as she steps down one step, her fist cocked back like she’s going to hit him in the face.

“Is there a problem?” His voice soothes me instantly. It’s calm, smooth, and makes everything around me disappear.

Max. Is he here to save me again?

Max reaches up and takes my hand, guiding me down a few steps. I hobble as I move, trying not to put any weight on my foot.

James and his buddies all stop laughing as they shift their eyes between each other. The ringleader of their pack leans back against the bleacher, his smile almost too smooth to be cruel. But it’s as cruel as it comes.

“Don’t normally see you at pep rallies, Ramon. What, no trash to pick up today?”

“I just finished cleaning your house, James. Your mom said the last bit of trash was here. I’m guessing she was talking about you.”

Both boys glare at each other, the testosterone so strong in the air I can smell it. It’s a power struggle. Neither one wants to back down. Neither one wants to show any weakness. But I knew there has to be some hierarchy here, there always is.

Who’s the alpha in this?

There’s an uncomfortable silence between them amid a tsunami of noise. Amy crosses her arms over her chest and kicks her leg out, waiting for something to happen.

The tension is insane, so thick I can almost see it in the air. The guy on James’s right taps his arm and nods toward the floor. We all look simultaneously and see one of the teachers watching us with eagle eyes.

“Come on, let’s go sit someplace else.” Max grips my elbow lightly, watching the bleacher steps as he starts to help me down.

And just like that, it’s over. No one wins.

Looking at Amy, she gives me a smile and a flick of her head. “I’ll come find you in a bit, there’s an empty seat in the back row with my name on it.”

My eyes jump to the guy in the green jacket, and I grin. “All right, we’ll catch up later.”

“Oh, there’s a party at Chad Dean’s tonight, you and I are going.” Her eyes float to Max as she says, “What do you say, you in too, Ramon?”

“Yeah, those parties aren’t exactly my scene. You know that, Amy.”

Giving him a soft shove, she smiles. “Come on, Prairie and I will be there. Right Prairie?”

“Um, yeah, yeah, that sounds like fun.” I look over at Max and he has this expression of dread and disgust on his face.

He doesn’t want to go. I get the feeling he hates almost everyone in the school.

“Come on, Max, you used to be fun. I’m sure Prairie would appreciate it.” Amy’s grin widens, and her brows bounce up and down. “What do you say?”

“I’ll think about it.” His jaw is tight, barely moving as he speaks. “But no promises.”

Amy nods, understanding far more about what’s between the lines here than I ever will. I don’t know anything about anyone in this damn place. I don’t know histories, pasts, experiences. I’m on the outside looking in.

“See you two later,” she says, flashing a peace sign, and climbing the bleachers with an extra pop in her step.

“Come on, let’s find better seats.” Max starts to move down toward the floor, and I try to follow.

Taking a step, I almost buckle over. “Ah, shit.” Reaching over, I grab at my ankle.

Max drops to his knee, reaching a gentle hand around my lower calf. “You all right? Does it hurt bad?”

“Yeah, I can’t put any weight on it.”

Standing up, Max is on the step beneath me. “Hop on,” he says.

“What?”

Patting his shoulder, he looks back at me. “Hop on.”

“No, it’s fine, I can walk.” Attempting to put pressure on my foot, a stabbing pain shoots through my calf, causing me to groan. “Damn it.”

“Come on, climb on already. You don’t want to injure it more.” Max hunches over.

I debate for a second, plucking at my lower lip. He waggles his brows and gives me a sexy little smile.