I don’t know why this makes me mad, but my mouth is open before I think. “Maybe I’ll have my dad buy your dad’s company and then fire your dad and while he’s depressed and wanking it in the bathroom, I’ll bone your mom.”
Syracuse jumps to his feet. “Fuck you.”
Davis throws out an arm as if to stop Syracuse from pounding me. “Okay. Time out. Both of you go to your corners.”
Chandler drags me across the room, near the pool table. She pushes me against it and jerks my hand out.
“Ouch,” I say, but I don’t mean it.
“Why are you being such a jerk?”
Her head is bent over my hand and her fingers are rubbing, rubbing, rubbing lotion on my tiny, infinitesimal wound. I wish it was bigger. I wish I was bleeding on the floor and she had to stay by my side and nurse me back to health. Actually, if that were the case, I wouldn’t ever get better.
“Hmm?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“Syracuse doesn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know.” Plus, he comes from a family of five kids. His dad has to feed all of them on a custodian’s salary. I’ve seen Syracuse’s house and it’s small. I think the guy shares a room with two brothers under the age of ten. That would seriously suck. I heave a sigh. “I guess I have to apologize.”
“Only if you mean it.”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t say stuff you don’t mean. That can hurt people’s feelings later.”
She peeks at me through her lashes as if to see whether I’m going to be upset, and my dick goes hard immediately. I clench my teeth together. Davis is twenty feet away with two of his football buddies. We’re supposed to be writing our own constitution for AP Gov, but instead, we’re throwing insults, and I’m thinking about how I’d like for Chandler to get on her knees and swallow me whole.
“I always say what I mean. Isn’t that what gets me in trouble?”Chapter EightChandlerI knew this was a bad idea. I also knew it was a way to get Davis out of moping around. All of this has really taken a toll on him. He needed some time out of the house. Since there aren’t many options these days, I figured anything was better than nothing.
Being around people is good for him and it helps me ensure that he is getting some of his coursework done. We’re in the home stretch of graduation. He’s worked so hard these past few years. I won’t let him throw twelve years of school away when we have one left to go.
“I got your point the first time at Davis’. You don’t say anything you don’t mean.” I step away from him. I don’t understand why he has to keep being a jerk to me. I never did anything to him. Yet he continues to act this way toward me. Is he intentionally trying to hurt me now? “Some of us need to graduate. We are not afforded the luxury of not having to worry about studying.” I don’t really get why he invited me here if he can’t stand me that much.
Berkley is smart. He doesn’t need a study group for anything. To be honest, I don’t think he needs his father's money either. I was a little surprised when Davis showed up asking if I wanted to go to Berkley’s to begin with. I knew I had to rip the Band-Aid off, though. There is no way that I can avoid him forever. Not when he and Davis are so close. I might not be his friend, but there will be times I’ll have to be around him. This is one of those times where it sucks to share a best friend.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I take another step back. He really is all over the place. He’s been itching for a fight since we all got here. He’s more on edge than Davis. That’s saying a lot since Davis is close to losing his crap.
“Let’s call it a night,” Mike says. I want to nod in agreement, but I know we need to finish our work or Davis may not get it done. Berkley isn't looking any less on edge.
“Yeah, I’ll drive you home,” Syracuse says, still giving Berkley a death glare.
“We only have a little more to do. We should just get it done.” I need to make sure Davis stays on track to graduate.
I can’t blame Syracuse for being upset with Berkley. I was annoyed with both of their gross comments. My mood was soured at the idea of Berkley doing anything off of a stripper’s ass. I cared even less for him talking about banging another woman. I shouldn’t be upset, it’s stupid because it all was a joke.
“That was a dick thing to say. I’m sorry.” I glance back at Berkley, unable to help myself. It’s a problem I’m trying to get under control. One I was going to work on tonight but was failing miserably at. What is wrong with me? He’s a jerk! I shouldn’t be the one apologizing.