Somethin' About That Boy

“Well, it makes you look super sharp,” I teased.

He pulled out his textbook and a pencil, then stuck the pencil behind his ear and watched me curiously.

“What?” I asked as I pulled out notebook paper to write notes on.

“Why do you take notes in here?” he asked.

“Why do you not?” I countered.

Before he could answer, the rest of the class started pouring in, leaving us without another opportunity to really talk.

Thankfully, Vance didn’t have this class.

Also thankfully, we had a substitute that didn’t have a fuckin’ clue what we were doing, meaning we got to jack around and read or do our homework for the period.

Which worked out well for me because I hadn’t gotten much studying done the day before. Not when all I could think about was the guy sitting beside me.Chapter 12

Is your ass jealous of all that shit coming out of your mouth?

-Banner’s secret thoughts

Banner

The day, so far, had been quite pleasant. Which was weird, because I thought with Vance being here, he would totally find a way to fuck my life up around every turn. But surprisingly, he bided his time.

It also didn’t hurt that every time Vance approached, Titus, Abbott, Slone, Graham or Tatum would be there to provide any distraction that I might need.

Or just act as a buffer.

Honestly, it was kind of nice to have, because at our old school, every single kid was in Vance’s pocket, stroking his cock and his ego every chance they got.

Boy or girl, they all bowed down to him.

Here? Not so much.

He was a nobody here. He didn’t rule the school. Nobody ruled the school.

Sure, there were bullies. Sure, there were assholes around every corner. But ultimately, Vance didn’t have anybody to rely on like he did back in Benton.

Here, he was just another student.

Daddy’s money hadn’t bought him favors here. Daddy’s money was not an issue here.

Because Daddy was dead, and his stepmother had taken the money and left, leaving Vance high and dry with nothing to his name but his daddy’s house, a promise to pay the taxes, and an allowance enough to get him through the next year until he was graduated.

Honestly, it was quite comical seeing him struggle to find a foothold in this school.

Sadly, today was also the day I wouldn’t get to share my lunch with Perry, meaning that I didn’t get to give her a hug or tell her good luck before her game.

I’d sent her a text, but that had gone unanswered, too.

Which led to now, hours later, us finishing up practice.

“All right, boys!” Coach Beasley yelled. “It’s time for me to go support my wife, and y’all to go support your fellow students. I want you at the game. I don’t care if you want to go home. You’re there because I allowed you to be there by letting you out of practice early. If you can’t be there, you better have a damn fine excuse.”

I chuckled as I made my way to the locker rooms, my helmet in my hand and Titus and Abbott by my side.

The others had already left earlier due to them being considered ‘special teams.’ Meaning they were already showered and waiting for us when we arrived.

“Give us ten to get dressed,” Titus muttered.

“I’m showering,” I said. “I don’t want to go in there smelling like shit. I’m gonna need fifteen.”

There was a chorus of grunts in acquiesce and we made our way inside.

I stopped by my locker and stripped, finding my towel and my bodywash in the next second.

“Damn, son,” Titus said, holding his hand up in front of his face. “You don’t have to go around flashing that at us.”

A dorky sophomore flushed bright red and covered up.

“You do realize that you’re naked, too, right?” I murmured as we made our way into the showers.

Titus chuckled.

“I do,” he said. “But I also notice that you didn’t say that in front of him.”

I snorted. “I’m okay with the light hazing that y’all give these younger kids. But get any meaner and I might.”

Titus rolled his eyes. “We’re not that kind of football team. We’re tight. All of us. If that little kid back there got his ass handed to him on the field, I would be there just as much as the rest of the team to offer the other team an example as to why you don’t mess with Kilgore High.”

I liked that.

Something else Benton High didn’t have.

“Good,” I said as I found the first showerhead that was open and went to it.

After showering, I walked out of the shower area with a towel wrapped around my waist and my hair dripping down my no-longer-dry back.

I found Abbott already there, slipping on his jeans.

The sophomore was nowhere to be found, leaving it just us seniors when the rest of us finally arrived.