Barbie Bitch (Rejects Paradise 3)

The bitches only just arrived back at the school and within seconds, rumors are flying like announcements being made. If they wanted to make it believable, they should have waited a few days and then spread it like Chinese whispers so the gossipy girls would take their word for it. Instead, they just look like a bunch of bitches, annoyed that their big brother’s attention is somewhere else. Besides, the girls of this school would rather hang onto me with my connection to Colton than be on the side that’s so clearly against him.

I drop into my seat in the cafeteria and take a bite of my sandwich as Drix drops down beside me. “Girl,” she laughs. “Have you heard the latest rumor?”

I groan and roll my eyes before glancing over at her. “Is this one actually worth mentioning or is it some stupid shit about being abused as a child?”

“Oh no, nothing like that,” she tells me. “They’re starting to get a little more creative.”

“Oh, yeah?” I question, actually intrigued for once.

Drix nods. “Yeah, so the word is that you were booted out of BSA because you were having an affair with that PE teacher that got arrested.”

“Hmm,” I say, thoughtful, trying not to gag at the thought of getting with that predator. “That one’s got a little bit of merit. It’s certainly more entertaining than the pregnant one and would leave someone wondering. I give it a solid six out of ten. Though, they would have earned extra points if they combined the pregnant rumor with that one. Now that’s a scandal that would have got the student body talking, but in reality, they’re only doing me a favor by highlighting the very real issues within that school.”

“Right?” she laughs. “They really haven’t thought this one through. But I’m not done yet. It gets a little juicier.”

I wave my hand out, inviting her to continue. “Then what are you waiting for? Hit me with it.”

Hendrix laughs, knowing all too well that these rumors have been bouncing straight off me. I mean, after spending my night fretting that I was maybe a murderer and having Nic and the boys tear my life apart with the truth of who I am, a little scandalous rumor isn’t going to hurt me.

“So, you were screwing the old PE teacher and then dobbed him in when you thought you were going to get caught, but instead of having the Dean kick you out back then, you started screwing him too and that’s why he allowed you to stay there for so long.”

“Ewwwww. Dean Simmons? He’s balding, fat, and has a sweaty, body odor issue.”

“I know,” she laughs. “but don’t worry, that one won’t stick either. As if anyone is going to believe you were dropping your panties for them when you were screwing around with guys like Milo, Charlie, and Colton.”

“You know I never actually screwed Milo, right? We’re just friends.”

A knowing grin spreads across her face and she gently nudges me with her elbow. “Uh-huh. Really, really good friends.”

I roll my eyes. Clearly, she thinks I’m holding back on that one but whatever, it really doesn’t matter. The more girls that people think Milo’s been with, the better for his whole ‘hiding out in his closet’ thing he’s got going on.

Realizing I'm not about to give her anymore to go off, she moves the conversation along but the excited sparkle in her eyes instantly puts my nerves on edge. “You know, I think our parents really hit it off at the Gatsby party. Who knows, we could be sisters one day.”

“Oh, geez,” I laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. They danced for a little while and had dinner together. It’s not as though they were planning their wedding.”

“I don’t know,” she says with a shrug, looking down at her lunch. “You don’t know my dad like I do. He was so into her. To him, that’s pretty much a done deal.”

I raise my brow as I look back at Hendrix with a million thoughts roaming through my mind, every single one of them wondering if Mom is even ready for something like this. “Are you sure? Because I haven’t seen my mom like that for ages. She was practically shining with him. My dad only died eight months ago, and that’s still really fresh for her, for both of us, but at the same time, I want her to be happy. If your dad could make her happy …”

A seriousness comes over her and she looks at me as though she’s diving right into the bottom of her heart to find the right words. “You know, my dad is a real genuine guy and if your mom isn’t ready and whatever they felt on Saturday night is real, then I really think he’d wait. He's not the kind to screw a woman around and to be really honest with you, I haven’t seen him happy like that in a really long time.”