“Great, just great.” Laylah dropped her head into her hands. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
“Define bad?” Becky asked.
“Like, I’m going to get a lot of boos or the cheer squad is going to do something nasty to my locker.” She didn’t even want to think of everything they could do, and she covered her face, not wishing to talk about it.
“Or, you could be in for an even bigger surprise as the man himself is heading this way,” John said.
“Wait? What?” Laylah looked behind her and sure enough, Blue was heading in their direction.
She expected him to go elsewhere, but no, he dropped his tray onto this table. “Hey, people,” Blue said. “Did I miss much?”
He sat close to her, picking up his burger and taking a large bite.
She checked his face to see if there was any kind of handprint and nope, there was nothing. She didn’t know if she should breathe a sigh of relief or be a little disappointed.
“We’re just talking about your many conquests.”
“Becky!” She tried to kick her friend under the bench but she ended up getting John, who glared at her. “Sorry.”
“I don’t kiss and tell.” Blue took a fry this time.
“So you haven’t screwed your way through the cheer squad?”
Laylah watched him, but he didn’t give much away. “Again, I don’t kiss and tell.”
This time Becky snorted. “Oh, please. I bet you go off and tell all of your football buddies. You probably even rate them.”
“If that shit happens, I don’t know about it. I don’t rate anyone.”
Silence fell on the table. Laylah had already lost her appetite.
“You may as well come clean. If any of the cheery girls think they’ve got a chance, you ever thought they might turn on Laylah?” Becky shrugged. “We’re going to be the ones to pick up the pieces while you have your fun. Typical male.”
“You know what, I think I’m done right now.” Laylah grabbed her tray and left the bench. She was done with the name-calling, the pointing, and the whispering.
Rather than wait as Blue called her name, she kept on walking, heading for her locker.
“Laylah, wait,” he said. He caught up to her, grabbing her arm.
She pulled away. “Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on with you or with this. I don’t even know what’s going on in your crazy mind, and the truth is, I don’t think I ever want to know, but … I…” She couldn’t think of what she was trying to actually say. Instead, she shook her head and made her way out the front door.
Blue wasn’t easily defeated. “Yes,” he said.
She stopped and turned toward him.
“I fucked the cheer squad. Those aren’t my finest moments. Most of the rumors about me are true. I’ve slept with married women, and all that shit.”
“You don’t have to tell me this.”
“But I do.” He stepped toward her.
In the back of her mind, she was screaming at herself to turn and run, but she kept herself grounded, watching him. “Blue, don’t.”
“You know I want to go out with you. This is no joke and I’m not looking to add to my list. I want you, Laylah. No doubt about it, but you’re not like anyone else. From the moment I realized I wanted you, I haven’t been with anyone else. There will never be anyone else.” He cupped her face. “I want you.”
“This is crazy. You don’t even know me.”
“But I want to. When I say I can’t stop thinking about you, I’m not kidding. I want you, Laylah. Just tell me what I need to do to get you to see it.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head. “I don’t know.” She pulled away from him. “Leave me alone.”
She turned away, swiping at the tears that for some odd reason were spilling down her cheeks. She didn’t understand these feelings.
Blue did as she’d asked. He didn’t chase after her, and she was thankful.
She’d never felt this way around a guy at school. Blue with his reputation and everything that he was, the jock, the town hero. She didn’t think she could trust him. He’d been with so many other girls, and in comparison, she was nothing.
This was why she avoided dating in high school. There was just way too much drama.
Chapter Four
Blue didn’t know what the hell to do.
When it came to girls, he knew what to do to get them. Most of the time, they came on to him.
Laylah wasn’t like any other girl, and he didn’t want her to be either. The feelings he had for her were different. He couldn’t even begin to describe them.
After school, he didn’t go to practice, but instead, took off, going to her home. He needed to talk to her. She wanted to be left alone and he’d given her space, but now, he wanted to talk to her.