“I’ll help you study cutie, I’m an ace at trig. Did anyone mess with you today?” She gave me a curious look and I could tell that she was choosing her words carefully, which meant something had happened. Fuck!
“Uh no, not really, just you know, some kids were teasing me because of my fashion faux pas.” She pulled on the end of the jersey and tried to play it off like whatever it was had been a joke, but what she didn’t realize is that I knew her a little better than that.
I dropped it for now and pretended like all was well, changing the conversation to class and how she was really settling in to her new school.
***
I saw her relax as we walked to the cafeteria and I sat her at my table with a kiss, before going to get her lunch tray.
That’s another thing that I’ve never done before, and I was very aware of all the eyes that were on me as I made my way across the room.
I was sending the message loud and clear, that this relationship was different. They all knew me here, knew what I’ve done since fucking pre-school which most of us attended together.
So they knew that Jace Saunders didn’t get anyone’s lunch, in fact, the opposite has been known to be the norm.
They also know that no one else has ever worn my numbers before either.
Knowing me, and how I felt about the game, it wasn’t something that I took lightly, and I’m pretty sure most of them knew that shit.
If they didn’t fucking get it after this, that wasn’t my fault. If any one of them made the wrong move where she was concerned they were fucked.
I didn’t kid myself that everyone was going to toe the line. Mandy had her share of supporters, and since I’ve never flexed my muscles around here before, most might not understand the lengths I’m willing to go to for my girl.
I don’t need to put on a show for others to see, to get my point across. But I have to at least send a clear message, not only to the school, but to Sian as well.
She’s been sheltered her whole life, even though she doesn’t seem to see it that way. From what I can tell, she’s never really had to deal with adversity before. Her dad had always protected her.
Listening to him talk about her, it’s hard to miss the love and affection there, or the fear.
I’m still amazed that I was even able to talk him into letting me have her. Maybe it had been my honesty that had done the trick. Or maybe he’d seen something in me that reminded him of him.
What amazed me was the love and affection I felt for her, so soon and seemingly out of nowhere. I’ll have to remember to ask dad to tell me the story of when he met mom again for the one- hundredth time.
Always before I’d listened fondly, thinking that dad was laying it on a little thick. Now I knew every word to be true, because I’d found my own one and only.
It might seem like too much too soon to some, but it was just right for me.
Never one for procrastination I don’t see why the hell I should start now with something as important as this.
I’d secured her parents’ blessing and that of my own parental unit. The only thing standing in the way of our relationship moving forward was her virginity.
Not something that should be taken lightly, but since I was seriously leaning towards being the only man to ever go there, I didn’t see the problem.
I can’t believe I’m worried about a girl’s innocence. Not worried so much as wanting to make sure that when I take it that it’s perfect for her.
I wanted her, for the rest of our lives together, to look back on the experience at least fondly. As soon as I handled this bullshit. No pressure though.
***
I looked around the room to get the lay of the land so to speak, after placing the tray down on the table between us.
The cafeteria is like the hotspot for school dynamics. I felt like I was navigating a fucking mine field. When had my life become this thing?
Mandy and her girls were very interested in what was going on at our table, but my boys were already on the ball.
Sometimes I forget that half of them were aspiring actors or had already had a few shows and commercials under their belt.
I could see that the girls were a bit flustered by the new turn of events. Accustomed to being the center of attention, they didn’t seem too happy about being ignored by the team.
Not all the girls on the cheerleading squad were twits, so hopefully they would get the message that if they hung around with their queen bitch, then they were out. I’ve become a fucking teen movie.
“Did you call your mom?” I bit into my apple and watched her cut her sandwich in quarters; she’s so cute.
“I can’t, no phones in school remember? I was gonna do it after school.”
“Call your mother.”
“Okay but can I at least go out on the steps?”
“Sure.” I kissed her hair and nuzzled her cheek before watching her walk across the room to the exit.
I didn’t miss the interested looks aimed at her, or myself for that matter. Ian Stanley was a teammate but not a friend.
I’ve always hated that prick because he always seemed to have a hard on for me. Whatever I did he mimicked, have been doing it since first grade.
I guess it has something to do with the bad blood between our grandfathers back in the day.
Some deal that his grandfather had wanted, but it had fallen into my grandpa’s hands or some shit like that.
The ass seems to think we should keep the feud going and has done everything he can think of in the last twelve years or so to get under my skin, without much success I might add.