Rowdy Boy

I don’t fucking care. Let them hear just how fucked up Ariane is.

“She’s your fucking cousin, isn’t she?” I scratch my chin, but it doesn’t take away the sting. “You should’ve fucking told me. Any other secrets you’re keeping from me?”

She makes a face and shakes her head. “None that you ever need to hear about.”

“Right …” I knock on the table a couple of times out of frustration. “You know, I always thought you were one of the nicer ones. Guess I was wrong about you too.”

I turn around and march away before I do something I regret. The table behind me scoots, and suddenly, she’s right in front of me, blocking my way.

“Cole, stop. Please.” She sighs. “Look, I’m sorry. I just … I’m trying to protect my cousin, okay?”

“By telling her I’m an asshole?” I say through gritted teeth. “Thanks.”

“Cole …” She places her hand on my chest and starts playing with my shirt in a way that only fuels my anger. “Please understand, I’m only doing what’s right.”

“What’s right for you, you mean,” I retort, and I grab her hand. “Don’t even try.”

“What? This?” With her other hand, she curls a strand of my black hair around her finger and starts playing with it. “You know I know you like it. You like the attention. That’s why you’re so upset.”

“Stop it,” I growl.

“Why?” She leans in and whispers into my ear, “So you can run back to your countless other fans to get you off?”

That’s it. I shove her off me. “Shut up. Always trying to slither your way in. You should look in the mirror sometime. Maybe you’d finally see the snake you really are.”

The look in her eyes turns icy cold. “You don’t deserve any girl, let alone her or me. I won’t let you go anywhere near her.”

I cock my head. “Is that a threat?”

She’s all up in my face now. “Don’t you even dare,” she hisses through her teeth.

A part of me wants to ignore her every word, but a part of me wants to take her up on this dare, just to prove I’m not at all who she says I am, and just to get her to be even more upset at me.

Biting my lip, I say, “Any one of those girls would stand in line to suck my dick and say thank you when I’m done. I can get any girl I want, even her …”

She pauses and glares at me in shock.

SLAP!

Fuck.

My cheek stings and feels hot in a second, and I grab my face.

“You’re a disgrace, Cole Travis,” she spits, and she storms off out the door.

Where little Miss New Girl just watched every second of the show.

Chapter 4

Monica

I didn’t stay.

I couldn’t.

The moment Ariane slapped him across the face, I was stunned. I was only going to find her because I needed to talk to her about Cole and that she was right to warn me … and then I find him there, yelling at her.

No wonder she slapped him.

I only overheard a small part of their conversation, but it was enough to believe her when she told me he was a grade A asshole.

When she left, she ran straight past me without even blinking. But I could see the tears in her eyes.

His … his were thunderous. As though he just got caught in the act of being a monster … and I was there to witness it all, and the look he gave me was nothing short of vicious. Like he wanted to attack me for even daring to look.

I did the same thing Ariane did, fleeing the scene before I’d say or do anything that would make it worse. I didn’t see her for the rest of the day … I didn’t see Cole, either, despite the fact that we shared at least two other classes.

I don’t want to know what he was doing, nor do I care. I just worry about Ariane, but she hasn’t replied to any of my texts. I hope she’s okay.

Sighing, I roll across my bed and grab my phone again to check in. A new message grabs my attention, and I swiftly click the button. It’s Sam.

Sam: Bitch, why aren’t you telling me how your day was?!?!?

I snort. Always so chill. Not.

Mo: Bitch, chill. I was busy.

I put my phone down again, not expecting her to answer soon since my reply came so late, but then there’s a new PING, and I check it right away.

Sam: With what? Studying? Don’t tell me you’ve turned into one of those bookworms, pls

Mo: Course not. But class exists, remember

Sam: Right. Forgot. LMAO

Sam: Calling you. Pick up

A few seconds later, the phone rings, so I pick up.

“Finally,” Sam mumbles.

“Oh, stop it, bitch,” I grumble back.

We both laugh. “Well, it feels like ages since I last saw you,” she says.