Broken Hill Halo (Broken Hill High 2)

It’s ridiculous really. Their popularity knows no bounds and since I entered their world, that attention has moved onto me, and to be honest, I don’t really like it. I mean, I wasn’t a doormat before, but being in the spotlight as Nate’s girlfriend is intense. I can’t even touch my stomach without a rumor starting that I’m knocked up and it’s only been a month.

The girls have started showing their bitchy side, wanting to try and phaze me out, hoping that I’m too weak to survive being his girl. But it’s funny, the way Nate treated me over the past five years gave me a tough skin, so when it comes to teenage douchebaggery; I can handle just about anything.

We drive further down the dirt road and rather than driving his car over towards the rest of the parked cars, Nate dives straight towards the crowd of people. Naturally, they all part like the legs of every cheerleader in Broken Hill and Nate ploughs straight through them. Nothing new there. “Dick move,” I laugh.

The corners of his mouth lift up as he looks over at me. “I know,” he smirks.

I roll my eyes and shake my head as he brings his car to a stop near the front of the track, giving us the best view.

Nate cuts the engine and gets out of the car. I can’t help but notice that he left his packet of cigarettes behind and smile to myself. He’s been cutting down a lot lately and I know he’s doing it purely because I don’t like it which is great and all; I just wish he was doing it for himself.

Nate stops at the front of his car and leans against the hood before looking back over his shoulder and giving me a ‘what the fuck are you doing’ look so I hurry myself up. I grab my phone out of the center console and push my way out the door. I slide the phone into my back pocket of my jeans before walking around the front of the car to Nate.

The second I step into his side, his arm instantly slides around my waist and he pulls me into him, making the butterflies go apeshit in my stomach. You’d think that feeling would have started to fade by now, but it hasn’t, and I absolutely love it.

“What were you doing?” he murmurs as his eyes focus on the blue car currently speeding around the track.

“Nothing,” I tell him as his hand slides down from my waist and slips into the back pocket of my jeans. He removes my phone, solely so his hand can take possession of my ass. I nod towards the race. “Is this guy good?”

He lifts his shoulder in a bored shrug. “He’s alright. He gave me a good run a few months back, but he’s nothing special.”

“Who are you against tonight?”

He cranes his neck around, searching out his opponent when he indicates across the track to a white Camaro. I gasp as I take it in. It’s exactly the same car as Nate’s, just in white. “You’ve got the same cars.”

“Yep,” he says. “Tonight is going to come down to who’s a better racer.”

“True,” I smile. “But I bet he hasn’t built his car as good as yours, though.”

He scoffs as he smirks down at me. “You’re just pointing out the obvious, babe.”

“You could at least pretend to not have such a big ego.”

His eyes flame as he watches me. “Now, what fun would that be?”

I roll my eyes and have to give him credit for not making a joke about what else of his is big as our group of friends finally make their way over to us. “Sup, fuckers?” Maxen cheers with his arm thrown over Brooke’s shoulder and a half empty beer in his hand.

They expertly weave their way through the crowd of people desperate to get their attention and come to a standstill beside us. Jesse leans against the hood of Nate’s car and looks out towards the track. “Shit, man,” he says. “You’re up against Noah.”

“You don’t need to sound so nervous,” Nate grunts.

Jesse looks over my head at his brother. “I’m not,” he defends. “It’s just going to be a close one.”

Puck scoffs. “Noah’s good, but he’s not that good.”

Nate puffs up his chest with his friend’s encouragement. “True,” he smirks.

“Jesus,” I laugh as I look around the boys. “It’s no wonder Nate has such a big head.”

“You don’t think I’ll win?” he questions as he looks down at me.

“I know you’ll win,” I grin. “I’m just pointing out that you could stand to deflate your ego a little.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

I go to tease him some more when Brooke’s ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ draws my attention away. I turn to find her attention solely on the blue car that continues speeding around the track with expert precision as it whoops its opponent’s ass.