Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

Jesse finishes scanning the paper and looks up over my shoulder in outrage. “Where’s my fucking trip to Vegas?” he scolds Nate.

“You broke my fucking rib,” Nate reminds him.

Jesse shakes his head and looks to me. “I should have saved you instead,” he jokes, but little does he know that Nate spent his night convincing his mom to let him buy a one hundred thousand dollar speed boat for the kid before coming to my place.

He’s surprising him with a trip to the boat place over the next few days so he can pick out the colors. You know, as Jesse wouldn’t be happy if he didn’t get to pick out how ridiculous he makes the thing look. And besides, I have a feeling Puck is going to take all the boys with him to Vegas, rather than his parents so Jesse is basically winning twice here, but he can sweat it until Nate drops the big surprise.

The bell rings and even though my throat is still a little sore, I can just tell it’s going to be a good day, no matter how many more people think I’ve come back from the dead to haunt these old halls, and you know, besides the whole Nate being a shady douche this morning.

I get my ass off to class and six hours later, I realize I was wrong. It was a long shitty day, especially when I got hit with a coughing attack in the middle of Biology and nearly died from the pain in my throat. I swear it felt like razor blades cutting up and down my throat. It was awful.

So, when I walk down to my car at the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier to get out of there. “You heading home?” Brooke calls as I look around the lot for Nate but realize he must already be gone. Disappointment flutters through me. I’ve hardly seen him all day, but at least I’ll see him tonight.

“Yeah,” I tell her. “My throat is killing me.”

“Ok,” she says. “You want me to come over?”

“Sure,” I tell her, “But you better be bringing some ice cream and jelly.”

“Fine,” she laughs. “I’ll stop by the store.”

“Thanks,” I grin before opening the door and dropping down into my car.

I start the engine and peel out of the parking lot before pulling out on to the road. I turn up my music and try not to think about Nate, but let’s be honest, it’s all that’s gone through my mind all day. It’s sort of like he’s avoiding me and the only reason I can come up with is that he’s letting what my dad said get to him, which is ridiculous.

I let out a sigh and work on getting myself home without getting into an accident.

I drive past the gas station and I can’t help but notice Jesse’s Range Rover. Jesse is standing by the side of the car, filling the tank while Nate is inside paying. I go to keep driving, knowing I’ll probably see them later, but a car screeching to a holt behind the Range Rover has me pulling off the road and hurrying to get to them.

Jackson flies out of the passenger’s seat of his friend’s Charger and rushes Jesse who looks a little confused by his sudden appearance. I cringe as I hurry to catch up with them.

I look up to the store to see Nate looking out the window with wide eyes, just as surprised as the rest of us. Anger takes over his features. He’s been waiting for this since Jackson tried that bullshit at school. The only problem is, we’ve only seen him on school grounds where we are all bound by their rules. Now, out in the real world, it’s free for all and Nate has a score to settle.

I rush forward and instantly put myself between Jackson and Jesse, desperately trying to push the big walls of muscle away from each other, knowing neither one of them will hurt me. Well, I’m assuming Jackson isn’t stupid enough to hurt me in front of Nate and Jesse.

“Back off, Jackson,” I warn him as his friends start piling out of the Charger. “This isn’t going to end well for you.”

“Move, Tora,” Jesse says through clenched teeth. “You’re going to get hurt.”

“Listen to your little lap dog, babe,” Jackson spits.

“Stop calling me that,” I seethe as I go to jam my elbow hard into his stomach, only it never connects as a hand is wrapped around my waist and I’m hauled behind Nate’s body before being pushed away.

“Get out of here,” Nate demands. It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me and not Jackson.

“Like hell,” I grunt as Jesse reaches for Jackson.

With that, it’s on. Fists are thrown and even though there is three of them and only two of my guys, they seem to be holding their own, but I’m not going to stand back and let this be an unfair fight.