Days later, I was experiencing more ups and downs than a damn roller coaster. Tate completely aware of my presence and cringing every time she saw me—going up! Douchebags trying to fist bump me for screwing her like she was some skanky slut that would throw down anywhere—going down.
Motherfucking cell phone, internet, technology and shit!
And worst of all, I actually felt guilty.
I should’ve been thrilled. Especially since she had transferred into one of my classes yesterday, and I could fuck with her anytime now.
But things were different this year, and that photo hadn’t helped. Guys wanted her. Like wanted her so badly that no amount of shit I spewed about her eating boogers, having lice, or even dissecting human cadavers in her home would dispel.
Screw it. There wasn’t much I could do on that front anymore, and why would I want to? Why did I care if she dated or not? I didn’t.
It simply bugged the shit out me to have a nearly naked picture of her zooming through cyberspace.
Tate would assume I’d planned the whole thing, and she’d know that I would be thrilled about her humiliation. Let her, then. It worked to my advantage.
But that didn’t mean that I was happy or okay with it.
“Toni, baby. Come with me.” I hooked Toni Vincent, cheer captain, by the elbow and led her outside the double doors of the gym.
“Oh, look who’s talking to me after weeks and weeks.” Her sarcastic tone was playful but annoyed.
She and I had hooked up a couple of times last year, and while she was confident and fun, I wasn’t in it for a relationship. She tried to push that shit.
She was cocky, though, and she knew how to work her tough streak. I admired that about her.
“We’re better when we don’t talk,” I mumbled as I backed her into the wall.
She didn’t want to give me an inch, but I saw the small smile peek out before she lowered her green eyes. When she looked back up, her gaze was steady. “So, what do you want?”
“The Cheer blog,” I stated. “The picture of Tatum and me? Take it down.”
“Why should I?” she sneered. “It’s getting a lot of hits.”
“Because I’m telling you to,” I ordered, not flirting or pretending in the least. “Today.”
And I left her there, knowing she’d do it.
Later that day, I made my way to my final class, Themes in Film in Literature. I’d signed up for any courses I could take from Penley this semester. She was sweet, and I felt worse about my behavior towards her than any other teacher last year. It was the teachers who went the extra mile with me that got my respect, and after my dick behavior with her last fall, I’d decided to seize any opportunity I could to show her I was a good student. Or at least a nice guy.
Her classes, while she tried, were my least favorite, though. I hated literature and writing, and definitely hated expressing myself in public when it didn’t involve some Patrón or a fast car.
But I looked forward to this class most of all now. Tate sat two seats in front of me, and I could drill a hole into the back of her head the entire class.
“I’m trying to get into Columbia, pre-med. What about you?” Tate asked Ben Jamison, who sat next to her, and I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on the conversation from behind them.
“I’m applying to a few places,” Ben answered. “I have no head for Math or Science, though. It’ll be Business for me.”
And Business is what exactly? Greek Literature?
“Well, I hope you like some Math. Business goes with Economics, you know?” Tate echoed my thoughts, and I snorted when Ben looked over at her, eyes wide and clearly confused.
I chewed on my pen to keep from laughing at the dumbass.
Tate’s back stiffened, and I knew that she knew I was listening.
“So…” she continued, ignoring me, “you’re on the Homecoming Committee, right?”
“Yeah. You coming?” Ben asked, and I stopped breathing as I waited for her response.
Ben might try to ask her. Maybe he was gauging whether or not she was interested in someone else. I remembered he was interested in her freshman year, but he was put down pretty easily. Once he heard about the Stevie Stoddard rumor, the one I started about Tate losing her virginity to the grimiest kid in school, he didn’t mention her again. He was weak, and he was a follower.
But…girls loved him. Why? I have no idea. He seemed about as boring as a church movie night. He was nice, though. The guy you brought home to Mom.
“We’ll see,” Tate answered. “Have you booked a band, or is there a D.J.?”
“A band would be nice, but they tend to play one genre of music, so it’s hard to please everyone. We’ll have a D.J. I think that’s what everyone decided. He’ll keep the party going with a good mix: pop, country….”
Okay, lesson on Tate and music. If fans do anything less than carve the band’s name into their skin, then the band isn’t worth listening to. Any music that involves more than jumping around and banging your head is about as exciting as Kenny G to her.
Well, to me, too. That’s one area we could see eye to eye.
“Oh…. pop and country? Can’t go wrong there.” She tried to sound sincere, and for a bubblehead like Ben Jamison it probably worked, but I could smell the cover up.
Unable to hold back the snicker, I buried my face in my phone when she turned around to glare at me.
But when I didn’t look at her, she turned back around.
“So, you like pop and country?” she addressed Ben again, and I found myself tapping my pen in irritation.
Where the hell is Penley?
“Mostly country,” I heard Ben answer.
She just nodded at him, hopefully realizing that they didn’t have anything in common.
“You know,” she continued, “I heard we get to watch The Sixth Sense in here this semester. Have you seen it?”
“Oh, yeah. A long time ago, though. I didn’t get it. I’m not a big fan of those thriller-mystery type movies. I like comedies. Maybe she’ll let us watch Borat.”
“Hey, Jamison?” I interrupted, very much done listening to Tate trying to get in this guy’s pants. “If you like Bruce Willis, Unbreakable is a good one. You should give it a shot….you know, if you’re looking to change your mind about thrillers that is.”
There. Now Tate could get back to better things. Like shutting up.
Tate loved Bruce Willis. She liked action movies and thrillers.
And I wanted her to remember that I knew that shit about her.
“Alright, class,” Mrs. Penley finally walked in. “In addition to the packet I am handing out, Trevor is giving you a template of a compass. Please write your name at the top, but leave the areas surrounding North, East, South, and West blank.”
The sound of shuffling papers filled the room, the assembly line of education hard at work. Papers and packets spilled down the rows as each student snatched one up like it was their ticket out of Dodge, and they all had somewhere to go.
“Okay.” Mrs. Penley clapped her hands together. “The packets I gave you are lists of films where important monologues occurred. As we’ve already started discussing monologues and their importance in Film and Literature…”
My mind fogged over, and I heard the noise of Penley’s voice but not the words. My eyes were trained on Tate’s back, and before I knew it, I was lost.
She had grabbed all of her hair and swept it up into a long ponytail, the wavy length cascading down her back like a waterfall, or a ….leash.
I clenched my fists.
Jesus.