Jaded (Jaded #1)

Mr. Aldross shook his head, probably in disappointment while more than a few coughed behind me.

Just then the door opened again and Bryce Scout strolled in to take a seat at my table. Bryce was Corrigan’s exact opposite, but the two fitted the best friend duo perfectly. Corrigan smoozed anyone and everyone he chose while Bryce produced the same results with his silence. The quintessential gorgeous bad boy: black Mohawk, sea blue eyes, and cheekbones that couldn’t compare to how the rest of his body was chiseled. Anyway, Corrigan talked and Bryce listened. It worked for the two and they were the top of the social hierarchy.

I heard the swift intake of breath from nearly all the girls in the room, but I often wondered why half of them fell over backwards when Bryce was around. He didn’t give so many the time of day.

“Mr. Scout,” Mr. Aldross sighed. “You’re late. Again.”

Bryce greeted him by laying his head down on the table. He closed his eyes and the class watched as he promptly fell asleep.

I laughed.

A few others laughed and Mr. Aldross stood in shock. The disrespect was damning and it didn’t help to come on the heels of the Corrigan and Sheldon show.

“Mr. Scout, you will wake up as you progress to the principal’s office.” And Mr. Aldross must’ve had enough.

Bryce lifted his piercing blue eyes and grinned triumphantly as he looked right at me. He quickly grabbed his books and left, but I knew that’s what Bryce had wanted.

Mr. Aldross glared, “Miss Jeneve, please return Mr. Scout to the classroom. You can inform him that I’ve changed my mind.” No doubt, he wanted to torture Bryce by making him actually stay in a class.

Everyone knew why he sent me. Besides Corrigan, I was the only other person that Bryce would listen to. Whatever, I didn’t mind. I wouldn’t have to write the answers on the board for the homework that I hadn’t done.

As I strolled out the door, I glimpsed Bryce turning a corner that didn’t lead towards the principal’s office.

“Bryce,” I called out. A second later, as I turned down the same hallway, I saw Bryce was at his locker.

“Hey,” I greeted, lazily, as I leaned against the locker beside his.

“Hey,” Bryce greeted, his head still in his locker. A second later, he raked his eyes over me and grinned as he reached for my book. He placed it in his locker, grabbed my hand, and led me farther down the hallway.

“What are we doing?” I already knew.

“Why’d you come after me?”

“Mr. Aldy wanted me to inform you that you weren’t going to the Principal’s office anymore.” I left the rest out on purpose.

“I wasn’t going to go. You know that.” He grinned as he pulled me into a janitor’s closet. And when that door closed, no more words were needed. Once inside, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as his head dipped and took my lips in his, fiercely. Hot.

This is what Bryce and I did. We weren’t together, but most everyone assumed we were.

Neither of us did commitment, but if we had, it would’ve been to each other.

That was another unspoken agreement. If anyone wanted out of the situation, the other would let them go with an easy smile, but probably no well-wishes.

Our clothes were still on, and would’ve remained on (I had some class), when the door opened abruptly and the janitor stood frowning at us.

Before he could muster a lecture, Bryce pulled me out and we both meandered towards his locker. He kissed me deeply once more before the final bell rang and the hallway was flooded.

Our hands fell apart when he opened his locker and produced my book.

“Thanks,” I murmured, ruefully.

Bryce looked to say something, but Corrigan interrupted as he bounced up to us and threw one arm over both of our shoulders.

“How are my greatest friends?” Corrigan asked, cheekily.

Bryce smirked.

“I’m not making friends with Steele,” I retorted.

“Oh, come on. I bet she’s hot. She has to be hot. Be friends with her for me.”

“What’s up with Steele?” Bryce questioned. I searched his face, but there wasn’t a hint of anything. Bryce had been doing our thing for years and he’d known about the Denton Steele event. He’d never commented on it and I’d never offered any explanation, but—really—how do you explain that?

“He’s got a super-fine sister coming to town. I want Shell, since she’s hot and heavy with Mr. Sexiest Man Alive to seduce his sister around to our social crowd.”

“Seduce?” I grinned. “I don’t do girl on girl.”

Bryce chuckled as a bright smile lit on Corrigan’s face.

“That’d be perfect! You can do that too.” Like it hadn’t already been his secret hope.

“Hi Bryce. Hi Corrigan. Hi Sheldon.”