Confessions of a Heartbreaker (27 page)

He shrugs before grinning broadly. "Hell ya," then he bumps my knuckles with his fist, "We're brothers, I always have your back. Anyway, football's over. They can't do anything to me now."

I arch a brow because that's not exactly true. "Actually they can suspend you."

He shrugs like it's no big deal. "Then I'll get a little well deserved vaca. Can't beat that."

"I guess we both will," I mutter hoping it seriously doesn't come down to that.

Max tilts his head to one side as he cracks his neck and then promptly jerks it the other way. It's exactly what he does before he's about to play in a big game. I hear his joints crack and pop. It's actually a fairly disturbing noise.

"So, we doing this thing or what?"

I turn my attention to the lone (and surprisingly mouthy) female of the group.

Lindsey. Or
Linz
as Max likes to call her.

Because apparently, where Max goes, Lindsey now follows. Trust me, it's a little pukey. But at least she's a massive step up from Crazy Pants, so I'm not complaining.

That much.

Out loud.

Anyway, she was totally on board with this plan after I straightened her damn ass out. Okay, so that's not exactly how it went down. It was more like I begged and pleaded with her until she finally rolled her eyes and gave in before threatening to cut my balls off if I ever hurt her friend again.

FYI- I totally covered my nuggets during her tyrannical outburst.

Sidebar- what the hell is up with these girls wanting to chop off a guy's junk? Seriously, do you ever hear a guy threaten to cut off a girl's important parts? I don't think so. Hell, those are like the best parts. We just want to touch and feel and you know, love them. Chicks can be so violent sometimes.

But like I said before- we came to a meeting of the minds and she finally conceded that this was the best course of action.

Both Max and I nod before Lindsey looks down at her watch. "We have precisely three minutes to knock this out."

Something stirs in the pit of my gut.

Yep, it's go time.

No turning back now.

"Let's start making our way to the office."

Without further words, the three of us push and shove our way through the herd of students plodding their way like cattle to fourth hour. The bell is going to ring in exactly one minute.

I know this because my wristwatch has been synchronized.

Actually all our watches have been synchronized with the school's clock.

Damn but that sounded so much dorkier than I imagined it would.

For a brief moment, we meet each other's eyes just as the bell rings signaling the beginning of forth hour which also happens to be the start of first lunch. We wait exactly one more minute before opening the door to the main office. Mrs. Shepard, the office secretary, is sitting at her desk typing away on her computer keyboard. Max and Lindsey move in front of me as I fall back. This is the part where I act as inconspicuous as possible.

"Hey, Mrs. Shepard, I brought Lindsey down to the office because she said she was feeling kind of dizzy."

Mrs. Shepard, a grandmotherly type older woman gray curls, clucks her tongue before bustling around the side of her messy desk. "Well, you do look a bit pale, dear. Do you want to lie down for a while or should we call your parents?"

Acting the part, Lindsey slowly rubs her temples as if a massive headache is brewing. "I think I'd feel better if I could just lay down for a little bit. I really don't want to miss sixth hour." She adds weakly, "I have a test."

Yeah, I'll give the girl some credit where credit's due. She's good. And Max, playing the part of caring and concerned boyfriend, wraps his thick muscly arm around her before pulling her close to his body. I almost roll my eyes because I think he's enjoying this a little too much. He better not start groping her in front of Mrs. Shepard.

I'll be totally pissed if we have to abort this mission because Max lost focus and got handsy.

"Let's get you to the nurse's office." And with that, she leads them in the opposite direction of where I'm standing.

Looking back, Max gives me a wink along with a big grin.

I give him a slight nod before slinking my way (and yes, I'm seriously slinking) to our vice principal, Mr. Jennings, office. And just as we suspected- his office is empty.

How exactly did we anticipate this?

Well, because it's first lunch right now and Mr. Jennings likes to patrol first lunch because it's the unruliest of all three lunch periods. Juniors, man. They are a seriously crazy bunch.

See? Carefully orchestrated plan coming together just like clockwork. You can almost hear the Mission Impossible theme music playing in the background as I sidle my way quickly into his office. A moment later I quietly close and lock the door behind me.

First part of the plan- total success.

Now it's on to phase two.

I locate the black phone sitting on the corner of his ridiculously organized desk. Sheesh, can you say anal retentive? Mr. Jennings is a total neat freak. Unable to resist, I rearrange a few things on his desk just to mess with him before picking up the phone. Luckily there are instructions for using the PA system otherwise I'd be up shit creek without a proverbial paddle. Taking a deep breath, I press the four digits. And voila, I'm on the speaker system being broadcasted to the school at large.

It's seriously do or die time.

And I am a man on a mission.
Operation win back Jordan's heart
is a go. I repeat,
operation win back Jordan's heart
is a go.

For one brief moment, I pray that this whole situation doesn't suddenly go south and turn into a shit storm. And I'm not even going to mention the irreparable damage something like this could cause to my reputation. We're talking catastrophic. Because this isn't the kind of thing you live down.

Like ever
.

Hmmm, I wonder if my mom would consider homeschooling me for the rest of senior year. Let's seriously hope it doesn't come to that.

Clearing my throat, I'm suddenly nervous as hell. But like I said before- there's no backing down. I'm going for it. "Hey, what's up everyone, this is Parker Montgomery here. I'm breaking into 4th hour with an important message for a special girl-"

I'm just about to say her name when I hear the door handle being rattled.

Violently.

Mrs. Shepard's small round face fills the slim rectangular glass window in the door.

Yeah, it's definitely time to get this show on the road before she barrels through it. Or finds a key. She may be older and grandmotherly, but she has a lot of girth behind her.

Settling myself on top of Mr. Jennings desk (because he would so hate that), I grab the acoustic guitar I brought with me and position it on my lap. "Jordan Whitnall, this song's for you." Oh so slowly I begin plucking chords. The notes softly blend together shaping themselves into a melody before I add my voice to it.

FYI- I learned to play the guitar because, come on, we all know that badass rocker types are total chick magnets. And let me tell you, the few times I’ve actually needed to pull something out of my ass- you know, go above and beyond my normal shtick to impress a girl- this always did the trick. We're talking grand slam, round all the bases, and slide into home kind of trick. And yeah, I can sing too. Oaky, now there's no way in hell I'll ever win
American Idol,
but it definitely gets the job done.

And by this point, every single one of you should know that I'm all about getting the job done.

Oh. Yeah.

Closing my eyes, I focus on the soft melody as it begins to fill the small office.  I block everything else out. 

My nerves.

Mrs. Shepard, which is difficult because she won't stop rattling that damn door knob.

Everything.

In my mind, it's me and her.  No one but us.

I'm just singing to Jordan...

To foolish to know what I lost that day

Cause it was our friendship that I threw away

Can you forgive me or is it much too late

For us to start over, to finally have our first date

Cause in your hands, you hold my heart

I need your forgiveness, baby, for tearing us apart

I should have realized, known right from the start

That it was you, Jordan, always in my heart

But I’m done now, done running away

Cause I need you, Jordan, I’m begging you to stay

With every word, my voice grows stronger, more confident. I feel all of the lyrics and their meaning slide through me.  I feel every single chord, every single note as I pluck at the strings of my guitar.  Even if she won’t forgive me, I need her to know just how much she means to me.  What she’s always meant to me.

As I finish the first verse, I see Vice Principal Jennings' face now smashed up against the thin glass window. And- surprise, surprise- he doesn’t look happy about my impromptu performance. He shakes the knob before his curt voice slices through the thick wood door separating us.

"Parker! Get off that speaker system and open this door immediately! You're in a lot of trouble for pulling a stunt like this, young man!"

Ignoring him, I launch into the second verse, which is actually just a repeat of the first verse (don’t judge me- do you know how hard it is to rhyme words together?) knowing that my time is clearly marked. It won't be long before someone produces a key.

And then I’m once again closing my eyes, focusing on the notes and on Jordan, hoping that she feels every single ounce of emotion that I’m pouring into this song.

Finally, striking the last chord, I let it linger in the air until there's nothing but silence.

Aside from the pounding and doorknob rattling, that is.

Then I add one last thing.  "Jordan, your friendship means a lot to me and the last thing I want is to lose it. I hope you can forgive me for being a giant asshat."

Yeah, not one of the most flowery and romantic speech's ever given but it's the truth. You gotta give me credit for that.

Even if it's just a little bit.

Just as the last words leave my mouth, the door crashes open and Vice Principal Jennings as well as Mrs. Shepard rush into the room. VP Jennings glares at me from under his thick bushy eyebrows before disconnecting the speaker system.

"Mrs. Shepard, please get Mr. Montgomery's parents on the phone
immediately
, if not sooner." He stalks to stand behind his desk so that we're now facing one another. "Mr. Montgomery, if you're a wise man," he continues to glower at me, "which is highly doubtful, you will remove yourself poste haste from atop my desk and park yourself in one of the chairs over there until your parents arrive."

Mrs. Shepard gives me an equally hard look before shaking her tight gray curls and heading back to the outer office. She suddenly pauses before tilting her head to the side. "Do you hear that?"

Looking exasperated, VP Jennings follows her out into the main office and because I'm fairly curious, I follow too. As I step outside Jennings' office, I begin to hear the commotion as well.

It sounds like thunderous applause filling the corridors. It's everywhere but the majority of it seems to be coming from the lunch room, which is directly across from the main office. It seems like everyone in first lunch is on their feet stomping and cheering and clapping. They're actually whistling and shouting for more. I can't help but shake my head.

That's first lunch for you... totally crazy.

Even though I'm in a shitload of trouble, I can't help the grin that tugs my lips upwards. All I can hope at this point is that Jordan is half as impressed with my performance as everyone else seems to be. Maybe then I'll actually have a fighting chance of getting this girl to listen to my apology in person.

Without my important parts being in any imminent danger.

But apparently not everyone is impressed because all this uproar has Mr. Jennings scowling even more. "Take a seat back in my office, Mr. Montgomery, I have the feeling you're going to be here for a while."

Shrugging my shoulders, I quietly do as I'm told. I'm relieved to see that Max and Lindsey are nowhere to be found. If this plane is going down in a flame of glory, I prefer to do it solo. Holding my guitar across my lap, I drop down onto the burgundy fabric covered chair parked in front of VP Jennings desk. He scrubs a hand tiredly over his face.

"Do I even want to know what possessed you to do something like this, Parker? You're not a trouble maker," he pauses before adding, "a
nymore.
" He frowns suddenly moving his tape dispenser back to its original position.

I strike a few chords on my guitar before sing-songing the words, "It's a grand romantic gesture, Mr. Jennings." I strum the guitar again. "I'm trying to win the heart of a certain girl."

"And for some reason you felt that this was the perfect time and place for just such a grand gesture of love?" He rolls his eyes before burying his face in his hands.

I pluck the guitar chords a few more times before saying, "Come on, Mr. Jennings, even you have to admit that it was pretty damn awesome."

He huffs out a breath. "Watch your language, Parker. You're still in a heap of trouble so I hope, for your sake, that little stunt was worth it."

Yeah, unfortunately the jury is still out on that one.

Mrs. Shepard sticks her head back into the office. "Both Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are on their way."

Well that's not good news.

No offense to my dad (since we just so happen to be getting along- total shocker, by the way), but I was kind of hoping my mom would be the one to bale my ass out. I think we can all agree that she's way more likely to sympathize with what I was trying to do here. Hell, she might even applaud my efforts... Or not.

"Thank you, Mrs. Shepard. Please let me know when they arrive."

"Will do," she says before her eyes zero in on someone standing just outside of Mr. Jennings' office. "Um, I think there's someone here to see Mr. Montgomery."

One of Mr. Jennings' eyebrows slides slowly upwards. "And just
whom
would like to speak with Mr. Montgomery?"

She pauses for just a moment which has me sucking in a breath as I wait. "It's Ms. Whitnall."

Booyah!

Success!

Yep, I'm pretty sure there's a huge smile plastered across my face right now. And I kind of think VP Jennings is struggling to keep his lips from twitching upwards as well.

"Is that so?" Then he clears his throat and his face transforms back to its previous dour expression as if the slight smirk had never been there to begin with. "Unfortunately Mr. Montgomery is being detained at the moment."

I give him my best pleading look before whispering, "Come on, Mr. Jennings, help me out here. I know I'm in trouble, just give me a few minutes alone with her.
Please
?" Yep, and now I've been reduced to begging and pleading. But I am so willing to do it. I throw out a little bit of incentive that I'll probably end up regretting much later. "I promise, if you let me talk with Jordan, you have my word that I will have absolutely no involvement in this year's senior prank."

Which is a freaking shame because this year's prank was going to be legendary. Let's just say that it involved- a few barnyard animals, an eighteen wheeler, and a massive amount of super glue.

He raises a brow as if he's actually considering my words. "Not only will you have no involvement, but you'll put the kibosh on any efforts to prank the school at all."

I slouch further onto my chair. Damn, that's going to be a tough one. I chew my lower lip contemplating my options. But I have to see Jordan. It really isn't a choice. At this point, I'd agree to just about anything.

"Alright, Mr. Jennings, you have my word." And I don't go back on my word. Even with a principal.

Like the civilized adults we are- we lean across the desk and shake on it. Just as I'm about to pull away, Mr. Jennings says quietly, "And don't think I'm unaware of your two accomplices in this little matter, Mr. Montgomery. If that senior prank happens, all three of your heads will roll."

I think my mouth just dropped open.

Damn!

That said, he lets go of my hand before pulling away. "You can send Ms. Whitnall in now."

Mr. Jennings stands up as Jordan is escorted into his office. I jump out of my seat as her green cat-like eyes skewer me in place. Just the sight of her steals my breath away. We haven't been this close to one another in such a long time. My fingers itch to reach out and touch her, to stroke their way through her long blond hair. But I don’t.

"Ms. Whitnall, you have roughly two minutes with Mr. Montgomery and then you'll need to return to class. As I'm sure you can guess, Mr. Montgomery is in quite a bit of trouble at the moment."

She nods her head but says nothing as Mr. Jennings quietly shuts the door behind him.

Our eyes cling and my heart suddenly jackhammers painfully against my chest.  As my nerves ratchet up to ridiculous levels, I realize that I'm way more nervous now than when I was sneaking into the office and serenading her over the PA system.

Because this is it.  She’s either going to give me another chance or I’m totally screwed... and I’ve pretty much lost her for good.