The Bad Boy (3 page)

I had no way of
responding. I mean what do you say to something like that? Conner
must have realized I was speechless because he continued on
talking. Not that I wanted him too. “Emilie I didn’t mean it like
that. But think about it without me do you think you would be
friends with any of these people or have the
popularity?”

               
This got me talking. “Conner before I even started
dating you I was friends with these people! I don’t give a shit
about popularity either! And for you to think it’s all because of
you that I have this life is the most absurd thing ever!” I
screamed glaring at him.

               
His eyes turned to slits and his lips thinned.
“You better watch the way you talk to me Emilie.”
Excuse me!? He
doesn’t own me!

               
“
Conner I think it will be best if you leave.
Now.” I left no room for him to fight me back but somehow he
doesn’t understand anything today and just ignored me.

               
He pushed me up against the locker with his body
placing his hands on each side of my face. Caging me in. “Why? So
you go and sneak off again with McKingsley? Yeah you didn’t think I
didn’t see what happened in the parking lot yesterday?” He looked
me straight in the eye. “You are mine Emilie. Mine fucking only!”
He hissed.

               
I felt my heart beat pick up to a not good rate.
Why was he acting like this? We broke up! He cheated on me! Even
when we did date, he never got this jealous. I was tired, confused
and my chest was starting to hurt from how hard Conner was pushing
against it.

               
“
Okay. Okay.” I breathed tears almost escaping.
But I wasn’t going to break down in front of him. “I get it.” I
just had to agree and maybe he will leave me alone. It was the only
thing I could think of at the moment. Later, I would probably
regret it though.

               
He leaned back a little and gave me a smile.
It
wasn’t a nice one either.
“That’s my girl.”
What was I, a
pet?
“I love you Emilie.” I just nodded my head not looking him
in the eyes. He was beyond crazy! “Say it back you
bitch!”

               
He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.
“I love you too.” I choked still trying to hide my tears. Where is
everyone? Oh right, class was in session. I’m pretty sure I missed
most of first period by now.

               
He gave me that chilling smile again, kissed me
hard and then walked off. I sank to the floor and pulled my knees
up to my chest. I had no idea what just happened.

               
The worst part. I was still late.

               
I sipped on my coffee while kicking through the
leaves on the ground. I was walking through the local park by
myself. They were setting up for the fair but they didn’t even
notice the random girl making her way through. Which was good, I
didn’t want anyone to notice me. School dragged on today but I
didn’t see Jared at all. Which meant unfortunately, Conner was
around more, it felt like. Thank God, he didn’t try being
affectionate in front of anyone. I don’t want people thinking we
are dating.

               
I sat down on a bench and pulled my knees to my
chin after I threw away my empty coffee cup. I haven’t told anyone
what happened in the hallway with Conner because I’m hoping that
maybe he didn’t get any sleep either last night and he was just not
thinking. Although, I doubted it but I was trying to think
positive.

“
Why
the long face?” I jumped in my seat and spun around to see Jared
standing there smirking at me. He had his hands in pockets and was
leaning against a tree. A black beanie was covering his head and he
was only in a white t-shirt with black skinny jeans and biker
boots. He looked hot. Even I had to admit it.
Damn
it!

               
I wasn’t in the mood for another fight today. I
turned back around and leaned back closing my eyes. “I’m tired.
Didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Because of
you.

               
“
I know I have that effect on girls.” My heart
jumped until I caught onto his humor. The crunching of leaves
snapped me out of my thoughts and then Jared was sitting next to me
stretching his legs out crossing them at the ankles.

               
“
Not this one.”
Lie.
My subconscious
laughed. He doesn’t have to know I think he’s hot and so what! It’s
not like I admitted to liking him. “So why are you in the park?
Scoping out single mothers?”

               
He smirked at me. “I don’t go older than twenty,
sweetheart.” He leaned closer eyeing my mouth. That sent my heart
to jump again. “That leaves you available.”

               
“
I rather poke my eye out. Thank you.” I smirked
back at him.

               
He held his hands up and moved back to his regular
spot. “Suit yourself. But I know one day I will have
you.”

               
“
I will be dead that day.” I gave him a disgusted
look. “Ew, that means you will be banging a corpse. I didn’t know
you liked it that dirty Jared.”

               
A smile broke across his face and for a moment I
was shocked. I’ve seen him smirk and give a devious smile but never
a full blown grin. It made him look hotter.
Damn! I’m going to
be up all night again!

               
“
If it’s with you, I will go as dirty as dirty can
go.” I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder.

               
“
Nice Jared. Real nice.” I laughed looking over at
the workers who were now putting up the kissing booth. “They have
never done a kissing booth before. I think it’s kind of cool they
are doing it this year.” I explained for no reason.

               
Jared shrugged when I looked over at him. “I don’t
care. I don’t come to this stupid shit anyway.”

               
I smacked my forehead in mock stupid. “Oh I
forgot! You are the bad ass! Coming here would be like social
suicide right?” I gave him a look of mock horror.

               
He gave me a half smile. “God, Emilie what is with
you today? You’re really throwing those comebacks out.” He nodded
his head. “And you’re right, that would be social
suicide.”

I shook my head
at him. “You are such a loser.  Bet if they had a fighting
booth you would be in charge of it.” I laughed.

               
He raised any eyebrow. “A fighting booth? How
would that even work out?”

               
I put a finger to my lip. “People pay money to
punch you in the face.” I smiled brightly and pointed at him. “Oh
God! I would pay a fortune to punch you in the face just once.” I
laughed at him as he glared at me.

               
“
Please baby doll nobody would want to do that.”
He said smugly.

               
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And why not?” I
sure as hell would.

               
He gestured to his face and gave me a heart
dropping smile. “Do you think anyone would want to punch this sexy
face? I think not.”

               
I mumbled. “I can think of someone.” Jared was
about to say something when his name was called from behind us. We
both whirled our heads around to see three boys walking our way.
When they got close enough, recognition clicked in my head and I
knew they were his friends. The only three he has in our
school.

               
They weren’t too far away and I didn’t want to be
here when they came because even though I learned to not be scared
of Jared that didn’t mean his friends were the same.
 

               
I stood up and looked down at Jared. “Got to go. I
have a long walk home.”
Lie, I lived like ten minutes away.
“Bring in the project papers tomorrow and I’ll see you in class.” I
said in a rush but didn’t miss the nod he gave me with confusion in
his eyes.

               
I casually walked away and out of the park. When I
was sure Jared and his friends couldn’t see me anymore, I let out a
breath of relief. His friends honestly scared the shit out of me.
As I walked home something went off in my head.

               
He looked perfectly fine. Didn’t look sick or beat
up. So why wasn’t he in school today?

Anna flipped her
hair over her shoulder and gave us a dazzling smile. “He was all
over me. I think it was because of the shirt I was wearing or
because you know I’m me.” I rolled my eyes and caught Hailey doing
the same thing. Best friends think alike.

               
Hailey spoke up. “Anna all guys pay attention to
you.” That made Anna smirk and give off a smug look. “But that’s
only because they know you will get into bed with them.” And there
goes her smirk! I had to choke back my laugh but it was true. Anna
was a slutly girl.

               
“
At least I can get guys…” I zoned out on the
fight I knew was about to break out between the two. Hailey never
liked Anna and well Anna doesn’t like anyone who doesn’t like
her.

               
Conner wasn’t in school today and I didn’t bother
to figure out why. I was still skived out from what happened
yesterday and him not being around made me happy. I wasn’t going to
question it.

               
Someone nudged my shoulder and I looked to see it
was Tina, one of the girls that usually hung out in the ‘popular’
group. “Why does badass Jared McKingsley keep looking over at you?”
I looked over to where Tina nodded her head and was surprised to
find she was right. Jared was looking over at my direction. But
that didn’t mean anything. There was a bunch of people near me, he
could be looking at anyone.

               
“
Tina he could be looking at anyone.” I laughed it
off although my heart was beating a little faster. Why did he have
to have that effect on me?

               
She shook her head at me. “I swear he is looking
at you. The question is why though.” She gave me a curious look but
I brushed her off with a shoulder shrug. There wasn’t anything
going on with me and Jared. Sure, we get along… kind of. I mean he
still gets on my nerves but he wasn’t as much of a jerk as the
first time I talked to him.

               
“
Come to my locker with me Emilie.” I nodded to
Hailey beyond happy to get away from the girls. Not all of them
were bad but when Anna was around, I felt like I was in
prison.

               
“
Why am I just now noticing how much of a pain the
people we hang out with are?” I questioned Hailey while laughing.
She laughed too.

               
“
If I could punch Anna in her fake nose, I so
would.” She admitted while punching in the combination to her
locker.

               
“
I don’t think her parents would be too happy
about that. They paid a lot of money.” I said

               
Hailey laughed and closed her locker. “Nothing
about that girl is real.”

               
“
Tell me about.” We both swirled our heads in the
direction of the new voice to see Jared and his friends standing
around Hailey and I. I shared a look with Hailey but she seemed
calm. Weird.

“
What
do you need Jared?” I asked while keeping an eye on his friends. It
didn’t make them look any nicer with the hoods they were wearing
over their heads and the sketchy looks they kept sending each
other.

               
“
I have something for you.” I cocked an eyebrow at
his very vague answer.

               
“
Okay, what is it?”

               
“
If you follow me I can give it to
you.”

               
I gave him a weird look. “Why can’t you just give
it to me here?”

               
His eyes narrowed and I saw his jaw clench. “Can’t
you just listen for once and follow me?”

               
That was my queue to listen and not get punched by
Jared McKingsley. “Sure.” I turned to Hailey to see if she would be
okay with the three guys but was a little shocked to see her
sending a secret smile to one of them. I couldn’t see his
expression because his face was angled away from me.

               
“
She’ll be fine. Let’s go.” Jared grabbed my arm
and started pulling me down the hallway. He pushed me into an empty
classroom and that’s when I got worried. Why? I don’t know, after
what happened with Conner yesterday most things were freaking me
out.