White is for Virgins (28 page)

“Hey Lily,” I said, getting an idea.

She looked up at me with intrigue.

“Since Thanksgiving is in two weeks, I’ll be busy with Red Cross stuff,” I started, “But I’m free this weekend… I was thinking we could hang out or something.”

Lily smiled and opened her mouth to answer, but Fox weighed her down by draping his arm around her shoulders.

“That’s cute, Em,” he said, “But Lily and I already made plans since I’ll be tied up in two weeks too.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage. To hide my surprise and somewhat disappointment, I bit down on another forkful of spaghetti.

“Well then it all works out,” Nick chuckled, smiling at me.

Fox arched his eyebrow in response to Nick’s statement. I tried to follow.

“Emery, you forgot that we were supposed to hang out this weekend, didn’t you?”

“Oh, yeah.” I nodded, smiling as I remembered our conversation.

I didn’t dare look across the table. Direct eye contact with either Fox or Lily would make things awkward, and it’d make me blush. I didn’t feel like blushing at the moment.

“Where are we going?” I asked, looking Nick in his chocolate eyes.

“Well,” he said, “If your forehead clears up, I was thinking we could go out to Max’s and get some dinner.”

I smirked and arched my eyebrow, trying to mirror his seductive tactic. “And if I’m still black and blue? Then what?”

“Then we’ll rent some movies and play Scrabble,” he said with a straight face.

“How romantic,” I sighed sarcastically. Then I shoved him.

“Aww, Em,” he smiled reassuringly, “The bruise is cute. Really.”

I smiled halfheartedly and made the mistake of looking over at Fox.

“Do you have anything to say to that, Mr. Evans?” I asked him haughtily.

“No,” he said shaking his head, “Nikki’s right. It’s cute. You’re adorable.”

I blushed.

He smirked and added, “If by cute he meant as adorable as my Grandma is when she’s drunk and takes her dentures out… then yeah, you’re  as cute as it gets.”

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened.

“You’re an asshole,” I deadpanned. If I wasn’t so tired of his attitude I would’ve entertained the comment and laughed at the idea of an old woman, drunk and toothless. He had probably expected me to laugh it off.

Giving in to Fox was unacceptable.

The bell rang, signaling the end of our lunch period. I scrambled out of the cafeteria and to my next class. Even though everyone had already glimpsed my blemish, the stares continued.

I pulled my side bangs in front of my face and held my head high.

***

“Oh my – Emery!” Nina exclaimed. I rolled my eyes and explained the story to her.

So many people had asked me about it, I was considering typing up the tale on a piece of paper and posting flyers.

Fox came running into the building, surprisingly punctual.

Nina pointed her finger at his accusingly.

He looked like a deer caught in headlights, but then turned and spotted me.

“What’d
kinda lies did she tell you?” he smirked, walking over to us.

I gasped lightly, “Lies? Me? Fox, I can’t believe you would accuse me of such a thing!”

“Yeah, yeah, Emery, cut the act,” he said, waving me off.

“Do you see what I have to put up with?” I asked Nina.

“Oh, I see,” Nina nodded, “You two are perfect for each other.”

I turned to glare at her in disbelief, resulting in whip-lash.

“Hah! Broken neck,” Fox laughed.

Nina shook her head as if she knew something we didn’t. I rubbed my neck, feeling very misunderstood.

“It’s ok, Em,” he said comfortingly, patting my shoulder. “I’ve known how you felt about me for quite a while now.”

I smirked and humored him, “
Aww, really? Is it
that
obvious that I can’t stand you?”

“Completely,” he murmured, leaning in.

My breath caught as he brushed a few strands of hair from over my bruise. His thumb grazed the slight swell so lightly that I barely felt it at all. It would’ve tickled, were it not for the pain. I winced lightly.

“I really am sorry,” he said softly. I could tell he was. Those emerald eyes had never looked more sincere.

“Ahh, it’s no big deal,” I said, easing out from between him and the edge of the counter.

“I mean, the rumors are starting up again,” I shrugged nonchalantly, “and I don’t think I’ve ever been more
famous
… But, like I said, it’s not that bad.”

One could taste the sarcasm.

“Maybe you should take this as a sign,” he suggested, hopping on the counter top.

“A sign?”

“Yeah, maybe you should stop trying so hard to be the wallpaper, Em,” he said, chugging his water. “If you keep getting thrown back into the spotlight, maybe – for some odd reason - you are just meant to stand out.”

I stood there, completely caught off guard.

“I don’t want to stand out,” I said, running a hand through my hair out of habit. I winced as I touched my bruise.

“God doesn’t seem to care what you want,” he smirked.

“Evans! Off the counter!” Nina yelled from her office.

Fox slipped off the counter, still smiling.

I wanted nothing more than to smack him.

“So, you and Nick, huh?” he asked, putting his water bottle back into his backpack.

“So, you and Lily, huh?” I countered.

“Don’t worry about it,” he shrugged.

“Well it’s kinda hard not to worry,” I said.

He looked up at me, narrowing his eyes as a challenge to continue.

“I mean, when you brought her back from that…
attempt
at a date…” I said, trying not to smile at my choice in words, “the poor thing looked almost… miserable.”

“Miserable?
Pshh, stop bluffing Em,” he said confidently. “You’re just jealous.”

“I’m not.”

Before he got a chance to speak, I did.

“You didn’t even kiss her,” I smiled victoriously, crossing my arms as if saying, ‘Explain
that
, big shot.’

“I didn’t kiss her because this wasn’t a hookup,” he said, completely serious. “It was a date, and I didn’t want to move too fast.”

I clenched my jaw. Thankfully, the phone came to rescue. I hoped I didn’t look too much like an idiot as I picked up the phone and said happily, “Good afternoon, Hartford Red Cross Center, this is Emery. How may I help you?”

I tried to focus on what the person on the other end of the line was saying, but that was confirmed as nearly impossible… because Fox was giving me the most serious look I’d ever seen.

It was also the most attractive.

Chapter 19

.3
rd
PERSON POV.

Fox Evans swaggered lazily over to a shady corner behind the Hartford School of Arts. He’d scheduled this little meeting a half hour before school began to ensure they’d have some privacy.

Lily was leaning against the brick wall, rolling her lips together as she put her chapstick back in the shirt pocket of her uniform dress shirt.

“Good morning, Tiger,” he said, smiling as she scowled.

“Cut the crap,” she muttered, standing up straight.

Lily seemed edgy this morning, and Fox had a pretty good guess as to why.

“You know, it’s not good to start a day all pissed off like that,” he told her, waving his hand around, “All this negative energy is a real turn off.”

“You act like I care,” she sighed, glaring at him.

He decided it was time to indeed ‘cut the crap’.

“It kills you inside, seeing them together, doesn’t it?” he asked, dropping his backpack from his shoulder.

“She’s crazy about him!” Lily said frustratingly running a hand through her honey brown, choppy layers of hair.

“Who, Emery?” he laughed, “She’s far from crazy about him. Nikki’s just got game.”

When Lily remained unconvinced, he added, “She wouldn’t do that to you.”

Lily sniffed, chewing on her bottom lip as she stared at her shoes. Fox’s eyes remained locked on her until she got the courage to return the gaze.

“You haven’t told her,” he stated harshly. He didn’t even need to ask. He knew she hadn’t. “Why?”

“Because – I just…” she fumbled over her words. She batted her eyelashes before changing her train of thought. “I think Nick told her.”