Page 23 of Life Lessons

Moody Bastard: Fuck, you have no idea how much I want to do that.

Moody Bastard: Why are you sitting with those assholes?

Moody Bastard: What am I saved in your phone as? They better not know it’s me!!

Booty Call: You are saved under Moody Bastard, which right now seems very apt. I am sitting with them because Trix is an asshole, but she is my best friend. I am more interested in making plans for you to remove your t-shirt from my body.

Moody Bastard: I should be offended, but I’m in a really bad fucking mood given how close you are sitting to those assholes.

Booty Call: You jealous?

Moody Bastard: Keep talking, I’m keeping score.

Booty Call: What for?

Moody Bastard: So I know exactly how many times to spank you.

My breath hitches, and I’m suddenly and rudely pulled out of the moment by Trixie screeching my name.

“What?” I snap back, a lot ruder than I intended. But, fuck me, that conversation had been going somewhere good.

“The boys have come up with a way for you to pick which one you will be partnering with, and I will go with the other. They are going to lift you above their head and whichever you feel most comfortable with is the one you choose,” she says and I can feel my eyes bugging out of my skull, almost like I am a cartoon in a very comedic strip.

“Fuck no, why can’t I just pick one of them?” I ask desperately. I do not like this idea at all.

“Relax, baby girl. I am the champion at this event and you weigh like a quarter of what I bench press. So chill out,” Harley says. I am anything but chilled.

I start to protest, but both Jackson and Harley, taking an arm each, drag me up off the sofa, and pull me behind it further into the open space. I am vehemently opposing them, making it very clear we are not doing this. But Harley, who has decided to go first, is not listening to a word I say. I can hear the cheers of support from his fellow jocks as he pulls me close and tells me to stay as straight and rigid as I can. I tell him we are not doing this, but knowing he is going to ignore me and do it anyway, I decide not listening to his safety briefing would make this whole thing even more fucking dangerous, and so I follow the instructions. Until he places his hand onto my scarred thigh. It may be covered with the denim from my jeans, but the idea that he might be able to feel them scares the shit out of me.

I yelp, jumping back startled, making it look as though I was burned by his touch. Harley looks sheepish, like he thinks he hurt me and really does feel bad, but I am in no mood to listen.

I don’t know why having my scars touched by Harley brings back flashbacks of how I got them in the first place, the pain, the suffering, but it does. They are my personal badge that I wear for all the world to see how much of an asshole I am and that I’m the reason my better half is no longer in the world. I don’t even want to think about why I didn’t feel this way last night when Jett’s hands roamed all over my body, or why this morning I had no problem telling him about it when he asked. That’s something for another me to worry about, because right now I need to say something to get rid of all the eyes that are on me. But all I can feel is the darkness descending, pulling me into a place I try very hard to avoid. A booming voice comes to my rescue.

“Enough. For fucks sake, I am trying to enjoy my Sunday afternoon coffee in peace, so everyone keep it the fuck down! Harley, Jackson, either sit down here or in my room for weekend detention. Newbie has made it very clear she does not want your slimy hands all over her in front of the entire cafeteria. I would suggest if you are partnered with her that you work on building trust rather than just forcing her into things,” Jett shouts from his seat at the table next to ours.

Both Harley and Jackson actually look ashamed of themselves, and scuttle away back to the seat we were sitting on before. It’s actually a mark of respect that they listen to Jett so much because I know for a fact if one of our other teachers would have said that they would have told them to piss off. But with Mr Caine, it’s like they crave his approval, which of course they will never get. Once they are seated, Harley turns towards Jett.

“Sorry, Mr Caine. But we need to work out some way for us to decide who partners with Abbie,” Harley says, and Jett literally rolls his eyes.

“Have you thought about maybe just asking her?” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm and I can’t help but smile. I don’t know why he is fighting for me, but it feels good.

“Abs, who do you want to partner with?” asks Jackson, and I look sheepishly at Jett, letting him know exactly who I want to partner with. His eyes flick away from mine and focus intently on what I know will be a hazelnut latte, but not before I get a chance to see the deep fire blazing in his normally hazel eyes. His pupils are so wide making his eyes burn an obsidian colour, full of passion.

“I don’t know. I really don’t care,” I say and this time there is no mistaking the loud groan that echoes from Jett.

“For fuck’s sake, newbie, you aren’t making things easy, are you?” he moans, and I catch the double meaning behind his statement. My aim is to not make things easy for him. In fact, I want to make things very hard. I know that’s the route his brain is taking, as I see him shuffle slightly. I’m sure he is adjusting himself, before he continues talking. “Since you clearly can’t decide, I will do it for you. You are partnered with Harley, and Jackson, you go with Musgrove. But let me make it very fucking clear, boys. If these girls at any time decide to withdraw, you let them. If they don’t want to practice a certain event and want to wing it on the day, you let them. And if you even think about making sure they wear the shortest, tightest outfit you can find in the hopes that gets you more points from the judges, and yes I did hear that part of your conversation, you can think again. We are the judges, and we will not be impressed,” he says pointing to himself and the other young sports teachers, who have both turned around now to stare at the situation.

Giving credit to Jackson and Harley, they do have the decency to look ashamed of their comments. I personally am glad I missed it at the time because I would have pulled out. There is no way I will be wearing anything other than sweats, my legs are not going on display. Harley seems excited by the decision, whereas Jackson is groaning and casting worried glances over at Trixie. They both agree with Mr Caine, before Jackson starts talking to Trixie about the training schedule they will need to start straight away. As I sit down and pick up my coffee, Harley asks me about training and I agree to meet with him after school tomorrow to discuss a game plan. I feel my phone in my pocket and lean back on the comfy sofa, away from the boys who are both leaning forward talking to others in the group. Nobody is paying me any attention, except for the gaze I can feel coming from the other table.

Moody Bastard: I couldn’t let him touch you when you were saying no. You can add possessive and interfering to my screen name.

I slowly lift my eyes to look over at Jett and he actually looks almost embarrassed and a little sheepish, like he thinks he shouldn’t have interfered.

Booty Call: You did me a favour. And besides, I like that you’re possessive and interfering.

Moody Bastard: Don’t you understand, I can’t get jealous. I can’t have you. But I hate the idea that those assholes can.

Booty Call: Who says you can’t have me? And who says they can? I’m the one in charge of my own body and I say you can.

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