Page 6 of Hate Game

Why am I annoyed that the tall, pretty girl with dark hair captured his attention? I don’t even like the guy. I’m curious, that’s all.

“Come on, Rue. It’s time to pay up.” Red gets up off the lawn chair and extends his hand to me.

He smiles, and I blink, amazed at how similar the Sterling boys look. It could’ve been Malice standing before me, except Red’s hair is gelled and spiked rather than tousled. Red is lean muscle. Malice is all bulk. His tall, bulky frame is one of the reasons he is a great offensive lineman. Not that football interests me.

I place my drink in the cupholder and set my hand in Red’s. He tugs me up and onto my feet. Our movement draws Malice’s attention. His gaze drops to my hand in Red’s before shooting back to my face. He narrows his eyes and locks his jaw.

Is he imagining that Red is Red’s brother, Midnight, and I’m my sister, Riley? When will Malice stop having a crush on my sister? When will he seeme? I sigh. Why wish for something that will never happen?

“What do you have planned?” I lost a bet to Red.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He picks up the backpack at his feet and pulls me behind him. Winslow and Shay follow.

We walk past Malice and Cambridge High’s in-crowd. We’re almost past the crowd when I’m grabbed by the arm and yanked hard. I collide with a large body. The scent of leather is strong, and I hate that the heat from Malice’s arm on my lower back seeps through my shirt, branding my skin.

“Don’t do it.” His breath is warm on the tip of my ear. “Don’t go down that path. It won’t end well for you.”

Malice expects failure from me. Nothing new there. I stare at his Adam’s apple. His fingers tighten around my arm. A warning? Concern? Nope. He is showing the enthralled crowd he’s in charge of this situation and not Loser Rue Lee.

I pry his fingers off my arm and step back. He glares. I stare back. He takes a step into my personal space. We’re toe to toe, but I don’t budge. He clenches his jaw, and I meet his gaze, defying him when a different girl would bow down to Cambridge High’s royalty. That’s how it is in high school. Jocks are treated like they are rulers of the school.

“Call it a night, Rue.”

“I’m not ready.”

“That’s not what you saidthatnight.”

How dare he bring up a private moment in such a public place? “You have no right.” My voice trembles, and his eyes soften. Does he seemefor me? Is he through being angry with me? Malice blinks, and a moody jerk replaces the carefree boy with the infectious laughter who I fell hard for.

“Go sit and enjoy the rest of the night with your boys. Leave the path be.”

And pass up the chance to prove him wrong? Uh-uh. I barge past him and head down the path. Loudly and with pity in his voice, his words follow me. “Stop following Red around like a lovesick puppy. He’s meant for more.”

The other kids’ stares bore into my back, and there’s snickering. My friends rush to my side. Red reaches for my hand, and I sidestep him.

“Rue.”

There’s pity in his voice too. I get it. I’m not good enough for a Sterling boy and never will be. They are meant for more than the attention of a girl with nothing to her name and a reputation for being a loser.

This pity party has gone on long enough. They don’t call the shots; I do. I decide what mistakes I make because I’m the one who has to live with the consequences.

“Let’s get this over with. I’m ready to ditch this party and head back to your place,” I say loud enough for those behind us to hear and get the message that there is no following done on my part. I wouldn’t be returning to Red’s had I not been invited.

Malice calls out the obvious in his know-it-all voice. “He’ll ask you to jump.”

“So, I’ll jump,” I say over my shoulder. “What’s the big deal?”

Malice catches up and takes a spot between me and Shay, his steps in tandem with mine.

“You’ll get hurt.”

Translation: You’re a loser and a failure.

“I lost a bet, and I’m good for my word.”

“Losing a bet and losing your life are two different things. One of them, you don’t come back from.”

“I’ll risk it.”

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