Page 10 of The Prom

I shrug, wondering why I am so empty inside where it concerns Jesse. The Claiming was supposed to bring us together, but Jesse has other plans.

Cassie sighs, worry etched on her brow. “Frankie’s worried about him.”

“What did he say?”

I’m curious and Cassie huffs, “He’s not convinced he’s telling the truth.”

“About?”

“About his involvement with Miss Sloane.”

“But she left.” I’m aware of Jesses’s relationship with our former art teacher who left under a cloud when the principal discovered her preference for the students. If anything, I sympathize because I’m certain that if a certain history teacher gave me one sign he was interested in me, I would fuck the rules and go there like a shot.

“She still has her house in town.”

“How do you know?”

Cassie looks down and mumbles. “Frankie went there and even though she was nowhere to be seen, all of her stuff is still there.”

“And you believe that Jesse is still seeing her?”

My heart drops and Cassie attempts to reassure me. “I don’t, but Frankie thinks he is holding out on him. That he’s hiding something and Frankie is worried it concerns her.”

I say nothing because I share the same thoughts regarding him. There is definitely something on his mind, and I gaze at her thoughtfully.

I recognize the gleam in her eyes and I laugh softly. “Do you want me to do some digging?”

“You read my mind.”

We smile because this is not unfamiliar territory for us. We share many secrets and will always work as a team, along with Jack, who we both grew up with. Living with close on fifty bikers taught us survival skills not many other kids learn and the three of us share a close bond that I doubt will ever be broken.

“Leave it with me.”

She nods with relief. “I hoped you’d say that.”

I smile. “You should be going. You don’t want to be late for the party.”

“I don’t like leaving you.”

I wave her concern away as I point to the door. “I’ll be fine. I’ve had enough excitement for the day, anyway. Go and have fun, and I expect a full report in the morning.”

As she leaves, I breathe a sigh of relief because I wasn’t kidding. I could really use some time alone and figure out exactly where I go from here. One thing was certain, my reaction to Jesse doesn’t even come close to how I react after one lingering glance from a certain teacher and I am clueless about how to manage that.

FIVE

IMOGEN

I must have fallen asleep because I jump with a start when a loud voice yells, “Hey, baby, the cavalry has arrived.”

I blink furiously against the sudden light that illuminates the room to find Jesse carrying a box of pizza and two root beers, grinning cheekily from the open door.

“Jesse.” I blink in confusion and as he drops down beside me on the bed, he balances the beers on the box and grins. “I brought the party to you.”

“I can see that.”

His cheeky wink drags a smile out of me and as I take one of the beers, I’m grateful for the cool shot of regeneration it gives me.

“Cassie told me what happened. You should be more careful, baby.”

---