Page 204 of We Shouldn't Be Together
Kai winks. “I’m still keeping my fingers crossed.”
We land at the table just as the boys groan. I follow Parker and Lewis’s sightline and find them staring at Yvie, smacking lips with Zane.
“What did you think was gonna happen?” Tyler says bluntly. “That girl is never single. You guys have gotta stop pining.”
“Whatever,” the boys mumble as they slump in their seats.
“Hi guys,” Kai says, swinging my hand. “Is it okay if Tabby joins us?”
“Sure,” Tyler says, kicking out an empty seat. “Hi Tabby.”
Kai pulls out another seat. It’s next to Jamie, who’s been eyeballing me ever since we approached the table.
I clear my throat and take the other seat next to Kai. “Hi everyone. Thanks for letting me hang out.”
Kai hooks his arm around my shoulders and turns to Jamie. “How was class?”
“Umm…” Jamie stumbles over her words. Oh gosh, it’s like I can feel the hate steaming off her.
Kai’s fingers strum across my shoulder. “James? You okay?”
She clears her throat and fakes a laugh. “Umm, yeah, bro. I mean, I was just thinking about how much of a dumb question that was. How was class? How do you think?”
I blow out a breath and try to look interested. Kai laughs, and I wonder if we’re brushing off the fact she needs to increase her grade average.
“Ah, Jamie?” My tone comes out quiet and timid, and I push for something more confident sounding. “Like, aren’t you failing? I thought you were supposed to be paying attention in classes?”
Jamie’s mouth falls open as she blinks at me. “I…”
Kai hugs his arm around me snugly as he says, “As if she’s gonna do a one-eighty and suddenly love school.”
Jamie eases into a smirk, and yes, they’re brushing it under the rug.
I just can’t help myself. “But I thought she was being kicked out of school?”
“Whoa.” Parker cuts in. “I didn’t know it was that serious.”
“They’re not…” Jamie stutters her words, staring at Parker. “Umm, uhhh, no. I’m not get, ah, getting kick, kicked out of school.”
Lewis tilts his head, taking her in. “What’s with you?”
“Duh.“ Tyler gestures at Jamie. “She’s nervous because it’s her last week at this school.”
Kai splutters a laugh. “Where’d you get that info from? It’s not her last week, and she’s not getting kicked out. It’s her scholarship she has to fight for because her aunt can’t afford the school fees.”
Kai’s words hit me deep in my chest. The ache sends a sizzle of strained air out of me. “Dang. I couldn’t imagine struggling because my family doesn’t have money. I don’t know how you do it, Jamie.”
Jamie’s jaw flexes and her hands clench into fists, but she still struggles to get words out. Seriously, how am I supposed to have a conversation with this girl if she can’t string a sentence together? Even her friends think she’s acting weird.
Kai shifts in his seat and mumbles. “It’s not like she chose to be poor.”
Shocked hurt flashes across Jamie’s face, and my blood runs cold. Okay, maybe Kai was onto something with brushing it under the rug. If she can’t handle talking about school fees and homework, I’ll just change the subject.
I look around at the guys and remember how easy it was to talk to them at the skatepark. Granted, Jamie wasn’t there, but there’s still interest in their eyes.
“So, how come you guys are always drooling over Yvette?” I ask, stifling a laugh.
Tyler points a finger at Parker and Lewis. “Just these two losers. Don’t rope me in on that.”
