Page 11 of Scarlett and the Kiss Thief

Chapter 4 – Put Me Down!

Wednesday

“Are you okay?” RJ asked and stepped in front of me. But I barely registered that he was there. The plan in my head was playing out in my mind.

“She’s fine,” Liam said. “She’s just doing that spaced out thing. She’ll be back with us in a minute.”

“Hey,” Sophie said and stepped in front of me. “You alright, Scar?”

“I’m great actually.” And I meant it. This was like a freaking wake up call. My whole body felt numb, but that was beside the point. “I’ll show you how great I am.” I lifted my head a little higher and then walked over to my table.

“Hey guys,” I said and sat down right next to Jacob. “What’s up?” I grabbed one of Jacob’s fries off his plate and bit into it. “Wow, these are good. Do you mind sharing?”

He raised his eyebrow. “What’s mine is yours, Scar.”

I studied his face. I’d been so blind for so long. Axel was all I saw. But if I really thought about it…Jacob was sweeter. And kinder. And never made me feel like shit. He was the kind of guy that showed up and swung you around in a circle because he was so excited to see you. I think a part of me knew all along that Gigi was right. Axel was embarrassed of me. And I was so done trying to better myself for someone who didn’t even care. Someone who would kiss my sworn enemy. Suddenly Jacob looked a million times hotter.

And he knew I was staring at him. Because his smile grew.

“Scar, can I talk to you for a second?” Axel said.

“I suddenly have a hankering for ice cream,” I said, ignoring Axel’s request. “Want to get out of here and get some with me, Jacob?”

He looked surprised by my request. But then he smiled.

“Are you serious?” Axel said. “You hate leaving school for lunch because you’re always worried about being back on time.”

Sophie, Liam, and RJ joined us at our table. But none of them said a word, even though they knew that was true. Being late was the worst.

“You don’t know everything about me, Axel.” I ate another of Jacob’s fries. “You were gone all summer, remember? A lot can change in a few months.”

“You’re such a baller,” Sophie mouthed silently at me.

I was a baller. And that was the encouragement I needed to keep this up. “What do you say, Jacob? You in?”

There was a smile playing on the corners of his mouth. “Just the two of us?” he asked.

His smile really was endearing. “Mhm.”

“Like a date?”

I stared at him. I knew I had initiated this. But technically this was the first time anyone had asked me out on a date. And my heart was starting to race. “Exactly like a date.”

“Can we please just talk?” Axel said.

I ignored him. I was afraid that if I looked at him or acknowledged him in any way I’d burst out crying. We didn’t need to talk. What could he possibly have to say that would undo all the heartache he’d caused me basically my whole life? He couldn’t take back his tongue down Gigi’s throat. I no longer had a crush on him. He was…dead to me.

“Come on,” I said to Jacob and stood up. “Let’s get out of here.”

Before Jacob could respond, Axel appeared next to me and lifted me over his shoulder like I was nothing but a petulant child.

“Put me down!” I hissed.

He started walking me out of the cafeteria.

“Axel! My skirt is too short, everyone can see my butt.” I tried to reach up to cover what I hoped wasn’t exposed, but it just made me slide farther down his back.

He put his hand on my ass to make sure I didn’t moon the whole school. And for just a second I froze. Because Axel Stevens was touching my butt.

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