“Yup. Don't want to keep your girlfriend waiting.” Rose threw in, emphasizing the word girlfriend like it was the worst word in the history of the human language. Knowing who his girlfriend was I had to admit that it very well may be.
“Guess I'll see you later.” A sad smile crossed his face as he looked at me.
I couldn't help but watch as he walked toward Jenni. I rolled my eyes as she threw her arms around Gabe's broad shoulders. I was stunned by her transition between evil hag to doting girlfriend. Somehow I doubted that Gabe even knew what Jenni was like when he wasn't around.
“Is THAT seriously his girlfriend?”
“Yup, 'fraid so.” Brandon smirked.
“But she's so— so—” I looked to Rose and Brandon for help.
“Obnoxious? Conceited? Narcissistic? Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all! Basically a total bitch?” Rose spouted off with a devious tilt to her head. Brandon stood beside her, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
I was still staring at the table where Gabe and his perfectly evil bouncing blonde girlfriend sat. “Exactly.” I turned abruptly to Rose and looked at her in shock. “And did you just use a Shakespearean insult?”
A blush crept up her face. “Welcome to Shiloh. Trust me. If you want to have a chance in hell of being happy here, you're going to have to get used to people like that.”
“So, what? Is there like an evil horde of Barbie bitches here?”
“Yeah, you could say that.” Rose said with a small smirk.
“Oh, don't forget about the 'chosen' ones.” Brandon put in, shoving Rose playfully.
“What are you guys talking about?”
“Goofball over here is talking about the Private School kids.”
“Oh. Gabe already mentioned them.” I said off offhandedly, casting a quick glance at their table. , I frowned when I saw Jenni's hand resting precariously high on Gabe’s leg.
“And when, oh mighty knowledgeable one, did he inform you of them?”
I took my gaze away from Jenni and Gabe and met Brandon and Rose's inquiring gazes. “Um, last week I think.” They kept staring at me. What was with everyone staring lately? “It was when I went on break one day. Gabe came over and sat by me and we started talking.”
Rose raised her eyebrow incredulously. “Talked, huh?”
“Yeah, talked. He told me that the private school kids are weird and that they think they're superior. Stuff like that.”
“Well, that's true. Almost all of them are like that.”
”Andrei's not.” I shot out without thinking. I didn't necessarily know if he was or not, but something in me just couldn't label him with all the rest. I groaned, thinking about the can of worms that I just opened.
“Ooh, he's not is he?” Brandon was practically salivating. “Do tell.”
I shook my head and turned away. “That's not the point. I just don't see how all of them can be bad.”
“They're not all bad. At least Andrei and Michael aren't. But trust me, you don't want to have to deal with Michael.”
“Michael? As in, works here Michael?” My brow wrinkled as they roared with laughter. I tapped my nails against the counter and waited for them to finish.
“No!” Brandon got out, trying to catch his breath. “Mike’s not who we’re talking about.”
“There’s a different Michael. He’s our age and goes to the private school.”
“If this 'Michael' isn't bad, then why wouldn't I want to deal with him?”
“Oh trust me, with how the guys are reacting around you, the last thing you want to do is be around him. Michael is the biggest—”
“I'm the biggest what?” I turned at what I presumed was Michael’s smooth voice. I jerked back in reaction to his nearness.
“Geez, you don't have a thing about personal space, do you?” The calm that I had momentarily gained shattered.
He stepped back, hands up in surrender. “Whoa there! Calm down sparky.”
He was easily 6 feet tall with an incredibly built body and a face that could grace the cover of any magazine. Piercing green eyes stared at me, situated under perfectly arched eyebrows. His strong jaw gave off the hint of the power that I could feel burning within him. Short, spiky blond hair was perfectly styled in a rakish way.
“Have your fill?” he asked with a cocky grin. “We could go somewhere more private if you want a more thorough examination, beautiful.”
I narrowed my eyes and leaned threateningly over the counter top, my control becoming beyond saving. “Listen here, you son of a—”
“Okay, little one. That's enough.” Rose cut in, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me away from Michael. “Brandon! Help me out here!”
I was visibly shaking. I clenched my fists and pressed my lips together, trying to contain my fury. Michael stared into my eyes with morbid curiosity. I turned away and let Brandon lead me out back and away from everyone.
“I have a feeling we'll be out here a lot.” He said with a smile.
I glared at him and remained silent.
“C'mon toots, it wasn't that bad. You need to calm down.”
“Don't tell me what to do, Brandon!” he froze and just stared at me. I felt guilty and dropped my head to my chest as the anger melted into the background. “Look, I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me.”
“Are you PMS-ing? Aunt Flo causes people to be bitchy.”
”No, it's not that. I think I'm losing my mind.”
“Why would you think that?”
I shook my head and turned to the door. “Just forget about it. I'm better now. We better get back to work.”
He waited a moment with a wary eye on me. I guess he must have deemed me fit for society again because he nodded, albeit grudgingly, and followed me inside.
Chapter Eighteen
I stared up at the ceiling and waited for the alarm to go off. It was my first day at Shiloh High School and nervous anticipation ran rampant throughout my body. I couldn't stand the wait anymore so I got up and turned off the alarm.
I thought about what I could anticipate the first week. I already had my list of courses and a map of the school memorized until I could see it in my sleep. I didn't want to become lost on my first day and look like a total loser.
I shrugged off my thoughts and put on the outfit I laid out the night before. Hot pink shorts showed off my long legs and a black tank top with a loose skull and crossbones over-shirt along with my tennis shoes completed the look. I nodded in approval as I looked in the mirror. It was the best I could do under the circumstances, although the circles under my eyes still shone through my makeup.
Mom was waiting for me in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a forced smile on her face. I stiffened and grabbed the to-go cup with a nod of thanks, refusing to meet her eyes. A sharp pain pierced my chest at her sigh, but I refused to give in.
I knew I was hurting her and a part of me abhorred the thought. But I reminded myself that she wasn't the only one hurt. At least she wasn't the one betrayed. I pulled an apple out of the fruit dish and sat on the counter, swinging my legs back and forth as I ate in silence.
“Star, will you please talk to me?”
