“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Really. You don’t need to do that.”
She casts an uncertain glance toward me, but after giving me a quick onceover, concedes.
“Are you lightheaded at all? Feeling out of sorts?”
I shake my head to that question. “No. None of that.”
That answer apparently satisfies her, because she dials the number back a moment later, letting the nurse know her assistance won’t be needed. Then she casts a look toward West.
“Golden, I think I have a special assignment for you this term,” she says with a grin. “Ms. Riley here has until the end of this unit to learn how to swim. And seeing as how you’ve just proven you’re capable of handling her, I believe you’d be just the man for the job. What do you say?”
“Wait. What?” I croak, still struggling to find my voice.
“You need to master this by the end of the marking period, and I trust West will look after you. He’s a good kid,” she adds, and I can’t fight the scowl that twists my mouth.
“So, what do you say West?” Mrs. C. asks.
My eyes shift to him again, staring as he searches for an answer.
“Sure,” he says begrudgingly, clearly unhappy with his new assignment.
“Good. It’s settled then,” Mrs. C. adds, standing to her feet again. “Can you look after Ms. Riley for a few minutes? Make sure she pulls it together?”
I listen as she asks, wondering just how much West hates me right now.
When he finally does answer with a polite, “Sure,” there’s a hint of frustration hidden within it.
Mrs. C. turns toward the onlookers and points to the pool. “Okay, show’s over. Hop back in and get to it.”
The next second, it’s just us. The crowd has thinned, and West and I are thrust into an awkward silence. Of course, because I’m trying not to think about that kiss, now it’s all I can think about
He draws his knees toward his chest and props both elbows there, staring out across the pool while I shift beside him to sit cross-legged. Not as close as a moment ago, but still close.
“You gonna thank me? Or are we gonna just sit here and pretend I didn’t save your life?”
The corner of my mouth twitches with a smile, hearing him jump right back into character, turning back into the real West.
“Maybe I’ll thank you when you call off your dogs,” I counter. “Seeing as how someone from your crew is the whole reason you had to … as you say … ‘save me’.”
He smirks, too. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t give the okay this time.”
“Ah, so they’ve gone rogue. Telltale sign of poor leadership,” I deduce, hoping he senses that I’m being smug as hell right now.
“Maybe,” he teases with a shrug. “But let’s say I do like you said, and call them off, who on Earth would keep me entertained all day?”
I swear, if I didn’t think he’d catch my fist in midair, I’d knock that grin right off his face.
“Besides,” he continues, “you know what they say. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. So, in that sense, I’m doing you a favor, Southside.”
There’s the callous dick I love to hate.
My eyes rise with him when he stands, and I’m still dumbfounded by his logic. Or lack thereof.
“On that note, I’m out,” he announces, watching our classmates instead of making eye contact with me. “And if you, somehow, find yourself in any more trouble, you’re on your own from here.”
“I didn’t ask for your help in the first place,” I snap.
Also, it goes without saying, but I hadn’t asked for his help when he stepped between me and Mike either.
At the sound of my words, West’s head tilts back until he’s facing the ceiling. He lets out a cocky chuckle that fries my nerves.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better,” he scoffs, “I was this close to letting your ass drown. So, suffice it to say, we’re both a little disappointed with how things turned out.”
My blood is starting to pump faster, rushing through my veins like a surging river.
“So, that’s your plan? You’re just gonna cover for them after I nearly drowned out there?” I call out. “You’re fine pretending it wasn’t one of your girls who pushed me?”
“Got proof of that?”
“Nope, but I have an ass kicking with all three of those bitches’ names on it. That good enough?”
He’s standing a foot or two away, with his back partially toward me, but I see his smile. The sight of it makes my stomach twist in a way I don’t approve of, because it’s not completely coming from a place of hatred.
“Do what you gotta do,” are his final words, leaving me to watch as he gracefully dives into the water, showing off for those of us whose swim style is similar to that of a rock.
Mrs. C.’s decision to pair me with West is the icing on the cake. Seems the more I try to distance myself from this guy, the more the universe pulls us back into one another’s space. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s a cycle I need to break.
Quickly.
@QweenPandora: All dogs may go to heaven, but all blonde bombshells in bathing suits CANNOT swim. We blame you for this misinformation, Baywatch. But fear not, my lovelies. Cypress Prep’s fav south side import is still alive and well. And who do we have to thank for that? Why, KingMidas. Not a bad deal, if you ask me. I think we’d all be willing to taste death for the chance to taste … well, you get the point.
Until next time, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 17
BLUE
Thank you, Dr. Pryor. Thank you so freakin’ much for making me join journalism club.
Insert sarcasm here.
I like the lady and all, but this has to be the worst fit she could’ve ever chosen for me. It’s bad enough the other students have no sense of time, accounting for our half-hour, afterschool meetings turning into a
