We all started to laugh, and I couldn’t help but be amused by the thought of Nathan stuck in Brayden’s car, going way too slow down the interstate. Colette and Kyle went in one direction when we got inside the school, and Avery and I went the other, based on where our lockers were located. We sifted through the sea of students until we got to the two lockers with our names on the front in the glittered letters that Avery and I had decorated together during our freshman year.
“Aw,” Avery said, petting the letters. “We’re gonna have to take them down this year.”
“They’d look good on a dorm door,” I responded before turning and flicking Avery on the forehead. “So, are you gonna tell me about that hickey?”
Avery’s stoic expression grew into a bright, wide smile. “We may or may not have made out last night.”
I did a happy dance in place. “Yes! And is it official?”
Avery tilted her head to the side before turning her attention away from me and opening her locker. I mimicked the action, but I kept my eyes on Avery for the answer. “You know damn well it can’t be official,” she said. “Nathan would throw a hissy fit. It’s just not worth it.”
“So, what? You’re gonna not be with this guy you’re crazy about who clearly likes you too because of Nathan?” I turned and faced her. “I’m the queen, and I formally decree that you and Alistair are allowed to be together.”
Avery raised an eyebrow. “You know that’s not how that works.”
“Why isn’t it?” I growled back. “I’m in the same position as he is.” Avery just stared at me, and I relented. “Yeah, okay, I know that I’m not, but whatever. I’ll take the fall. Just go for it, and let me deal with Nathan.”
“Really?’ Avery asked.
“Of course, really. This is why I’m sticking it out, isn’t it? I can’t be happy, so at least the two of you should be.” I glanced over Avery’s shoulder and saw a familiar head of long hair making its way toward us. “Oh, speak of the devil.”
Avery’s head whipped over, and she came face to face with Alistair. They were damn near glowing as they stared at each other. “Hey,” Alistair said.
“Hi,” Avery replied with a wide smile.
Alistair poked a thumb at her neck. “I thought you said you could cover it.”
She wrinkled up her nose at him. “I thought you said you could keep from leaving one.”
Alistair laughed. “Fair.” He turned and grinned at me. “Morning, Cherri.”
“Hey, Ali!” I slipped backward. “Don’t mind me. I was just going.”
Neither Avery nor Alistair complained as I shut my locker, keeping only the things with me that I needed for my first couple of classes, and slid away. I greeted a few more people on my way back to the main hallway to head down to my first class, but when I turned the corner, my good mood evaporated. I finally spied Nathan, and he was smiling and laughing with none other than Miss Jessica Abrams, the history teacher he’d been caught screwing last year.
I stormed down the hallway and over to where he was standing and grabbed his arm. He looked at me and seemed surprised at first, but quickly changed his expression to his go-to arrogant smile. “Hey, babe.”
“Don’t, ‘Hey, babe,’ me.” I shot a glare at Miss Abrams, who continued to smile back at me as if nothing was wrong. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure,” he replied before giving Miss Abrams a quick final glance. “See you later, Jess.”
“Bye,” she responded before turning and heading back into her classroom.
It sent a chill down my spine. She shouldn’t even still be a teacher, but when you’re a tall, model-adjacent, black-haired, blue-eyed beauty with breast implants and a padded ass, it’s pretty easy to talk your way out of anything.
I dragged Nathan over to a corner where Miss Abrams’s class wasn’t visible anymore and turned to face him. “Seriously? You can’t even wait one day?”
Nathan reached out and pulled me into a hug. “Come on, beautiful. Don’t be like that. She’s a teacher. I can’t not talk to her.”
With my hands on his chest to wedge between us, I pushed him off of me. “You can not call her Jess.”
“That’s her name,” Nathan retorted.
“You know—”
Nathan cut me off before I could get any more words out. “Hey, Avery.”
Avery looped her arm through mine, looking leagues happier with her relationship than I was with mine. “Hey, Nathan. Did Avery tell you that Alistair and I are gonna start dating?”
Whether Avery had read the situation or actually overheard part of the argument, I wasn’t sure, but her timing was perfect. I stared back at Nathan, daring him to refute the relationship. His cocky smile faded a bit, but he looked into my eyes, and in the few silent moments that passed between us, he understood the deal I was offering.
Finally, his smile came back, though with an irritated crook. “That’s awesome,” he replied. “I’m happy for you guys.”
Avery and I exchanged satisfied looks, and to let Nathan know that the deal had been cemented, I leaned forward and kissed him. The little bit of irritation that was there left his face, and I was pleased with how the silent negotiation had gone.
“Hey, have you guys seen that new guy?” Avery asked. “He looks terrifying.”
Nathan and I both looked at her, confused. “New guy?” Nathan asked. “I should know if there’s a new student.”
Avery shrugged. “I don’t know much about him. All I know is he sticks out like a sore thumb.”
The bell that signified the five-minute warning for class screamed throughout the halls, and all the students started to shuffle toward their homerooms.
“I’ll have to ask Jaxon about it,” Nathan said. He leaned in and gave me
