Unspeakable (10 page)

“Did you not just hear me? I’m on a freakin’ date. And you weren’t invited. So there’s the door.” Jaden jerked his thumb toward the front of the restaurant.

“Whoa! My man, Jaden. You must be getting some happy-happy if you don’t wanna hang with your dawgs. That’s cool. We’ll catch ya on the flip.”

The three guys eased out of the booth and said their goodbyes. I watched Jaden’s eyes track them as they made their way from table to table, laughing and joking with other guys from the football team.

I squeezed Jaden’s fingers. “Do you want to go say hi to your football friends?”

Jaden turned to me and smiled, his dimples winking at me. “Now why would I want to spend time with them when I have you? I’m with them all the time. They’re crude, rude, and stink. You’re sexy, smart, and smell good. I’m definitely happier here.”

I sighed at the memory and flipped on my reader. By the time Jaden took me home, I’d read three chapters. Three
very
long
chapters.

Jaden pulled in my driveway and put the car in park. He leaned over the console and kissed me gently, cupping my cheek in his hand. He took the kiss deeper, skimming his hand down my side, gripping my hip and pulling me closer to him to trail kisses down my neck and across my chest.

“Willow!”

Breathe. Breathe. I’m fine. I’m strong. Breathe.

“Get your ass in the house now!”

Jaden let go of me with a frustrated groan. “I’ll text you later.”

“Okay. Thanks for tonight.”

“Sure.” As soon as I got out of the car, he pulled out of the driveway and drove away.

I hurried to the house. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, honey. You know how I feel about you and Jaden sitting in the car making out.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Did you have a good time?” She smoothed my hair from my face, a lit cigarette dangling from her lips.

“It was okay.” I shrugged a shoulder.

She took a long drag on her cigarette and blew the smoke out of the side of her mouth. Looking at the floor, she nodded. “He isn’t the catch everyone thinks he is, is he?”

“He’s okay. I mean, you know. He’s good.” I kissed my mom on the cheek. “I’m really tired. I’ll see you in the morning.” I climbed the stairs to my room and eased the door closed behind me, clicking the lock in place.

Breathe. You’re home. Just breathe.

Heading into my bathroom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth for bed. I changed into a pair of pajama pants. I slipped out of my shirt and looked at the bruising on my arm and shoulder. It was deep shades of purple and black. I let out a breath and pulled my sweatshirt on over my head, trying not to move my arm any more than I had to. Popping two painkillers, I went into my bedroom and crawled in bed.

I’d just turned the light out when my cell phone chimed. I thought about ignoring it, but if it were Jaden, he’d have a fit if he thought I was ignoring his messages. With a frustrated groan, I grabbed the phone off its charger and pressed the message button.

Brody: I’m sorry for stopping you at The Dive.

Me: Why?

Brody: Did Jaden see?

Me: No. Kara’s nice. Don’t be a jerk.

Brody: Not all reputations are deserved.

Me: ?

Brody: Never mind. Goodnight, Willow.

Me: Night.

Brody is gonna cause me so much trouble.

Monday. Crap. Shut up, stupid, annoying alarm.

I slammed my hand on top of my clock until the incessant beeping stopped. Rolling out of bed, I stumbled to the shower. I washed with a body soap that promised to energize and invigorate. It lied.

Mondays should be illegal. I think that would make a great T-shirt. I’m so gonna go to the mall and have one made. Maybe today. Right after I have a nap
.

I pulled on a black, long-sleeved tunic with a cowl neck and black leggings, lined my eyes in black liner, used midnight eye shadow and painted my nails in onyx polish. After adding my black boots and black leather messenger bag, I was totally rockin’ the vibe I was going for. I slipped my earrings in, a hoop with a skeleton key dangling from it in one ear and a hoop with a heart-shaped lock dangling from it in the other ear, grabbed my keys, and ran out the door.

“Who died?” Jenna asked when I walked into school twenty minutes later.

“Here.” I handed her a Starbucks caramel macchiato and slipped off my sunglasses.

“Holy wow. Are you working the Goth look today or what?”

“No. I’m working the I-hate-Monday-mornings-and-I’m-mourning-the-death-of-the-weekend look.”

“Well… you’re working somethin’. Thanks for the macchiato.”

“No problem. See you in history.” I slipped on my sunglasses and walked to biology, standing in the hallway sipping my Starbucks before going into class.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up to see Jaden standing in front of me. “Drinking my caffeine before class starts,” I said, holding the cup up so he could see it. “I’m not allowed to take it in the classroom. You want to do something this afternoon?”

“Like what?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I didn’t know there were limits on what you were willing to do to spend time with your girlfriend.”

“Well…”

“Forget I said anything.” Dropping my half-f cup into the trash, I walked into the classroom. I flung my bag on the table before dropping onto my seat.

Jaden, being the idiot that he was, followed me. If he’d been smart, he would’ve taken the hint that I was done talking when I threw away a half cup of caffeine.

“What do you want to do?” he said with a sigh, as if it was a major imposition to spend time with me.

“Nothing, Jaden, I don’t want to do anything. I told you to forget it.”

“So now you’re mad at me?”

“Nope.” I started to pull stuff out of my bag. I was so irritated I grabbed things I didn’t need. I had a pile of five highlighters and was still pulling more out, slamming them on the table between Brody and me.

“Then what’s the matter, Wills?”

“Don’t call me that. Nothing’s the matter. It’s Monday, okay. I hate Mondays. I’m in a crappy mood. Just forget I said anything.” I pushed my bag away and threw my sunglasses on top of it, leaning back in my chair.

“Are you PMSing or something?”

“What? Seriously, you did not just ask me that! Just leave.”

“See ya at lunch.” Jaden bent down to kiss me. I turned my head at the last second, and his lips landed on my cheek. “Now you’re starting to piss me off.”

“Whatever.” I watched him leave the classroom. “Ugh!” I put my hands together like I was strangling him, shaking them back and forth.

Brody chuckled beside me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Did your hamster die or something?” he asked.

I blew out a frustrated breath. “No one died. I’m mourning the death of the weekend.”

“Oh. That’s cool.”

“I’m so glad I have your approval of my dress code,” I snapped.

“Well, there is one thing. If Jaden doesn’t want guys looking at you, then you shouldn’t wear that push-up bra.” He put his elbow on the table and rested his cheek in his upturned palm. His teeth bit into his bottom lip, his eyes traveling from my chest to my eyes and back again.

“Ugh, you’re a pig and completely lacking in the IQ department.”

“Not that I care what you think, but I’m a member of the honor society.” He twirled his pen on the table.

“That’s not a surprise,” I murmured. I laid my head on my book and closed my eyes.

“No?”

“I’d heard they’d lowered their standards.”

He chuckled. “You’ve got a mouth on you.”

I opened one eye and looked at him. “Most people have mouths. Just thought you’d want to know that little fact, you know, before the next honor society meeting.”

Brody smiled and turned to face the front of the class where the teacher had started droning on about the earthworm dissection we’d be doing.

Sounds like so much fun, except for the poor earthworm
.

“You want to go to the mall?” I asked Jenna as we walked out of school that afternoon.

“Always.”

“Good. I have a T-shirt to make.”

She threw her arms in the air and sighed. Loud. “Willow, if I’d known you were making another corny T-shirt, I’d have said no,” she said, her hands falling with a
thwack
against her thighs. “You must’ve had a babysitting job, and now you want to throw your hard-earned money away on a stupid T-shirt.”

“Don’t hate the T-shirts,” I said with a laugh. “Besides, you’re gonna like this one. But first, a makeover.”

“Oh, thank the good Lord. Your makeup is killing me.”

An hour later, we left the boutique. We’d been scrubbed, exfoliated, peeled, plucked, moisturized, and had our makeup reapplied. I had to admit they did a much better job than I did. No black eyeliner. Instead, a soft sable that blended better with my hair and fair skin. And even though I always promised myself I wouldn’t buy anything when Jenna and I got makeovers, I bought the eyeliner and shadow the make-up artist used—and it was way overpriced. Naturally.

Now if I can just take her home and have her put it on for me every morning before I go to school, I’d be doing okay
.

“All right, let’s go get this shirt you’re so excited about,” Jenna said, stuffing a gigantic piece of soft pretzel in her mouth.

“Attractive, Jenna.” I winked at her.

“Yeah, like you looked so sexy inhaling that corndog a minute ago.”

I laughed and bumped my hip into hers. “After my T-shirt, I say we get slushies and really overload our bodies with junk food.”

“Sounds good. The pretzel I ate is lonely.” Jenna patted her stomach and pouted. I rolled my eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, I was armed with a new purple, long-sleeved T-shirt that read ‘
Mondays should be illegal,’
and Jenna and I were on our way to the food court to satisfy our slushie craving. We walked around a corner and I came face-to-face, or rather face-to-chest, with Brody. I stopped just before I ran into him.

“Oh! Hi,” I said.

“Hey.”

“You’re, um, shopping?” It seemed odd that he’d be mall hopping by himself. Most guys avoided the mall like it housed a flesh-eating virus.

He shook his head. “No, I’m just running an errand for my mom.”

I looked at the bag he was carrying from a well-known and very upscale cosmetics store. “Well, you’re either running an errand or you’re a drag queen when you aren’t at school.”

“How’d you know?” One side of his mouth curved up in a crooked grin.

“Lucky guess,” I said with a laugh.

“Are you leaving?” Jenna asked.

“Yes,” Brody answered, still looking at me. I felt my checks pink from a blush, and he smiled.

“We’re about to leave, too, but first, we’re going to satisfy our slushie craving. Come on and have one with us.” Jenna grabbed Brody’s arm, pulling him toward the food court. He looked at me over his shoulder. I schooled my expression.

I’m gonna kill her. I’m going to hurt her and then kill her. I cannot believe she just invited him to have a drink with us. She will die a long, painful death. I think I’ll put that on a T-shirt before I leave
.

“So…” Jenna started after we sat down with our drinks.

Brody and I both looked at her, waiting for her to say something epic to break the awkward silence.

“What did you buy?” Brody nodded at my bag.

“Oh, um, a T-shirt.”

“Another sarcastic saying on the front?” he asked. I bit my lower lip to hide a grin. His eyes followed the movement. “What does it say? Oh, lemme guess. It says,
I date dumb jocks
.”

I sighed. “That comment really shows your maturity level, Brody.”

“Yeah, my advanced maturity level must shock and amaze you considering who you date.”

I stood up. “Let’s go, Jenna.”

“I’m not done—”

“Bring it with you.”

“See you tomorrow,” Brody called.