The Deal With The Bad Boy

Chapter Nine

Standing in front of me, he waved the bag toward me as I shook my head at him. ‘I can’t take that’ I mumbled staring at the bag that looked like it cost more than my mother’s weekly wage, ‘I don’t need charity, I can just fix my old bag.’

‘Yes you can and you will, I have three more in the closet, I won’t use them either so it’s not f*****g charity, it’s decluttering’ Wade replied stiffly, wrenching the price tag off and started to stuff my things inside it.

Picking up the small wooden box that contained my special pen, he looked at it intently before raising his eyes to me, ‘what’s this?’ he asked, his voice strained.

Reaching out I snatched it out of his hands, holding it too my chest protectively, ‘nothing, don’t touch it’ I growled, watching as his face shut down on me and he nodded, backing away.

Picking up the bag, I started to head to the door, feeling Wade’s presence behind me as he followed a few steps behind.

‘I can see myself out, you don’t have to show me the way’ I mumbled, ’I won’t steal anything if that’s what you are worried about’ I added under my breath.

‘I’m driving you home’ Wade muttered in annoyance as we reached the foyer and he grabbed his keys, opening the door for me.

Gaping, I looked up at him, ‘you don’t need to, I can walk, it’s not that far’ I said in confusion.

Wade sighed as he wiped his hand down his face, ‘look, you are doing me a solid by teaching me, I am not going to make you walk f*****g home alone.  What if something happened to you, you think I’ll be OK hearing tomorrow that you got murdered while walking back to your house?’ he demanded.

I went to open my mouth, but seeing his face I shut it again and meekly nodded, stepping out of the house as he shouted over his shoulder, ‘Rosa! I’ll be back soon, I’m just taking Cassidy home.’

‘OK bambino, I get dinner started, drive safely’ came the thick Spanish accent from the kitchen.

Shutting the door, we headed toward his car, I slid into the passenger seat, hugging my new bag. I couldn’t help taking a small sniff, it had that new smell mixed in with Wade’s aftershave, the combination making me relax.

The drive to my house was silent apart from Wade’s occasional request for directions. Once we pulled up outside my house, he looked at me, surprise flickering across his face before he wiped it clear again.

‘It’s not much’ I mumbled, ‘but it’s enough for mum and I’

Wade nodded though he didn’t reply, opening the door, I swung my legs out of the car, placing them on the curb as I hesitated, looking back I smiled softly, ‘thank you for the bag’ I said before climbing out.

‘Cassidy’ came Wade’s voice from behind me, turning around I saw him holding out twenty dollars, ‘you forgot your money.’

Holding up my hand I shook my head, ‘no, you gave me a new bag, I’m pretty sure that it’s worth more than twenty bucks’ I argued.

Wade frowned, his eyes darkening, ‘take the f*****g money Cassidy’ he growled, red patches appearing on his cheeks as his anger intensified due to my hesitation.

Swallowing the desire to run and cry, I reached out a shaky hand and took the two bills, folding them carefully and tucking them in my jacket pocket, ‘thank you’ I whispered.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow, same time, try to remember what my car looks like this time’ he muttered just as I pushed the door shut.  Throwing the car into gear he sped off, leaving me gaping on the sidewalk watching his car disappear around the corner and out of view.

Turning around I walked toward our front door, fishing out my key and unlocking it before stepping inside. ‘Mum?’ I called out, I knew she said she was working a double but sometimes her overtime got cancelled at the last minute.

Silence was the only answer I got, so kicking off my shoes, I pulled out my phone and sent her a quick text, “back home, Wade dropped me off so I wouldn’t have to walk home alone.”

My phone pinged a few seconds later, “OK cupcake, make sure you eat something proper for dinner, not just microwave popcorn, I know what’s in the freezer, I’ll be checking. Love You xx”

Rolling my eyes, I giggled as I sent back an “OK” and headed to the kitchen, my brand new school bag still clutched tightly in my hand.

Placing it on the table, I ran my fingers over the expensive leather, smiling at the soft texture before forcing myself to turn to the freezer and dig out some sort of food.

Rummaging around in the half full drawers I finally found a microwave macaroni and cheese, taking it out I pushed the door shut with my foot and took the ready meal over to the microwave. OK so it’s not super healthy, but sue me, I’m hungry and after two hours of teaching Wade Simmons maths I am in no mood to cook!

Three minutes later and my nutritious meal is ready, grabbing a fork I don’t even bother to sit at the table as I shovel the piping hot foot into my mouth, hopping around and fanning my mouth as the cheesy goodness burns my tongue like a river of lava running down my throat.

Fighting my way through the heat I finally put my plate in the sink and drink my own weight in water, silently cursing my own impatience, my poor tongue no longer in any mood to form words.

Heading upstairs I throw myself onto my bed, placing my new prized possession onto the comforter and touching it delicately. I’ve literally never had something so nice in my life, my last bag came from the charity shop, and mum came home proudly carrying it before handing it to me with a flourish.

I loved that damn bag with its patched fabric design in rainbow colours because mum bought it for me, but man this new one is a thing of beauty, I’m almost scared to use it!

Pulling it open, I drag out my homework, sitting cross legged on my bed as I set to work, being a scholar student I don’t have the option to forget my homework, my grades directly confirm my continued acceptance on the program.

Tapping my pen distractedly against my temple, I read over todays science work as my phone beeped.

Picking it up, I grinned as Jay’s name flashed across the screen, ‘Hey Girlfrienddddddddd’ came scrawling across our chat.

‘Hey Boyfriendddddddd’ I replied as I giggled to myself.

Jay: ‘I am soooooo bored! What are you doing?’

Me: ‘Homework, got a pile to get through’

Jay: ‘No! Baby girl! Put the books away and come out with me for an hour’

Me: ‘I can’t, I need to get this done’

Jay: ‘Sad emoji, but I’m dyyyyyyyying of boredom, how can you live with yourself if you go to school tomorrow and expect to see my handsome face by your locker only to be told . . dun dun duuuuuun . . that I died from lack of entertainment! Could you get through each day knowing that you had a hand in my death? Could you? COULD YOU!!!???’

Rolling my eyes I shook my head in amusement, Jay could never not be dramatic, I swear if he wasn’t such a nerd he would kill it as a thespian in the school drama club.

Fingers flying across the screen I replied, ‘I would be sad Jay but I think I’d make it through, I promise, I’ll come and lay flowers on your grave every Saturday though.’

A knock on the door diverted my attention and pushing off the bed I ran down the stairs to the front door, peeking through the peep hole before laughing as I opened the door to Jay’s disgruntled look.

‘Seriously baby girl? I’m gasping my last breaths here and you offer me flowers on my grave? I thought we were something special, that I was your one and only, the light in your tunnel of darkness? But noooo, you just toss me aside like an old chip wrapper’ he huffed as I snorted with laughter.

Stepping back I let him in, shaking my head as he bounds through my door, his annoyance already forgotten. Taking in my school uniform he frowned, ‘umm, you can NOT go out like that baby girl, change now’ he ordered, pointing up my stairs toward my room.

Placing my hands on my hips I raised an eyebrow at him, ‘umm I don’t remember saying that I was going out tonight’ I replied tartly, ‘actually I distinctly remember saying that I had homework to finish.’

Jay tutted as he shook his head, ‘please, you and I both know that the work you are doing only got set today and doesn’t need to be in until next week’ he replied dismissively. ‘Now go and change out of that monstrosity of a school wear and meet me back here in ten minutes.’

As I walked dejectedly up the stairs I heard him mutter, ‘I wish you would just let me buy you some clothes for school instead of wearing that each day.’

‘Still not a charity case Jay so stop trying to give me things’ I shouted back at him, hearing his sigh of exasperation.

It’s true, literally no-one else at the school wears the damn uniform unless, like me, they are there on a free education kick. This is because their parents literally buy extensions for the school, so none of the teachers say anything. I unfortunately do not have a rich daddy to buy a new gym, I have a school giving me a free ride, so I follow the school rules and wear the uniform. Plus, no-one donates designer clothes to the schools underprivileged store for people like me, they donate the crappy uniform that their mother bought them as a punishment when they maxed out their credit card.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter, maybe a bit jealous, but not bitter. This uniform is crazy expensive, so to get a practically unworn set for a fraction of the price is awesome and means that my meagre wardrobe won’t get ruined by wearing it day to day. This is what I tell myself so don’t be coming over here and pointing out that it’s a bunch of baloney, I need these thoughts damn it!

‘Cass will you hurry up, my trainers will be out of fashion before you get your ass back down here’ came Jay’s petulant voice floating its way up my stairs.

Throwing off my uniform I dropped it on to the bed before pulling out some ripped jeans and a red off the shoulder sweater. Brushing my hair out, I pulled it up into a ponytail before grabbing my phone and wallet, hastily stuffing the twenty dollars I earned from Wade into the back and rushed down the stairs.

‘I’m here Mr Impatient’ I grumbled as I pulled out my phone from my back pocket and sent a quick text to mum to say that I was going out with Jay for a while.

My phone pinged. ‘tell him he is still not in my good books, he has another week and a half before he will be allowed at my table. If anything happens to you tonight, it will be two months’ came the ominous reply.

Showing Jay, I laughed as he swallowed hard, his face paling as he read the words. ‘Cass, you will not leave my side the whole time we are out’ he groaned, ‘I cannot go two months without Mrs R’s chili.’