Playing The Bad Boy

Chapter Ten

Jay’s POV

I fell back into college life, a few girls had given me attention but for some reason, I just wasn’t pulled toward them. Finally, when a girl called Cynthia? Sindy? Maybe Sandy? Had dragged me into an alcove outside the front doors by my collar, I’d had a quick word with myself and put my flirt on.

As she’d run her hand up my arm, giving me that coy smile that girls do, I felt a prickle run up my nape, like someone was watching me.

Turning around, there was no-one behind me, so I scanned the area just in time to see the door swing shut leading into the school.

Shaking it off, I returned my attention to Samantha who was pouting at me, ugh, I don’t do clingy or emotional, time to bail.

Giving her my signature wink and promises to see her around, I head inside to my first lesson which unfortunately doesn’t include Cassidy.

Dropping into my seat, my mind wanders back to the brown eyes that had been haunting me for two weeks, what the hell is wrong with me? I shivered as the memory of her touching my arm played through my mind again, only this time, I could hear her laugh.

Beer pong! We’d played beer pong, she had been terrible and had nearly collapsed with laughter when she smacked one of the jocks who was dancing nearby in the head with the ping pong ball she had thrown, completely missing the table let alone getting near the cups. We’d already had so much to drink, and she’d stumbled out an apology through her giggles as I’d just wrapped an arm around her.

I wish I could remember her face, something, anything! All I had was those brown eyes and dark coloured hair, and now that laugh.

Groaning in frustration, I did what I hadn’t done in months, I fished out my textbooks and set about answering the questions that the professor had placed up on the board, my attention consumed by the work, pulling out that deep desire I had once had, the desire to learn.

Lunchtime came and I was late leaving class. Heading toward my car, craving something other than cafeteria food, a red head stepped away from the wall as I walked past, stopping me.

‘Hey Jay’ she said, running her nail down my shirt, ‘I missed you at the party last night.’

I tried to remember what party she was talking about, did the football team have something planned? I smirked, ‘sorry babe, other plans’ I replied.

Wrapping her fingers in the fabric, she pulled me closer as she pressed her back to the bricks behind her. ‘Shame’ she purred, ‘I was hoping to have some fun . . just you and me . . . ‘

Suddenly she jerked me forward, crashing my lips into hers as my hands instinctively went to her waist to stop me from falling on top of her. I tried to comprehend what the hell was happening, the girl had a vice like grip on my top, and her other hand wrapped around my neck, holding me to her as I stood there dumbly, letting her assault my mouth.

‘Please! Get a room, people are walking here’ came an annoyed voice behind me. Disentangling myself from the stranger who was clutching at me desperately, I turn to the side to find an extremely pissed off brunette, glaring at me. My eyes slide to the girl next to her and my body reacts, she’s got gorgeous black hair that falls down her back in tight curls and skin that looks like it would feel silky under my hands. I can’t see her eyes as she’s wearing sun glasses but I have a feeling they would draw me in, drowning me.

The brunette’s eyes widen as she studies me, ‘Oh my God! You’re . .’ her words are cut off when her friend slams her hand over the girl’s mouth muffling her.

I feel like the black haired girl is looking at me behind her sunglasses, assessing me almost before she shoves her friend around the corner, leaving us behind. What the hell was that about? I’m what? I’m lost in my thoughts as hands roam over my body trying to draw me back into the red head that I am suddenly aware is still standing in front of me.

Quickly disentangling myself, I run my fingers down her face, ‘sorry babe’ I murmur, ‘I gotta run, rain check?’

Red head pouts but nods, giving me a seductive smile before walking away, swaying her hips.

Turning around, I jog toward my car, knowing I’ve already wasted half my lunch break and I haven’t even left the damn parking lot. Sliding into the firm leather, gripping the wheel, I start the engine, pressing my foot to the accelerator a few times and enjoying the roar before throwing it into drive and heading out of my space toward the nearby mall.

Once in the shopping centre, I head to the food court and run my gaze around the different counters, trying to decide what to get. The Chinese station pulls me in and I walk over, picking noodles and toppings before paying and taking a seat at a free table in the centre of the court.

I take a mouthful and moan loudly, OK it’s nowhere near as good as authentic food bought from a small shop on the streets of China but it’s still good enough for this American guy to appreciate it.

Demolishing the contents of my box, I wiped my mouth and threw my trash away before heading back toward my car and sliding inside. I considered blowing off the rest of the day, for some reason my head was no longer focused on learning. The buzzing in my pocket, drew my attention and reaching in, I pulled out my phone, opening the message from Cassidy.

‘Don’t even think about it Jameson Wells, you get your ass back to school’ was the text.

Groaning, he threw his phone into the centre console and put the car in drive, how did she always know when he was thinking of cutting out early?

‘I swear she has a camera in this car’ he mumbled to himself as he headed back to school.

Buzz ‘and no I don’t have a camera in your car’ appeared underneath when he opened the screen again and quickly glanced down.

As I parked again, I glanced around, the parking lot was empty of students which meant I was late.

Cursing under my breath, I unfolded myself from the seat and stepped out, locking the door before hurrying toward the front doors. Walking along the hallway, I glanced into each room as I passed, not looking for anyone in particular, especially not the black haired girl who had caught my attention an hour ago.

Reaching my class, I hitched on my cocky smile and opened the door, striding in without bothering to keep myself quiet. I was already late, why try to pretend I wasn’t?

The lecturer raised her eyes to me, giving me a cold stare before returning her gaze to whatever she was reading. Figuring she wasn’t going to lecture me, I ran my gaze over the room until I found Cassidy whose face told me that I was not going to be so lucky with her.

Taking a deep breath I walked toward her, slumping into the chair beside her and hitting her with a mega watt smile. ‘Baby girl!’ I whispered, ‘I missed you!’

Cassidy snorted, ‘I missed you like a bad case of wind’ she grumped, pulling her book closer as she continued to scribble manically.

I inched closer, trying to see what she was doing so that I could get some idea of what work had been assigned but my supposed best friend wrapped her arm around the sheet, blocking my view! RUDE!

‘Baby girl’ I cajoled giving her a poke in the ribs, ‘what are we doing?’

Without glancing at me, Cassidy replied tartly, ‘I’m doing my work Jay, that is what I am doing. You? Well, you are sitting here annoying me.’

I poked her again, ‘show me what we have been assigned’ I moaned, giving my best pouty face.

‘No, you should have been on time’ my friend replied grumpily.

OK, it looks like I need to pull out the big guns, my bestie is not falling for my usual puppy dog routine. I snuggled closer to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders and resting me head against hers. ‘I’m soooo sorry I’m late Baby girl’ I whimpered, ‘it wasn’t my fault! There was a dog! It got hit by a car and the bastard just drove away. I couldn’t leave it there to just DIE! SO I scooped it up and rushed to the nearest vet, I held his little paw as they checked him over, brushing his golden fur while they tried to save him.’

I wiped under my eye, peeking over at Cass to see if she was buying it, ‘they couldn’t do anything Cass, he . . he died! I sat with him as he passed over the bridge into doggy heaven, I paid the bill for his care and then came back here to be with you, my rock, while I deal with my grief.’

Cassidy sat up, pushing me off her as she studied me, ‘where’ she asked, her face giving nothing away.

‘Where what?’ I replied nervously.

‘Where did you take the dog Jay? Which veterinary clinic?’ She repeated.

I gulped, ‘uhh . . .I don’t remember the name, I was too distraught to take notice’ I mumbled

Cassidy’s eyes narrowed, ‘it would be on the receipt they gave you for his treatment’ she pushed smoothly, ‘just get it out of your pocket and read it.’

‘I . .I . . um . . threw it away, it hurt too much as a reminder’ I stammered.

Cassidy rolled her eyes, ‘you are full of s**t Jamerson Wells’ she hissed, ‘and it’s even worse that you made up an injured dog story!’

My eyes darted around us, trying to avoid her gaze, s**t she knows me too well, ‘fine’ I huffed, ‘I went to the mall to get lunch and was late getting back to campus’ I muttered in defeat.

Nodding, my best friend leaned back, giving me a clear view of her worksheet so I could see what page I needed to turn to. ‘Next time, tell me the truth or you will be on your own trying to figure out your work load’ she added haughtily before returning to her work.