Playing The Bad Boy

Chapter Three

Jay’s POV

A lot can change over six months, it’s a new school year and I have definitely changed. Gone are the sweater vests and dorky glasses, instead I’m sporting a leather jacket, contact lenses, and a haircut that costs hundreds of dollars to make it look like I just fell out of bed.

My wardrobe was carefully put together by a stylist and my body sculpted by a personal trainer who drove me past my limits everyday from the moment I walked out of college at the end of last year.

Pulling up at the front entrance of my college, I kick the stand out on my brand new Harley and lean it over, swinging my leg over the seat and straightening up.

Dropping my sunglasses down my nose slightly, I gaze over the top at the group of girls nearby that are eyeing me with interest.

Winking, I push them back up and saunter past, heading for the front doors where I can see my best friend checking her watch impatiently, her arms laden with textbooks.

Feeling my eyes on her, Cassidy looks up, her face frowning as she takes in my attire.

‘I hoped that this was just a summer thing Jay’ she sighed as I grinned. I’d made good on my promise to myself after Katienne walked away from me and I had already secured my reputation as a guy good for a fun time with no commitments. Wade was the one who had helped me out with buying the Harley, he’d also refrained from laughing as he taught me to ride the thing. Cassidy on the other hand hated the new me, and had already told me numerous times that I needed to be true to myself, but the problem is, I think I am being true.

Slinging my arm around her shoulders, I tuck her into my side, bumping her against the rock hard abs I’m now sporting. ‘Baby girl, this is an all season figure’ I drawled waving my hand down my body, ‘don’t you want me to be happy?’

Cassidy scowled up at me, ‘yes, of course I do’ she replied, ‘but this’ she said, waving a hand up and down me, ‘doesn’t feel like happiness to me.’

Chuckling, I shake my head, pulling open the door and dragging her inside with me.

Holding her tightly to my side, I strolled toward our lockers that were side by side . . I may have bribed the guy who got allocated it so that I could have it instead, but I’ll deny that if you ever mention it to my best friend.

‘Hey Jay’ came a sultry voice behind me, turning around, I look down at a blonde cheerleader, fully decked out in the uniform despite the fact it’s not a game day. Twirling her long blonde hair around her finger, she peeks up at me through overly caked lashes.

‘Hey . . .’ I replied, trying to figure out if I knew her, was she the girl whose throat I shoved my tongue down at the end of last semester?

‘Hayley’ the cheerleader giggled, leaning forward slightly, giving me a good view down her top.

‘Yeah, of course, Hayley’ I agreed with a smirk, earning me a wide smile.

‘Kappa Pi are having a welcome back party on Friday; will you be dropping by?' she asked hopefully.

Pulling down my sunglasses, I gave the blonde a wink, ‘it ain’t a party without me sweet cheeks, so what do you think?’ I replied.

Hayley squealed, grabbing my arm and running her fingers over my jacket, ‘great! I’ll see you there then . . maybe you can save me a dance’ she added, licking her lips.

Hell yeah, I can save you a dance I thought as I nodded, watching her turn and saunter away, hips swaying, I felt an impatient tug on my arm. Glancing back, I come face to face with my impatient friend, ‘if you’ve finished eye f*****g that woman dressed in an outfit fit for a small child, I need to get to class’ Cassidy huffed.

Laughing, I started walking again, pulling Cassidy along with me as she grumbles to herself under my arm. God, I love this girl! Purely platonic before you give me side eye, she’s my bestie, the only person who completely accepted me with all my flaws. Plus, her big bad boyfriend would kick my ass if he so much as thought I was looking at her wrong. Hey, I’m a bad boy, I don’t have a death wish!

Moving through the sea of bodies, I waved at each person who hailed me, Cassidy also greeted a few people that she knew. I loved seeing this more extroverted version of her, Wade had brought her out of her shell, and she no longer stood on the side-lines watching everyone else having fun.

As we reached our lockers, Cassidy dialed in her combination, throwing her armful of books onto the top shelf before pulling out the ones she would need for the next two classes.

Glancing over at me she waved her hand at my locker, ‘your books?’ she asked.

Throwing open my own locker, I pulled out a textbook and waved it at her, giving her a cocky grin.

Giving me a raised eyebrow, she turned on her heel and led the way to our first lesson. With our differing career goals, we had very few classes together now, so I looked forward to the few we had together.

Sliding into my seat at the back of the room, I watched in amusement as my best friend pulled out her notebook, homework, and the oblong box that contained her most prized possession, a refillable pen with a blue pompom on it. Wade had bought it for her at the end of our senior year of high school when he had finally told her how he felt and she was never without it. The sappy bastard had an endless supply of ink cartridges for it, he thinks I don’t know, but he sneaks in her bag once a month and replaces the cartridge, so it never runs out.

Leaning back so I’m resting on the two back legs of my chair, I survey the room, winking at a few girls who are giving me interested looks.

The lecturer walked into the room, dropping his briefcase on to his desk before addressing us. I tuned him out, to be honest, I only come to the class because my baby girl is here. I haven’t been bothered with classwork for a while, and it’s not like my dad is going to give the company away if I don’t ace them all, I’m just filling time until I can take over.

‘Pay attention’ Cassidy hissed, elbowing me in the side, causing me to fall forward.

‘Why? You’re already taking notes, I’ll just read what you wrote and memorise it’ I whispered with a grin, ‘you explain this s**t better than him anyway baby girl, you know you do.’

I watched as she struggled between anger at my blatant using of her over eager note taking skills and smugness that I thought she was smarter than the i***t stood in front of us who was droning on without taking a breath.

‘I might not let you read my notes Jay’ she muttered icily.

I placed my hand over my heart, feigning hurt, ‘you wouldn’t do that to me baby girl!’ I hissed, ‘You couldn’t bear the guilt if I failed my class . .’ giving her a mischievous look I leaned closer, my mouth beside her ear, ‘maybe you feel unappreciated, I should show you how much I appreciate you.’ Standing up suddenly, I declared loudly, ‘I should tell the whole world how much I appreciate you . . Cassidy Reynolds . . my closest friend.’

Cassidy’s hands went to her face as she groaned loudly, the class around us turning toward me as I smirked, ignoring the professor who was trying to gain order.

Climbing onto my chair, I threw out an arm, the other pressed to my chest as I formed a poem on the spot.

‘Oh Cassidy

Can’t you see

That you’re the only

Girl for me’

I winked at the girls around me as I added, ‘not like that ladies, I’m still young free and single’ which got me a round of excited giggles.

Looking back down at my best friend who seemed to be trying to slide under the table, to hide, I continued.

‘Your hair so brown

Don’t let me down

I need your help

Don’t make me frown’

Realising she couldn’t fit under our desk, she glared up at me, ‘shut up’ she hissed furiously.

Swatting away her hands as she tried to grab me to pull me back into my seat, I jumped off the chair, strutting through the rows of seats.

‘Your talented mind

Can help me find

Answers to questions

I must unwind’

My monologue was cut off as the door burst open and two security guards stormed in, grabbing my arms and dragging me toward the exit as my classmates cheered.

‘Take notes for me baby girl!’ I shouted to her, grinning widely as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Once outside, the door shut, cutting off the noise from the room, I pulled my arms from the two goons holding me. They couldn’t actually do anything to me, I wouldn’t even go to the Dean’s office, being a Wells gave me a free pass around here, they just never expected me to use it.

‘Mr Wells’ one of the guards said wearily, ‘this is the first day back and already we are being called to remove your ass from class?’

I shrugged, setting off down the corridor, flanked either side by the two strapping men. Fishing in my pocket, I pulled out my cigarette packet just as we pushed through the door into the sunlight, tapping one out with my palm before holding it out to my entourage.

The guard who had spoken to me took one with a sigh, ‘these are bad for you kid’ he grumbled as I drew my lighter from my jacket and sparked it up, lighting mine before holding my hand out to protect the flame as the guard did the same.

‘There are loads of things that are bad for me mate’ I replied easily, inhaling deeply before blowing out a cloud into the air above us. Images from the first time I had tried smoking filled my head, I had always been dead against it, death sticks and all that. A few weeks before the end of school, I’d decided to try it, what’s a bad boy without a bad habit? I almost threw up choking on that thing, I’d soon learned not to inhale so deeply, and I could now drag on one lightly a few times and then let most of it burn out between my fingers.

The guard laughed as he nodded, ‘that’s true’ he agreed good naturedly as he took a big pull, a groan of satisfaction leaving his lips.

Glancing over at my bike, I nodded to the pair, taking a second drag before dropping it to the floor and stubbing it out with the heel of my boot. Picking it back up again (I’m no litterbug) I made sure it was out before throwing it into the nearby trashcan.

Giving both men a salute, I turned and walked toward my ride, I was already over today, time to leave and find something or someone more fun to do.

Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through the contacts, firing off a text as I swung my leg over my bike, a smile gracing my lips as a reply came up immediately. Yeah, today was looking much brighter already and it wasn’t even ten oclock.