Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Chase

Don't threaten me or you won't like the ending.

R uby flees the room and Presley gives me a look. I didn't mean to snap at the girl; she just struck a nerve. Cassie always called me a dumb jock and it stuck. The worst part is that's exactly how I feel when it comes to math. Numbers don't compute. It's like my brain isn't wired for equations. Put me on the football field, and I can tell you the best play to make every time, but calculus? Forget about it.

Cassie stops me as I'm heading out the door. She won't fucking let up. She was blowing my phone up all night, acting like we just had a little tiff yesterday and both said things we didn't mean. I meant every single word. I'm done with her. And I don't doubt there was truth in her comment about wanting to fuck Kyler. Before we started dating, she'd admitted wanting him. I actually think she first started dating me to make him jealous.

Maybe I should start dating her best friend and see how she feels about it. Though, dating Mindy doesn't seem that appealing either. I'd rather date the girl Cassie hates the most, but Presley's already been claimed. Which reminds me, I need to invite the new girl to my party. That should definitely piss Cassie off. I should have my camera rolling to capture the expression on her face when Presley shows up.

"Move, Cassie." I grit my teeth.

Her fingers start to trail up my shirt, but her touch is unwelcome. I grab her wrist and remove her hand from my body. I'm not sure what she doesn't understand about the words it's over , but she's having a hard time processing the fact.

"You've made your point, Chase. I get that you're mad I said I was fantasizing about Kyler, but I didn't mean it. You were just pissing me off so I wanted to push your buttons." And I call bullshit. "Why don't you skip second period and come behind the bleachers with me. I want to suck your cock."

"No thanks." I push past her, not knowing what I ever found so attractive about her before. She's not even that pretty. And her desperation makes her even uglier.

"You're making a mistake sitting with Ruby." Her crisp voice has my shoulders tensing. "Everyone's going to think you're a loser just like her."

See? This is the problem. Cassie has forgotten who actually sits on top of the social food chain in this school. She got her crown from being my girlfriend. And I can easily snatch it away from her and give it to someone else. I turn, stepping back into her space, looking down into her nasty face.

"You better be careful, Cass. You make comments like that again, and you won't like the outcome. I'll be happy to make sure Ruby steals your crown at prom, and you…" I trail down her body, repulsed by the fact that I wasted a year of my life on her. There's not even a single ounce of attraction left. "You'll end up in Ruby's shoes. Alone in the corner, with everyone thinking you're the biggest loser. Understood?"

The way her eyes are widening with a hint of shock, twinged with fear, tells me my message has been received. And if she pulls this shit again, I'll make good on my threat. One command from me and Kyler to the football team, and the entire school will be voting for Ruby as their prom queen.

I turn in my heels and head to class. Maybe now she'll finally stop blowing up my phone and go bother someone else.

I take my seat with Kyler at Presley and Ruby's lunch table, making direct eye contact with Cassie so she knows I meant what I said earlier. Her cheeks turn bright red, and I have to bite back a smile. I've never been the vindictive type, but watching her squirm makes me feel better about all the shit I put up with from her while we were dating. What's going to make her really squirm is when she finds out I invited Presley to my party tomorrow night.

I turn toward the girl that Kyler can't seem to keep his eyes off. Presley's been back for all of a day, and he's already obsessed, reminding me of back when we were kids. Presley doesn't seem as interested though. And that is piquing my interest. No one ever shuts Kye down. Girls beg for his attention, but she looks like she might want to keep him locked in the friend zone, and that has me liking the girl already.

I think my buddy needs to work for it. Everything comes easy to him: girls, grades, football. He's naturally gifted, where I have to use my humor to disguise the fact that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. And girls may want to fuck me, but they don't want to get tied down with a dumb jock. Like I said, the only reason Cassie wanted to be my girlfriend was to make Kyler jealous and to claim her status as the reigning queen. So seeing Kyler actually having to put in some effort makes me happy.

"So, hey!" I grab her attention. "I'm having a party tomorrow night and was wondering if you wanted to come, Presley."

She looks at me and smiles, but it falters as she looks toward Kyler. I'm not sure what her hesitation is, but I hope she'll be there because that will royally burn Cassie up.

"We'd love for you both to come, Ruby." Kyler looks toward the awkward girl sitting across from me. I stiffen at his invite, realizing my rudeness. I wasn't trying to exclude the girl; I just didn't figure she'd want to come. She doesn't seem like the partying type. Her head is always in a book. Drinking and playing stupid party games doesn't really seem like her scene, but if she does come, it will strengthen my stronghold against Cassie and further knock the queen down.

"Oh…um…thanks for the invite. But…um…I don't know if I'll be able to go."

I think that's her polite way of getting out of it. I don't think it's so much that she isn't able to come but more like she doesn't want to.

"Please," Presley urges. "I don't want to go unless you're there. It could be fun, Ruby. Plus, it gets us out of the house on a Friday night."

I watch as the recluse mulls over her decision. Her nerves are showing on her face. I don't understand why she's so antisocial. It's not like she's hideous. Her blue eyes are actually striking. Terrified, but beautiful. All her features are pretty. I don't think I've ever really looked at the girl before, but she's very attractive. Sure, her wardrobe could use some help. She always wears these oversized men's sweatshirts over jeans, even when it's hot out. I think that's why I've always thought she was ugly. Maybe with a little makeover she really could be Cassie's successor to the throne. God, that would be the ultimate blow to the queen's ego. But I doubt Ruby could handle all the attention. She's freaking out under the scrutiny of her friend waiting on an answer from her.

"It would be cool if you came." Kyler pipes up. It's obvious he's trying to get Presley what she wants, wanting to earn a point in his favor. "Not just because it'd make my girl happy, but I think we've been in school for years together and haven't ever hung out. We should change that."

"Yeah, you should come." I smile at her, trying to help my buddy out. Plus, I need to get back on her good side. I could really use some help with my calculus. "By the way, I think I was wrong in class. Any chance you'd be able to tutor me?"

Her face lights up, and her smile is shocking. I don't think I've ever seen the girl smile before.

"Sure! When do you want to work together? I already promised Presley I'd help her on Saturdays. Do you want to get together on Sundays?"

This girl truly has no life. She's booking her entire weekend up with studying. Me, I like to hang with the guys on Sunday, play some ball, and fuck around.

"Would Mondays work?"

"Sure!" She nods excitedly. "Okay. But the debate club meets in the library on Mondays, so we're going to have to find someplace else to study. Um…" She stews over it for a second, but I've got the perfect location.

"How about we study at my house? That way we don't have to worry about getting kicked out."

The nervous look is back on her face. There's a blush creeping up her cheeks, making her look like she has makeup on. It's shocking how pretty she is. "Okay," she finally says, looking back down at the table and tucking her face behind her hair again.

"Awesome. Thanks. You'll have to tell me how much you charge so I can pay you in cash."

She shakes her head. "No! I don't want money. I'm happy to help."

Wow. She's really freaking nice. Even Cassie who has money out the fucking ears charges to help girls improve their cheerleading moves. Goes to show what kind of person Ruby is. And it has me intrigued to get to know the girl better. I'm actually looking forward to our study session. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Cassie's reaction when she finds out I'm spending all this quality time with the loser. Tomorrow, I'll have to make sure she learns the news of Ruby being invited to my party. Heaven forbid the recluse gets to breathe the same air as the queen.