19. Marcus

Rhyshasbeenavoiding me. I kind of thought she’d accepted my apology about being a prick the other day, but then she ghosted my FaceTime call on Tuesday night, and she dodged me all day yesterday at school. I wanted to call her or message her all fucking day, but I decided to back off a little. Smothering her will only push her away more.

“So, what’s your plan, then?” Jared asks as we walk through the school gate on Thursday morning. He’s been my best mate since we were kids. It had always been me, Jared, Lexi and Abbey, but now things have changed, and I feel like he’s the only one left.

It’s a ridiculous thought, and I know it’s coming from a place of waning confidence. Lexi is still around. It’s just different now, with her attention so glued to my cousin. It’s almost sickening. I love them both, though, so I try my best to be happy for them. But Ayden’s presence has changed the dynamics of our group. Of our bond.

Then there’s Abbey Delany, Lexi’s ex-best friend. She did some fucked up shit to Lexi when Lexi needed her the most, and now she’s gotten herself into a twisted situation of her own. Abbey was a significant part of our foursome when we were younger. It’s hard to believe how things have ended up.

So yeah, Jared Crowley is all that’s left of our original group, and while Simon, Garrett and Shaun are all my good mates, for some reason, I feel like they are avoiding me lately. They seem alright when we’re at school in a group, but every time I’ve tried to organise to hang out with them this week, they’ve been too fucking busy. I don’t know what the fuck is so important that they can’t give me an hour of their fucking time. Fuck, maybe they are sick of hearing me harp on and on about Rhys. Shit, is Jared sick of hearing it too?

“You really want me to repeat it, bro? Aren’t you sick of me going on about how I’m gonna win Rhys over?”

Turning his frown to me, Jared shakes his head. “Dude! Why would you think that?”

I shrug, reaching forward to pull the door to the east block open where our lockers are.

“It feels like the others are avoiding me. I figured they must be sick of hearing my shit.”

As we get to my locker, Jared leans on the one next to mine, eyeing me.

“I gotta be honest. The other guys are acting fucking weird this week, but I don’t think it’s because of you, man.”

“You don’t think?” Fuck, I sound like an insecure pussy right now.

“Nah, man. They understand that you’re a lovesick fool.” Jared grins, so I punch his arm.

“Fuck off, idiot.”

He chuckles.

“Dude. Maybe you’re overthinking it. Let’s just focus on how you’re going to win George over. What class do you have with her today?”

“Maths. Period four. Hastings is in that class, too. Maybe I can get him to help me. I need to make sure she has nowhere else to sit but next to me.”

Grabbing my books, I close my locker before we head up the corridor to Jared’s. This time I lean against the lockers as Jared gets his shit together, and when he slams it shut and turns, he immediately starts laughing as he looks past my shoulder.

“Fuck, Bossi! Looks like you got some action last night.”

Turning, I see Shaun approaching us, his bag slung over his shoulder, and his dark hair still damp from a shower. All the chicks love this guy. They practically cream themselves just from glancing his way. Fucking Spanish genes make him look like a fucking underwear model, and the girls can’t get enough of him. He was declared Fox Pines Catholic’s Spanish Casanova a couple of years back. It’s fucking fitting.

It takes me a moment to figure out what Jared is referring to, but as I take in the way Shaun has the collar of his school shirt sticking up, as well as his blazer collar, I notice the darkened skin on his neck. The fucker has a hickey!

I can’t help myself. I start laughing.

“Looks like you got mauled, man.” I chuckle, and he rolls his eyes.

“More like I got her so worked up that she lost control. They don’t call me Casanova for nothing.”

Cocky bastard. We all laugh at his expense.

“What’s so funny?” Simon asks, bounding up like the ball of energy he is, with Garrett not far behind, looking as broody as ever.

“Bossi has a love bite.” Jared chuckles before reaching forward and shoving Bossi’s collars down to reveal the red and purple monstrosity.

“Hey! Hands off the goods, bro!” Shaun hisses as we all laugh. Well, all but Garrett. For some reason, he’s frowning.

I mean, it’s rare to get the big bugger to smile, but fuck, this is one of those times he would normally show us that smile that turns the beast into a fucking teddy bear. I wonder what’s up his arse today?

We shoot the shit for a few more minutes before the bell goes. My first two classes are boring and repetitive, with the teachers focusing on finishing off any outstanding work and studying for upcoming exams. Term 4 is pretty cruisey. We only have two more weeks of school before exams, and then we’re done for the year. I can’t fucking wait. This year has been hard with all the shit that happened to Lexi, so I’m looking forward to a summer of carefree fun with my mates.

At recess, we congregate in the courtyard, piling our blazers into a mountain of fabric so we can enjoy the warm spring sun. Like me, most of the guys have their sleeves rolled up, while some of the girls are already wearing the summer uniform. Those who aren’t have their sleeves rolled up too.

I’m half-listening to a conversation between Hastings and Ayden, which I’m fairly certain will end in Simon getting a dead arm. He’s talking about Lexi, which usually results in him saying something to rile my cousin up.

I know the moment Rhys enters the courtyard. I wish I could say something like the air shifts, and I feel electricity in the air, but let’s not get fucking carried away. Rhys George likes to make her presence known. Her laughter fills the air, and all eyes turn to see her walking with Lexi toward the table we all parked our arses on.

“Did you all get the invitation to Bonnie Mayer’s Halloween party next Thursday night?” Rhys asks, and a round of yeahs answer her. Then she turns to Lexi, placing her hands on each of Lexi’s shoulders. “It’s going to be epic, Lex. What will we dress up as?”

“Ugh. Do I have to go?” Lexi whines, “I hate dress-up parties.”

“OMG, Lexi West! Yes, you have to go!” Rhys declares, and Lexi rolls her eyes.

“Can I just dress up as Lexi West? I heard she’s pretty badass.” Lexi smirks at Rhys, which wins her a frown.

“Absolutely not!” Rhys sounds gob smacked. “Although, I think you should definitely go with the badass chick theme. What about Harley Quinn? You’d make the best Harley Quinn.”

Lexi smiles and nods. “Yeah, ok. You win, Rhys.”

Rhys beams, turning her proud smile to us.

“What are you going as Rhys?” Simon asks, and she shrugs. “What about a naughty nurse?”

At Simon’s suggestion, all the colour drains from Rhys’ face and her smile drops.

What the fuck?

“What’s wrong?” Lexi asks Rhys, grabbing her hand, which seems to jolt Rhys out of the dark place her mind just went.

“What?” Rhys glances at Lexi and then at us, throwing us a smile, which is the fakest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.

Shit. Something really isn’t right with my girl. What just happened?

“Rhys?” Lexi’s voice is filled with concern, and her eyes dart to mine, but I shrug because I don’t fucking have a clue what just happened.

Rhys turns her weird smile to Lexi and hugs her, jumping up and down excitedly.

“I can’t wait to spend Halloween with you, Lexi.”

As she stops jumping, Rhys pulls back from Lexi, and as if time slows, my heart stops dead in my chest.

No!

There, on the side of my girl’s neck, is a dark purple hickey peaking through a thick layer of make-up that must have wiped off when she hugged Lexi. It’s a big, dark, fucking love bite that is coincidently a new addition to her skin the same day that Bossi turns up to school with one.

Like fuck, that’s a coincidence!

I don’t even realise I’ve moved, but before I know what I’m doing, I grip Rhys’ shoulder tight, holding her in place as I wipe my thumb over her neck to remove the rest of the makeup.

“Hey!” Rhys snaps, trying to push me away, but it’s too fucking late. I can see what she’s trying to hide, and by the curses behind me from the guys, so can they.

Shocked, I take a step back to look into her eyes. The same eyes I fell in love with. The same eyes that give her away when they dart over my shoulder to where I know Bossi is sitting at the table.

Blood pulses aggressively through my veins as I slowly release her and turn around to glare at a guy that I thought was my mate. Then, without a second thought, I fucking launch myself at Shaun.

My fist smacks loudly as it meets his nose, and he flies backwards off the table, with me following. When he hits the ground, I lose any sense of what’s going on. I just swing my arms and let my fists speak for me as they pummel into his cheek, chin, eye, shoulder.

I’m fucking livid. I could kill right now!

It’s not until I feel hands pulling me off Bossi that my hearing kicks in. I can hear Rhys screaming, begging me to stop. I can hear Lexi doing the same, while I’m almost certain the arms wrapped around me from behind are my cousins. Ayden.

As I’m pulled free and see the blood covering Shaun’s face, Rhys falls to her knees next to my so-called mate with tears streaming down her face in concern. For him! And fuck if that doesn’t just piss me off more. A feral growl rips from my chest as I escape Ayden’s hold, and I dart forward, forcefully pushing Rhys away from Shaun as I lay into him again.

“Marcus! No! Please stop!” Rhys cries. But I don’t stop.

Then, as someone pulls me off Shaun again, my fists keep swinging, hoping to land one more punch. The satisfaction only lasts a second when I feel my knuckles meet a face. The problem is, it’s not Shaun’s face. My fist connects with Rhys’ face.

“Get back!” A roar shouts, shaking me out of my rage as I see Mr Foster, my PE teacher, skid over the grass on his knees as he comes to Rhys’ aid.

What the fuck have I done?

There are multiple arms holding me back now, but I’m not fighting anymore as I realise that I just hit my girl.

No. Not my girl. Fucking Bossi’s girl.

I can’t help it. I scream, agony tearing at my insides. My knees give out, but I don’t fall. Whoever has hold of me is keeping me in place. I wish they’d let go of me. I wish they’d let me fall to the ground so it could swallow me up and take away this pain forever.