


I glance over and see him fighting with it. I struggle with the good voice and bad voice in my mind. I want to make him suffer for being a prick, but my feet are already moving me toward him because I’m a good person. “Do you need a hand?”
“Are you offering to stroke me off?” Jonah asks, with frustration heavy in his tone.
“No.” I push him from his locker, grabbing his slip. “But I will see if it’s your charming personality that the lock is put off by or if the combo is just wrong.”
The rest of the guys chuckle and a second later, I spin the combination and the door opens. I look at Jonah and arch an eyebrow. “It’s not it, it’s you.”
“Good to know. Keep the slip, stalker. You can open my locker from now on.” He slams it shut and moves to the other guys.
“Aren’t you worried about me snooping through it and selling your stuff on auction sites?” I ask full of snark.
“I don’t plan to put anything in there, so no.” He looks at me over his shoulder like I’m a bug.
“Whatever, asshole. Let’s get this tour over. I need clothes for tonight and an excuse for not having my school work done.” I power walk by all of them.
“Nice going, Duke of Douche. Our tour guide is getting the impression that we are all assclowns because of you,” Jumper says.
I don’t slow down. Over my shoulder I say, “The library is just up here. It’s two stories. Study rooms have no windows or locks. IF you plan to do anything in those rooms, lean against them or put a chair under the knob. Don’t try to make out in the stacks. Someone is always watching. And I’m not talking about your notoriety. I mean that people here at PHS are hungry for gossip. Nothing stays secret forever.”
“Why do you need clothes for the night?” Raiden asks.
“I have a father that believes homelessness is a punishment. So I can’t go home tonight,” I answer, before thinking better of it. Of course, all they would have to do is ask around and someone would tell them. As I said, there are no secrets here.
“Now…” I continue. “The cafeteria is further down this hall. The taco bar is to die for. Don’t bother with the buffet. The roast beef is disgusting, but the taco bar is an A+. Develop a taco obsession and love yourself for it.”
“That’s what she said,” Trace coughs.
“I’m really good with a fish taco.” Jumper wiggles his eyebrows.
I cringe and spin around. “You know, if it smells like fish it’s not fresh. You should pass and find one that isn’t so old and nasty.”
Raiden chuckles, his eyes are hot looking. “I hear that when it’s fresh, it smells like lilacs.”
I blush. I’m wearing an essential oil that smells like lilacs.
I turn away from his lusty look. “The cafe is, of course, seated by cliques. You will have to weigh out your options later today. I don’t see you sitting with the jocks. But any one of the chicks that sit in this room are going to want to be all over what you have going on there.” I circle my finger in their general direction. “It’s going to be a regular old feeding frenzy.”
“Where do you sit?” Jumper asks.
“Vivi and I sit on our own, back on the left, fourth table by the window. We aren’t part of any of the cool kids. Well, she is the coolest kid in this school. I don’t know why she hangs out with me. You will like her. She likes… males.” I bite my lip and taste the split part reopen and bleed.
Trace’s head tips to the side, seeming to catch something in my voice. “Does she?”
“Vivi’s sweet. She’s sensitive. She’s really easy to take advantage of though,” I say with steel in my statement.
Jumper nods.
Jonah snorts. “Your friend’s a slut, we got it.”
