Chapter 8

I managed to avoid St. Claire on Tuesday, afraid he’d say something since it was clear he was unwilling to erase that night. I was scared Jacob would find out about Friday night.

It filled me with shame and guilt.

On Wednesday, I was making my way to the library for lunch period when Melissa grabbed my arm, halting me.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re not going to the library.”

“But—” I started to argue without success. My friend could be really determined when she wanted to be, and she wasn’t giving me alone time anymore.

“Hazel,” Melissa interrupted me. “I don’t know what’s so interesting in the library, but I’m telling you, Jacob isn’t in the cafeteria. There’s no better place to hide than in the cafeteria. You know Jacob won’t ever step in there.”

She was right. Jacob avoided the cafeteria like the plague since it meant bullying from the football team. We barely went there, but Melissa didn’t know Jacob wasn’t the only person I was dodging.

“Jacob isn’t in the library either,” I fought back. “So, it is fine—”

“Nope. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you alone. Time for a change of scenery.” She didn’t buy my excuses. “Besides.” This time she perked up, excited about something. Her entire demeanor lit up as she bit her lip and smiled widely. “I have the best news, and as my best friend, you have an obligation to accompany me for this moment in history.”

I frowned. “What moment?”

“I was invited to the popular table!” She squealed under her breath, tightening her grip on my arm.

Melissa had been waiting for this moment since her fall from grace back in sophomore year. She used to be popular, one of the cheerleaders, but then she slept with a senior who was dating the head cheerleader back then. She was expelled from the cheer squad and the popular table. The entire cheer squad stopped talking to her, and only a few people dared to talk to her but nothing more profound, lest they be associated with her. Melissa had been biding her time until she could climb back up the ladder, and it seemed this was her moment. She was dragging me along, though I was the most unwilling participant in existence.

I didn’t get why she wanted to return to the popular crowd when they’d been so mean and disloyal to her. They hadn’t done anything directly to me, yet I’d prefer to cover my entire body with fish sauce than hang out with them.

She tugged me away from the library.

“Come on, this is what we needed to upgrade our senior-year experience,” she cajoled. “Popular table, can you believe it? I couldn’t believe it when Christy invited me.”

Though there were stars in her eyes, I didn’t have a good feeling about this. I didn’t trust these people, especially because a lot of them had bullied Jacob. There was no real friendship or loyalty from what I’d seen, no real liking of the other—only fear. People stopped talking to Melissa because they were afraid of the previous head cheerleader. No one stepped in and no one backed her up, afraid of the same repercussions.

Melissa deserved better, but again, I didn’t have the heart to deny her.

I forced a smile on my face. “Christy?”

Melissa nodded. Christy had been ignoring Melissa for the past two years. Yes, something was fishy. “Yes. Besides, Jackson said I could invite you too.”

“Wait, Jackson said I could come?” I was beyond confused.

“Yes. He said, ‘Bring your friend too,’” she mimicked in a deep tone.

I froze. Jackson had never even peeked at me, much less paid any attention to me. We worked on a group project last year and he never remembered my name; he kept calling me Elina. I didn’t know where he got the name since it didn’t resemble Hazel in any way. I corrected him twice and gave up when it didn’t work.

There was the fact that Jackson was best mates with St. Claire.

Now I really didn’t want to go. I’d have to face Graham.

I groaned internally and searched my brain for another excuse, anything to get out of this situation. I almost faked nausea; the realization of facing Graham made my stomach revolt. I wouldn’t be faking anything.

“I’m not hungry,” I said lamely.

“But you can’t leave me.” Melissa pouted at me pleadingly. She insisted on yanking me toward the cafeteria. “Also, I think Jackson is interested in you. I know you’re not ready to move on yet, but don’t shut down the idea completely.”

Before I could say anything or come up with a new excuse, Melissa managed to drag me out of the hallway and into the cafeteria. I was facing the entrance before I realized it.

When we entered, Melissa led the way to the popular table. St. Claire was facing the entrance and noticed the moment we arrived. There was a glint in his eye when he saw me. It dawned on me that he was behind this.

A shudder ran down my spine to my arms and thighs.

Melissa reached the popular table with a grin and Christy scooted to the side, enough for one seat only. I blinked, ready to say I’d better leave since there wasn’t any space for me, when Graham moved.

“You can sit next to me,” he said, sounding innocent.

Melissa looked at me and then at Graham. “Thank you, Graham.” She smiled at him, and he answered with a curt nod, never taking his eyes off me.

I wanted to decline or protest, but I didn’t have an excuse. And I didn’t want to explain anything to Melissa.

Resigned, I slid next to Graham and shot him a suspicious glare. Here I was, wanting to avoid him, but he wouldn’t let me. I didn’t understand his sudden interest.

I didn’t trust him. He’d never been trustworthy.

Melissa started talking to Christy and a few other girls from the cheer squad like old times while I pushed my lunch around.

“Miller,” Graham said next to me, low enough for my ears only. “It’s good to see you joining us today.” His innocent façade melted, giving way to a soft smile. It looked genuine, but I couldn’t be sure.

I glared at him, feeling his thigh pressing against mine, hard muscles against my soft ones. I became aware of both my heartbeat and my breathing accelerating.

I focused on ignoring him by playing with my meal, but it was hard when I could smell his heady cologne. Everything about it reminded me of Friday and how he’d pressed me down against the mattress—

~Gah.~

I shut my eyes and pressed my thighs together, gulping hard. I needed to remember my anger at him.

Graham’s arm touched mine as he leaned next to me to whisper in my ear. His minty breath on my ear caused shivers of pleasure and fear. His breath was hot and strong against my skin.

“Care to tell me what’s behind that blush?”

I didn’t realize my cheeks were red since I felt hot everywhere. I flustered even more and avoided his gaze. “Nothing,” I muttered.

I peered at Graham from the corner of my eye as a small smile graced his face. It was like he knew what was crossing my mind.

“Same blush you had when you came on my fingers and mouth,” he whispered, which I was thankful for since no one could hear us. Shame and desire revolted in my stomach at his words. “For someone who begs to forget the night, you can’t stop thinking about it either.”

I exhaled and masked my dizziness by scowling. “I want to forget about it,” I said with conviction. It wasn’t a lie. I wished I could scrub it off my brain, but I just seemed to be unable to, obsessing over small details like his callous fingers and hungry mouth all over my body.

“So you say.” He didn’t believe me.

I decided to ignore St. Claire for the rest of lunch and shoved food into my mouth. Full mouth meant I didn’t have to converse with him. All the time, I was glaring at Melissa’s untouched food. She barely ate as she talked to Christy like they’d been best friends forever.

I felt a bit left out but said nothing.

“You can’t ignore me forever, Miller,” Graham said against my ear again.

I raised my eyebrows at him. “I’m not doing anything.”

“So, avoiding me in the hallways and running away whenever we crossed paths for the entire week was a mere coincidence? Did you decide to join the track team?”

He had been paying attention to my whereabouts. The fact made my muscles tense.

“What do you want, St. Claire?” I questioned him, low, so no one could hear us.

“I want to get to know you.” He inched closer. I searched in his eyes for deception but found nothing. His stare was clear and direct. My heart stumbled.

“That’s not happening.”

“Because you’ll avoid all parties and any place I’m in from now on?” He teased, curling one of the corners of his lips.

“No,” I narrowed my eyes. “It’s not happening because I don’t like you.”

“Let me prove to you I’ve changed. I’m actually a nice guy.”

I snorted.

When he shifted his attention back to the table, I thought I won. But then he spoke. “What’s up with this weekend?”

“BBQ at Oliver’s Saturday,” Jackson answered.

Christy smiled at Graham and leaned over the table. “You’re coming, right?” Her smile was flirty as she eyed Graham, full of hope.

Graham shrugged, causing his arm to brush against mine. “Maybe,” he said casually. Then, he turned to me and spoke in a loud voice. “Wanna come, Miller?”

The decline was on top of my tongue when Melissa spoke.

“Of course she’ll be there!” She smiled on behalf of the two of us. Then she sent me an excited look, like I should celebrate this moment. Like I hadn’t broken up with my three-year boyfriend last week. Like being invited to hang out with the popular crowd had been my dream for the past three years instead of hers only.

“Can’t,” I interrupted before Melissa made more promises on my behalf. “I have to work.”

“Can’t you call in sick? Or ask to take the day off?” she pleaded. But coming to the popular table with her was as much as I was willing to give. I could manage forty-five minutes with Graham, but an entire Saturday? No, thank you.

“No. I took last Saturday off.”

Melissa pressed her lips in disappointment but didn’t fight me any more about it. She knew it was a lost battle. “Right.”

“Where do you work?” Graham asked me with a glint of interest in his eyes.

“Hazel works at Ashton’s,” Melissa supplied, enjoying the brief spotlight on her during the conversation. “Best fries in town, if you ask me.”

Graham hummed. I couldn’t read him but that didn’t stop my back from tensing. “I guess I’ll have to check them out myself.”

I scowled. I wanted to shoot wide eyes at Melissa to shut her mouth. The last thing I needed was for Graham to know where I worked so he could go there to harass me, or who knew what else.

“Maybe you could join us in the next hangout,” Melissa pouted.

I nodded. “Yeah…” My voice was far from enthusiastic.

~No, thank you.~