Page 21 of Fight for You

"What do you want?" I ask him.

"I need you to walk January home today," he says.

"Already planned on it." We escort her to and from school every day. It's been that way for years. Don't know why he'd think today was any different.

"Without me," he says and grins, showing his teeth. "Mandy wants to talk."

"You're still trying to get with her?" I shake my head at him. She strings him along like a little puppy, but he just keeps going back for more. There's no point in even trying to tell him she's fucking half the football team. He doesn't care.

I don't think it bothers him that she's tried to get with me more than once over the years, either. I've never had any interest in her, but she keeps trying. It's fucking ridiculous.

"What makes you think I haven't already been with her?" he asks and waggles his brows.

"Because you'd never shut the fuck up about it if you had."

"So you'll walk January home and hang out with her until I get there?"

I push myself to my feet, trying not to let my excitement show. If he wants to deal with Mandy's drama again, that's on him. He never listens so there's no point even trying to tell him that he's an idiot. But the thought of escorting January home by myself? Of spending time alone with her? Yeah, I'm all over that.

"I've got January," I tell him, keeping my voice level.

"I owe you."

I wave him off and jog down the bleachers before cutting across the quad toward the junior high. She's in eighth grade this year. Her classes will be letting out soon. I've memorized her schedule, so I weave through the junior high campus until I make it to the English building. I'm still several doors away from her room when the final bell rings.

Kids come pouring out of their classrooms, talking loudly.

A few greet me by name. I lift my chin at them and keep walking. Everyone knows me because I'm here with January every day, but I don't talk to any of them. She's the only person here I have any interest in.

My eyes land on her, and I draw to a stop. She's got her head bent as she whispers back and forth with another girl her age, Mariah something or another. I don't remember her last name. She's with January a lot, but I never pay attention to anyone but my girl.

They're not paying attention, so I hang back and watch January for a minute. She's beautiful. Most girls go through an awkward phase, but she never did. She went from a cute little kid to a stunning young woman with hair like silk and the brightest emerald eyes I've ever seen. Her skin is golden from all the time she spends outside.

She's still tiny and curvy. I know she hopes she's not finished growing yet, but I kind of hope she stays as short as she is now. She's perfect. I love how she feels in my arms when she gets excited about something and hugs me.

"Yo, January," someone calls to her.

She and Mariah lift their heads at the same time as a boy I've never met starts moving toward her. He's got his backpack slung over one shoulder and a thick chain around his neck. His brown hair is tousled. He probably spent all fucking morning in front of the mirror trying to make it look like he just rolled out of bed. He's tall and lanky, maybe a year younger than I am. I don't like the way he leers at January with a cocky smirk on his face.

Mariah tugs on her sleeve and giggles as he approaches.

"Hi, Corey." January gives him a shy smile that makes my hands clench.

"Hey, gorgeous." Corey stops in front of her and leans down, getting in her personal space. He rests an arm on the lockers above her head, which pulls his shirt up in the back, showing his boxers where his pants sag.

I grit my teeth and start in their direction, pissed he's flirting with her and she's letting him. Maybe she's too young for me, but she's also too young for him. She's only thirteen. She doesn't need to be thinking about boys or any of that bullshit.

"Some of us are going to the dance together tomorrow and then to get pizza after. You wanna come?" Corey asks her.

"Um…" January whispers, and I'm not sure if she's hesitating because she wants to go with him or because she doesn't want to go and is just trying to be nice.

Fuck. Does she want to go with him?

"What do you say, babe? Want to go with me?"

"January!" I bark before she can answer.

She jerks backward, almost falling over. Her head whips in my direction and her eyes grow wide.