Page 21 of Fractured Mind
“She’s not good news. Watch your back with her.”
This is the first conversation we’ve had since I’ve been here. His words repeat in my head.Watch your back...What does that mean?
At lunch Ruby rushes to sit beside me at our table. “Tell me everything.”
I’m not sure what she’s talking about, so I stare at her, waiting for her to say more.
“What Maree said before class?”
I grimace. “How do you know?”
“Word travels fast.”
“She wanted to know if I have something going on with Ashton.”
“Ha, like she has a chance with him. Is that all?” She sounds disappointed.
“She also asked if I’m goingafterhim.”
Ruby smirks with a cocked brow. “Are you?”
“No!” My voice comes out louder than intended.
Levi slides into the seat across from me. “What did we miss?”
I scowl at Ruby in warning. “Nothing,” she replies too fast.
Ashton puts his hand on top of mine, and it sends my pulse racing again. “I’m sorry for what happened with Maree.” He’s sincere, but then his voice hardens. “It won’t happen again.”
“It was nothing...” I reply. “And Jackson was there. Is there something going on between you and her?”
His face distorts with disgust, and the group laughs. “I think I’m the only guy at this table who hasn’t had sex with her.”
I grimace, and as I look at the others, their faces show mixed emotions. Jackson’s lip is curled; he looks repulsed.
“She might give good head, but she is a stage-five clinger,” Levi announces while Ruby gags beside me. Roman tries to keep a straight face but is shaking in silent laughter.
“Ew, gross,” Ruby mumbles.
Levi looks at Roman. “Since we’re talking about chicks... I’m going to bang Heather. She keeps sending me photos of her tits. Not that I’m complaining.” He shoves his phone in Roman’s face. “What d’ya reckon the size of her boobs are? They must be a double D or an E.”
“My ears are bleeding,” Ruby chimes in while Roman pushes Levi’s phone away.
“Jeez, I don’t know.”
The bell rings, marking the end of lunch, and I’m grateful. Anything to get out of having to listen to who they’ve had sex with and how big some girl’s boobs are.
“Meet you two at the beach,” Ashton says over his shoulder as he walks to class with the guys.
Rubyand I stroll across the sand toward the water. A flutter of nerves sweeps through me at the thought of wearing only a bikini.
“You have nothing to be self-conscious about.”
Ruby’s encouragement does little to ease my worry. I grab my dress with shaky hands and pull it over my head.
“Sexy bitch!” She smiles and wiggles her eyebrows at me. “You’ll be even hotter when your white bikini gets wet and becomes see-through.”
My heart stops. “It won’t go see-through, will it?” The wicked gleam in her eyes answers my question, so I turn on my heel to go back to the car.