AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With a heavy sigh, I drive my car down Main Street. Making my way home with a roaring fire building in my chest.
CHAPTER 9
JASMINE
Closing my locker, I’m startled by Ezra on the other side.
“Hi?” I smile warily.
“Want to do something tonight?” she asks, examining her nails.
“Sure,” I say because, why not? I didn’t have any friends, so Ezra’s company is nice.
“We're going shopping. So be ready by six. Well eat out and do all that other girl crap.” She sounds uninterested, bored even. I feel a smile grace my lips as she walks away, boots pounding loudly on the tile.
“Jasmine.” Mark’s voice is behind me, and I freeze.
I really hate Mark. He gives me the creeps. Spinning around to face him, his body presses up against mine. I push on his chest, but he laughs, rubbing his length into me. My stomach sours. “Get off me,” I grunt, trying to push him again.
Just then, Easton walks down the hall in all his manly glory. “Off,” he barks at Mark, grabbing him by the neck so he has no choice but to walk with him.
Am I in the twilight zone or did Easton actually help me out? I shake my head, walking to AP Calculus. Easton has been so weird lately. Like cuddling me to sleep weird—not once, but twice. Sneaking out of the McKnights’ house was seriously awkward when I ran into Vincent on my way out. He told me not to let my dad catch me do that shit because he wasn’t as nice as he was. I snorted because my dad is the nicest, besides Maddox. Vincent was by far the worst. Vincent, Brylan, my dad, and then Maddox. Meanest to nicest list.
Mr. Floyd puts my test on my desk, a shiny A-plus on the top. “Good job, Jasmine.” He smiles down at me before walking away.
“What a nerd,” someone whispers.
“She probably slept with him to get that A.” It’s one thing to call me a slut but a completely other thing to disrespect my academics. I was the top student in my class since freshman year. Then Gerry. And surprisingly Easton after him.
The whispering grows louder as people talk about me. When Monroe, Nixon, and Everett were here, no one messed with me. Everyone knew they’d get their faces pounded. But I’ve been left with Easton, so I’m not surprised they all fed on me like starved wolves once he gave them the golden opportunity.
The bell rings and I grab my things. Making my way to the library, where I can enjoy my PB and J for lunch and read a book.
Only four more classes and I can go home and paint.
* * *
“This skirt is a little short.” I look in the mirror at the jean skirt with buttons all the way down the front.
Ezra glares at me from the seat she is sitting in, with a ton of other bags of clothes she made me buy. She looks at the shop lady. “We’ll take it.”
The lady rips off the tag to the black, low-cut tank top I’m wearing and the jean skirt and adds them to the total. Guess I’m wearing this out. She scans the box for the shoes I have on my feet as well. They’re high-rise sandals with thick black straps.
Ezra rises, handing all the bags off to Philip, our driver, as he exits the store and goes to pull the car around. “I’m so glad we got you out of those modest clothes and baggy t-shirts.” She smiles like she did a good job.
I just wanted to paint.
* * *
Still in the clothes Ezra made me wear home, I run to my car, typing out a quick message.
I’m so late.
Jasmine: I’m so sorry, I’m on my way now!
Axel: It’s fine. I’ll just stand here and try not to look suspicious.
Crap. I’m about to throw my car into reverse when Easton slides into the passenger seat. “What are you doing?” I ask him, throwing the car in reverse and speeding down the road. I don’t have time to fight with him.
