Page 20 of Hate the Game (Playing Dirty #1)

***Savannah***

Strutting across campus was getting harder and harder when all I wanted to do was run and hide so I didn’t chance seeing any of my across the hall neighbors.

It’d been days since I’d seen any of them and that was kind of how I wanted to keep it.

Even if it went against everything I needed to do.

My last email from Marla had been downright insulting.

She’d accused me of being too soft to take anyone down, much less The Apex Three.

I wasn’t too soft. I wasn’t. I was just studying my subjects slowly. I didn’t want to rush into it and ruin everything. That was all. It had nothing to do with my traitorous body liking the way The Apex Three looked, touched, and kissed. Not that I knew how Ryder kissed.

Which is kind of a sin. I swore out loud at the way my brain was even getting on the train to damnation. I needed to call my brothers and remind my body and mind of what The Apex Three had cost my family. I needed to remember what I was there for, no matter how pretty they smirked at me.

“You okay, Texas?” Trey, the Trojans’ kicker, fell into step beside me. “You were just cussing up a storm.”

I smiled up at him and rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. I was just arguing with myself. You know how it goes.”

Trey was from Georgia and had a southern accent I was jealous of. It was slow and sweet, like the thickest honey, and I loved hearing him use phrases that reminded me of home. “No, ma’am, I don’t. I typically like to agree with myself. Makes life easier.”

I bumped him with my shoulder and sighed. “Must be nice. Where are you headed?”

“I’m dying for a taco. There’s a food truck parked around the corner and it’s calling my name. Want to come?” He slung his arm around my shoulder and grinned. “Let me feed you. You know you want to.”

I laughed and pushed him away. “I wish I could. I’m busy, though. I’ve got to go to my room and lecture myself for a while before my next class.”

“Your loss.” He winked and then jogged off towards tacos.

I watched him go and admired just how carefree he really seemed to be in life.

He jumped in the air and did a heel click as he passed a group of cheerleaders and it seemed so innocent and good-natured that it made me grin.

When those same cheerleaders turned to look at me, my grin died almost instantly.

Cole’s friend, Cass, was front and center, scowling at me.

I swallowed down a wave of insecurity and kept walking.

I didn’t know what her issue with me was but it was clear she wasn’t keeping it to her self.

The group of them moved together like they’d planned it; all their heads turned to me in sync and all their faces turned down at once.

I felt like I was walking towards a school of angry fish.

Just one of them I could’ve faced bravely, but all of them together made me want to tuck tail and run.

Too bad for them that I was a Texas girl, through and through, and I didn’t run. Even if I wanted to. Really badly.

Lifting my chin in a silent declaration of my fearlessness I continued towards them, a smile on my face. I met Cass’s angry gaze and lifted an eyebrow. I would’ve preferred she just say something if she had something to say.

One of the women behind her snorted and leaned over to the woman next to her. “Can you believe her?”

A chill went down my spine.

“I’m just saying. If you catch me dressing like a size four when I’m a size twelve, just kill me. Not that I’m anywhere near a size twelve. God.”

“I heard she’s already slept with half the football team. You’d better watch your man, Becca.”

“Give me a break. Kyle wouldn’t touch her if she was the last woman on earth. Look at her.”

Cass stepped onto the sidewalk in front of me, making me stop and take in even more of their cruel statements. She looked me up and down and scowled. Over her shoulder, she spoke to the rest of her friends. “There’s nothing to see here, girls. Let’s go.”

I put my hands on my hips and took a deep breath. “Cass. Good to see you again, too.”

Her eyes flashed with fury. “Can’t say the same.”

“Do you smell that?” One of them sniffed the air. “Is that…cow shit?”

Another one of them faked a gag. “I think it is. I guess you can take the cow out of the pasture but you can’t take the pasture out of the cow.”

Most of them giggled along, their eyes harsh as they looked me over. Cass shifted from foot to foot and looked away. “Come on, girls. Let’s go.”

“We should talk to the team about cow-tipping and if they got confused about what that means. Her falling on her back at the first sight of a male isn’t cow-tipping. It’s just pathetic.”

I kept a straight face, refusing to acknowledge that they were cutting deep. “You know what they say. A true sign of intelligence is insulting someone’s looks.”

A few of them even bumped my shoulder as they walked past. The sound of their laughter chased me as I forced myself to continue towards my dorm. My eyes burned but I refused to give into the urge to break down and feel sorry for myself.

I was glad I didn’t fall apart when I looked up and spotted the pregnant woman Coach Carrington had been shouting at watching me. I didn’t want to see the pity in her eyes so I ducked my head and hurried along.