Page 17 of The Rebel of Raleigh High

“I’ll take both. Has to look like I’m learning fast on paper.” He eyes my phone like it’s an unexploded bomb. “Am I expected to do something with that?”

“Put your number in it. I have to send you learning materials, and you’re going to text me an hour before our classes to confirm that you’re coming. I’m not going to waste my time, waiting around on you if you’re not gonna show.”

He curves a dark eyebrow at me but takes the phone and taps his number into it all the same. When he hands it back to me, he catches hold of my wrist, and I fall still. Slowly, he turns my arm so that the back of his own hand is face up, clear for me to see now. He’s showing me the ink I was studying just now—itisa wolf. A fierce, angry looking, feral creature, with anger in its eyes. He drops his hold on me, letting my arm fall, but leans in a little closer, his gaze dipping down toward my black lacy top again. This time I can’t help myself: I instinctively cover myself.

“What the hell are you doing?” I growl.

A curved, almost cruel smile lifts Alex’s mouth up to one side. “You asked for people to stare at you when you dressed like that, Silver. Don’t get on my case because I’m a fucking normal, curious human being.”

He slaps something else into my hand, then spins on the balls of his feet and smoothly exits the girl’s bathroom as if he had every right to be in here. I grimace down at the money he just gave me, then, numb and frankly a little shocked, I follow him out of the bathroom. Jacob and his crew are still standing there, taking up too much real estate in the hallway, acting like morons even though the bell’s about to ring. I watch as Alex walks right up to Jake and stops in front of him, back straight, eyes flashing with sharpened steel. Surprised, I note that Alex stands a good two inches taller than Jake—something that looks like it doesn’t sit well with the King of Raleigh High. Jake laughs under his breath, glancing at his boys as if Alex’s intense stare isn’t unnerving him in the slightest.

“Hey, man. There a problem?” He folds his arms across his chest. “You didn’t seem like you wanted to talk a moment ago. Now you look like you’re about to ask me for the next dance.”

“Tell your coach I’ll join the team,” Alex bites out.

Amused, Jake makes a show of looking Alex up and down. “That’s not how it works, Homie. Just ’cause you’re new doesn’t mean you’re special. You gotta try out, just like everyone else.”

A muscle pops in Alex’s jaw. The air is laden with tension, to the point where my feet feel like they’re glued to the ground. Horror courses through the highways and byways of my nervous system, making me vibrate with uneasy energy as Alex swipes a wave of his hair back out of his face, his nostrils flaring. “When?” he grinds out.

“Coach’ll probably put you through your paces over lunch if you think you’re ready for it.”

Alex doesn’t say anything further. He just smirks and walks away.