Page 31 of The Trouble with You (Rixon Raiders 1)

“Piss off.” I swatted her arm. “I just have more important things to focus on.”

“You mean like helping me with my list?” She looked so smug, and I muttered indignantly under my breath. “You owe me, remember?” Flick added, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes.

As we climbed out of her Beetle, and made our way into school, I couldn’t help but think I’d traded one form of torture for another.

“It’s like you’re invisible,” Flick whispered on Thursday as we sat in our usual place in the cafeteria.

“Good,” I mumbled around a mouthful of taco.

“Yeah, but I mean, it’s weird, right?” Her eyes flicked over my shoulder and I knew she was watching the football table. “After last Friday I kind of expected you to get some backlash.”

“Paul Rankle asked me if I do three-ways, and Finley Palmer asked me if I wanted to ride his dick in gym. I think that’s backlash enough.” There had been other things throughout the week: notes in English, and a couple of ‘offers’ at lunch, and every time I walked into class the room fell into hushed silence. But on the whole, no one said anything about Friday. I knew it didn’t mean people weren’t talking about it behind closed doors; they just didn’t want to risk pissing off their beloved football captain.

“I guess,” she said. “And I saw some stuff in the girls’ bathroom—”

“You did?” My eyes widened. “Of course, you did.” I let out an exasperated breath. Everyone knew girls were a cut above when it came to tearing into one of their own. Guys might have been the ones breaking hearts around here, but girls were the ones ruining reputations.

“It was probably Khloe and her bitch squad. You know she doesn’t like the idea anyone else is ‘riding Raiders for fun’.” She air quoted the last words and I chuckled.

“Khloe is welcome to them.” I discreetly glanced over my shoulder. Jenna Jarvis was draped over Jason like a bad rash while the rest of the gym team sat in amongst the team. My gaze ran straight over Cameron and the brunette cuddled up to him, and back to my friend. “Although it looks like the cheer squad is out and the gym team is in.”

“Well, those girls are extra bendy.” Flick mocked, and my face screwed up.

“There’s a visual I don’t need while I’m eating lunch.”

“So, about the game tomorrow—”

“Not this again, Flick. I already told you, I’m not going.” Attending a pep rally was one thing, but a football game? After last Friday, I couldn’t think of anything worse.

“But you have to come.” She pouted, giving me her best puppy dog eyes. “Or else I’ll have to go alone, and you wouldn’t want that, would you? Your best friend all sad and alone in a five-thousand strong crowd?” Her lashes fluttered.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t, you love me, and because you love me, you’ll come to the opening game with me.” It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer. But I did glare at her. Hard.

Flick’s soft laughter filled our little corner of the cafeteria. “It’s going to be so much fun,” she said.

“Yeah, maybe they’ll lose.” I smirked, the idea filling me with a sick sense of satisfaction.

“Hails, you can’t say that. It’s like bad luck or something.”

“Fine, fine.” I pumped the air with my fist. “Go Raiders.”

“Better,” she nodded with approval. “Much better. We’ll make a Raiders fan of you yet.”

We cleaned up our table and headed out of the cafeteria but when we rounded the corner, Cameron was at his locker. His head snapped up, his eyes fixed right on me. But as quick as they locked on my face, they slid away. As if I was no one.

As if he hadn’t kissed me the other night and then humiliated me in front of most of the school.

And the worst thing?

I didn’t know which hurt more.

Friday night, I found myself returning to the one place I never wanted to step foot in again. But my best friend was relentless, and in the end, I figured it was easier to get it over with now than spend all semester trying to dodge her advances. I’d half-expected her to greet me with a Raiders jersey and matching ball cap, but she’d said we could build up to that.

Like tonight would ever happen again.

“It’s exciting, don’t you think?” She shouted over the noise of the crowd as we filed into the bleachers along with the rest of Rixon. The whole town had closed down for game night and those who weren’t lucky enough to get tickets would be camped around their televisions ready to watch the Raiders’ opening game against Marshall Prep’s Musketeers.