Chapter Three
“We still on for tonight?” Brodix leans against my locker flashing me his famous panty dropping smile. Seriously he flashes them dimples at girls and they go all ga gaga and give it up to him fast.
He’s got a reputation for screwing the whole cheerleading squad. I don’t know why he keeps dating me. I’m a virgin who will barely kiss him. If I wasn’t so attracted to and obsessed with Nav I’d wonder what’s wrong with me.
“Yeah.” My mom thinks I’m staying at Sheena’s and her mom thinks we’re spending the night at Jenny’s. Then her mother is under the impression she is staying at my house while she is really sneaking off with Javi. It’s not the first time we’ve lied, but it is the first time I’m going to be spending the night with Brodix. His parents are going to the casino for the weekend. I’m nervous, but I’m afraid if I keep putting him off, I’ll lose him. I know it’s selfish to string him along when I know my heart belongs to someone else.
I just need time to get over Nav, and I’m hoping tonight will be the push I need.
“Good.” He pinches my chin and comes in for a kiss.
I brace for his tongue to lick at my mouth like a damn dog licking a bone. I don’t know how he’s gotten into so many girl’s pants with how terrible of a kisser he is. It doesn’t make sense, popular or not, but I tell myself that I should be into him.
Jamie Taylor shoots me a dirty look from across the hall. They were a thing until he dumped her when I said yes to going out with him. Rumor was that she slept with him and that was the end of their relationship. He does it with every girl but me or so I’m told. It’s probably the one thing that keeps him around. I’m the only girl who hasn’t fallen victim to his charm, but I’m running out of time. He’s getting impatient with me. If I don’t give it up to him soon, he’ll dump me and tell everyone we had sex anyway. Worse things could happen I suppose.
I’m bound to lose my V-card soon enough. The first time is never great anyway. That’s what Sheena says. Jenny is a virgin too. Though after tonight she won’t be.
I kiss Brodix on the cheek and shut my locker. “I’m ready to go if you are.” His palm slides against mine, our fingers interlocking as we make our way out the back door to the parking lot where his black 4-Runner is.
He hits the keyless entry on his key fob, and we separate to get in our respective seats. Brodix never opens my door. Today is no different. More and more I’m starting to notice this boy’s annoying habits and bad manners. Deep down I know it’s because he’s not Nav.
I force those thoughts away. All they do is serve to make me depressed. I want to be carefree and have fun. I’m a senior in high school. These are supposed to be the best days of my life or something.
“We’re meeting up at Giovanni’s Pizza with the gang then we’ll go to my house for a movie. Jenny and Javi will probably hang too. They need a place to do it.” He squeezes my upper thigh.
I tell myself I like it and give him a halfhearted smile.
“Okay.” A slice of relief washes over me at the prospect that I won’t be alone with him for the whole night at least even if they will only be coming over just for a place to do it.
Sheena and Joseph are already waiting for us inside when we get to the restaurant. They left school ten minutes early. Its hard to get a table otherwise because everyone wants to hang here after school and there aren’t a lot of seats. Last time I had to sit in Brodix’s lap. Not that he was complaining about it.
I shove into the chair by the wall across from Sheena and my boyfriend slides into the chair next to mine scooting closer than necessary. He slings an arm across the back of my chair as Jenny and Javi rush in behind us and pull two chairs from another table before someone else claims them.
The whole time we’re waiting for our pizza Brodix keeps inching his hand further up my thigh. I push his fingers away from my crotch three times. “Seriously,” I hiss under my breath.
“Stop being a bitch. What’s your problem?” He snaps at me, and my cheeks go red because all of our friends heard him and are staring at me like I’m the one with an issue.
Maybe I am.
I don’t. know why I agreed to this. My mom is going to find out I’m not where I’m supposed to be and then she’s going to revoke my driving privileges. She’s pretty chill about me taking the car when she doesn’t have anywhere to be as long as I put gas back in it. I help out at the daycare on Saturdays to earn money toward a ride of my own. I don’t have a rich daddy to buy me one like most of my friends. They all have their own car but not me. I know my mom does her best to provide for Keisha and me and Uncle Link steps in when he can. He offered to help me get a car, but Mom said no way. I thought it was super lame. She’s always had this thing about being able to do shit on her own. It’s like some complex or something with her. She doesn’t want to depend on a man. Not even her own brother. Another reason she had a hard time dating Hound. Not that it matters. He’ll probably be announcing that he knocked Karma up before long.
There’s a bet going on at the clubhouse of who will get pregnant first. Hazel, Karma, or Bianca. Pam’s money is on Bianca. My guess is Karma. Hound loved that my mom came with a built-in family. The dude is legit husband material. As long as it’s not Nav getting someone pregnant it doesn’t matter to me. I think if he had a baby with someone I would kill over. My heart would cease to beat.
“Just nervous,” I lie, like a total dork.
He leans in close, brushing my hair away from my ear. “It’s gonna be great. I promise I’ll take care of you.” His tongue slithers inside my ear and I cringe on the inside. On the outside I giggle and shrug him away with my shoulder.
“I need the bathroom. Kimber, come with me.” Sheena jumps up and motions me to follow her.
“Girl code,” I inform the table. Jenny stays put. She’s too busy practically tasting the contents of Javi’s stomach as they make out.
As soon as the bathroom door shuts, Sheena puts her hands on both my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good.”