Chapter 19: CHAPTER 19

Jacob was halfway across the court, waving, completely oblivious to a stormy pair of eyes that observed him with blatant displeasure.

"Hello ladies!" Jacob was all smiles as he greeted us. He passed a nervous hand over his hair. It was in matted disarray from wearing a helmet, but he was still cute nonetheless.

A sudden shyness overtook me. Hilary thankfully took charge of the conversation and began the introductions. As I smiled at Jacob, a prickling awareness crept over me, a searing gaze that jabbed me with its irritation from across the room.

"...and this is my friend, Clara. You probably remember her from the party" Hilary said.

"Yes, we also had science together last year," he added.

We did?

I nodded anyway. The only faces I recalled from that class were David and Theodore, who were a lot to handle given how much I had to tutor them so they wouldn't fail.

"What position do you play?" I asked, venturing into a familiar topic.

Before he could answer tan arm swiped the air between us repeatedly like a blade, forcing us further apart.

"Whoa, whoa, what is this?" Theodore's grin was light, but the arch of his brow was alarmed.

Once satisfied with the new distance, he slung an arm around my shoulders. With him beside me and Hilary hooked to my other arm, I was beginning to feel squished.

Hilary popped her bubblegum. "I’m introducing Clara to Jacob."

"Princess, that's not how it goes." Theodore said sweetly, as though chiding a toddler. "Clara needs a chaperone when she meets new guys. She's not well versed in these things and needs a friend to guide her."

"I am her friend," Hilary countered smoothly. "She's fine."

"No, I mean a best friend. You're more like cheer...buddy. I actually know her and what she needs."

Hilary smiled wider, shoulders rising like an adorable little girl. "She needs a girls' perspective. Not just a..loose boy's feedback."

Theodore nudged me closer to him, this time trying to distance me from Hilary. "I'm sorry Princess, I didn't mean to offend your delicate sensibilities."

Hilary tugged me back, voice joyful and teeth gleaming. "No offense taken."

Their bickering volleyed over me in the joviality of passive aggressive comments, my embarrassment growing as Jacob slowly stepped back. And I would've been able to save the disastrous introduction if it weren't for the stalking figure that drew near us and settled behind me like an ominous cloud. His shadow loomed at my back, threatening to spill at any moment. Unlike Theodore, he did not hide his aggression.

"That's enough for introductions." Cross's clipped tone gave no room for dispute.

I don't know what Jacob saw in Cross behind me, but it was enough to make him sweat and scurry away in a mumble of intelligible words.

Without warning, Cross latched onto my waist and lifted me off the floor. I yelped as he threw me overhim, my stomach pressing against the curve of his shoulder.

"Excuse me," he said coldly, proceeding to walk away as though I were luggage.

The duo momentarily paused. After recognizing Cross they continuing their bickering.

"You can put me down," I groaned. The view of the floor was dizzying beneath his quick steps.

I knew he and Theodore were trying to protect mne, but at this point it felt smothering. It wasn't often a boy showed interested, so when one finally did I wanted to explore the chance. Annoyed at his silence, I smacked his back, only in the movement I missed and ended up hitting his butt.

"Wait! That was an accident!" I cried, panicked.

Too late.

He immediately slapped my rear in return. "That was an accident," he said derisively. His grip on my thighs was unrelenting as he took the final deliberate steps to the furthest corner of the gym. My vision swirled as he set me down, pinning me in place.

With a wall on my right and another at my back, I felt likea cornered prey. By now it was time to head outside, but I didn't miss the curious glances as the crowd thinned. Noticing my attention elsewhere, Cross drove his body to my forefront, blocking me from seeing the movement behind. We were at such a distance I couldn't hear any conversation.

"What the hell was that?" His icy eyes drilled into mine, brimming with emotion.

Swatting his hands away, I straightened my maxi skirt. "Would you relax?"

It'd been a long time since Cross carried me that way. Back then, we would play fight and he'd use it to make me surrender. But I no longer wore baggy jeans or oversized sweats. The thin fabric of my skirt made the touch feel less innocent.

Even with his hands off me, palms braced on either side of my head, the heat of his touch lingered. The space between us shrank as the tense muscles of his arms locked beside me, steel-hard, like the bars of an inescapable cage.

"We agreed," he said quietly, voice dangerously low, "that next time you considered a guy you'd run it by me first."

I rolled my eyes. "I never agreed to that. And I don't need to tell you about these things. I can make my own decisions."

"Seriously?" Anger wasn't enough to describe his emotion. With his shoulders hunched and his brows drawn, he looked betrayed.

His hurt almost made me feel guilty. But it was ridiculous. He never "ran it by" me when he wanted to mess with a girl, so why did he feel the need to intervene in my love life?

"Fine," I yielded. "What do you think of Jacob?"

He exhaled sharply through his nose. "He's not the

one for you."

"Why not?"

For a long moment, it was only the sound of our breaths. My heart thudded at our proximity. One of his hands fell to my hips, his fingers weaving into the fabric of my skirt, and if I hadn't known any better I would've labeled it as possessive.

"Because I said so."

"See? This is why I don't bother asking."

I rose to my toes to look past him. All I caught was a glimpse of less than ten people before Cross adjusted his torso, blocking my view again.

"Stop looking for Jacob," he hissed.

"I’m not looking for him! Buses will leave soon which means Amy's waiting for me outside."

"I’ll drive you home."

My mouth parted in surprise. Cross got his license and started driving this year, but other than occasionally dropping the boys off, he'd never driven me home.

"It's fine," I declined. "And what's with you? You're being extreme when all Hilary did was introduce us."

Cross chuckled darkly. "The last time a guy showed interest in you, you became his girlfriend in one day"

His reminder was laced with ridicule. And while he did have a point, it still didn't necessitate all this aggression.

"I know better now. And besides, what's it to you? You were clapping when I finally managed to get a boyfriend." My temper rose at the memory. "Now that I'm putting in effort you're ruining everything!"

His lips quirked, like the idea itself were pleasing. Threading his fingers into my hair, he moved it aside, and immediately his smirk dissolved to a dirty look.

"Look at you, already covering them to make a better impression on him." Forrest roughly stroked the area with calloused fingers, smudging the concealer as if the effort itself were deploralble.

"No! Stop!" My hands closed around his wrist, but I was unable to remove it with his strength. I felt like a stuffed toy trying to pluck off steel. "Cross, please!”

He smiled at a pealking bruise. "Keep begging. I like it when you call my name all desperate."

"I’m covering it for my mom! Don't be so shameless!" He squinted down at me from his towering height, almost daring me to lie. Whatever he saw must've satisfied him. His resistance eased and his arm fell to the side. Still wary, I kept hold his wrist. He'd played games like these before -lowering my guard and then doing the very thing that had annoyed me again.

Cross had never been so problematic about me talking to boys. Then again, I never really had a romantic interest. Theodore was overprotective, but at least he was open to the prospect. Cross seemed fully against it and it didn't make sense.

The blue-eyed boy stared at me coolly, irritation somewhat quelled. The sound of my phone interrupted our moment. Amy.

"Hey, I'm heading out now," I said.

"Good. "

With a single word she hung up the call. Cross finally stepped back. His arm looped around my shoulders as he steered us towards the exit.

"Now I need to fix your mess," I said, shrugging him off. Using the front view camera of my phone, I reapplied concealer over the area he'd smudged.

Outside, the air was loud and restless. Students lounged on the steps and clustered near the idling buses. It srprised me, usually Amy preferred to leave after the crowd dissipated so she could socialize for as long as possible.

I spotted David and hurried over, showing him my neck. "Look, I covered it."

He lifted my chin to the side and inspected my handiwork. "It looks good," he approved.

The comment riled Cross enough he made motion to ruin it again. I squealed and ducked behind David, clutching the back of his shirt like my life depended on it.

"Seriously?" David threw an arm out to block him while shaking his head. "You're doing too much."

"Tell him! Just because he's not ready for a seriousbrelationship doesn't mean the rest of us aren't!" I yelled.

"Says the girl who can't pick right and got cheated on the same day she went official." Cross lazily placed his hands in his pockets like a harmless cat.

I inched forward, and David pushed me back behind him, not believing Cross’s retreat for a second.

"Except Jacob's a good guy" he said calmly. "We don't have to worry about him talking to Clara."

"He is?" I asked, my voice hopeful.

Cross lunged, but David deflected it with practiced ease, bringing me to his other side.

"Look at her, sounding all giddy with excitement." Cross smiled, but there wasn't any kindness in his expression.

"Clara's not a child," David said evenly. "She can talk to whoever she wants…” I poked behind David's shoulders and fixed Cross with an impudent expression, sticking my tongue out.

"...of course this time she'll actually get to know the

guy instead of rushing like before."

I pouted, but nodded nonetheless. That was fair. All wanted was to get to know Jacob. Cross was the one assuming I'd rush things like before.

"Fascinating. Now you're the relationship expert.' Cross's dry response oozed with sarcasm.

He crouched suddenly, feinting left, then darting to David's right. His hand brushed the side of my skirt before David effortlessly scooped me just out of reach. It was no surprise Cross might've been the star offensive player, but David was cornerback.

Speed and defense were his specialty.

"Out of all of us, I'm the one who's had a relationship that lasted almost a year," David reminded him.

Which was true. Sophomore year, David dated a girl for ten months. They would've kept going too if it weren't for her moving to a different state and cheating while they did long distance. That was the jumpstart to his womanizing ways.

"Clara! Let's go!" Amy's voice carried from the distance.

She was in conversation with James, who didn't appear ready to let go of his girlfriend. She was wriggling away from him, a little agitated even, with car keys in hand like she couldn't wait to escape.

I found myself being lifted again as David hugged my legs and decided to deliver me to Amy himself.

Cross narrowed his eyes, looking betrayed once more. "Really, David?"

Said boy gave him no response. Hoisted high against David, I had the view of Cross as our distance grew wider. The warm sun settled over his handsome features, highlighting his nose and the soft flush on his cheeks from practice. His eyes sparkled the way water did when rays of sunshine hit them. For a moment, he almost looked like a wounded puppy.

Until he sliced a finger over his throat. A soft smile settled over his red lips, threatening and full of chilling glee.

I swallowed. Whatever. This time I won. He couldn't catch me. I blew him a mocking air kiss, to which he caught mid-air and pressed it to the front of his pants. I gasped at his lewdness, and he laughed, tongue grazing his teeth as he zeroed in at my reddening neck. I turned away from him in a huff.

"Are we friends again now?" David asked. He placed me down beside Amy, his grey eyes imploring with a hint of humor.

"Yes," I said, hugging him. "You've redeemed yourself."

He saluted like a soldier. Then, leaning closer, he said in a low voice, "\]ust so you know, even though I'm fine with you talking to Jacob, Cross won't be. He'll probably do worse than today."

I frowned. "Why is he acting like this? He's never been this difficult."

David sighed. His gaze lifted to the clear skies. "Because he's selfish..And he's processing."

"Processing what? I'm not the kind of person who abandons their friends when she starts seeing someone. Obviously, there'll be boundaries to avoid misunderstandings, but I'm not going to disappear."

"He doesn't want boundaries."

Before I could respond, Amy latched to my arm and

said a brisk goodbye to James, urging me with her

momentum to move it along. I waved to David over

my shoulder, the wind carrying his soft laugh as we

walked away.