Chapter 4

"Hmm." Josh flashed a half-smile and gave a slight nod. "Since you asked so nicely, I guess you can tag along."

The way he worded it made the others chuckle, though not unkindly, as Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. 

"So we normally take this table at the back," Angela explained. "It's kind of our territory now."

Darcy nodded as she followed them and pulled out one of the red plastic seats from the round table. She watched as the others pulled out their lunches. Some had bigger meals than others—Ryan had two sandwiches, crisps, two chocolate bars and an apple—but none of them had as little to eat as Darcy. Being on a diet, she had a tangerine and a can of diet cola.

The goth girl paused to frown deeply at Darcy's lunch. "Is that all you have?"

"I, erm, I'm dieting." Darcy shrugged. She hated admitting it, because of the fact she was already what people considered an attractive weight. People would give her that awful sympathetic smile while wondering if she had an eating disorder.

"You shouldn't drink those diet drinks," Josh butted in, saving her from the 'You don't need to diet' backlash. "They are so bad for diets. Drink water instead."

Darcy nodded. Her mother had been saying the same thing, but she was addicted to the taste. Water was so bland and boring—like drinking nothing at all. It just didn’t satisfy her thirst the same way as a can of soda.

"Go and get a cup of water from the cooler," Josh said and pinned her with his dead stare until she'd stood up and left to fetch the water.

She frowned as the water glugged noisily into the flimsy plastic cup, wondering why she hadn't simply explained the fact she wasn't keen on plain water. Perhaps it had been the tone in his voice, suggesting he would not drop the matter until she'd given in. 

When she returned, she found her can of drink was missing and assumed he'd binned it.

'Rude,' she thought, craving the sweet taste of her favourite beverage.

The water didn't have quite the same effect, with zero caffeine and even less taste. She knocked it back and smiled at Josh.

"Good girl," he said as she placed the empty cup down on the table.

'Good girl?' she thought. It struck her as an odd thing to say but as the others didn't bat an eyelid, so she figured it was normal for him.

As she stuck her thumb into her orange to peel it the juice squirted up into her face. Ryan caught her eye as she made a sad face and wiped it away. He flashed her a sympathetic smile before looking back down at his food.

"Oh geez, here they come," the gothic-looking girl whispered, rolling her eyes.

"Hey Zara," one of them said, waving at the pretty goth girl.

'At least I don't have to ask her name now,' Darcy thought, mentally fist pumping the air. 

The guys who sat at the adjacent table were stereotypical 'fuck boys' - good-looking, athletic, and overly confident. They certainly weren't well-liked by her newfound friends, who exchanged sly glances as the other table spoke too loudly about their weekend and how much they had drunk.

After a moment or two, it became obvious to everyone that the guys were checking her out. It was nothing new to Darcy—guys paid her attention wherever she went. This was a fact of life she was used to, and in all honesty, she’d rather be one of the girls who got the attention. It had to beat being ignored.

"You can go and sit with them if you like?" Josh offered, smirking, as Darcy glanced up at the main culprit—a well-tanned blonde wearing a cap and loose-fitting vest.

Darcy frowned and shook her head. Yes, they were stereotypically attractive in the stereotypical sense, but as she took a sneaky look over at Ryan, with his pink cheeks, turquoise eyes, and soft brown curls, she knew who she preferred.

'I've had enough of guys like you,' she thought, giving the blonde a bitchy frown when he smiled at her. He reminded her of Ted, and though it wasn’t his fault, he brought back the guilt addled memories of her past.

"Ooo," one of his friends cried, elbowing the blonde in the ribs. "I don't think she's into you."

"Barbie likes the goth boys," his other friend teased.

At this, Josh twisted in his seat to glare at the lad. Darcy had seen this look so many times—it was the one he'd graced her ex-boyfriend with. The 'I want to stab you in the face, but I can't so I'm just going to stare blankly' look.

Ryan tugged on his arm.

"Don't start with 'em," Ryan pleaded in a hushed tone.

"They aren't worth it," Zara added more loudly. She turned to Darcy. "That's Jason Strawbridge. He went to my high school and he's a massive bellend."

"Love you too, Za," Jason shouted, blowing a kiss.

When Josh turned his attention back to his friends, one of the lads shouted, "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Josh gritted his teeth. 

They continued to make their pathetic comments, but it was obviously down to jealousy. Darcy hated to toot her own horn, but she knew when guys were competing over her.

"Darcy, come here," Josh demanded. He clicked his fingers and pointed at the floor by his feet.

'I'm not a dog!' she thought, but something in his face spurred her to action. She left her seat and crouched by his side as he leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"I think you'll agree it was kind of me not to out you as a bitch and a bully, right?" he asked.

Darcy nodded with a frown, wondering what he was getting at.

"So you're going to be a good girl, and do as I tell you, am I right?" Josh nodded, looking down at her without blinking.

"Erm... okay," she agreed despite the sinking feeling in her chest.

"I hate that guy with a passion, and he's taken a shine to you so... we're going to make him jealous. Now get in my lap," he demanded. 

"What?" Darcy asked, pulling back, and staring at him like he’d lost his mind.

With his hair covering most of his face, it was so hard to read his expression, but he appeared deadly serious.

"Or do you want me to tell them the truth about you?" he whispered.

His intense, unblinking stare told her he was serious about this threat, leaving Darcy with no other choice but to obey. She stood and turned slowly before plonking herself into his lap, facing the table. The feeling of his hands as they made their way to her hips was foreign and strange.

'Josh Parker is touching me,' she thought. It wasn't something she'd ever picture happening in a million years. The strangest thing was… it didn't feel bad. As his hands grabbed her butt cheeks and pulled her in closer to his waist, she felt her heart beating faster.

Once he'd positioned her to his liking, Josh moved his hands, placing one on her upper arm and the other on her thigh. 

Darcy felt her breath quicken as he pried her legs open slightly and stroked her leg. She'd forgotten all about the jealous guys at the other table, partly because she was distracted, and also, they seemed to have quietened down.

"Save it for the bedroom, guys," one of the canteen staff said as she passed, collecting trays from the tables.

Josh stood abruptly, slamming her into the table so hard she doubled over it. He leaned over, planting one hand on the table, and using the other to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Good girl," he whispered. 

He went to pull away and paused. 

"Wow," he commented, stroking the line of her neck. "Your heart is beating super-fast. Don't tell me that did something for you?"

$ Chapter