Chapter 9: : Chapter 9

I pause mid-step, my head snapping over my shoulder to find Alex jogging toward me, just as Nico said he would.

That alone is almost enough for me to be instantly annoyed.

Almost.

Alex grows closer, so I spin to face him better.

“Hey.” He grins, running a hand through his blond hair.

“Hey.” I laugh, pushing my sunglasses up on my head.

“Didn’t see much of you last night,” he says as his hands find his hips.

A slight frown takes over – clearly my efforts were more than lost on him.

I brush it off, allowing a smile to take over. “Me and the girls hung out on the beach before dinner, then the dance floor called my name.”

His grin deepens. “You like dancing, huh?”

My mouth opens but nothing comes out.

Is he for real?

He has to know I’m on the dance team at the very least. I mean… right?

“So uh…” he begins, pointing to the barstool area of the coffee hut I was headed toward. “I was about to eat, are you grabbing something, too?”

“Just a coffee to bring me back to life. I’m gonna lay out a while, I’m exhausted.”

He chuckles, but it’s quickly cut off when his eyes fly over my shoulder.

“’Course you are.”

My muscles lock with Nico’s intruding voice, and I’m stiff as a damn board as he wraps his long arms around my middle, not so gently tugging me against him in a way that can only be his show of dominance. He kisses my cheek and my skin tingles in embarrassment.

I stand frozen, too shocked to do or say a damn thing.

Course, Nico has to go for that extra point.

“If you weren’t, that would mean I didn’t do my job last night,” he mumbles near my ear, his face dipping into my neck and my stomach muscles grow tight. “And we both know that’s not true.”

What the hell is he doing?

I chance a glance at Alex who eyes me curiously. He pointedly looks from Nico to me and I so badly want to tear myself away right now, but the quizzical glare suddenly taking over Alex has me stuck.

No way Nico was right…

“Yo, Alex!”

We both look to the side to find a few of our classmates standing at the top of the small sand hill.

“We’re going for breakfast at the cafe,” our mutual friend, Frankie, announces, examining me and Nico while speaking to Alex. “You coming? Wait, that you, Sykes?”

The merriment in his tone has me considering elbowing Nico in the gut.

Nico lifts his head, nodding in their direction.

“Mornin’, Demi,” another guy from school sing-songs.

I offer a flat smile.

“Alex,” Frankie prompts again.

Alex swings his gaze back to Nico, then me as he nods. “Yeah. I’m coming.” He gives me a smile. “I’ll find you later, Demi.”

“She’ll be busy,” Nico tells him.

I have to pinch myself to keep from frowning.

Alex glares as he walks off. “Nico.”

“Dick,” Nico says.

“Sykes, you guys wanna go?” Frankie yells again.

“No,” I say quickly in case he gets a bright idea to agree. “We don’t.”

The guys laugh.

Nico doesn’t move until the group is out of sight.

His arms fall and he strides past me without so much as a glance my way or a single word of explanation.

It takes a second but then I dart forward. “What the hell?!”

“You say that a lot.”

“Yeah, well, it’s pretty warranted, don’t you think?” I snap. “We’re hardly even, as in not at all, friends, Nico. You ignore me unless we’re in class and no one else is paying attention or around. You’re as hot as you are cold and it’s ever-changing. Now you’re acting all demanding like you have the right.”

He gives a half glance over his shoulder, ignoring everything I just said, and then turns back, stepping up to the cashier lady. He orders, coming back to stand right in front of me.

A cross between anger and aggravation is etched across his face, neither of which make any sense.

“It was one thing – still a bad idea – to pull the shit you did last night, but to basically confirm the rumor I’m sure has already started to spread? Dick move.”

He shrugs. “Hammons has to think I’m into you, takes more than a night for that to happen.”

“Because who could possibly tie you down?” My tone drips with sarcasm.

Nico catches me off guard when he grins. “Exactly.”

I’m stuck for a second, the sight so foreign but then I snap out of it.

“Are you insane?!” I shout. “I don’t want people to think I hooked up with you, let alone that I’m, what, dating you?!” My words are laced with a mocking laugh.

“Yeah.” His expression grows fierce, and he rushes in, closing the gap between us and forcing my spine straight. “And why not?”

My forehead creases. “Why are you pushing this?”

His jaw clenches. “Don’t you get it? People saw us last night. Now they’ll assume you’re a far different girl than they know you to be,” he says, almost troubled. “That what you want?”

I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head. “Oh my god.”

I’m no saint, but there isn’t anyone who could claim I’m easy or slutty either. Now they just might. I shouldn’t care what others think, it’s just name calling, but this is high school, and people can get nasty quick and for less.

My eyes pop open. “This is all your fault!”

“Getting the dumbass you want to notice you is my fault?”

“He noticed me before, we’re friendly, asshole! This isn’t some Pleasantville bullshit, the girl can do the asking and I planned to soon, especially after he wanted to hang out last week.”

“Yeah, how bad did he want to, D?” He gets in my face. “Your boy couldn’t even show up, bet he didn’t respond after you told him you were home, which I’m sure you did the second you got in the door.”

He’s such a dick.

“I didn’t ask for nor do I need your help,” I growl.

He scoffs, glaring just the same. “No, you just went video vixen in front of all my friends. What, you thought I was just gonna let that happen?”

I gape at him, lifting my palms at a loss. “I don’t… why do you care?”

“I don’t, but you were only allowed on this trip because I’m here. What, I was supposed to let some punk take advantage of you and deal with the heat from your ma? Fuck no.”

My face goes slack as I eye him.

That’s what my mom told him? After telling me to basically try and steal my friend’s boyfriend? What, is Nico her new backup plan?

Such a crock of shit.

“You are so clueless it’s not even funny.”

He lifts his hands as if to say it is what it is. “Either way, you’re stuck being mine for a while.” He dips down. “Get. Over it.”

I shake my head doubtfully. “People will never believe this.”

The vein in his neck tics against his skin, and he pushes impossibly closer, so close I almost trip in the sand behind me, but with the instincts of an athlete, his arm snakes around my waist as it seems to like to do, keeping me upright.

“Yeah, and why not? You think you’re better than me or somethin’ because your future’s lookin’ brighter?” he spits.

My head wrenches back.

Future’s brighter? Nico must have dozens of colleges after him at this point in his football career.

Does he not believe in his own abilities?

“That’s not what I mean at all,” I tell him, my voice quieter than I would have liked. I lick my lips and look away.

“D.” His tone is a mild command. “Look at me.”

Slowly, I do.

His eyes are sharp and assessing. “Why?”

I hesitate a moment, but when he lowers his chin expectantly, I start. “Fine. Despite how I acted about it when you said it, you’re right. Nobody would expect I could keep the… interest of a guy like you for more than a night.”

“Guy like me,” he says.

I swear he’s trying to be angry, but I’m not finding it when I look at him, and there’s nothing but curiosity in his words.

“Yeah. Guy like you. Careless, crass, athletic and overly popular despite your bossy attitude. Let’s not forget the fact that we don’t speak.”

His features smooth some, and he gives me a quick once over. “You act like you’re a nerd.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “No, but I’m not some sex kitten either.”

His lips smash together and it takes a second, but he releases me, moving to grab his order.

When he comes back, it’s with a coffee in each hand.

Slowly, he hands the second cup to me.

“Thanks,” I say quietly as I accept the drink.

“I think you’d be surprised to learn what’s said about you in the locker room, Demi.”

With that, he takes off, my eyes trailing his every step.

Once he’s far enough, I walk up to the small counter and hand the girl the cup.

She frowns.

“He was… I don’t know, attempting to be nice, I guess, but I’m lactose intolerant. I can pay for a new one.”

The girl blinks. “He ordered both with soy,” she says.

My shock must be evident, because the girl smirks, and pushes it toward me. “Seems the boy knows you better than you think.” She winks and goes back to her job at hand.

I turn around, finding Nico staring right at me from his place on the pier.

Does he?