Serenity (29 page)

Jolin glanced over at her and shook his head in disgust. She was such a bitch. How could he not have seen it before?

Everyone but Brock assembled around the table. Jolin’s fellow football players gave him fist pumps and high fives then settled in.

Finally, Brock showed up and slid into the last seat next to Elizabeth, laying an arm across the back of her chair. He gave Jolin a quick nod then turned his attention back to Elizabeth. She annoyingly giggled at whatever he said. She was keeping her options open apparently.

“Ladies and gentleman,” the principal began. Jolin’s patience with the entire ritual was running thin.

“The nominations were counted up over the weekend and as you all know, you were one of the top three for your grade. However, for senior King we only have two. There is one prince for every grade level, including the Senior class. You three are separate from the King nominations. Same is true for the Queen. Lisa and Elizabeth, you are the Queen candidates.” The principal moved to the side and the school counselor stepped forward. Jolin eyed him as she shuffled through a notebook. Why hadn’t he ever noticed Ren and questioned the shit going on in her life? Especially with Quill screwing up all the time.

Finally, he seemed to find what he was looking for.

“Tomorrow we will have an all school assembly where you will be given a chance to introduce yourself and talk a little about your love for the school and why you would represent the class at the dance. Please prepare about a three minute speech for that. Also, each person is allowed to spend one hundred dollars on their campaign. You don’t have to spend anything, but that is the limit. You are able to buy candies, fliers, whatever you think will help to win you votes. You can do as much or as little as you want. It’s up to you. The more you get your name out there, the more votes you may get. Remember the freshmen don’t know the upper classmen and they tend to be the biggest voters.” He paused before turning a page in his notebook. “We will not tolerate the destruction of any other candidate’s materials. If you are found to have altered or maimed another’s posters, etc… you will be automatically eliminated from the running and have to reimburse the cost of the vandalism. Any questions?”

Jolin had a question, but he didn’t figure the counselor wanted him to ask if he would ever shut up.

After a few asinine questions from the freshman, they were excused. Elizabeth grabbed his arm as he fought to get out of the room.

“We can work together to make posters. Come to my house after school,” she babbled on.

“I have plans.” Jolin peeled her off his arm, but she just reattached herself. Jolin looked over his shoulder to see Brock whispering into Lisa’s ear and her giggle in response. How many girls was he hooking up with?

Even before he got to Biology, he knew it was going to be bad. He knew how Ren’s mind worked. The walls he knocked down would have returned and twice as thick. He was screwed. Ren surely thought he’d deserted her and was back on his road to popularity… and Elizabeth.

When he walked in, she wouldn’t even look at him.

Elizabeth shimmied up on him again.

“Well it looks like our potential king and queen have decided to grace us with their presence. It’s a work day. Find your partners and see what you can do with what’s left of class.” Mr. Carson waved his hand toward the tables.

Elizabeth found her seat, but didn’t get any of her stuff out. Instead, she leaned forward and started her campaign by kissing up to the students sitting around her table.

Jolin slowly walked to where Ren had her head buried in a book. He pulled out the chair next to her and started to sit down. Without a word Ren flipped her notebook and book closed, collected her things, and rushed out of the room. Jolin dropped his bag and slouched into the chair. This was so fucked up. If he didn’t know better he would have blamed Elizabeth and Brock, but he knew it was just his shitty life. Karma sucked, and he was getting kicked in the ass for all the sucky things he’d done in the past.

“Ms. Diaz class is not over yet.” Mr. Carson looked up as Ren rushed from the room, smacking into Brock as he was heading in. Brock grabbed her arms to steady her. Ren stopped and stared at him for a minute before he held up his hands in surrender, letting her go by.

“Mr. Carson. She wasn’t feeling well and thought she was going to throw up.” At least Jolin could cover for her.

Brock stared Jolin down. He wasn’t sure what Brock wanted from him, but he kept his face void of any expression. He wasn’t going to let Brock rattle him.

Elizabeth turned in her seat, her eyes were huge. “Jolin Daniel, you didn’t stutter.”

Jolin felt the blood rush to his cheeks when the entire class turned around and stared at him.
The hell with this
, he thought, and grabbed his stuff, following after Ren.

Mr. Carson’s voice trailed after him, but he was nominated for homecoming king. He was back on his throne and a pass wouldn’t be required. What a fucked up system.

Ren was nowhere to be found when he got into the hall. But Quill was.

Quill looked like he had a rough weekend and wasn’t moving too fast to get to class.

“Hey Quill.” Jolin jogged over to where he stood.

“Hey bro.” Quill gave him a nod. “You still got my sister?”

Jolin wasn’t sure what he meant by that. “No, uh…have you seen her.”

Quill looked at the floor and nodded. “She took off?”

“Just from class. You’re welcome to stay at my house too.”

Quill cocked his head up to look at him. “Ren tell you she’s gonna stay?”

Jolin thought for a minute. She hadn’t really told him anything. “No, not exactly.”

“I appreciate the offer, but she’ll head home in a day or two when things calm down. I’ll try and be there.” Quill pushed himself off the wall from where he was leaning. “She knows how to take care of herself. Don’t worry. This isn’t our first rodeo.”

Jolin stepped in front of him. “Would have been nice if you stuck around after the shit hit the fan.”

Quill laughed. “Like I said. It isn’t the first. Or for that matter the worst. It’ll happen again until either someone gets hurt so bad the police have to do something or we get out of this shit hole.” Quill stepped into Jolin’s chest, shoving him back a step. “While you have her…” Quill’s expression turned hard. “God help me, Daniel, if you put a hand on her I will fucking kill you.”

Jolin held his ground. “Why don’t you fucking kill the men that used her or for that matter the guys who are still using her?”

Quill’s expression softened. “Because dude,
you’re
the only one she fucking cares about.” Quill shoved his shoulder into Jolin and walked past him down the hall. “Don’t break her.”

Jolin’s shoulders slumped. He had a feeling he already did. The bell rang and the halls filled with students. He knew she had a math class next and decided he needed to fix this mess as fast as possible.

But she wasn’t in class.

Serenity

Wednesday, October 29

8:00 a.m.

Ren hadn’t gotten far when someone grabbed her arm and tugged her into a corner of the hall. It took only a moment for the smell of mint to hit her nose, and she knew who had sequestered her.

“What’s up with you and Daniel?” Brock snarled.

“Nothing. I had some trouble at home. His mom is helping me out.” Ren tried to slide away, but Brock put his arm up on the edge of the locker, fencing her in.

“I thought
I
was helping you out.” Brock sounded surprisingly hurt.

Ren turned her face away from his. “Yeah, but she doesn’t ask for a blow job after she gives me dinner.”

“You’re a comedian now?” Brock grabbed her chin. “We need to talk.”

Ren pulled her face from his grasp. “I don’t think so.”

“I wasn’t asking your opinion.”

“Later.” Ren tried to move around Brock, but he grabbed her arm holding her in place.

Brock raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry about Jolin. He’s busy chasing Liz.”

“I thought you had her.”

“I do. She didn’t appreciate his running off with you after having her against a wall at the party. He doesn’t give up as easily. Him getting nominated is complicating things.”

“He didn’t run off with me.” Ren kicked herself for even getting in this conversation with him. She knew what had gone down at the party, and she knew Jolin turned back to the darkside. “Look. Either talk or let me go.”

Brock ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. “My dad is kicking you out of the house.”

“What the fuck!” she yelled. Brock slid his hand over her mouth quieting her.

Brock leaned in. “Keep it down. The police were at your house. The neighbors have been complaining, and my dad’s had it. The end of the month and you need to be out.”

Ren jerked her head away from his hold. “It wasn’t my fault.”

Brock stepped back and shook his head. “He doesn’t care. Your mom is trashing the place. I tried to talk to him. Make a deal. But he’s done. You’re out.”

Ren felt like she was being sucked into a black hole and she was drowning. Before she could stop herself the words tumbled out, “I’ll sleep with you. I’ll do what ever you want.” Her stomach dropped at what she was offering. “I can’t lose the house.”

Brock rubbed his hands across his face. “As much as I want that. As much as my dick is killing me to take you up on your offer.” He rubbed his nose against her temple drawing in a deep breath. “I can’t. We’re done. I got what I needed. Can’t chance Liz finding out.” He set his stare on her. “This never happened. I hope you built a nest egg.”

Ren bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt not to lose complete control in the hallway of the high school. The iron taste of blood filled her mouth.

“If I hear a word out of you about our arrangement, I’ll destroy you.” Brock’s kind touch turned harsh as his whisper swirled around her.

“I’m already gone,” she muttered. “What could you possibly do that could take any more away from me?”

Brock surprised her by running his hand down her arm in a sentimental motion. She raised her gaze to meet his. His sad expression surprised her.

“We had some good times, huh?” Brock said. “I’m sorry it had to end.”

Ren shrugged before he turned and left her standing alone in the corner. She leaned against the wall and took a moment to pull herself together. Her day with Jolin had been filled with empty promises. All it took was a few posters to give Jolin and Brock a chance to get the popularity they wanted so badly.

The energy of the school was crackling as she entered the classroom. The football team was flying high for their game on Friday, not to mention not a single candidate for Prom court was a normal student. Each class was represented by a football player. Jolin was the only one who didn’t play, but his past stardom obviously catapulted him into the mix.

Mr. Carson stood in front of the class and cleared his throat.

Ren looked around. Elizabeth and Jolin had yet to fill their seats. She knew they would be excused, but that wasn’t really the point anymore. He’d pressed the issue. He’d made her hold his hand into the school and now she was the one made the fool. Ren laughed to herself. She was so stupid. He got her good. She’d worked with Brock to take him down and now he turned the tables and humiliated her in front of the school. Point for the popular team.

The class finally quieted down long enough for Mr. Carson to tell them it was a work day. Lot of good that did Ren seeing as her partner was MIA.

Just before the bell rang to end the period, Jolin came strutting in, Elizabeth right after him. Ren forced herself not to look at them.

She felt his presence beside her, his energy radiating toward her. She let her hair fall over her shoulder, covering her face.

Ren couldn’t take watching Jolin and Elizabeth flaunt their renewed love in front of her. So she bailed. It wasn’t as if any real work was getting done this week anyway. Mr. Carson was pissed she just got up and walked out, but she’d dealt with his shit before and would probably deal with it again. She went to the office to see if she could get a note excusing her for the rest of the day.

“I have really bad cramps,” she tried.

The secretary stared her down. “Take a Midol.”

“I don’t have one.”

“Well I can’t give you medication at school so I can’t help you out.” The lady shuffled some papers.

“I’m not asking for medication. I am asking to be excused so I can go home and lay down with a heating pad.” At least that’s what she heard a girl say once. She never had cramps and for that matter didn’t own a heating pad or have a home to go to.

“The nurse isn’t here today so I guess that’s what we’ll have to do. I’ll have to call your mom first to make sure someone is home.”

Ren closed her eyes and mentally counted to ten. Who the hell was this lady? “My mom works and is not able to be home in the middle of the day. I’m old enough to stay home alone. Please, can I just have a note?”

Resigned Ren wasn’t going away, the lady scribbled out a note and sent her on her way. Ren headed out the door before the end of the period bell rang. She didn’t want to hear Jolin’s excuses for what happened this morning. He deserved to get back what he lost. Or at least what he could. Why spend your senior year in her hell when Elizabeth was ready to be on his arm?

Ren pulled out her phone and texted Quill. She never got her driver’s license so she couldn’t take the car, but maybe he was feeling antsy to get out of there too.

Gonna bail. Want to come?

Quill’s response was immediate.
Give me five.

Ren wandered toward the back of the parking lot until she found Quill’s beat up Honda, then sat on the trunk until she spotted him walk out a side door. As he approached, he swung his car keys on his finger, a smug grin on his face.

“So what has brought the ‘oh so perfect Nety’ down to my level of depravity?”

“If you can use a word like depravity correctly in a sentence I would think you would get better grades.”

Quill frowned. “I’m not stupid, Ren. Just preoccupied.”

Ren scowled back at him. “With drugs, sex and rock and roll.” She grabbed the handle of the door. “Come on, let’s blow this place I need a breather.”