Love Me Love Me (English)

25

Jackson

Two weeks earlier

"You gotta do something for me."

James came into Tropical with such an intense expression that it made me shiver. He seemed more agitated than usual.

"I'm right here." William.

Because William didn't even listen to what James had to say. He was always in, regardless.

"Well?"

James stared at Marvin, who, sprawled on a seat, nodded, not looking very convinced.

"I didn't hear you, Marvin. Speak the fuck up."

I couldn't tolerate James's aggression, not in the least when he directed it at us.

"Why don't you chill out?" chortled Marvin slowly. "Okay, anyway," he quickly added, noticing James's impatient expression.

James took my drink out of my hands to take a sip. I was the weakest link. I knew it.

"I don't know what this is about," I said cautiously. Obviously, I wouldn't like the answer.

"Do you really have to know?" He raised an eyebrow, walking around the table to shorten the distance.

Breathe, Jackson.

Calming myself down with him breathing down my neck wasn't easy at all.

"Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. You could at least clue us in as to why we're meeting up."

James licked his lips. "Because in your opinion, Jackson, would there ever be anything"—he bent down and got up in my face, his blue eyes staring into mine—"that you wouldn't do for me?"

My lower lip trembled, and I held it still under my incisors, hoping to hide my mood.

"I—"

"You'd do anything for me, wouldn't you?"

James was so close to me that I could smell the mint and beer on his breath.

I looked down. He smiled victoriously.

"Good. And now that Jackson's one of us . . ."

William and I exchanged a worried look. I wondered what was going through his head, and I was sure he wondered the same thing about me.

"Principal Manor."

James's solemn, raspy voice broke the ice.

"What'd he do?" asked Marvin.

"Nothing yet," replied William.

"The issue is what that asshole wants to do. We have to stop him."

"I don't know," I mumbled. I jumped to my feet, but an invisible force made me sit back down.

All this made me nervous. James made me nervous.

"What is there to know, Jax? Are you trying to tell me that if you had a problem, I wouldn't help you solve it?"

He sure knew how to be convincing.

"James, you can't fault me for having a few doubts after what happened the last time you wanted to solve a problem." I mimicked the air quotes as I said problem. My remark shut them all up.

They knew I was right.

"You're coming, Jax. And as usual, you shouldn't have to do shit," he commanded before storming out and slamming the door.

He made it easy, but it wasn't easy for me at all. We were talking about the principal. We were talking about Blaze's dad.

#

Present Day

"I've been waiting for you for a fucking hour, Blaze."

I used the passing period to chase after him in hallway. The bell had already rung but we stayed and glared at each other in front of the lockers as the students went back to class.

"You could wait for me until tomorrow. I don't care."

His reaction surprised me.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

I shot him a quick glance. His inky black eyes glowed under his cascade of dark hair. "I already told you, I'm sick of being at your beck and call. I'm not there when you call anymore."

I let out a derisive sneer. "Why? You think that just because James started talking to you that he likes you now?" I snarled, grabbing his arm.

"You're the one fooling yourself," he cried, wriggling free from my grip. I pushed him against the locker. Blaze looked down. He knew I didn't need to touch him to loom over him and make him feel the same loss that he made me feel.

"Why don't you look me in the eyes?" I prodded.

"I don't want to look at you." He turned to the side, avoiding my gaze. "Much less at that damn piercing."

"Look at me," I insisted.

After our encounter at Poppy's house, I felt like something was broken. Blaze had never walked away from me.

"What do you want from me? Grow a pair and say it," he whispered, not looking up.

"I want you to shut the fuck up and listen to me," I snarled against his cheek.

But rhythmic steps stopped me.

"Blaze?" Oh shit.

I heard the sound of his dad's voice.

"Principal Manor," I said distancing myself from Blaze. I noticed my voice become submissive and my cheeks flush.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing. But why are you at school? Shouldn't you still be on sick leave?" Blaze stuttered.

The principal looked down at his son.

"They called me to sign a couple of things. Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Yeah, right."

Blaze turned around and disappeared.

"Jackson, stay here. I have to talk to you."

A chill went down my spine, and I began to shake.

The principal gave me a fast once-over, his eyes lingering on my shoes. He stared at them.

"Shoes, Jackson," he added menacingly.

He could yell all he wanted. He didn't scare me. But he kept staring at my feet. I looked where he was looking and saw my Jordans.

They were lime-green limited edition from 2018.

They were so rare and flashy that . . . oh no. He recognized them.

"I won't press charges under one condition. I want to know why you did it."

"I—"

"It was Hunter's idea, wasn't it?"

It was official: I was knee-deep in shit.

But instead of getting mad, he talked to me paternally. He put a hand on my shoulder and whispered, "You're better than this, Jackson. You know that a mistake like this would prevent you from getting into college?"

"I think there's been a misunderstanding. I don't know what you're talking about."

Mr. Manor didn't care what I had to say. He knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Do you want to flip burgers for the rest of your life or end up in jail before you're eighteen, like your delinquent friend?"

I couldn't hold back. "We didn't mean to do anything bad."

"And what did you want to do, Jackson?"

"It was just—"

"I don't like threats. Especially not when little brats make them. When I get back permanently, I'll take the appropriate measures."