Beautiful Mess(37)

Bri had to take a second to get her temper under control. Smacking Natalie upside the head wasn’t going to help the situation any.

“Okay, first of all, I do not think I’m better than the rest of you. I was still living in Dallas when you all had tryouts. And yes, I did request a chance to try out for the team, once I moved here, but not because I thought I deserved a private audition. Second, I have no control over what Belinda wants to do with the team. I tried to talk her out of using my routine. I still think it’s a bad idea. I’m not a dictator. I’m teaching the routine, that’s all. And lastly, I do not have all the boys chasing after me. I don’t want their attention and I’m certainly not encouraging them. So get over it!”

“Right,” Natalie scoffed. “I’m not sure if you’re blind or just stupid. I’ve seen the way the boys all drool as you walk by. Oh, and did you know the football team has a bet going to see who can nail the new girl first? So much for not encouraging them. From everything I’ve seen, my guess is that bet will be won by the end of the week.” Natalie turned haughtily and strode away, her pack of hyenas laughing and following after her.

Bri was too stunned to even get upset that Natalie had called her a slut. Everything was suddenly making sense. All the looks and glares she’d been getting. The strange conversation between Cole and Trey yesterday. That’s what they had been talking about. The bet.

Her temper flared again as she realized Cole and Trey had been strategizing on how best to “nail her” before anyone else. She was furious and mortified, and she had a hard time not taking it out on the rest of the girls at practice.

Afterward, Layla caught up with her on the way to the locker room.

“Hey, nice job standing up to the bitch squad earlier,” Layla smiled. “If they know you’re not just going to roll over and take it, they’ll leave you alone. They don’t like a challenge. It requires too much thinking.”

“Thanks,“ Bri smiled, grateful for the support. “Is it true, what they said about the bet?”

“Unfortunately. I’m sorry. Guys can be such dill holes sometimes. Don’t let them get to you.”

“I know. It just really pisses me off. That, and the fact that they think I’m dumb enough, and desperate enough, to jump into bed with anyone who offers.”

“I know,” Layla sympathized. “No one ever said men were the smarter species. Just keep your head up. You’ll be old news in no time!”





When Bri reached her locker after third period, she had an unwanted visitor waiting for her.

“Hi there,” Trey nodded at her. “How’s it going, Bri?”

“Fine,” she replied curtly and began stuffing books into her locker. “What do you want Trey?” She hoped if she was terse, Trey would get the hint and leave.

“Well, I wanted to talk to you.” He seemed oblivious to her disdain. “I was hoping we could maybe hang out sometime, get to know each other. Maybe Friday, after the game?”

And there it was. Her invitation to help him win his bet. Her anger rose, and she found she couldn’t even attempt to let him down gently.

“Look Trey, that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m afraid if I’m not brutally blunt and honest, you’ll think you’ve got a chance. I don’t want to go out with you. Ever. I’m not remotely interested in you, or whatever it is you think you have to offer. I’ve dated guys like you before, and I have no desire to ever do so again. So do yourself a favor. Take your expensive clothes, and your fake smile, and go try to find some other girl to give you what you want. Because you won’t be getting it from me.” She slammed her locker shut and began to walk away.

Trey grabbed her arm and pulled her back, roughly. Bri glared at his hand on her arm, and then up at him.

“Hey, I get the whole hard-to-get thing,” Trey said cockily. “Girls like to be pursued. They want you to work for it. So, that’s what I’m going to do. Just so you know, I don’t back down, and I don’t give up. And,” his eyes traveled slowly up her body, “luckily for you, I don’t mind a challenge.” He gave her a predatory smile before releasing her arm and walking away.

“I’m not playing hard to get!” Bri shouted after him, fuming.

He turned and smirked over his shoulder. “Sure you’re not, baby,” and he continued down the hall.





The rest of the week continued in much the same way. Bri focused most of her energy ignoring the bitch squad, Cole, and especially Trey. She breathed a sigh of relief when Friday finally came. Between early mornings, late night practices twice a week, and enough homework to sink a small boat, Bri was exhausted. A two day reprieve sounded wonderful. She just had to make it through the day first. Which wasn’t going to be easy, since it was the first home game for the football team, and Bri’s first halftime performance with her new team. She could already tell, it was going to be a long day.