Beautiful Mess(38)

It seemed the whole school was excited about the game. The football players all wore their jerseys, and the cheerleaders wore their uniforms, in an attempt to bolster school spirit. And to Bri’s great disappointment, the Dance Team was also required to wear their uniforms to school that day. This uniform consisted of tight, black jazz pants, and a dark blue sequined halter top. This was unfortunate because not only did this draw more attention, leers, and glares her way, but the top was not the most comfortable thing to wear for seven hours. Correction, it was going to be an extremely long day.

On her way to second period, Bri was surprised to see a familiar face by the lockers. This was the first time Bri had seen Cole in the halls since the first day of school. A flick of blond hair caught her attention. That was why he was here. Cole stood talking to an extremely animated and bouncy Serena, who managed to make her regulation cheer uniform look skimpy. For a moment, Bri wondered if the rumors about Cole and Serena getting back together were true. From the way Serena was shoving her chest in Cole’s face, it looked like Serena was still on the hunt. But who knew, maybe they were together and this was their idea of foreplay. Bri felt her eyes narrow as she watched them, and jealousy flamed through her.

Cole’s pleasantly surprised gaze found hers, and Bri saw the look of awe that fell over his face as he took her in from head to toe. As his eyes found hers again, a knowing grin crossed his face as he saw the obvious jealousy all over hers. Her cheeks began to flush and she quickly tore her gaze away and hurried past him.

As she walked by, she heard Serena snort.

“Oh, look,” Serena sneered. “The cheerleader rejects dressed up today, too. Isn’t that cute. They try so hard to be us!” Her groupies laughed.

Bri desperately wanted to turn around and let Serena have it. But there was no way she was going to let Cole think she and Serena were fighting over him. So, she continued by without a word.

“It’s more than cute. It’s totally hot!” Cole replied.

“You think she’s hot?” Serena demanded incredulously.

“Hey,” Cole held up his hands. “I’m just admiring the scenery, that’s all. I’m not really into redheads.”

Ass. Bri felt a flash of anger, but then she quickly reminded herself that she didn’t care what Cole thought or did. She didn’t want him thinking about her, or checking her out. He and Serena could live happily ever after, for all she cared.

Unfortunately, her reaction to Cole was the least of her worries. Trey had been especially obnoxious today, and was driving Bri crazy. Why couldn’t the guy take a hint? And what was worse, he had taken to whistling at her every time he saw her today, a habit that the rest of the guys had picked up. So all day, she had been leered and whistled at. It was getting really old. By the time she walked into Ceramics, and a chorus of whistles greeted her, it was all she could do not to scream and walk out.

She sat down at her table, but was too busy worrying about how she was going to keep from getting clay all over her uniform to notice someone sliding into the seat next to her.

“I’ve never seen anyone loathe a ball of clay so much,” the smooth voice laughed.

Bri was too tired and frustrated to put up a fight.

“I’m not angry at the clay. I’m angry at this whole stupid situation.” She let out a sigh. “I mean look at me,” she motioned to her sparkly uniform. “I can’t do anything dressed like this. It’s ridiculous!”

Cole chuckled. “Well, I know every guy within a five hundred foot radius would disagree.”

Bri scowled at him. She hated herself for noticing how blue his eyes looked against his navy blue jersey.

“Yeah, about that. You can tell your buddy Trey that if he doesn’t stop whistling at me, I’m going to run him down with my car. And he’d better get his minions to knock it off, too, or I’m going to start busting some heads.”

He laughed again, before throwing up his hands in surrender at the glare Bri gave him. She was really starting to regret her decision to temporarily suspend her shunning of Cole.

“Hey, I didn’t come over here to piss you off. I actually came because I need a favor,” he winced.

Bri was so shocked at his gall she could only gape at him.

“I know, I know. I’m the last person who should be asking you for a favor. And actually, I’m really just so glad you’re talking to me, that I’m regretting having said anything now.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

Snapping out of her stunned silence, Bri finally found her voice.

“No! I am not going to help you win your little bet you and your fellow Neanderthals have going about me,” she replied angrily. “I’m not sleeping with you, or Trey, or anyone else, so you all can get over it and move on with your lives!”