Shattered Ties(14)

Instead of having the end of the period free like last time, we worked right up to the bell, leaving no room for conversation. I was actually kind of glad. I didn’t want to have to explain to the rich girl that I didn’t even have enough money for a fucking car part. It was embarrassing.

I had no idea what I was going to do. I needed to pick up more hours, but I didn’t see how I could with school. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if I were at my old school, but this one was so much farther away, and it took me longer to drive there.

As soon as the bell rang, I grabbed my books and started walking to my next class. I was completely zoned out, and I didn’t even notice when Emma started walking beside me.

“Jesse? Hey, Jesse? Anybody home?” she asked as she poked me in the side.

“What? Oh, sorry. I was in my own head there for second.”

“Yeah, I noticed. What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“Nothing, just thinking.” There was no way I wanted to tell her that I was broke, not that she didn’t already know that.

She frowned but said nothing as we continued to walk down the hallway. I started walking a little bit faster, hoping to avoid her. She finally took the hint and left me alone as we settled into our seats in our second class. I ignored her as she turned in her seat and started talking to her friends behind her, and she did the same to me. My aggravation increased when I noticed Todd walking in before he sat down beside her.

“Hey, Emma,” he said as he looked over at her.

Her cheeks turned a light shade of red, and I couldn’t help but groan. I had no idea what she saw in the guy. He was nothing more than the shallow, stereotypical jock, and she could do better than that.

“Hey, Todd,” she said.

“Are you doing anything this evening?” he asked her.

I clenched my teeth to keep from saying anything. It wasn’t my place to tell her that he was a douche bag. Not that I was sure he was a douche bag, but he just seemed like he was.

“I have practice after school, but other than that, I’m free,” she said shyly.

“Cool. Do you want to grab something to eat after you’re finished with practice?”

“Sure, that sounds great.”

“Perfect. I’ll meet you by your car in the parking lot then.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Todd turned around to talk to someone on the opposite side of him, and Emma started doing a silent screaming fit with her friends. I just wanted to hit something, but I wasn’t sure why. It shouldn’t matter that she was going on a date. I didn’t even know this girl.

Ms. Mason walked in just then and instructed us to open our history books. Thank God. I could focus on school instead of stupid shit, like where Emma was going after school. I ignored everyone around me for the rest of class, and I was the first one out of the room when the bell rang.

I walked to the cafeteria and grabbed my lunch before sitting at the same table as yesterday. Charles and Sean were sitting at the table already. I mumbled hello as I sat down, but other than that, I ignored them both. I wasn’t in the mood to be sociable, and they could just deal with it. I shoveled food in my mouth quickly. I was in a hurry to escape the noise of the people around me. I just wanted to be alone. First, my car, and then Emma and Todd—today was not my day. The sooner I could get out of this place, the better. I finished my food and said good-bye. I stood and dumped my tray.

I spent the rest of the day just like the morning as I ignored everyone. I just want out of here. As soon as the final bell rang, I was out the door and walking to the parking lot to look at my Jeep again. Maybe there was something small I could do to keep it going until I could afford a new starter. Yeah, right. I knew my luck, and I knew that I would need a new starter regardless. Too bad money didn’t grow on trees for me like it did for the rest of these assholes.

I didn’t even bother to lock up my car this morning. I mean, come on, who would steal my Jeep with all these other fancy cars around? As soon as I reached my car, I opened the glove compartment and pulled out my keys. I stuck them in the ignition and turned, expecting nothing. To my surprise, my car started instantly.

“What the fuck?” I said as I stared at the steering wheel.

I shut my car off and got out. I ignored the strange looks I received as I got down underneath my car. Andy had shown me where the starter was this morning, so I knew where to look. My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at a brand-new starter. What the hell is going on?

I knew that there was no way Andy had found one already. He was still in school, so that left only one other culprit since I hadn’t even told my mother about my car breaking down. I knew she would try to help pay for it, and I didn’t want to put any extra financial strain on her. Only Emma and Andy had known what was wrong with my car. She had to have been the one who had it repaired for me.