The Chase

4 | Chase

4 Chase

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I CAUGHT UP WITH JASON at his locker.

“Hey, what were you and Mackenzie talking about?” I asked casually.

He ran a hand through the top of his hair. “We’re going to hang out after school,” he answered, checking his reflection in the small mirror inside of his locker.

My eye twitched. “Why?”

He looked at me. “Why not?”

I glared at him. “What the f**k, man? We had an agreement. All of us.”

“Oh, you mean ‘no dating exes’?. Well, technically she really isn’t your ex, right? You said nothing happened between you. You’re just friends.”

I lowered my voice. “So, I lied. We made out.”

He raised his eyebrow. “You holding out on us, Adams?”

“Not really. It wasn’t a big deal. Besides, you don’t share the details about your s*x life, why should I?”

“If it wasn’t such a big deal, then there shouldn’t be a problem, right? We agreed on no dating other girlfriends. This is obviously not the same thing.”

He was right. But...

“I’m not finished with her yet.”

He snorted. “She know that?”

His cocky attitude was really starting to piss me off. “No. Of course not. Look, do me a favor and cancel with her.”

“I wish I could, but we made plans and I don’t want to look like a dickhead. You understand.”

I understood that he was loving every minute of this. Although we were friends, there’d always been an underlying rivalry thing going on between us.

The bell rang and Jason shut his locker door. “There are plenty of other chicks you haven’t scored with yet, Adams. You already had your chance with this one. Face it—you blew it. Otherwise she wouldn’t have agreed to go out with me.”

Gritting my teeth, I watched him walk away. I knew he was right, but it didn’t stop me from being pissed off.

I headed to my first hour class and sat down. When the bell rang and the teacher began rambling, all I could think about was Jason putting his mitts on Mackenzie and it made my blood boil. But I also had to face the fact that she’d told me to f**k off. I needed to forget about her and move forward.

Sighing, I stopped daydreaming and that was when I noticed some other students raising their hands. Instead of picking one of them, the teacher’s eyes rested on me.

“So, what do you think, Mr. Adams?” Ms. Haven, my Physics teacher, asked.

I sat up straighter. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat the question?”

She did and, unfortunately, I had no clue. I’d forgotten to read the chapter with the information she was talking about.

Ms. Haven asked someone else and I relaxed.

“Dude, that was close. I thought she was going to pick me for a second,” Sonny whispered when Ms. Haven was out of earshot.

“Lucky you.”

I’d looked like an i***t. Plus, I’d forgotten to do the assignment and it was going to get me in hotter water with the teacher. Sure enough, when the hour was over, Ms. Haven asked me to come to her desk.

“It appears that your assignment hasn’t been turned in yet,” she said, scrolling through her computer.

“Yeah, I know. It’s almost done though. Sorry.”

“Almost done? That’s not acceptable.” She looked up at me. “This is becoming a habit of yours, Mr. Adams. Your grade is slipping—”

“I’ll turn it in tonight.”

“It was due today. During class, so that’s not going to fly. Now, this can’t continue. You’re hovering in the ‘D’ range right now as it is.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just get your act together. I know you can do better than this. You started out the year so strongly and I’d hate to see you continue on this path.” She took off her reading glasses. “Is there anything going on in your free time that might be affecting your work study performance? Distractions?”

Yeah. My job. My dad. A girl I can’t stop thinking about.

Noticing that I was hesitating in answering, her eyes softened. “How are things at home?”

I blew out a breath. “Not good. I’ve actually moved out.”

Her eyebrow raised. “From your parents’ home?”

“My dad’s. I’m living on my own.”

“But you’re a minor.”

“No, I’m eighteen.”

“Oh.”

The classroom started filling up.

“I gotta go. I’ll try harder,” I promised.

“If you want to talk more about this, I’m here until four today,” she said, putting her glasses back on. “Maybe we can work something out.”

Sweet.

“What about tomorrow? I can’t make it until then.”

She nodded. “No problem. I’ll be here.”

“Okay, thanks. I appreciate it.”

“I hope so.”

I left the classroom, raced to my locker, and made it to Chemistry right as the bell was ringing.

“Cuttin’ it close Adams,” Mr. Brophy remarked as I headed over to my seat.

“Yeah. Had to stop at my locker.”

“Must have been quite a layover. Maybe you should take a direct flight next time. It’ll cost you less in the long run.”

I snorted and sat down next to Mackenzie, who was focused on writing something in her notebook. Neither of us said anything, although I wanted to drill her about Jason. Either she was really interested in him or just trying to make me jealous.

Fuck it.

I was through playing games. I had too much other stuff going on in my life to get caught up in any more bullshit. I was done chasing after her. I’d come clean. Apologized. Tried to make things right.

And for what?

Well, f**k it.

No more mister nice guy. It obviously didn’t pay to be honest and now I was also broke on top of everything. I decided to focus on the upcoming race and getting my grades in order, instead of lusting after a girl who wanted nothing to do with me.