A Proscriptive Relationship (22 page)

“I’m not jealous,” I snapped at him.

“You’re in denial,” Casey said, patting my shoulder.

“I am not!”

She raised her eyebrows. “Sounds like denial to me.”

“But I’m not!” I argued, clenching my fist. “I’m not jealous. Why would I be jealous? He can date any woman he wants. I’m not stopping him. I can’t stop him, it’s not like we are a thing. He’s probably dating a model.”

Lance watched me with an amused expression. Casey started laughing. “Oh, Holly, have more confidence in yourself,” she said. “You’re not that ugly.”

“I never said I thought I was ugly!”

Casey giggled. “I’m kidding. But hey, the beach trip is this Saturday!”

Grateful for the change of subject, I smiled back at her. “I just got the papers signed last night. I’m going to give them to Mr. Heywood next period.”

“It’s too bad he’s not coming, huh? You guys could have had fun,” she added with a wink.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now I would have to put up with Casey’s teasing.

“Are you going, Lance?” Casey asked.

Lance turned to her and shook his head. “I have to work.”

“You work?” I questioned, looking surprised.

Lance smirked. “Now I do. I got a part-time job at the grocery store downtown.”

“Lucky,” Casey said, frowning. “I need a job.”

“Me too,” I agreed.

“I’d say I’d hook you up, but they aren’t looking for any more help,” he responded with a shrug.

“Speaking of downtown, did you hear they found three guys knocked out at the towing place?” Casey started, lowering her voice. “It seems like there was a fight there.”

I froze, locking gazes with Lance once more.

“Um, no, where’d you hear that?” I asked, forcing myself to sound calm.

“It was on the news,” she responded. “But isn’t it weird? There haven’t been any fights in our town in so long . . . well, ones bad enough to make the news.”

“Maybe it wasn’t a fight,” Lance suggested. “Maybe they were just passed out from drinking too much.”

“But they were injured,” she said. “And one had a bat. Definitely a fight.”

I forced out a laugh. “Well, it doesn’t involve us.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The bell rang, signaling lunch was over. I was relieved. I didn’t want Casey to get suspicious. However my sigh of relief turned into a groan. I still hadn’t brought my tray up.

“Better hurry and bring your tray up so you aren’t late for biology,” Lance taunted before following Casey out of the cafeteria.

“Shoot!” I muttered, grabbing my tray and heading towards the front of the cafeteria.

I carefully maneuvered myself through the crowds of people, making sure to not have my tray bump into anyone. I made it to the trash can safely, but when I was about to dump my food, someone knocked into my hand, making me drop the tray. I groaned, and turned to glare at the person.

Mr. Heywood stared back, looking amused.

“Holly . . . sorry about that,” he apologized, trying to hide a grin.

My eyes opened wider and I immediately looked down at the ground. He was the one person I did
not
want to see right now. Granted I was about to see him in class, but that wouldn’t have been just the two of us.

He appeared in my vision again, grabbing my lunch tray. I watched as he brought it to the lunch lady. They chatted for a moment and then Mr. Heywood came back over to me. “So did Jeremy try anything in the car last night?” he asked casually.

“What? No.”

He stared at me for a moment and then nodded. “Good.”

I frowned back. “Why does it matter, even if he had? Maybe he did, I could be lying to you.”

Mr. Heywood smiled, seeming amused. “Holly, you wouldn’t lie to me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Maybe I secretly like Jeremy.”

He sighed, ruffling my hair. “If you’re jealous, just say it.”

“I’m not—”

“I mean, any girl would be jealous if I went on a date that wasn’t with them, right?” he continued, smirking.

I glowered at him, pushing his hand off my head. “You are so narcissistic.”

He chuckled. “I was kidding, Holly.”

“Right.”

“Anyway, you don’t have to stay after class today,” he told me.

“Eh? Why not?” I asked, a little disappointed.

He offered me a half-smile. “I’ve got to go out.”

“Another date?” I asked, my heart beating faster.

“If you mean like last night’s date, then yes.”

Mr. Heywood watched me carefully. I struggled to keep my face straight. I wouldn’t let him know I was jealous. Why was he even telling me that? He could have just said he was busy! I clenched my fist. Two could play at this game.

So I smiled, making him raise an eyebrow. “How perfect does that work? Jeremy asked if he could take me out after school today. I told him no since I had to help you, but now I don’t. I’ll just give him a call.”

Mr. Heywood’s eyes widened in surprise, but they quickly returned to their normal state. A frown slipped onto his face. “How do you have Jeremy’s number?”

“He gave it to me,” I responded simply.

“Oh really?” Mr. Heywood said, narrowing his eyes.

“Yeah, want me to prove it?”

He nodded. “Prove it.”

I pulled out my cell phone and flipped through the contacts until I got to Jeremy’s name and then held it up to him. “See?”

Mr. Heywood smirked, taking my cell phone out of my hand. “Confiscated. No cell phone use in school, Ms. Evers.”

I stared at him with my mouth open. Was he joking? He had to be joking.

The bell rang and I jumped. He shook his head at me. “Now you’re late.”

“Give me my phone!” I demanded, reaching for his hand.

“Nope,” he said, putting my phone into his pocket. “You know the rules, Ms. Evers. You can have it back when your mom comes and gets it from the school.”

“You asked me to prove it!”

“I didn’t ask you to take out your phone.”

I shook my head angrily. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

He simply shrugged. “Rules are rules. And you’re also late . . . but since I have a
date
after school, I can’t give you a detention.”

“You can’t give me one in the first place,” I pointed out, putting my hands on my hips. “Remember what you told me?”

“Remember Lance punching me in the face?”

I glared at him for a few moments. He simpered back, looking highly amused. I huffed angrily and turned around, stalking away from him.

“Where are you going?” he called.

I turned around, narrowing my eyes. “To class.”

For once, I was glad there were empty seats in the black of the classroom. I went to the one near Lance and sat down, scowling. Mr. Heywood entered the room a few seconds later looking pleased with himself. “Sorry I’m late,” he apologized to the class.

He went straight into a lecture about evolution. I glared moodily at him the entire time and every time he looked at me, the corner of his lips would twitch upward. I clenched my fist.

Why would he take my cell phone away? I knew he was a jerk, but that was a total dick move. Did I do something to upset him? Or did he just like messing with me? I scowled when I realized it was probably the latter. Either that or he didn’t want me to contact Jeremy . . .

That could be it!
That was why he took my cell phone. He didn’t want me to get in touch with Jeremy. But what did that mean? I let out a quick rush of air.

Was Mr. Heywood jealous of Jeremy?

With this realization, I grinned to myself, tapping my desk. Two really could play at the jealous game, couldn’t they? I sent Mr. Heywood a sweet smile when we caught eye contact again. He looked confused and stumbled on his words. I laughed.

This would be fun.

After school ended, I hurried for the back entrance. Maybe if I could make it home quickly enough, I could lie and pretend I went to hang out with Jeremy. Before I made it to do the door however, I smashed into someone’s chest.

“The tables have turned,” a familiar voice commented. I looked up to see Mr. Heywood looking down at me. “Watch where you’re going, Holly.”

I pursed my lips, stepping away from him. “Right.”

I turned around and continued on my way. I heard footsteps behind me that told me Mr. Heywood was following me. “You’re not angry about me taking your phone away are you?” he questioned, falling into step with me.

I ignored him, concentrating on the door so I didn’t snap at him.

He chuckled beside me. “Or maybe you’re jealous of my date again?”

I swallowed, willing myself not to talk. I couldn’t let him know I was the least bit jealous; otherwise he’d mock me. Or figure out I liked him. Which would be
no bueno
. Would he ignore me if he found out? Would I be scolded? Would I get in trouble? Or maybe he would tell me he liked me too . . .

I shook my head. Impossible.

“Holly!”

I heard a horn blare and a rough grip on my arm made me stumble backwards, back into Mr. Heywood’s chest again. I looked at him in surprise; he stared down at me, his eyes hard. “Don’t walk out into the road without paying attention! You almost just got hit!”

I looked to my right and saw that a black car with tinted windows had stopped about a foot away from us. The car door opened and, to my surprise, someone familiar stepped out of it.

“Jeremy?” I gasped in disbelief.

“Holly, Chris,” he greeted with a grin.

“What are you doing here?” Mr. Heywood demanded, not looking pleased to see his old friend.

“I’ve come to pick up Holly.”

Mr. Heywood glanced at me, I smiled smugly back at him.

“How . . .” he trailed off, his eyes narrowing.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. You took my phone away so I couldn’t call him.”

“Is that why you weren’t answering my texts,” Jeremy commented with a frown.

I nodded, hooking a thumb towards Mr. Heywood. “He tricked me and took it away.”

“That’s not very nice, Chris,” Jeremy commented with a grin.

Mr. Heywood scowled slightly. Shrugging, Jeremy gestured towards his car. I nodded, heading for it.

“Where are you going?” Mr. Heywood asked.

“Some place,” Jeremy responded vaguely.

“Have fun on your date,” I added, doing my best to keep a straight face.

I walked around the car and got into the passenger side of the car and got in. Jeremy climbed into the driver’s side. Mr. Heywood was hovering beside the window and Jeremy rolled down it down a bit.

“Seriously. Where are you guys going?” Mr. Heywood asked.

“On a date,” Jeremy responded, a grin spreading on his face “See ya later, Topher!”

Mr. Heywood opened his mouth to respond, but Jeremy quickly rolled up his window, cutting him off. I turned my head so Mr. Heywood couldn’t see me snickering. Jeremy pressed on the gas pedal and we quickly exited the school parking lot.

I started laughing as soon as we were clear. “That was great, Jeremy!”

Jeremy smiled, keeping his eyes on the road. “I only think it’s fair. After all, he’s trying to make you jealous too.”

I shrugged. “Even though you say that, and I want to, Mr. Heywood would never be jealous.”

“I wouldn’t so sure of that.”

“Hmm?”

“Well he took your cell phone away, right? Chris is an ex-gangster. Do you seriously think he cares about enforcing the school rules? And isn’t he one of the student body’s favorite teachers?”

“Well yes, but . . .”

“Why did you even have your cell phone out?”

“He wanted me to prove I had your number,” I said, shaking my head at the memory. “He tricked me though. That’s when he took it.”

Jeremy started laughing. “I see.”

“Hey, it’s not funny. I need my phone.”

“Holly, did you ever think the reason he took your phone was because he didn’t want you to contact me?”

“Yeah, but that’s impossible.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because he’s a man . . . and I’m just a high school girl.”

“That wouldn’t stop me,” Jeremy pointed out, giving me a sidelong glance.

“But you said—”

“The point I’m trying to make,” he started, cutting me off, “is that you should have a little bit of confidence in yourself.”

“But he’s got a date,” I muttered, looking out the window.

“Date, Holly. That doesn’t mean girlfriend. You and I are out on a date, aren’t we?  And I’m not your boyfriend . . . unless you want me to be.”

I smiled. “You’re right . . . they’re just on a date.”

“You can always steal him back.”

“I never said I liked him,” I mumbled.

Jeremy snickered. “You didn’t have to. It’s too obvious.”

I blushed, quickly looking out the window again. “Is it really?”

“To me, at least. As obvious as him liking you.”

“He doesn’t like me like that.”

Jeremy smirked. “If you ever get the chance, look at his cell phone.”

“Eh?”

Jeremy shrugged, focusing all his attention on the road again. I watched as we passed the downtown area and soon the outskirts of town. Trees lined either side of the road.

“
Where are we going again?” I asked.

“It’s a secret,” he responded teasingly.

I frowned, but let it go. We pulled onto a dirt road that led into the forest. The deeper we drove into it, the denser it became. I glanced at Jeremy nervously. “You’re not bringing me out here to kill me, are you?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No, I’m going to show you something you might appreciate.”

“All the way out here?”

“Look.”

I looked out the windshield and my eyes landed on a huge building. I could tell it was abandoned; the paint was peeling, the windows were broken, the lawn was overgrown, and part of the roof had collapsed. “This is my and Chris’s old gang hideout.”

“Really?” I looked at the building with new respect. This is where Mr. Heywood used to hang out? “What happened to it?”

“A few years back a storm knocked a tree into the roof and none of us were carpenters, so we had to ditch it.”

“Why not just call a carpenter?”

Jeremy raised an eyebrow. “And expose our hideout? I think not.”

He parked the car and I unbuckled myself, getting out quickly. I started across the lawn, eager to look inside.