Page 10 of Wicked Savage Cruel
Always wear your face shield. Always wear closed-toe shoes. Wear a long-sleeved nonflammable shirt when welding along with a welding jacket. Wear gloves.
He shows us where the eyewash station is and then goes over the equipment. Most of the kids ignore him but I pay attention just in case there’s anything he might do differently from what I learned before.
“First trimester we cover MIG welding,” Aaron tells me as we resume our seats. No surprise there since it’s the easiest form of welding there is. It’s like the hot glue gun of the welding world.
The teacher—Mr. Moyer—explains how the welder works and just as he starts diving into how to prep for your weld, the bell rings, signaling the end of class.
“We’ll continue where we left off tomorrow,” he says to the class. “Study your syllabus and get a parent signature on your safety waiver,” he reminds me as I grab my things to head out.
I nod and pull my phone from my pocket, realizing I have a text.
It’s from Janessa.
Janessa: Your father’s meeting ran late. Call a rideshare.
I frownbut then decide it’s probably good his meeting ran late. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to the ride home with Gerald. I search the App Store on my phone for the Uber app and hit download. I haven’t needed to Uber before, but it’s not rocket science.
Aaron sidles up beside me and peaks over my shoulder at my phone.
“Something wrong?”
“No. Ger—my dad is just running late so I’m gonna catch an Uber.”
“I can give you a ride.”
“You don’t even know me.” I give him an incredulous look.
He shrugs and gives me back a boyish grin. “I know. But I’d like to get to know you.”
Heat creeps up my face, but before I can respond, Roman is suddenly beside me. “Back off, Henderson.” He shoves Aaron back into the lockers.
My mouth drops open and I grab for his arm. “What the heck, Roman?”
He raises a brow and the corners of his mouth lift in a devilish smirk. “Heck? Really?”
I glower at him. As Aaron shoves away from the locker, his face red and angry, I jump between them. With my back to Aaron, I scowl at Roman. “School’s out. You don’t need to babysit me anymore.” Not that he was doing a great job of it to begin with.
Dom and Emilio walk up beside him and both level menacing gazes on the boy behind me.
“What is your deal?” I ask, not understanding where all of their hostility is coming from.
“You know him?” Emilio asks, tipping his chin toward Aaron.
I shrug. “Sort of. Yeah. We have Welding together.” I can feel the anger radiating off Roman in front of me. His eyes are narrowed, his hands clenched into white fists at his sides, but he doesn’t say anything. He just stares Aaron down behind me like he can kill him with just a look.
“He’s bad news, vanilla. Make sure you don’t ever get in a car with this one.” Emilio says.
“Would you stop calling me that? I have a name.” And why does he care if I maybe get a ride with Aaron? Is he some daredevil driver or something?
No one says anything for several seconds. I feel Aaron’s hand on my hip a moment later and I turn to face him. “I’ll catch you later,” he grits out between clenched teeth. I give him a tight smile and a nod.
What else can I do?So much for the lift.
The three guys in front of me watch Aaron’s retreating form with varying degrees of hostility. When I turn to head the same direction, Roman’s hand shoots out, grasping me by my wrist.
“Henderson is bad news.”
I pull away. “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it?”
