Page 53 of Disobedient Pawn

“Bag.” Ren held out her hand, her eyes glacial as she glared at Nash. It took him so long to hand it over that I thought he was going to hang on to it out of spite. Like it was painful, he stretched out his arm and let go.

Ren stepped away from us but kept her eyes on Nash as if he might still try and attack. “I’ll meet you in class,” I said.

“We don’t have class together today.” She flung the bag onto her shoulder, and I mouthed, I’m sorry.

She marched away, and I waited until I heard the door to the study hall close before I turned on Nash.

I gave his shoulder a hard shove, forcing him to step back. “What the fuck was that man? Ya looked like ya were gonna kill her.”

Nash ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. She makes me so angry.”

“For what? Ya, Snowflake has grit and sandpaper to her, but she didn’t start that shit. We were minding our own fucking business.” He shrugged and shook his head. “Is the bet getting to ya? We can call it off.”

“Fuck no, it’s not that. Just stressed, I guess.” Nash walked away like nothing happened, but I’d felt the rage rolling off him. He was so not okay.

“We need to talk about this. Yer acting weird, man,” I called after him.

“No, we don’t. I’m fine.”

I’d seen him get assertive and even aggressive, but this felt different. The look in his eyes was the same one he got whenever he had to fuck someone up.

“Tomorrow night, you’re going to be busy, so don’t make plans,” Nash yelled as he opened the door.

“I have lacrosse practice.”

“Then show up at our spot when you’re done.” The door closed with a thud.

“Fuck.” Why the hell couldn’t I have one moment with Ren that didn’t go sideways? Stupid fucking bet.

NOVEMBER 9 – WEDNESDAY 4:11 PM

Ren

Vicky was at cheerleading practice when I got to my room after study hall, and I was thankful to change in peace. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed having my own quiet space until I was forced to share it with that bitch. Not to mention that every time I opened the door, I held my breath waiting to see if Nash would be there. Would he be camping out in my bed next, just to mess with me? Or maybe behind closed doors, he’d actually knock me around. It sure seemed like he wanted to hit me this morning. I hadn’t seen him for the rest of the day, so I hoped he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

I pulled out my phone as I rode down the elevator to the main foyer and hit up Lizzy.

R: Hey girl! How’s my bestie?

L: Okay, stop that.

I stared at my phone, not sure what I was supposed to stop doing.

R: Okay…?

L: Stop acting like you’re completely fine and nothing is bothering you. You always do that when bad shit is happening. And!!! I don’t want to hear this crap about how you don’t want to burden me or bring me down.

I sighed as the elevator door opened. Lizzy was right. I wasn’t fine, but I also couldn’t let myself think about it too much. If I started crying, I was afraid I would never stop.

R: I’m not pretending. I’m okay. I won’t say I’m great or that I’m loving life or this crazy ass school or that things are suddenly good with my father and me, but I’m okay.

L: Hmm

I smirked.

R: I’m sensing that you don’t believe me.

L: It’s not that I don’t believe you, Boo…I just know you take on way too much and don’t let anyone in. I hate that you’re so far away. I miss your damn face.