Chapter 11
*Queue the badass music*
“So, let me get this straight,” Sophie says as her finger moves up her chin. “You’re going to continue seeing Jay?”
“Yes,” I nod. “Well, no, not exactly.”
“But you’re going to continue going on dates with him?” Tommy massages the back of his neck.
“Yes.” I exhale.
“You’re going to have to explain this to me because I’m not following,” Sophie says as she leans her back against the wall and crosses her arms.
“It’s simple.” I tap my fingers on the desk next to me. “Jay wants to play games. That’s fine. I’m going to play too. I’m want to see how far he’s willing to go to win his stupid little bet.”
Before any of them can intercept with another question, I quickly say, “I’m going to continue dating him, but I’m going to make these the most hellish dates of his life. I’m going to log all of our encounters in a journal, and then, after I’m done gathering my material, I’m going to out Jay’s ass in the school’s newspaper.”
“And you know what?” Sophie says as she toys with a lock of hair. “This is the perfect material to spice up your boring little blog.”
“I’m one step ahead of you on that.” I bounce on my toes. “I already updated my readers and let them know that they can expect regular updates.”
“So, what do you guys think?”
“I think it’s a damn good idea. Let’s make that shit sac pay.” Sophie jumps up and down.
“Hell yeah!” I chirp as the palms of our hands collide with one another.
“Wait, wait. Can we just take a second to think this all through?” Tommy’s deep, rational voice interrupts our moment.
“Why?” I ask, shifting from one foot to the other. “Did you have something else in mind?”
After a quick interlude of silence, Tommy says, “I don’t know, can’t you just scribble something on his locker or something.”
“Really, Tommy?” Sophie squints. “Scribble something on his locker. What are we? Toddlers. What did you have in mind, Crayola crayons or the washable markers?”
“Hey, I’m just trying to find an alternative to the situation.” He says. “I don’t know, Cassie. I just don’t see this going well.”
“Tommy, there is no alternative,” I say. “And there is virtually no way for my plan to go wrong. I’ve already crossed all my t’s and dotted all my eyes. It’s pretty much foolproof.”
“I just.” He says. “I don’t want you to get hurt more than you already have.”
“I know, Tommy,” I say as I reach to give his arm a squeeze. “And I love you for that, but I have to make Jay pay for what he’s doing. And I’m doing this whether you are in on it or not.”
Tommy stands there, seemingly in deep contemplation, as my eyes bore into him.
“But I really hope you are in because I need you for the next part!”
I say and extend my hand out, hoping that theirs will pile on top.
“I’m in.” Sophie claps her hand on top of mine.
“Tommy,” I look up at the indecisive expression on his face.
“Fine.” He sighs. “I’m in.”
“Great.” I squeal. “Now, on to business. I’ve got a proposition, but first, Tommy, do you have the keys to the boy’s locker room?”
“Yeah, I got them in my pocket.” He says as he pats his hand against his hip. “Why?”
“Great,” I say. “Because we are going to need your water boy privileges.”
“Beverage coordinator.” He complains in a weak voice as he pulls out the keys and places them in my hands.
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“I can’t do this.” Tommy anxiously protests as I unlock the locker room doors.
“All I’m asking is for you just to go in there and put this stuff in Jay’s locker,” I say as I hold up a bag full of anonymous goodies.
“No, what you are asking me to do is violate an honor code. Coach made me put my hand on a basketball and solemnly swear not to abuse my authority as beverage coordinator.”
“Do you have to try to sound like a total geek, or does that just come naturally?” Sophie picks on him. “Let me see what’s in there.”
She snatches the bag from my hand and begins to rummage through it like a kid on Christmas day.
“Tired of everyone being in on all the secrets your shit whispers? The Stinky Plug is here to solve your problem!” Sophie laughs. “All you have to do is gently shove the cork up your butthole like so, and voilà. You have just turned down the volume on all of your anal audio.”
“I’m dead.” She says as she drops the item back in the bag. “What else do you got in here?”
She digs her hand in the bag and pulls out a large plastic tube of ointment.
“Do your zits pop like bubble wrap every time you sit down? We’re here to help with that. Generously apply the ointment to your pimply plum twice a day. Warning. Product not intended for internal use.”
“Oh, my God! Cassie, you are a genius.” Sophie practically falls to the ground laughing.
“I’m out! Tommy shakes his head. “I’m not doing this.”
“What? Tommy, you have to! This is phase one.” I say
“No way, if I get caught.” He runs his fingers through. “Do you understand if I get caught-”
“You’re not going to get caught.” I reason. “Practice is over. All the guys went home. Coach isn’t in his office either. This is the perfect time.”
“I don’t know.” He kneads at his tense shoulders.
“Look at me?” I say as I grab Tommy’s face and inch it toward mine. “Right now, you are not Tommy, the waterboy.”
“I’m not?” He says as his eyes waver back and forth from my eyes to my lips.
“No,” I say. “You’re Tommy Tough Tits.”
“T-tough tits?” His face scrunches.
“Yes, now get in there and make us proud!” I say as I pat the side of his head.
“Okay, fine.” He caves. “But you and Sophie have to guard the doors. Let me know if anyone or anything comes in the vicinity of them. I don’t care if it’s a damn dust bunny. I want to know.”
“Got it.” Sophie and I simultaneously chime.
“Thank you, Tommy,” I say as I stand on my tippy toes and kiss him on the cheek.
His pupils enlarge as a cherry-colored blush sweeps across his face, and he just stares at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“Ah, eh. Yeah.” He mumbles through a half-smirk as he brushes his fingers across the lip gloss stamp on his cheek and makes his way through the double doors.
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Sophie and I stare straight ahead and at our surroundings like two British guards safeguarding a castle, wary of every sound and piece of dust that comes our way.
“What’s taking him so long?” I ask as I peer down at my phone screen. “He’s literally been in there for the last thirteen minutes.”
“I don’t know. He’s probably recovering from that hot smooch you planted on him.” She snorts as she presses her finger against her cheek.
“You’re ridiculous.” I let out an amused sigh.
“You know you made his day, right?” She says as she fiddles with the lapels of her jet black leather jacket. I can hear the rasp of the stiff leather grinding against my eardrums.
“Oh, my God.” I roll my eyes. “It was just an innocent little kiss on the cheek.”
“Oh, no” She shakes her head. “Maybe for you it was, but not to him. If you looked close enough into his eyes, you would have seen it.”
“Saw what?” I question.
“The slide show... you know the one that panned out his entire future with you.”
“Oh, shut up.” I shrug her off with a hearty, loud laugh. “But seriously, he’s taking too long.” I rub my forehead.
“Chill out, Kemosabe,” Sophie says. “Like you said earlier, no one is here. I’m sure he’s just taking his time getting everything set up.”
That’s true. Plus, I don’t even know what I’m expecting? On a daily basis, Tommy struggles to get into his own locker. I don’t know why I would assume he could break into someone else’s without a hitch.
However, the only thing that matters is that he gets everything into Jay’s locker.
I can’t help the corners of my mouth from quirking up at the thought of butt ointment falling out of Jay’s locker and at his feet.
“What’s so funny?” Sophie turns to ask me with a raised brow.
“Nothing.” I chuckle. “I’m just thinking of what Jay’s reaction when he finds all that crap in his locker.”
“I know.” She laughs. “I just wish I could be there to see it when it happens.”
“We’ll just have to wait for Tommy to tell us what happens,” I say as our laughter dissipates into silence.
“And Cass,” Sophie adds.
“Yeah?” I utter, with a fading smile.
“I’m proud of you.” She says as she reaches for my hand. “For sticking up for yourself.”
“Thanks!” I give her hand a slight squeeze. “I’m proud of me too. Step one of taking on the world, huh.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sophie nods. “Except the world’s a whole lot bigger than Jay Tyler.”
“Dude, this was just bull crap.” An all too familiar voice echoes down the hall. “I had plans with Hayden after school. Now she’s pissed at me.”
“Shoot!” Sophie says as she cocks her head in my direction. “That’s Cliff.”
“Just explain to her what happened. I’m sure she’ll understand.” I hear Jay’s voice echoes down the hall.
“Jay too!” I say as Sophie and I shuffle in disarray.
“I did.” Cliff establishes, “She’s still pissed.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t mouthed off to coach and ticked him off, we wouldn’t have had to do extra laps.”
“Hey, you dragged your ass into it by laughing.” Cliff laughs. “That’s not my fault.”
“Quick, we have to tell Tommy,” I say as I dash through the locker room doors. “C’mon!”
I wave Sophie toward me.
As soon as I enter the room, my nostrils are ransacked by a putrid odor that resembles rancid buttermilk and mildewy socks. It stops me in my tracks and nearly knocks me off my feet.
“What the hell is that smell.” Sophie pinches the bridge of her nose.
“It’s the smell of toxic masculinity.” I spew as I grab her hand. “Quick, let’s find Tommy.”
“Tommy,” I call as I run through the aisles of navy blue, steeply standing lockers. “Tommy!”
Geez, I never knew how difficult it would be to find someone in a freaking locker room! It’s huge! I can feel anxiety bubbling up and festering in me.
The feeling dissipates when I finally spot Tommy in this maze.
As I examine him, I can see an overwhelming expression of pride parading over his face. He did it! He finally got Jay’s locker open!
“Tommy!” I snap him out of his trance. “Code red! Jay and Cliff are coming!”
“Shit!” Tommy’s face drops like a pen, and he quickly slams Jay’s locker and then grabs the bag.
“Everyone hide,” Sophie whispers before grabbing my arm and pulling me into the nearby supply closet, which I’ve concluded is the source of the foul stench.
“I think I’m going to puke,” I say.
“I don’t know, man. I just feel like something is off with her.” Cliff says as he enters the locker room.
Cliff says as he pulls his shirt off his shirt, revealing his sinfully gorgeous upper body. I can’t help my eyes from tracing each powerfully built chest and down to his lean, clear cut abs, which are arranged on his stomach like two vertical rows of ice cubes. Sweat and grime coats his body, giving off a sensual glimmer.
“Hubba hubba,” Sophie whispers. “I love me a dirty looking man.”
“Shh.” I hush her as I yank at the sleeve of her shirt. “We shouldn’t be watching. This is private.”
“So, what.” She whispers. “Ain’t nothing wrong with mixing a little business with pleasure.”
“Listen, man. You know how girls are,” Jay says as he pulls off his shirt, revealing his propulsive back muscles. “I wouldn’t stress it. I mean, I’m sure if there were a problem she would tell you. Until then, don’t make something out of nothing.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Thanks, man,” Cliff says as he slaps his hand against Jay’s shoulder. However, he doesn’t sound convinced.
“Any time,” Jay says.
“Speaking of girls,” Cliff replies. “Any progress with that girl-”
He snaps his fingers, waiting for my name to come to his mind.
“Cassie.” Jay finishes his sentence.
“Yeah, Cassie.” He says. “Dude, I don’t know why I keep blanking on her name.”
“I’m seeing her again this Saturday if that’s what you mean,” Jay says. “She hasn’t been in school for the last couple of days. I sent her a few texts, she hasn’t responded. I’ll probably give her a call tonight or something.”
“Well, you better get to moving,” Cliff says. “Before she changes her mind and dumps your ass.”
“Nah, she won’t. ” Jay says as he rubs deodorant under his armpit. “I already told you guys. I got this in the bag.”
“I don’t know, Jay,” Cliff says as he pulls a fresh shirt over his head. “Something tells me you’ve got your work cut out for you with this one.”
He proceeds to run his fingers through his hair, a motion that accentuates his bulging biceps, and then makes his way out of the locker room.
“That little shitbrick. If I were in my right mind, I’d bust out of this closet and kick both of their asses.” Sophie begins to fan herself with her shirt, which is only working to circulate the stench.
“Shh.” I place my hand over her mouth. “You’re making too much noise.”
“We’ll see about that,” Jay says as he throws on a sweatshirt and follows behind.
We wait until the sound of pattering feet comes to a halt, and we hear the doors shut. “Okay, the coast is clear,” I say as I peek my head out of the closet. “Tommy, you could come out now,”
“Damn, that was a close one!” He grapples at the hair behind his head.
“You’re telling me,” I say. “How did you even fit in there?”
I nudge at the locker, thinking that he has to be some type of contortionist to be able to fit all six feet of himself in such a tight space.
“Oh, it wasn’t that hard.” Tommy blinks. “I mean, I’ll probably have neck problems for the rest of my life, but it’s worth it.”
“Thanks, Tommy,” I giggle. “You’re a G.”
“No problem,” He bows his head.
“Okay,” I clap my hands together. “Shall we get this show on the road!”
