The Nice Kind of Bad

5

Becoming a stalker was not on the list of changes Levi wanted to bring about himself in Dansville. He groaned and dropped his head on the table, making his blue hoodie come over his head. He had been looking at Carter James and Jordan from the corner of his eye. He couldn't help it. She was so delicately at ease and smiled easily at the doorway.

It was a look that should stay on her face instead of that suppressed smile she gave him when she told him not to tell anyone. He had agreed and taken her home after that but he wondered what she meant. What personal reasons could there be?

Levi looked back at them at the doorway. So James was the dickhead who was out with another girl. He was taken aback. He hadn't taken James as that kind. He watched Jordan grin at something he said and narrowed his eyes. He must be good.

And why did he care?

Oh, right. Because 'Don't tell anyone I saved your life.' Personal reasons his ass. He sighed. He should probably just let it go. It wasn't his business anyway.

The seat next to him scraped and Jordan sat down, without the hoodie. She passed him a small smile and took out her things. "You know,"Levi started,"I still don't understand Merchant of Venice." Jordan tried not to consider the fact that he talked to her despite their awkward departure yesterday. She was under the impression he thought she was odd and dropped it.

"A-alright,"she stuttered and tucker her hair behind her ear. Leaning in, she could smell his perfume and shower scent. "What do you need to know?"

He inclined his head one way. "Everything." Right. She had forgot he was new to this. Jordan took out her book and placed in the middle, explaining the dos and don'ts of Merchant of Venice. She watched Levi's gray pupils lighten at some words he understood and glow in confusion at others. He really didn't understand.

By the time she was done, Mr.See walked in for History and they began their lesson. He gave them some work and left them to it as a group effort.

"You're good at this,"Levi laughed, nervously when he saw that she was halfway done when he was stuck on the second question. She shrugged as if it made no difference. "Are you one of those smart-ass people who are too modest for their own good?"

"I'm ignoring you,"she muttered which made him laugh under his breadth. How long could she do that exactly? Levi finished off his work after Jordan explained a few things and sat back, realizing he had some times of class left. She doodled on her notebook while he leaned back on his seat and waved his pen in his hand.

"How are you good at this?" he asked. Jordan raised her eyebrows. "Studying, I mean." She ran a hand through her thick hair and kept her eyes on her book. "I want to get into U of I. I guess, I just want that to be easy for me."

Levi knew exactly how she felt, except he wasn't good at his studies. He needed a scholarship so he could get into business school without burdening Gran further or asking his absent father for help. But he didn't tell her that. "U of I,"he said, nodding slowly,"with your boyfriend?"

Something flashed across Jordan's face which she clamped down immediately. "Yes." Hmmm. Interesting. She seemed warm with James. He couldn't help but ask his next question. "No wonder James works so hard at basketball. He wants a scholarship for U of I, too."

Confusion set in. "Who's James?"

Levi forgot. "Carter James." Jordan's eyes shifted to affection immediately as she looked up at him. "Yeah, Carter does work hard."

"He seems like a nice guy. The kind that girls would go after a lot." He wasn't sure where he was going with this. Jordan's brows knit together and she let out a confused laugh. "I guess so?" Levi raised his brows. "And that doesn't bother you?"