Lovestruck (EDITING)

59: Don't Get Upset, Get Even

I spot Tyler ahead of me in the lunch line as soon as I enter the cafeteria. He's with a group of other jocks, laughing about something, but I don't have the time to be shy right now. He sees me walking over, and a sly grin creeps onto his face. What the hell?

"Tyler." I give him a smile that is not for his own benefit, and he knows it.

"Hey Skye." He pulls me into an embrace and I jump when his hands squeeze my hip bones. "Did you want to sit together, babe?"

I glance over at his friends who are giving each other uncomfortable looks, and then back to Tyler with a frown. Something else is definitely going on here.

"No." I shake my head. "No, I'm good. I just think we need to have a talk... don't you?" I raise an eyebrow and shoot Tyler a threatening glare.

"Sure, babe. Let's go talk." I want to gag at the way the word rolls off his tongue. Who does he think he is?

He follows me through the cafeteria to the back exit and out into the quiet hallway.

"What the hell was that?" I spit before Tyler has a chance to say a word.

"What was what?" His sly grin has returned to taunt me.

"Okay, Tyler. Look, I'm not going to the bonfire with you tonight, as you know. So why the hell are you telling all your friends that I am?" I cross my arms to seem as tough as possible, despite our height difference.

"How else are you planning on making your little boy toy in there jealous?" He smiles knowingly and it just makes me angrier.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, of course you don't. Look at them, Skye." Tyler gestures for me to look through the archway into the cafeteria.

I glance over as subtly as possible to see Jayden whispering something into Dani's ear as they sit alone at their table. She laughs and I can almost hear her whiney voice tell him to "stop it" as she hits him playfully.

"Look, I know you don't like me. I'm not looking for marriage and children here. I'm no Jayden Young." The mention of his name in that context hurts like a dagger through my chest. "But I do know what that shit feels like. It's bad."

I want to fight back. I want to be strong. To act like it doesn't bother me at all. But I know that deep down I'm interested in what Tyler is offering. It might be childish. It might be petty. But it might be just what I need to feel like I'm in control.

"Skye, you're hot. You're probably the hottest girl at this school, even. And you should feel that way. Don't let these assholes make you feel like you're below them." Tyler looks back at them in disgust. "I mean, if that dude wants to fuck with Dani Martinez when he could have you, then he clearly has deeper issues."

"Okay." I cringe at the idea of the two of them being intimate. "Okay, that's enough. Thank you, I guess... What are you asking me to do?"

"I'm thinking... a little double date might be fun." He shrugs with a devlish grin and I raise my eyebrow in response. "Are you in?"

I chew on the inside of my cheek and glance back at Jayden and Dani for a moment. She's laughing hysterically as he buries his face in her neck. I instantly know my answer.

"I'm in." I nod my head. Suddenly my weekend seems like it might be taking a different turn.

"There you go." Tyler squeezes my ribs and I shove him backwards against the lockers as he laughs at me. "Don't get upset, Skye. Get even."