Pleasure

Chapter Fourteen

I haven't been able to focus on anything since before lunch. I didn't eat anything and it was completely awkward while we were all sitting there. Tension hung in the air and I didn't bother to fix it. None of us did.

The ride back in Jacob's car was just as silent as it was on the way there. When we park in the parking lot, I sit there for a moment. I wait, although I'm unsure on what I'm waiting for. As he turns off the car, I get out and start walking towards the school. I hear Jacob exit seconds behind me. He pulls my arm and turns me around.

"Aria, wait." He pleads. I watch as Natalie and Lucas look away from us and start walking into school. I fold my arms and stare up at him. He clears his throat and puts his hands in his pockets, making his biceps stand out a little more. He looks focused on my face, but I'm only focused on getting inside again.

"Don't worry about Courtney, okay?"

"That's so reassuring Jacob," I snap sarcastically.

"I'm serious, Aria. What happened between her and I ... just don't worry about her. She's not important. She just likes messing things up if they don't go her way." He reaches for my shoulders but I move away.

"Well maybe if you know her so well, you should be with her instead." I start walking away again, but I am stopped once again.

"Hey." He jerks me back towards him. "I don't want her. I want you, I told you that. I don't care about what Courtney says and you shouldn't either." His eyes are dark as they look down at me. I bite my lip and peer up to him.

"I just have to think," I admit, quietly. I manage to slip from his grip and say, "I have to go."

He doesn't chase me when I walk away this time, which I guess is a good thing. I don't want him to chase me. I don't want to think about it either, despite what I told him. It's the first day of our relationship and it's already going horribly. And what did Courtney mean? I start to think maybe I didn't ask Jacob enough questions last night. Why didn't he say anything when she came up to us? It's like he was siding with the fact that he had something to hide. If so, then what could he be hiding? And why is it so important that I don't find out?

These questions sit on my mind for the rest of the day, distracting me from all of my other responsibilities. I've never been so caught up over something. By the time the pep rally comes around, I consider skipping. I figured it wouldn't be worth it, but when I try leaving, a teacher tells me to go back to the gymnasium.

I groan and stomp to the top of the bleachers, dropping my bag and rummaging for my headphones. Once I find the right song and blast my music, I sit back and watch as students begin to fill the bleachers with loud conversations and happiness. Everyone looks so much happier than me and I hate it. All because of secrets I'm unaware of.

As I'm scanning the gym, I see the cheerleaders pile in. Among them, Courtney gallops in smiling a triumphant smile. I see Jacob move from behind the bleachers and grab her arm. Her smile immediately drops as she stares up at him. He says something to her, and it has much anger behind it. His face is hard and focused, the way it always is. She replies with a flirty demeanor, pivoting on her toes and twirling her hair. He steps closer to her and growls something back. Her smile drops again. She whispers something with a serious expression, then stalks off, leaving him there watching her. He looks concentrated as he thinks hard to himself. He pulls out his phone, puts it to his ear, and walks out of the gymnasium. I watch Courtney as she walks in line and starts cheering. 

What were they talking about? I know I'm not being crazy, I should be mad right? They used to date, so what could they possibly still have to talk about? I didn't peg Jacob as a cheater, but my mind is coming up with the worst possible scenarios.