The Georgia Rule

Chapter Fifteen

The unforgiving humidity attacked me from all corners despite our haven from the harsh rays of sunlight. I was beginning to feel a slick layer of perspiration forming on my forehead as a result.

I spotted a few groups who had opted to eat outside cast inquisitive glances in our direction as they walked around campus. I no longer had the energy to be phased as my untouched slices of pizza lay neatly in their box.

Finn slowly and cautiously chewed the piece of pizza held between his fingers and I could almost see an invisible barrier being built between us.

"Tell me or else I'll go to the police and let them decide the legalities," I threatened, "and I don't care if you threaten my education, because that must be illegal too." I quipped and Finn shot me a challenging look.

The uncertainty I had carried around with me for the past few weeks was beginning to make its presence known and since there was no way of avoiding Finn, I needed answers and I would no longer brush off Finn's.

"And you should know, I can afford to switch schools with the flick of a wrist even if you threaten my academic life -so it's all pretty pointless really."

I was bluffing.

I could have easily transferred schools seeing as my parents possessed all the funds to do so, but I surely did not want to. Transferring meant admitting defeat and more importantly, showing weakness. All I've been doing was showing weakness these past weeks, from public humiliation to allowing myself to be outcast and not demanding more answers from Finn.

Finn neutralized his expression, his face a clean slate. He squinted his eyes, a facial tell that he was calculating all the possible outcomes of the situation. I studied his face carefully, ignoring the protests of my stomach as I restrained myself from devouring the pizza before me.

A sigh of resignation alerted me that I had won, that he had actually bought into my bluff and for once, I was taken seriously.

"Fine-"

"Finally - sorry continue," I blushed, correcting myself. In that moment I was hyper aware of what Andria had meant. I did in fact have a tendency of cutting people off before they finished speaking. I made a mental note to continue being aware, because i should have known that Finn would never willingly agree to my proposal without adjusting it to his favour.

"But," he smirked, "I'm not telling you now." I gaped. Did he not understand that I was the one in control? I had already shown that I was immune to any threats he might have. "This afternoon, the same place we met, since it holds so much significance to you," he added with an eye roll and another bite of pizza.

"I want the answer right now, in the safety of this school please and thanks, no room for discussion," I battled exasperatedly.

"Sure. I'll make up an answer right here right now and feed you the lie that you so obviously want to hear," he drawled. "Listen, you want the truth right? Then do it on my terms and I can promise that you will get your answers."

"Fine," I agreed reluctantly. I should've recognized the glint in his eyes, I was all too familiar with it. It was the look Breanna sported whenever she fires her insults to win arguments, and I'm sure it must have been the same look I had like tried, and failed to master.

From the moment I had brought it up, it would have gone his way. I was too open - too willing to conform and I mentally added that to my checklist of things I should work on.

"Are there anymore rules I have to follow?" I asked exhaustedly.

"Yes, two more in fact," he added, "First, eat your pizza, lunch will be over soon," he stated glancing at his watch. "Secondly, I'll need that report on the club by this afternoon, so be sure to email it to me after we meet up."