The Do's & Don'ts of Dealing with A Diva

Chapter XXVII

I ran back to help Dallas, pulling my water bottle out of my handbag and shoving it into his chest.

"Drink." I ordered him shortly.

Dallas obliged, downing half the bottle in a single gulp before I'd even had chance to blink.

In the distance I could make out Travis walking towards the parking lot, having just run to the locker room to retrieve Dallas' stuff.

"I knew something like this was going to happen. Y'all are too rough for your own good." Mia scolded Dallas like a concerned mother. "To say you're on the same team you sure don't hesitate to knock the shit out of each other do you? And what is it with you guys running at each other like bulls— what is the point of that if not to concuss yourselves?!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Dallas' mouth despite his rough demeanour, and he watched Mia rant with clear adoration shining in his light eyes. A wave of unexpected jealousy shot through me, taking me by surprise.

"I'm fine, Mi." Dallas reassured her gently.

Mia stared down at the ground as we walked. "This time you are." She mumbled, kicking a rock out of the way with her foot. "Next time you might not be so lucky."

Dallas chuckled, pulling her a little closer to his chest. He was walking almost completely fine now and had no need for Mia's support, but neither of them made any effort to let go of each other.

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were concerned about me Meeps." Dallas teased, and Mia hid her face in her hair.

"You wish, O'Laughlan."

Thankfully, I was hindered from becoming even more of a third wheel to their flirt fest by our arrival at Travis' car. He was stood outside the red Chevy, leaning against the hood and swirling his car key around his fingers.

He raised his eyebrows at me as we approached and I smiled in response, waiting for him to unlock the doors so I could get in. Mia and Dallas were sneaking sly glances at each other as they occupied the back seats, leaving the front seat to myself.

"Alright, where first?" Travis asked, looking at us expectantly as he twisted the key in the lock. The car engine shuttered and protested, sounding old and tired, but eventually decided to play nice. Travis shot me a grin of triumph which I returned in good spirit.

I chewed on my lower lip thoughtfully. "We should probably drop Dallas off home first and make sure he's alright. I'll direct you."

Travis offered me a little salute and pulled out of the parking lot, flicking on the radio as he went.

Everybody was silent—aside from my occasional order of 'turn left' or 'straight on'—as we drove, seeming deep in thought.

"It's the yellow one on the right." Dallas informed Travis, pointing at his house through the window.

The car came to a stop and I twisted in my seat. "How are you feeling Dallas? Are either of your parents home?"

Mia's wide blue eyes met mine as she reached for the door handle. "Actually, I think I might stay here with him." She said quickly, her cheeks heating up. "Just to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid like trip over and re-concuss himself."

As soon as the words had left her mouth, Mia was out of the car and standing on the driveway. I fought back a smug grin, watching through the wing mirrors as she walked with Dallas to the front door.

People should start calling me Courtney Conway or whatever that matchmaker's name was, because I was basically Cupid now.

"So," Travis started, hitting his palms subconsciously against the steering wheel, "where to from here?"

And then it occurred to me that even though Travis had been kind today, we still didn't know each other well enough for me to want him to know where I lived. Maybe I was being overcautious, but with everything that had happened in recent weeks, I was determined to be more careful.

"Actually, could you drop me at the mall? I need to get a few things before I go home." The mall was only a few blocks from the McCormacks' house, and a little stroll was a small price to pay for some privacy, even in this crazy wind.

"Yeah no worries. Lead the way."

I directed Travis towards the mall, offering him a small salute when he pulled up out the front. "Thank you so much, Travis. You're a lifesaver."

He smiled at me, his blue eyes wide and hopeful. "Of course. So I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." I agreed, before jumping out and slamming the door shut behind me. I waited for Travis' car to disappear into the distance before I set about on my trek home.

I made my way through the side streets, and as I glanced around I was suddenly overcome with the feeling that someone was watching me. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I picked my pace up a little anyway.

I continued to walk until I got to the main road by the waterfront park, which was completely empty of people.

My thoughts flickered automatically back to Luke, and his blatant denial of my accusations. There had been no more photos since I'd confronted him, which couldn't be a coincidence right? I didn't trust a word that came out of his mouth.

But then, I couldn't stop repeating his words in my head. 'Taking photos of innocent girls is beneath me'. I knew there was a stab at Brooks in there, since Luke believed that Brooks had spread indecent photos of Demi around the school. But part of me couldn't help but want to think that someone who knew the damaging effects of doing something like would never voluntarily do it to somebody else.

Unless, of course, that was exactly why he was doing it— to give Brooks, and I guess me, a taste of his own medicine.