Your Loyal Servant

(24) What Am I Saying?

I couldn't watch my arch nemesis flirt shamelessly with him, so instead I kept my eyes focused on him, to see his reaction. I had scooted to the edge of my seat as though to get closer, but I didn't care if Apple and Selma were looking at me. I had to see how he'd react.

With a practiced polite grin, he slid his arm from her grasp, a kind rejection. He took a subtle step back and resumed the friendly conversation about them.

Yes! He rejected her! Victory to Team Rose!

I collapsed back in my chair, eyes rising to the ceiling. As I let my head fall back, my hair cascading towards the floor, I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Had I honestly just felt jealous about Bianca flirting with him? I shouldn't have cared. I normally didn't. So why all of the sudden did it feel like she was putting her claws on something that belonged to me?

My eyes locked onto him, wondering what the heck was up with me. He looked exactly the same: golden hair, strange silver eyes, a devoted obedience that wouldn't go away even if you tried to beat it out of him. But it was almost as though he felt different, like I was looking at him from my left eye as opposed to my right.

Howie was just my manservant and a good friend. Sure, he made immaculate meals for me, biked all the way to school for me, saved me on countless occasions, and taught me chemistry, but that didn't mean I had to start feeling things for him. He may have been my friend, but he annoyed me to no end. He was a pest that didn't go away, no matter how many times you swatted. Besides, wasn't I pissed at him mere days ago?

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest, scowling at the ground. My lips pursed in irritation as thoughts entered my head, one after the other.

So what if he hung out with other girls? He'd been doing it all year. It wouldn't have surprised me if he'd flirted with the lot of 'em—if he flirted, of course. He didn't strike me as a player . . .

Well, whatever. I didn't care. Oh, who was I kidding? I cared. I definitely cared! But, why did I care? I shouldn't have, and that's what was bothering me.

"You are more important to me than a college education." His words invaded my mind, kicking my heartbeat up a notch. Was I jealous because I thought he was treating me like I wasn't number one? Did I just want to feel important?

God, I was selfish. Who cared if he talked with the other classmates? They were his friends, and I told him to do that, anyway. So why did I want the girls to disappear?

"Rose?" a voice called, tugging me from my thoughts.

I glanced at Apple, blinking slowly. "Huh? What?"

Her eyes shimmered in concern as she questioned, "Is everything okay? I mean, you seem . . . I don't know. You all right?"

A frown pulled at the corners of my mouth as I admitted, "I am greatly vexed, Apple."

An eyebrow quirked. "You're vexed?" she echoed. "Why are you vexed?"

My gaze slid back to Howie as he tossed his group into a fit of laughter. He must've said something amusing.

Apple followed my glance and her eyes widened when she realized what I was staring at. She leaned forward in her seat and whispered, "Does it have something to do with your manservant?"

I threw my hands in the air in aggravation. I yelled, "It has everything to do with him!"

Everyone looked back at whatever had caused the commotion, so I slid down in my seat, willing my body to turn invisible.