On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 22: The Rumor

My life cannot get any worse than it is right now, minus being caught again... I don't even have the energy to fight this right now. My body is tired of heaving. I don't dare look at Parker. I know my cheeks are flushed. With him being so angry at me, I don't want to push any of his buttons.

"How many people know about that?" Parker asks. He seems calm, but I can feel his body tense up from the stress of being a rumor in a high school.

Izzie shrugs. "Probably most of our class heard it by now, but who knows. A lot of people were hammered, and you did leave on the DL."

I shake my head as I eye the piece of cake in front of Del. It makes me sick just looking at it. It looks so chocolatey and delicious. Del notices me eyeing the cake. "Oh yeah, this is my boy cure." She slides the cake toward me. I poke at it with my index finger.

Izzie looks at me with wide eyes. "Wait, you're not pregnant, are you? Because you only did it two days ago, and it's too early to show any signs?"

I put my hand on my forehead. Is she serious? Then I remember where I am. It's Texas. I'm surprised they know having sex can result in pregnancy...

Del rolls her eyes. "I'm so sorry the Texas public school system has failed you so badly."

Parker snickers. "We didn't do anything, Izzie."

Okay, he's laughing. That's good... Right?

"Parker," Del says. "When I called the other night, you said I had bad timing. Did I interrupt something?"

I raise my eyebrows. We were about to kiss. I forgot about that completely. We should probably talk about that at some point... I look at Parker at the corner of my eye. His cheeks turn rosy.

"No. I was just about to go to sleep." he says.

Damn.

"Then why are you blushing?" Izzie asks. "You're turning pink!"

Parker's still tense, and I can feel it getting worse with all the questions. I change the subject. Mostly for my sake but a little for him too. "So, what do you think Tyler's motive is by giving me a jersey?" I say as I look at it on the table next to Izzie.

"Julia said he wouldn't shut up about you at his party the other night," Izzie says. "You're a little star."

I shrug and blush a little myself. "I wouldn't say that. I just like to play."

"Fine, be modest," Izzie says. "But if, when, you decide to try out for the team, let me know. You're going to have an 'in' with the hottest guys in school."

Del rolls her eyes again. "Those guys are like a pack of wild dogs. Tyler's the alpha. I don't think he's going to let anyone touch her. He looks at her like a trophy."

Parker inhales sharply when she says I'm like a trophy. He starts to get up. "He has no idea. She's a person. She shouldn't be lessened to a piece of metal. She's a frickin' supernova, and she's too good for anyone in this goddamn place, including me."

And with that, he slings his backpack onto his shoulder and leaves. Del and Izzie look at me with their mouths hanging open. The room's aura becomes awkward and tense.

My cheeks are very warm as they keep looking at me. "What?"

Del shakes her head. "It's official. You woke him up. He has feelings for another person."

"What does that mean?" I ask.

I woke him up?

"Parker Simmons is, um, unattainable. You don't know this, but around ninth grade, he went from nerdy to hot, like really hot." Del says.