Free Destined to Succeed by Lisa M. Harley Page B

When she sees you and Suzanna together, she’ll back off.” Cord seemed more sure of that than I was. Anna was not the type to back off.
    “She knows I took Suzy Q home. I don’t want her to start any shit about her, ya know? I love her, Cord.”
    “Aw, ain’t that sweet.” Branch snarled as he stepped around the corner. “You wanna make babies with that red-headed whore?”
    I grabbed him by the collar, “Guess you didn’t get enough of me Saturday night, huh?”
    “I knew she was gonna be an easy lay, but goddamn she must’ve been desperate to give it up to you. Those virgins are so easy to pluck.” He let the pluck pop off his lips. Before he could say another word, I had him pinned against the wall. My right arm was pressed across his throat and my left arm was pressin’ his shoulder into the wall.
    “Don’t you ever say a fuckin’ word about her. Do. You. Understand. Me. Asshole?” I was not playin’. I wanted to kick his ass right there in the cafeteria. Cord didn’t do a thing until Mr. Kennett came around the corner. Then he grabbed me and pulled me away from Branch.
    “He ain’t worth it, cuz. Let’s get outta here, before you get in serious trouble.” I yanked my arm out of his grasp and lunged at Branch. “Understand?”
    “Don’t think I heard you, Mr. Walker. Do I understand what?” He asked with an evil grin on his lips.
    I tried to lunge at him again, but Cord caught me and pulled me down the hall. I was sick. My heart was about to beat outta my chest. I wanted to kill that bastard for talkin’ about my girl, I mean Suzy Q, that way.
    When I got to homeroom, she wasn’t there. Where the hell was she? She was never late to school. She must’ve been sick or somethin’. I really hoped everything was okay.
    Cord found me in the hall after first period. “So, how’s your day goin’?”
    “She ain’t here. She didn’t come to school today. I asked Mr. Kennett and he told me her mom called and said she was sick. You think I hurt her?” I was scared. What if I’d done somethin’ to her? Or if I hurt her when we did it? It felt really good, but she did bleed. I thought that was normal for a virgin, but I didn’t really know.
    “You sure she had a good time, cuz? Was she alright when she left?”
    “She was fuckin’ fine. We made out in the mornin’ and then I drove her home. We kissed goodbye and everything.”
    “Well, then maybe she’s just sick. She mighta caught somethin’.”
    “I think I’m gonna take off and go check on her.”
    “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If she’s sick she needs the rest, and if it’s somethin’ to do with you, you don’t need to be buggin’ her. Wait til school’s out, then go check on her.”
    I knew Cord was right. I needed to leave her alone. She had the flu or somethin’…I’m sure that was it. “I’ll have to go home and do chores, and then I’ll go check on her.”
    “Sounds like a good plan. Now get your ass to class.”
    I punched him in the arm and took off down the hall to my history class.
    The rest of the day dragged. All I could think about was Suzy Q and that damn look on her face when we were in bed together. I needed to see that look again…soon.
    I went home right after school and finished my chores. It took me a couple hours and then I told my mom to save some dinner for me. I went over to Suzy Q’s house and when I knocked on the door I waited patiently hopin’ she would answer.
    When I knocked the second time, Mrs. Mallory opened the door.
    “Hello, Cade,” she said with the same phony smile she always used when she talked to me. That woman was the biggest stuck up bitch I had ever met. I was always nice to her, but I knew she was thinkin’ about how worthless I was every time she laid eyes on me. The only nice thing I had to say about her was the woman could make a mean lemon bar.
    “Is Suzanna feelin’ okay?” I asked.
    “Not sure, haven’t really heard much out of her today. I’ll go up