Free Labeled Love by Danielle Rocco Page B

boy.
    Jules did come to the center with me once, like she said she would. I was afraid she would say something offensive without meaning it. When we got there, we walked inside, and the first thing she said was, “I told you it would smell like a dirty locker room. We won’t be here long, will we?” Thankfully, she said it quietly so no one heard her. After that, she was fine. She met Jace and thought he was ‘super sweet and hot’ as she put it. They got along well. I think she amused Jace.
    Our teacher, Mr. Perkins, walks in right when I’m about to answer her, so I whisper, “I know you’re kidding. He’s perfect. So… perfect. And, he would not be happy. He’s pretty protective of me.”
    Jules giggles low and says, “He’s kind of like those boys we read about, right? You know… the alpha guys, all bad ass.”
    “Jules, those would be men, not boys.” She rolls her eyes while Mr. Perkins goes to the front of the class.
    “But, Jace totally looks like he will be alpha like that when he’s older. I can totally see him getting off a motorcycle with his sexy hair all windblown. He would grab you by the waist and say, ‘Kiss me woman.’” She says it dramatically, making me laugh. She raises her eyebrows and turns back around as she says, “You know it’s true, Shay.”
    “Oh my God, Jules. Now who needs to stop reading all those fantasy books?”
    She whispers back to me, “That’s the in-thing, Shay. Everyone is reading those books now. And, seriously, where are we ever going to find a bad boy like that, when we’re surrounded by boys that still get their asses wiped by their mommies? You totally landed the sweetest bad boy, girl.”
    “I told you he’s not bad.”
    “Duh, Shay. I know. It’s a figure of speech. Geesh.”
    “Quiet,” Mr. Perkins says in our direction.
    Chemistry is so boring. Days like today I wish I’d taken this class over the summer so I wouldn’t have to during my sophomore year. We spend the next hour taking pointless notes that I will never need to know when I’m older. Between the notes and Cole’s lingering stare, I just want class to end.

 
     
    “PUT YOUR HANDS behind your back now!”
    “Are you serious? I was trying to make sure my mom was okay!” I spit blood onto the ground to clear my throat while Grace yells behind me.
    “These are my friends. My son always starts fights.” The officer looks over at her as I shake my head. I look up into the bright blue sky. How the hell did this just happen?
    “Listen, kid. Your mom wants us to take you in, but I’m going to cut you a break this time.” He looks over at Grace who looks completely out of it. It doesn’t take a genius to see she has major problems.
    “I think he needs a lesson, Officer.” She points her shaky finger at the officer standing next to me.
    “Calm down, please,” he orders her, walking her back into our apartment.
    “Don’t touch me! I can walk without you touching me!” she yells, continuing to make a scene.
    I grit my teeth. I’m so pissed. Blood pools in my mouth, and I spit again trying to clear it. My left eye throbs. An officer is talking to the three guys I had the scuffle with, as all the neighbors stand outside watching the commotion. The officer who led Grace into the apartment walks back outside and shuts the door behind him. He walks up to me. “So, what happened here?”
    Our landlord walks up with a huff. “I can tell you what happened. His mom is always smashed, in and out of the house all night long. I actually feel bad for this kid.”
    The officer turns to me. “Listen. It’s not that bad,” I lie. I don’t know what will happen, so I try to ease his suspicion. “I came home, and those guys were in the apartment with my mom. I’m pretty protective. When I asked them to leave, they didn’t like it.” I spit blood onto the concrete again.
    “I’m not taking those guys in. They said your mom invited them in, and when you walked into the house, you