Free Blood Like Poison by M. Leighton Page B

than usual.

At school, Drew was waiting for me at my locker.  He asked again if I had any plans for after practice.  I think on some level he knew something was wrong and he was trying to overcompensate by paying me lots of attention, even more than usual.

“Actually, I was going to see if you wanted to meet up on the field about seven or so.  We’ve got a two-hour camp that we’re holding for the junior high.  We’re teaching them some new basket tosses.  Want to meet me at the bleachers after?”

“Mmm, bleachers,” he said with a suggestive smile.  “You know I do.” 

Drew and I had never had sex.  We’d come close several times and now I was more grateful than ever that it had never progressed to that point.  Drew, on the other hand, was bound and determined to push it until it happened.  Typical.

He swooped in for a peck on the lips and I ducked as if looking for something in my bag.  When I raised my head, I quickly pressed my lips to his cheek and rushed off again, promising I’d see him at lunch.

I didn’t see Bo again all morning.  I wondered what could’ve been keeping him from school again today.  He’d seemed fine when I saw him Sunday night, and his continued absence was making me crazy.  I was ready to bite somebody’s head off by the time lunch rolled around. 

I was chomping angrily on a celery stick when, much to my relief and chagrin, I caught sight of Bo sitting down at a picnic table out on the lawn.  He was joining Savannah.

Although he’d all but assured me that they were just friends, I watched them with nothing short of envy.  They talked easily and Savannah laughed a lot.  I tried to push down the green wave of jealousy that rose inside me, but the more I watched them, the harder it got.

“What’s so interesting over there?” Drew tipped his head toward Bo and Savannah.

I shrugged.  “Everyone’s talking about Savannah.  I was just wondering what the big deal was.”

Devon leaned around Drew to look me in the eye.  “Have you ever even met her, Ridley?”

His tone and the firm set of his jaw and mouth reeked of defensiveness.  He’d obviously decided he wasn’t going to stand by and listen to another attack on Savannah, even though that’s not what I meant at all.

“Not officially, no, but—”

Devon cut me off.  “She’s a nice girl.  She’s funny and smart and she plays the bass guitar, which is awesome.”

I quirked a brow at Devon.  I wanted to continue the conversation, but I was all too aware of our surroundings and that Trinity was only a few feet away.  As if he’d suddenly realized the same thing, Devon’s ire visibly waned and he turned his attention back to his tray.  By silent agreement, we both let it drop. 

Luck had apparently deserted us, however, because Trinity, with her ears like satellite dishes, had picked up on our quiet conversation.

“That’s it,” she yelled, pushing her chair back from the lunch table and turning a furious glare on Devon.  All eyes shifted to Trinity, everyone curious about her sudden outburst.  “If you’ve got a thing for white trash, then have at it,” she spat, her eyes flashing angrily at Devon.

“Trinity,” Devon said, pushing his words through gritted teeth.  “That’s enough.”

“Don’t you tell me wh—”

Devon cut her off, standing to his feet so quickly that his chair nearly toppled over.  “Trinity!  How long is it gonna take for you to realize that it’s over?  We’re over?  I don’t know, but I hope this sinks in a little better because I’m only gonna tell you this one time:  stay away from Savannah. ”

He turned around and stomped off. 

Most mouths agape, nearly the entire lunch crowd watched him go.  Devon didn’t have much of a temper and I’m sure everyone else was as surprised as I was to finally see it.  I could tell by the look on her face that Trinity was the most stunned of us all.

“You won’t think she’s so special when