Free Blue Dream by Xavier Neal Page B

if my disgust for him didn't lead me to disgust for myself.
     
    I check my vibrating phone again.
     
    Ry: You can’t be that busy because I know you’ve checked all my messages.
     
    Before I can put the phone away it vibrates again.
     
    Ry: And you know I'm waiting by the phone for all of yours.
     
    A deep sigh comes from me. God, how does he get into my head like that?
     
    “Who keeps texting you?” Blaze asks with unhappiness.
     
    “Her better boyfriend,” Carmen jokes.
     
    She doesn't know anything is going on between Ryder and me. She'd have my head on a stick and parade around the courtyard. Not because she doesn't think we're a good fit together, but it's all about the people watching. With the way we've waged war, to find out the enemies were discussing anything other than ways to obliterate each other, would be cause for an overthrow of a metaphorical crown I never asked for.
     
    Suddenly Nathan hangs up and jumps to his feet. “That girl Mo’ who’s been on my jock is down at the court and wants us to meet her there. She’s got some hot little friends. Tiny titties but big ol' booties. You guys down?”
     
    James and Eli, or J Club and E.I. as we're supposed to call them, mumble their approvals.
     
    Nathan tosses his head. “Blaze?”
     
    Blaze glances at me to see the stern look on my face and swallows an emotion. “Sure. But not for the girls. I wanna play ball.”
     
    “Yeah. Yeah,” Nathan brushes him off with a wink.
     
    He opens his mouth to ask something when I shake my head. “Don't.”
     
    “Hear me out.” To humor him I do. “Dinner?”
     
    Knowing this routine, I ask, “Who's gonna pay? Me? Again? I'm tired of using all my tutoring money to afford our dates.”
     
    “No I’ll pay. I’ll scrounge up some cash and-”
     
    “You can’t,” Nathan buts in as he slides on his fake diamond watch he wears to impress chicks. “We’re going to record some tonight.”
     
    Frustrated he stands and slides his hands in his pocket. “Tomorrow then?”
     
    My phone vibrates and I check it.
     
    Ry: Is your face doing that thing where you scrunch your nose to stop from smiling. I love it when you do that.
     
    “Who is that?” Blaze snaps and reaches for my phone.
     
    “Don't. Ever. Touch. My. Phone.” I harshly state and slide it in my back pocket. “And don't ask me that again. You have to earn the right for those answers.”
     
    “But you're my girlfriend.”
     
    “Maybe you should learn to act like it then.” I stand up. “What do you say, Carmen? Benny's Burgers?”
     
    She hops up, “God yes. I can smoke on the patio and the bartender lets me drink for free.”
     
    “Did Blaze treat you that way often?” Katherine asks, an intrigued look on her face.
     
    “About 90 percent of the time. The other fraction, he was a completely different person. But like me, back then, it was all about what you were selling. The image you had created and the things you did to maintain it.”
     
    “Life as an adult, isn't much different in that aspect. Quite often we create personas at work or in our social lives and then feed into them.” Her words whittle away the hope I had that I had grown out of doing those things. “It's human nature. However, where was the lie? Texting an ex-boyfriend isn't cheating.”
     
    “No...it's not. But what I did that night was.”
     
     
    My phone continues to vibrate across my bed lighting up with another text from Ryder. Caught up in the elation that comes from every word he types, I quickly check it.
     
    Ry: I wanna see you.
     
    I stare at the words I'm not sure I can resist.
     
    Ry: I NEED to see you Pres.
     
    Ry: Please.
     
    My fingers twitch to touch the keys, but I fight against it.
     
    Ry: I'm throwing myself at the mercy of the court your honor.
     
    A giggle escapes me.
     
    Ry: Please.
     
    Reluctantly I reply.
     
    Me: Where? You know I don't have a car. You try to pick me up and my brother might try to bash your