Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“What is it?” Lily asked, entering the kitchen.
“We lost our last bag of flour.”
“Here, go and get some more,” Lily said, grabbing her purse.
“Mom, we were only supposed to be using up.”
“I know, and we’ve got a couple of other things to use up before they go out of date. Please, head to the store. I’ll clean up the mess, and finish those dishes. Alfie, will you go with her?”
“Of course.”
Chloe wanted to curse a little more, but instead, forced a smile to her lips and grabbed her jacket. It was cold out.
Leaving her home with Alfie was weird. Stepping out onto the street, she could imagine all the curtains twitching and the topic of conversation being Alfie and her, alone together.
When she glanced toward him, he seemed calm. His hands were in his jeans, his jacket like a neon sign.
It wasn’t a proper leather cut, but it was what most of the Satan’s Crew MC kids wore. Anyone who saw it knew he belonged to the club, and if anyone messed with him, they messed with the whole club.
“So, crazy week at school, huh?”
“Every single day you had something else scribbled on your locker,” he said.
“I know.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” he asked.
“It used to. Words hurt a whole lot.” She shrugged. “I guess I got used to the same old insults. Besides, it’s not like I can change people’s minds. They all needed a punching bag, and I guess I was the one that got the highest score.”
“Some people would have left the school by now,” he said.
“Was that your hope? Getting me to leave?” She stopped walking to turn to him. “You do realize all of what happens is because of you and your little club, right?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yeah, it is. You, Ian, Riley, and a couple of the others were the very first to write on my locker. Things like fat ass, fatty, whale, slut, whore, coward. Everyone else, being the sheep they are, followed in your direction. They find it funny to trip me, push me, hurt me. It all started because of you. It’s why I’m surprised you’re even helping me right now.” She held her hands up in surrender. “What is it you want?”
“To make amends. I had no idea I’d been the cause of all that.”
She laughed. “You knew. You know that regardless if you play football or not, you and the biker brats’ clique in the school is the most popular. People are led by your example.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about this.” She began to walk away.
“Wait, you can’t just throw that kind of shit at me and walk away.”
“I can. Years of being the butt of the joke gives me that right, Alfie. Look, I don’t know what this is, but I’m not stupid. Whatever it is, leave me out of it. What did I ever do to you? Huh? What did I ever do to hurt you? I’ve been nice all the time to you guys. I’ve tried to stay out of your way, and yet, I’m your first enemy, and I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me what the fuck is your problem?” she asked.
She had stopped once again, but she didn’t want to just stand around talking. They needed to get to the store before it closed.
“Look, I was a dick, okay? I didn’t like your place in the club. No one likes Kurt. They use and humiliate him at every single turn. I didn’t get why you were there.”
“I never got any special treatment, Alfie. I was the coward’s kid. It’s why I tried to leave as quickly as possible. To a young girl, some of the stuff they said, it was horrible. I didn’t have to listen to it. I’m not a horrible person, and I would never run away like that.” She pressed her lips together. “I think you should go.”
“I go now, your mom is going to start asking you a whole lot of questions.”
She growled. “Stop it. Okay. Just stop with the whole bullshit that you care.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You can keep shouting at me, but I’m sticking around. You’re stuck with me, and I’m going to prove you wrong.”
“To what end?”
“For you to know, people can change and it doesn’t take some miracle to happen.” He winked at her, grabbing her arm. “Now, let’s go shopping. You’re getting a brand-new bestie.”
She groaned as he grabbed a cart. He refused to let her go though and kept her by his side as they walked into the supermarket.
The moment some of the customers saw him, she knew he made them nervous and he hadn’t done anything.
“Does it bother you the way people react to you?”
“Used to. Doesn’t bother me anymore. The entire club is treated that way, and it’s a good thing.”