Blood Like Poison Read Online Free Page B

rush. 

With my books secured in my messenger bag and nothing left to linger over, I made my way to the front of the class and walked in front of the Bo’s table, heading for the door.

I didn’t look his way.  I thought for sure he’d say something, anything, as I passed.  I mean, he had been watching me an awful lot.  But he didn’t say a word.  I thought I saw his head come up briefly when I walked by, but otherwise he didn’t move.

I hesitated at the door for a heartbeat, giving Bo one last chance to say something, but he didn’t.  So I left. 

At my locker, I threw my books inside and took out my duffel then slammed the thin metal door shut.  I was feeling prickly and irritable and, though I was loath to admit it, it had everything to do with Bo. 

I was really disappointed that he had turned out to be such a dud.  I mean, he didn’t speak to me, didn’t even acknowledge me, like he hadn’t been watching me like a hawk for two days.  What’s up with that?

Determined not to think about him any more, I sought out Trinity and Aisha and we made our way to the bus.  We had a long trip ahead of us.

********

Several annoying hours later, the bus was pulling back into the lot at the school.  Maintaining my usual ambivalence had been a true test of my resolve.  I felt itchy all night and had to make a concerted effort not to snap at anybody or let on that I was out of sorts.  I knew that if I did, the inevitable questions would follow and that would’ve been a disaster. 

So, I smiled and cheered happily, all the while seething inside.  I messed up three different cheers.  After the third one, it wasn’t difficult to conclude that I needed to stop thinking about Bo and his eyes.  It was becoming glaringly obvious that he was not doing my life any favors.

On the way home, it seemed I was constantly pushing thoughts of him out of my mind.  The problem wasn’t in getting him out; it was in keeping him out.  He just wouldn’t stay gone, at least not for very long anyway. 

I knew that I needed to be persistent, however, to resist thinking about him.  It’s what needed to be done, so I told myself that’s what I’d do.  Simple as that.  The funny thing is that, at the time, I thought it would be easy.  Turns out resisting Bo was anything but easy.

“Ridley, you need a ride?” Trinity was calling to me from the rear of the bus.  We were back at school, unloading people and equipment into the parking lot.

“No, thanks.  I drove.  I’ll just see you tomorrow night,” I replied, lugging my duffel to my car way out at the end of the lot.

“T,” Drew hollered from behind me.  I stopped and waited for him to catch up.  “Why don’t you leave your car and I’ll take you home tonight.  I can bring you back over tomorrow before the party to get it,” he suggested. 

“My mom will worry if she doesn’t see my car in the driveway.”

“You can call her when you get home,” he said.  He stepped closer to me and rubbed my arm suggestively. “We can take a detour on the way to your house.”

I looked up at Drew, at the wholesome, handsome face of the most popular guy in school, and for the life of me I couldn’t remember why I liked him.  I mean, he’s occasionally funny, fairly smart, sporadically thoughtful and he used to turn me on, but now it seemed that whatever was between us was just gone.

Unbidden, luminous coffee-colored eyes drifted through my mind.  Angrily, I swept them aside.  Again.

“No.  I’m tired.  I’m going home.  I’ve got plans in the morning anyway,” I fibbed.

He sighed deeply and gave in.  “Alright.  So I’ll pick you up for Caster’s party tomorrow night?”

I briefly considered making up some excuse, but I knew that would sound suspicious.  I’d wait and see how I felt tomorrow.  Maybe I was just having an off day.  Maybe the demise of our relationship wasn’t really as imminent as it felt.

Come tomorrow night, though,