Pick-A-Road - ME! (epub e reader .txt) 📗

know me! So the one and only thing you may not do, is boss me around like your own personal slave! Got it?!”

I looked into Dean's hazel eyes, and for a moment I felt like crying. He was clearly angry, but behind his anger I could also see how much he hurt, and how weak he felt. I felt bad-horrible even! Had I done that to him? Had I made him feel that way and not even realized it?

Shocked by his outburst and by my concerned feelings, I nod unsure if I’d be able to speak without squeaking.

Dean’s hard and angry eyes immediately went soft and for a moment it was like staring into a different person, a different soul. He didn't let me slide that easily, though. "You sure, because I'm not as dumb as I may seem. I don't by your Queen Bee shit, not for a second."

Did I really act like that? Like I was better then everyone? Did I look down to people and judge people? Had I done what I just tried to do to Dean on other's before, unknowingly? My cheeks flushed and grew hot. I felt tears sting my eyes and blur my vision. I was a horrible person. I had become the very person I didn't want to be. I'd become the person that people assumd me to be. My eyes flutter, wet lashes dampening my hot cheeks. I force myself to keep the tears at bay as I nod hurriedly. I couldn't speak. My throat was tightening and beginning to taste sour.

"Okay..." Dean looks over my face, now looking panicky. He licks his lips, unsure of what to do. "Well...I-uh..." He didn't bother to calm me down, or even say bye. He just picks up his tray and clears before storming out of the cafeteria.

I do my best to ignore the curious stares from all my peers around the lunch room and stare aimlessly at my food until the bell rings.

"What's a'matter?" Josh asks knocking me out of a trance I hadn't even realized I was in. "What? Oh, um...nothing. Just thinking." I mumble as I throw my remaing few book into my locker and slam it shut.

Josh puts his arms around me, pulling me toward him. He sighs and says, "Are you sure? I heard the freak made you cry."

I pull away from Josh and cross my arms defensively, "I wasn't crying."

Josh sighs, "It doesn't matter. The ass-hole scared you. If you want me and Nathan and the boys can take care of him." A mischevious smirk just touches his lips.

I roll my eyes with disappointment, "No, Josh, I don't want you and the football team to 'take care of him'. I was in the wrong, I shouldn't have said the things I said."

"Why not?" Josh asked, "The fucker deserves it."

"Josh, please, just drop it okay. And stop calling him names. He's not a freak or an....ass-hole, or fucker." I'll admit, I winced when I repeated Josh's foul language. "He's just...troubled, I guess." I say as I suddenly remember the hurt look in Dean's eyes.

“Whatever you say, princess.” Josh mocks, bowing in my presence obnoxiously. I slap him on the shoulder. "Don't call me that!"

"Call you what? Princess?"

"Yes."

Josh just sighs, and places his hand on the small of my back. We walk out of the school, in silence, till we come to his father's sports car. Lucy and Nathan had beat us there. And to my surprise, they were talking.

Nathan and I have been neighbors/friends our whole lives. Lucy and I only became really close friends a little before my fourteenth birthday, which is surprising because she knows me better then Nathan or my own family. And I know alot more about Lucy then I do Nathan. I know that she lives in a trailer park, with a mom who's barely ever home, and is forced to be the mother figure for her four siblings. Her and her mom make just enough money to get by, and I admire her for her strength, for I--I'll be honest--have never worked a day in my life. Neither has Nathan, which is why I think they don't get along very well. They don't understand eachother.

Nathan doesn't know Lucy's home situation, and therefore doesn't understand why she's worried all the time. And Lucy, she doesn't understand Nathan's home situation like I do. She doesn't understand why he's always talking negatively about his parent's, for in her eyes he has everything.

That's why I was surprised to see them being just a little more then civil with eachother. Nathan was beaming at Lucy, grinning from ear to ear. Lucy, she was actually laughing, it wasn't at all forced. She was looking up at Nate from under her lashes, and offering shy smiles. She was, unbeknownst to herself, flirting. Nathan, I could tell, wasn't exactly flirting. But he was

teasing her, enjoying her company. It was strange, but nice to see.

And then my jack-ass of a boyfriend had to ruin it. "Get your filthy trailer trash ass off my car." Josh spoke calmly and casually, as if he had commented on the weather. He didn't look guilty at all, simply looked like he was stating a fact. I'm so shocked, I just stand still with my mouth open.

Lucy's smile fades, but only the slightest bit. She awkwardly looks at Nathan. Nathan shoves his hands in his jean pockets and looks away, making sure to avoid both Lucy's and Josh's eyes. After a short moment that seemed to drag on forever, Lucy stood up straight so her butt was no longer against Josh's "precious" car. "Nice to see you too, Josh."

"Don't talk to me." Josh says with a breath, rolling his shoulders and walking to the driver's seat.

Lucy laughs to herself as she licks her bottom lip. "Okay," she mumbles. "Ashlynn, I'm going to go."

"What? Why? I thought you said you needed a ride?"

"I'd rather walk then disturb your highness with my presence." Lucy says as she slides her hands into her baggy jeans and gestures with a little jerk of the neck to Josh.

I sigh, "Lucy, I'm really sorry."

She shrugs, "Relax, it's no big deal. I shouldn't try to push my way through where I don't belong." I couldn't help but notice Lucy's eyes quickly flicker toward Nathan, who was still avoiding all possible eye contact with everyone.

I gave her a hug, told her I loved her, and then watched her walk away till she was out of hearing distance. When she finally was, I slapped Nathan onthe arm with my purse. Nathan jerked back, "Ouch! What the hell!"

"You're such an ass-hole!"

"I'm an ass-hole?"

"Yes."

"How am I the ass-hole? Josh is your

boyfriend, and she's your

friend."

"Yes, but she wanted you to stick up for her."

"What?" Nathan narrows his eyes and shrugs, "Why? How would you know that?"

"God, you're such an idiot!" I said with a groan, stomping my way over to the driver seat where Josh was checking out his reflection in the rear view.

"You, get out!"

"What?" Josh asks with the 'What did you say to me?' look on his face.

I point to him, "You." I point to his car, and then open the door, "Get out. NOW! We need to talk."

Josh gives me a disbelieving glance, sighs, and climbs out of the car. I grab him by his elbow, and drag him a few feet away from the car.

"What?" Josh asks, completley clueless.

"Don't say what like that, you know what."

"Look, I don't like the girl."

"Okay, fine, you don't have to like her. But that doesn't mean you get to talk to her like she's scum. She's a person. A person who has probably gone through more today then you ever will your whole entire life. She deserves respect. And you know what? You don't even get to say you don't like her because...YOU DON'T KNOW HER! You've never hung out with her outside of school! You've never heard any of her jokes, or anything! No, you just automatically assume, Oh, she can't afford uggs. She doesn't like to wear dresses. She gets all her stuff at Goodwill. She must be a waste of perfectly good space. Well you know what?! You're a--"

A door slams shut, stopping me from screaming a whole line of cuss words at Josh. Josh and I turn toward the noise. Dean is carrying a card board box on his shoulder, overflowing with art supplies, and is following close behind Mrs. Bowman. I repress the erg to smile. I knew there was something off when it came to Dean and Mrs. Bowman. He's helping her carry stuff to her convertible. Mrs. Bowman earlier today seemed to know alot about Dean's personal life. Maybe...

Dean drops the box in the back seat of Mrs. Bowman's pink convertible. Dean and Mrs. Bowman exchange a few words. Mrs. Bowman laughs, Dean smiles, and then Mrs. Bowman leans forward giving Dean a quick kiss on the cheek. My eyes grow wide.

Mrs. Bowman isn't old, she's actual twenty-eight. And she's not ugly at all. She actually used to be a model in New York. So I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I mean, if Mrs. Bowman could have an affair with a student, Dean would be the one to stoope that low.

"You know what?" Josh suggests, "If you're so pissed at me why don't you ask the freak to give you a ride home? That way I don't have to listen to you nag and pretend I care, and you can get to eye him up a little bit more."

I roll my eyes, and before I can give myself a chance to change my mind, I begin to run across the parking lot toward Dean and Mrs. Bowman.

"Dean? Dean!" Dean looks over his shoulder at me and sees me running. He turns back to Mrs. Bowman says something else, and by the time I get within hearing distance they're saying their goodbyes.

"So I'll see you tomorrow, then?" Mrs. Bowman says with a smile.

Dean nods, "Yeah, see ya."

"Stay out of trouble." Mrs. Bowman adds, and gives Dean's cheek a gentle pat before climbing into her convertible.

"I'll try."

"Love you."

"Love you, too." And she drives off.

Dean turns around, shoves his hands in his pockets, and shrugs. "So, what's up?"

I stand still and quite, my eyes wide, glancing from Dean to the place where Mrs. Bowman's car was just seconds ago.

Dean narrows his eyes in confusion, "What? Have something in my