Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) by Elizabeth Kelly Page B

white chocolate mocha, a jelly doughnut and a ham sandwich. Both Max and Knox look at me up and down, "What?" I say. "Where do you plan on putting all that" Knox asks, "Oh I have ways of burning off the calories"? Max chokes on his coffee and spills it down his shirt; he gets up to go clean it off. I still have my sunglasses on and I can check out Knox without him see me do it. He has on ripped jeans and a black V neck t-shirt, I can see a piece of a tattoo peeking out but I can't make out what it is. He wipes his hands causing his muscles to flex, I notice his right hand is busted up, without thinking I lift off my glasses and pick up his hand for further inspection.
    I feel him tense and look anyway "Who's face did you rearrange?" I look into his hypnotic green eyes. He pulls his hand out of mine "It's nothing, no big deal" he tells me. I eye him suspiciously but he just gives me a million watt smile. "Why are you gonna offer to make me feel better Darlin?" I smile back and put on my sunglasses without answering him just as the waitress brings over my lunch, I am thinking to myself, oh hell yes I want to make you feel better. Max comes back to the table while I am biting my sandwich, "Hey bro uncle George wants us back at the bar" Max turns to me "Hey sorry Bailey but we have to get back" I shake my head "That's ok no worries". Knox pulls out his wallet and calls over the waitress, "Hey you coming to the bar tonight? Its karaoke night" Max asks me with a smile.
    "I don't know I wasn't planning on it". "Bring your friend Paige its good fun," he says to me. "I actually only just met her I don't know her all that well, last night was the first time we hung out". "Seriously" he asks me, I nod in reply.
    "Hey all the more reason to come hang out, make some more friends" "Sure I'll think about it" he nods and turns to leave, Knox is finishing up with the waitress, "Nice seeing you again Blondie" he says and walks off. I finish up my lunch a few minutes later and wave the waitress over, "Can I have the check please?" I ask her. "Oh honey that fine young man you were with took care of it," she says with a wink. Oh my, this lady is about fifty and she is eye-fucking Knox, wow he even has cougars after him.
    I slip out of the chair and start back towards my car, I notice Paige standing by the planters talking with two other girls. I make my way over and she sees me but looks away, huh weird I think when I reach their group I stop "Hi Paige how are you feeling" I ask, she looks at me with her face all tight and strained "Oh hi Bailey, I'm fine thanks for taking me home last night" I see her friends look at each other and then back to me. The one with the, sever over died bob looks at me "you know she has a boyfriend". "What's that got to do with anything" I reply, I turn to Paige and ask her if she wants to come karaoking tonight. I can tell she doesn't want to talk to me but for some reason I want to make her, I didn't do anything wrong and I don't know why she is acting like I am a second class citizen "I'm not sure what my plans are but I'll call you ok" she says and turns her back to me. The other two start giggling and are pretending to hide the fact but not really, I walk away from them without saying anything else.
    I get back into my car and head for the grocery store; I can't help feeling a little rejected. Why would she be nice to me all week in class and then turn away from me like she didn't even know me. I play the scene over and over in my head while getting my groceries I finally came to the conclusion that Paige and her friends can fuck off, they remind me of Ben and Emily from Grove and I don't need any reminders of those assholes.
    On my way back through town I stop at the computer store, I am taking computer classes but have no laptop for said class. I know dad said I can use the credit card but I feel guilty spending his money. I go inside and start looking around one of the sales associates comes over "Hi I am Sean