Prom King by Alexa Riley
Chapter Four
Apollo
“Mr. Crew, how can I help you?” the study hall teacher, Mrs. Shaw, asks as she looks at me over the top of her glasses.
“I need to use the restroom.”
She looks at the clock on the wall and then back at me. “You’ve only got fifteen minutes left.”
What I want to tell her is that I’m not going to survive fifteen more minutes without losing my fucking mind in here, but I keep that to myself. The entire rowing team had to come to school at six o’clock this morning as part of our punishment. Principal Nolan was pissed and wanted us suspended, but our coach was able to work out this deal.
Every day this week we’ve all come to school two hours early to help clean the gymnasium and then spend the remainder of the morning in study hall. This way we won’t miss classes, but we’ve had to make up for what she called our shenanigans. The only problem with this punishment is sitting in this room and waiting for it to be over. I would have been happy to stay in the gym and scrub toilets if it meant getting out of this. I don’t do well being still this long, and my muscles are twitching to move.
Leaning close to Mrs. Shaw so that it looks like I’m embarrassed, I lower my voice. “It’s number two.”
“Oh.” She looks around and then back to me like I might somehow be about to let loose in the middle of the classroom. “Fine, take your bag and go.”
Giving her my best pleading look of thanks, I nod and grab my backpack. With my back to Mrs. Shaw, I wink at Jackson, and he gives me the middle finger. I hurry out the door and smile to myself, but I know this will only save me for today. It’s not like I can fake it every day this week, so I’m going to have to figure something else out.
The classroom they’ve decided to use for our study hall is on the far end of the campus. It faces the teachers’ parking lot and nothing else. Even though most students are getting here around now, the hall on this end is empty. As I get to the end, I take a right and almost run into someone.
“Shit,” I say right before I reach out and stop the person from falling. As I help her get steady on her feet, I look down and realize who it is.
“You,” she says, her eyes narrowing.
“You,” I answer in surprise. I glance down at her body and then immediately look back into her eyes. I don’t need the distraction her curves are offering. “You were a lot wetter last time.”
Her cheeks flush, and she blinks. “Excuse me?”
“At the pep rally yesterday. Or have you forgotten about getting doused with a bucket of water and then me coming to your rescue?”
“And how did you manage to rescue me?” She crosses her arms over her chest, but all it does is show off her ample cleavage in her low-cut V-neck tee.
I lean forward and put the palm of my hand on the locker behind her. She rests her shoulder against it, and right now we’re completely alone. This dark-haired beauty has been on my mind since the coffee shop, and I want answers.
“What’s your name?” I run my tongue along the edge of my top teeth and wait while she watches me.
“Celeste.”
She doesn’t offer anything else and then raises her chin in defiance. Why does her stubborn attitude make my body warm?
“So explain to me how you rescued me yesterday, because I’m pretty sure the guy that gave me this shirt isn’t standing in front of me.” She holds up a dark blue shirt with the name of a band across it.
“Ah, I’ll have to thank Emerson for thinking on his feet.” Her eyebrows bunch, and it somehow makes her look adorable. “I was the one with the microphone and no shirt.”
She looks down my chest like she’s picturing me naked, and I have the urge to flex. I’ve never been knocked on my ass by a girl before, but this one right here might be the one to do it. I can’t stop thinking about her.
“Oh” is all she says, and my smile is big.
“Oh? Is that your way of saying thank you?”
“Thank you,” she mumbles, like she doesn’t want to admit it. Then she sighs and shrugs. “Okay, seriously thank you. That saved my ass.”
“What are you doing on this end of the building so early?” I glance down the hall and see someone go into the teachers’ lounge up ahead. It won’t be long before the bell rings.
“Um, I think I’m lost?” She looks around and then down to the piece of paper I didn’t realize she was holding.
“Let me help you out.” I take it from her and then notice she’s biting her lip. “Don’t worry, Celeste, your secrets are safe with me.” I wink at her, and she tucks her chin and stares at her Converse. I think maybe she’s trying to hide her blush. “You’ve got Darth first period. He’s actually on the other side of the campus.”
“Oh no.” She looks at her watch and then to the double doors up ahead that lead outside.
“It’s okay, I’m headed in that direction. I can show you the way.”
“I owe you,” she says in relief, and I straighten.
“Careful who you give favors to.” I begin to walk, and she falls in step beside me.
“What do you mean?”
The first bell rings, letting us know we’ve got ten minutes to make it to class. As we talk, I notice her dark hair is up in a bun today, and some of it has come loose around the nape of her neck. It looks so soft, and my fingers twitch to touch it.
“I think owing someone in Craven Cove might be the equivalent of making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. One minute you’re telling someone you can spin gold, and the next you’re giving away your firstborn.” When I look over at her, I see she’s watching me with sharp focus. “Sorry, maybe that doesn’t make sense. I just mean that some people around here will take and take until there’s nothing left.”
She looks ahead as we walk, but I can tell she’s thinking this over.
“Okay, so maybe that’s not a great representation of the beautiful island of Craven Cove.” I spread my hands wide like a television gameshow host as we pass the cafeteria. “Allow me to regale you with today’s lunch menu.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Seeing her smile and shake her head makes me want to do it a million times more.
“Seriously, though, avoid the meatloaf.” I make a face, and she bites her lip like she’s trying to stop herself from laughing.
When was the last time I felt this good? I can’t remember, and I’m not sure I want to. After having Celeste run into me in the coffee shop, I was pissed, but one look in her beautiful dark eyes and I wanted to take back every bad thing that’s ever come out of my mouth. Something about her makes me feel protective of her and the space she occupies. Like maybe I can just follow her around all day and keep people from bumping into her. Or at least knock away a bucket of water here and there. Fuck, what is wrong with me?
“I think this is me.” She points to a door with the correct room number on it.
“Yeah.” I blink as she interrupts my thoughts. “So look out for Mr. Darth. I had him last year for calculus, and he’s a pain in the ass. He always calls on people in the back row, so sit toward the front. Oh, and he loves to give pop quizzes the day after you’ve finished covering a chapter.”
“That’s helpful advice.” She glances down at her schedule, and I look at the rest of her classes.
“Looks like we’ve got gym together during fourth period.” The corner of her mouth turns up in a cute grin. “Think you can find the rest of them?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Her smile falters, and I shake my head.
“I’ll meet you here after class and show you where your next one is.” I give her my best cocky grin as I tuck my thumbs in the straps of my backpack. I start to walk backward because I just want to watch her a little longer.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me your name.”
“Apollo.” When I wink at her, she turns around, but I don’t miss the flush in her cheeks. Goddamn, she’s cute when she blushes.
The second bell goes off, and I curse because now I need to haul ass. Despite what I told her, my first period is on the other side of campus. I wasn’t about to pass up a chance to spend more time with her, and it was the right decision. I had to pull out of Emerson what her freaking name was yesterday when I couldn’t find her.
I’m happy I get to see her again so soon, but especially happy we’ve got gym together for the last period of the day. I wonder if she drove to school or if she needs a ride. I can’t explain this nagging feeling I’ve got to look out for her, but all I want to do is be by her side.
It’s probably because she had a tough first day, and not because I’m completely in love with her. Right?
