Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Eight

"Laney and Nate are fighting. Nate left because he thought Laney was flirting with her English professor." Jax says, when I ask where Nate is.

"Her english professor?" I ask Jax, as he guides me back to our table. It's in the back by where Shooter's set up, and I see Laney sitting seriously close to some guy who I can't really see because it's so dark in here.

English professor?

"No fucking way, Jax. That cannot be her teacher."

"It is, Babe. She introduced him to us! His name's Max." Jax says pushing some drunk guy off me.

"I would've heard about this guy by now! I mean, ok, first of all, Laney's a flirt, but she wouldn't cheat on Nate."

"That's what Nate told me. Babe, I don't know, I wasn't even there when it all went down. He just started yelling at Laney, then shoves her, and the next thing I see, Max knocks him on his ass. So you wanna know what really happened? My guess is, Nick was drunk, flirting with some girl, Laney blew up on him like she does when she drinks, he probably turned it around on her, and...well you know the rest."

Yeah, that sounds about right.

Laney and I are horrible flirts. We get ourselves in trouble ALL THE TIME, but that's all it is, flirting. We've never cheated on Jax or Nate.

"I'll be right back. I gotta go talk to Jason."

"Who's Jason? I thought we were gonna meet some guy named Scutter!" I yell after him, sliding in next to Laney. English must've left because she's the only one at our table now.

Jax holds up a finger telling me to hold on,

and walks off with one of the guys from the band.

I look at Laney. "What the FUCK?! Who is this professor, and why don't I know about him?"

I hand her Nate's beer, since obviously he's not gonna need it.

I am REALLY wasted. This just occurred to me! Hilarious! I put my hands out on the table to steady myself.

"Oh. Listen, Star, I need to tell you something, and don't judge! I know your thoughts about Wade, girl!" Laney is grinning.

Oh...my...God. Nate was right! Here I am defending Laney, and now I see it!

"You're fucking your english professor?! Are you out of your MIND?!" I yell.

Did I yell?

"No, he's not my professor! I have Warwick, you know, 100 years old and missing teeth? This is Max Shaffer, he is an english prof, but he teaches freshman 101." She takes a pull off Nate's beer.

"Oh Sure! Thank God, right?!" I laugh. "I mean it would've been really FUCKING STUPID to bang your english professor, since that's like a HUGE NO NO. Professors dating students and all...oh, wait. You ARE a student! Fucking serious, Laney?"

Where's Wade, I'm gonna need more loopy's or whatever they are.

"Star, I know, it's bad. You just don't know, ok? Max is amazing in bed, sooo hot. Nate flirts with every girl he sees!" Laney says.

"FLIRTS! He flirts, Laney, so does Jax. So do WE! He doesn't fuck around though. You KNOW he's never cheated on you. Not once. Jesus."

Just then a guy walks up to our table and slides in next to Laney. I know my mouth is open, and I'm staring, but holy hell.

"Star, this is Max." Laney says squishing up next to him.

Of course it clearly is. Only someone this crazy hot could make you cheat on your boyfriend of almost a year.

I need Wade RIGHT NOW.

"Hey, Star. Nice to meet you." Max says. Then he smiles.

Oh, ok. I need a drink because I am starting to think maybe Jax isn't as hot as I thought, and wondering if maybe Laney would be ok with a threesome.

Max is clearly demon spawn and doing some kind of mind control.

"Um, hi, Max." I smile awkwardly. I wonder if he can read my thoughts? Jesus I hope not.

"Laney I'm gonna go get another shot. Tell Jax to come find me, ok?"

I stand up, slightly wobble, then steady myself, and walk back over to the bar.

"Hey, back so soon?" Wade says, shaking some concoction in a shiny silver thing.

"Wade, I need another drink. Just one more because I think I need to be done drinking before I start making bad choices." I say.

"Sure, Star. Sit here with me, that way if you decide to make any bad choices, they'll be with me." He grins.

"Wade, you probably shouldn't say that to me right now."

"Kidding girl! I'd never let you take advantage of me that way." More delicious smiling. "No, serious, Baby. You're always safe with me."

"So the reason I asked you about that band, is because I'm kinda crushing on their guitarist. What the hell is wrong with me, right?! Of course Jax has no clue and doesn't know this band, so thank God! Also, my roommate is cheating on her boyfriend with the English prof, and course there's always my unholy thoughts about you..."

Did I say that out loud, that last part?

He hands me some fruity looking thing that smells like raspberries, and smiles. Wade knows I love raspberries.

"Take a deep breath, Star. At least you know it can't get any worse, right?!"

I take a few sips and try to get myself under control. Just breathe in and out. Calm, relax.

"Hey, Star. This is Scutter, he's my friend I told you about." I hear Jax say, coming up next to me.

"Star, you maybe want some water? I was wrong. Looks like things just got worse for you, Darlin." Wade says.

What?

I turn around and see the same small brunette that I talked to earlier, standing next to a tall blond guy.

Wait. What is....

"Hey, Star. This is Synna, my girlfriend." Scutter says, clearly seeing the confusion I must have on my face.

Synna starts laughing.

"Star, Scutter's the lead singer for Lickit." Jax says.

Oh no. No he's not.

I feel Wade place a bottle of water in my hand.