Now, Rourke was the one to narrow his eyes. "Meaning?"

She winked. "Use your imagination."

Equally enraged and intrigued with his girlfriend, Rourke rested his elbows on the lunch table, leaned forward, and grinned. "You're a crazy bitch to pick this battle with me, baby."

Smirking, Mercy leaned closer, mirroring his actions. "Better a crazy bitch than a basic one, pumpkin."

It was lunchtime on Friday and the four of us were sitting around our usual table in the school cafeteria. The happy couple were, once again, going at each other's throats, and I couldn’t decide if they were toxic for one another or if they got off on the fighting.

I suspected both and, apparently, so did Daryl.

"Sweet Jesus. Y'all go from bitching and fighting, to flirting and fucking in a damn nanosecond," Daryl groaned, speaking my thoughts aloud, as he tossed his half-eaten sandwich down on the plate and leaned back in his chair. "No offense, dude, but this relationship is giving me second-hand whiplash."

"Tell Rourke what you said, Molls," Mercy said then, throwing me right under the bus. "Go on. Maybe he'll realize how shitty he sounds."

I glanced across the table anxiously. "Wh-what did I say?"

"About his sharp tongue."

Oh god.

I dropped my head in my hands. "Ugh."

"Tell me," Rourke chuckled.

"Nothing," I muttered, red-faced. "Just…that I might have told Mercy that if words are knives then you're Edward Scissorhands." I blew out a breath and winced. "Sorry."

Rourke stared at me for a long moment before he threw his head back and laughed. "That's a good one, Molls."

My eyes widened. "It is?"

"Of course," he agreed. "I am a bastard."

"Hey –" Reaching across the table, Daryl traced his thumb over the back of my knuckles. "You okay, Molls?"

Repressing a delicious shiver from the contact, I forced a bright smile. "All good, D."

"Excuse me!" A high-pitched female voice boomed through the school intercom, causing everyone to look up that ceiling to where the speakers were hanging. "Sorry to interrupt your Friday, but we have the sweetest news ever!"

"Hold up!" Mercy tossed her fork down and turned to Rourke. "Is that…"

"Britt?" Rourke nodded grimly. "Sounds about right."

17 Daryl

"Now, I know y'all are waiting for an update on the details for next month's homecoming dance, but we've heard the sweetest news about your QB1, the one and only King Daryl!"

The room erupted in cheers, with countless people hollering and cheering my name. Meanwhile, I looked to Rourke, who was slowly shaking his head, eyes sparking with temper.

"What's happening here?" Mercy asked, looking confused.

"Nothing good, Six," Rourke bit out, hands balling into fists at his sides. "That fuckin –"

"Your QB1 has a special lady in his life now, girls. Word in the hallways is that he's off the market."

A chorus of boos filled the cafeteria.

Molly looked on, completely oblivious to what was about to happen.

I jerked out of my chair at the same time Rourke did.