Jessie sat alone in the library rather then having her lunch in the cafeteria where she was surrounded by whispering and suspicious eyes all focused in on her. Usually she ate with Claire and Jonny. Usually, but not today.
Jessie looked out the window and down at the parking lot full of cars. Today, Jonny talked the gym teacher into letting him run the track during lunch break since he couldn't come before or after school. Today, Claire wasn't speaking to Jessie. Today, Claire was being shadowed by the two people that despised Jessie the most, Brooke and Ivy. Today officially sucked.
Jessie spread her books out across the oval table and intended to actually do some homework but she couldn't stay focused. Three guys walked by and one of them grinned at her.
'How did the whole school find out?' Jessie wondered to herself as she watched the group leave. She closed her eyes. 'Stupid question. Who wasn't at Claire's party to find out?'
"Hey there red," came a low cool voice.
Jessie turned and looked into Michael's dark eyes.
"What?" she asked, trying her best to sound disinterested.
"Your boyfriend has a decision to make." Michael helped himself to a free chair and swung it around so that he straddled it when he sat next to her.
Jessie didn't move. Did he know she knew what was going on or was he testing them? Testing to see if Jonny couldn't keep his mouth shut from his 'girlfriend?'
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jessie decided to play dumb. She flipped her hair the way she knew other girls did and pretended to suddenly find her notebook extremely interesting.
"Really? Quest told me that he filled you in." Michael leaned in and Jessie found herself drowning in his nauseating cologne. Did he bathe in it?
"About what?" Jessie rolled her eyes.
"The group?" Michael's eyes wouldn't let up their intense gaze Jessie met them with her own cold stare.
"What do you want?" Jessie asked.
"I want to help you guys out." Michael gave a crooked grin. Jessie suddenly felt extremely uneasy. "I think this arrangement would be ideal for Quest and for us."
"I still have no idea what you are talking about." Jessie stated evenly.
"It's clear you and Quest aren't together at least not 'exclusively,' shall we say." Michael took his finger and gently touched her bare arm. Jessie jerked her arm away but he anticipated her reaction and grabbed her wrist.
"So?" Jessie glared at him.
"So, when you feel like getting together 'non-exclusively' it would do you both a big favor by coming to me." Michael dropped her arm and smiled coldly.
"What?" Jessie felt her face grow red. This was the last thing she expected.
"I can help you out," he continued in his cool manner. "Dating me would stop all these horrible rumors circulating about you. No one would say a word if you were with me."
"What makes you think I'm interested?" Jessie challenged. She was getting the idea that the rumors obviously had help from Michael.
"I don't care if you're interested or not." Michael admitted. "I'm just letting you know what your options are. Besides, having you near by could also help make things go incredibly well for Quest."
Jessie bit her lip to keep from telling him off.
"Let's keep this between the two of us." He rose quickly and in one smooth movement, twirled the chair and tucked it under the table. He winked at her and smiled before he left.
"I need a shower." Jessie rubbed her temples.
She and Jonny would get to the bottom of this and when they did, she was going to pay extra 'special' attention to Michael.