Avarice

allison: Are you okay?

When he turned away from her touch, Erica dropped her hand, and started fiddling with the ring on her right hand, a nervous habit of hers she was never able to shake. At his suggestion she tilted her head, and thought it over for a second, before glancing around the deserted hallways. “Well, I mean, since we’re both late for Harris’ class… we could go to the park. Or another neutral place,” she suggested, chewing on her bottom lip. “Because I really don’t want to either…”

The ringing off the last bell shook her out of her thoughts, and even the indication that she was late for her last period wasn’t enough to pull her away from Jackson. “Jackson, don’t…” she said, tucking her hair out of her eyes. “It’s fine. We just… I don’t know, burned bright and faded, which is fine.” But was it really? Thinking back to the times they spend together caused her to smile, a little bitter maybe, but still. “No more back massages, no,” she said softly, reaching up to trail her fingertips along his jaw. “You’re a great guy, Jackson, don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“Because they’re my friends, Jackson. They’re my brothers, the first ones that didn’t look at me like I was some kind of freak, can you understand that? You don’t see me complaining about you always hanging out with the lacrosse team.” Erica bit her lip at her confession, something that she hadn’t wanted to admit at all, but here she was. “I know you did, and I fucked up. All I can do now I try to fix this situation, because it’s not fair. I should’ve thought before I acted, but my temper got the better of me, and I’m sorry for that.” She glanced up at him, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. “For what it’s worth? Whatever it was between us? It meant something to me, and I’m sad it’s over, but maybe it’s for the best. We’re volatile together, and I think this shows that…”

With her arms wrapped around herself, Erica let Jackson scold her, because deep down she knew she deserved it. She’d done this out of pure hurt, and it didn’t backfire on her, it only backfired on him. However, at his claim of trust, she looked up at him. “If you trusted me so much, why didn’t you trust me when I told you what happened? You just made assumptions and didn’t even listen to me when I tried to explain it,” she hissed back, shaking her head. “That hurt, Jackson. It fucking hurt, because I thought you knew better than that, and I was wrong. Just like I was wrong about what I did in retaliation.” Her shoulders slumped and her face fell as she tucked her hair out of her face. “Than I guess the joke’s on both of us, because I liked you too. More than I was willing to admit at that point. But I’ll go talk to Jones, and you can’t stop me.”

At the moment she sent in the essay, it’d felt great, it’d been a split decision she’d made out of anger and hurt, but now that she was thinking about it, this could ruin his year. The guilt that’d only been a spark at first was now a huge pit in her stomach, that didn’t sit well with her.

[text] I love you too, princess

She immediately made a vow to get this situation set straight, but before she even got a chance to take to Mr. Jones, a hand around her arm pulled her aside, and she didn’t even have to look up to know who it belonged to. “Let me go,” she hissed, staring up at him as she shook his hand off. “First of all, what could you possibly do that hasn’t been done to me yet, Jacks?” She asked, taking a step back from him. “Now, before you rudely manhandled me, I was going to talk to Jones. Explain what happened. So if you don’t mind…”

As soon as she heard the buzzing of her phone in her bag, Erica knew she was fucked. Jackson was anything but stupid, and she knew that, without a doubt, their teacher had failed him massively. Sagging down, she pulled her phone out, and bit her lip as she read the messages.

[text] what? getting a passing grade on this essay?

[text] why yes, I did, why?

Reading her texts anger consumed his whole body, crumpling up the paper he glared at her. How could he have been so stupid to let her have his entire essay? 

[text]: I got an F

[text]: I hope you’re happy, I’m going to be benched or kicked off the team 

[text]: I hate you.

[text] same to you, babe.

It was a couple of days after the whole debacle, during history that the teacher was handing their essays back. With a smirk, Erica sat back at her desk as she took in the solid red B on the first page. Glancing over her shoulder at Jackson, she had to say there was a flicker of guilt in her stomach, but she quickly pushed it aside as she thought back to the argument they’d had the day she’d sent in his essay as her own. With a slight frown she turned her attention back to the front of the classroom, playing with the pen between her fingers.

Sitting in class hardly paying attention per usual Jackson picked up the paper the was placed face down on his desk. Weird that’s usually not a good sign, he thought to himself. Flipping the paper over he furrowed his eyebrows at the huge red F with a note saying to meet after class. Looking around he caught Erica’s eyes everything instantly clicking. Discreetly pulling out his phone he opened their text thread. 

[text]: Tell me you fucking didn’t 

[text]: I know you didn’t use MY essay and screw me over

As she was making the changes to Jackson’s essay in order to pass it off as her own, her phone buzzed again, and she rolled her eyes at the message that popped up.

[text] then why are you still texting me?

The jealously he felt towards her and Derek still didn’t make sense to her. Sure at first she’d been attracted to him, but that all fizzled down when he rejected her. But that was an issue for another time. For now she’d sent the essay to their teacher, and let herself fall back against the bed. Was it weird that she actually missed him? Probably, right?

[text]: Whatever, I hope you have a terrible day at school tomorrow

Erica merely rolled her eyes before closing the window as he drove off. When her phone pinged with a message not too long after, she shrugged.

[text] new phone, who’s this?

Pulling into his driveway he parked his car and slammed his car door shut, looking at his phone when it vibrated in his hand. 

[text]: I can’t stand you

“Yes!” She yelled, her hands clenching as she kept the urge to just hit him down, even though she was a hair away from just doing it. “I’ve told you over and over that whatever you think is going on between Derek and me is all in your head, and yet you take every opportunity to throw it in my face. But I’m supposed to be fine with your fucking shit, and I’m sick of your double standards.” Her chest heaved as she glared at him and he left. Moving to the window she opened it, leaning on the edge. “Just watch how petty I can be,” she muttered, before grabbing let laptop, opening her email and changing the name of the essay she’d sent herself, and sending it to their teacher.

Looking up at her he shook his head “Whatever psycho.” Waving bye he got in his car and backed out of her driveway, turning the radio all the way up he sped out of he neighborhood. “Women,” he growled taking the all too familiar route home. 

Erica waited with baited breath after telling Jackson that Derek had been there. She knew how he felt about the alpha, and if she was being honest, she was getting tired of being stuck in the middle of it. “Yes. Derek, do you need me to fucking spell it out for you?” She hissed, getting off the bed and crossing her arms over her chest. While Erica had no reason to have to defend herself, she still took a defensive stance. “Are you kidding me right now? I got my ass chewed out for half an hour. He fucking sat down and berated me. That’s probably why you smell him,” she threw at him. “Besides, I thought we agreed that we could hook up with whoever we wanted, but it seems like that only means on your end. There is nothing going on between me and Derek, or I wouldn’t be involved with you,” she added, running her fingers through her hair. “You know what, maybe you should go. Take your fucking shit and get the fuck out with your petty and immature jealousy!”

“It’s not pretending if it’s the truth Jackson. We fuck from time to time, that’s it. We sort of agreed on that.” But she knew she was lying to herself. Somewhere along the line the line got blurry and she couldn’t even see the line anymore. But she’d rather die than tell Jackson just that. With a scoff she sat up, crossing her legs and her arms. “Whatever. Now are you going to tell me what it is you’re looking for, or what?” The fact that he was going around her room was getting on her nerves. At his words she arched an eyebrow, head tilted to the side. “What the hell are you on about?” She asked, sitting up a little straighter. “Derek was here earlier, bitching about how I skipped out on training, what is it to you?”