Jaded by Tijan Read Free Book Online

then.”
    “I’m not coming to school tomorrow.” Or the next day.
    “Why not?” Corrigan looked at me again and seemed to get it. He asked softly,
    “What happened, Sheldon?”
    “You can get the play by play from Bryce. I’m leaving.” And I slammed my door shut and tore out of the parking lot.
    Mena and Corrigan watched.
    Tijan
    Jaded
    54

CHAPTER FOUR
Tijan
    Jaded
    55
    I went home and showered again. After I had changed into some baggy clothes, I moved downstairs to my father’s study.
    Inside, I sat behind the computer and typed ‘Greco’ in a search engine. A moment later I searched through the results and found out that ‘Greco’ stood for a Greco Defense, named after Giachino Greco. It was a chess move that’s used by amateurs who are stupid.
    Corrigan had been right. The word had been an insult, but a nerdy insult.
    I forwarded the article to Corrigan’s email.
    The doorbell rang when I laid down to watch a movie a little later.
    Muttering an irritated curse, I moved upstairs and was surprised to see Mena at the door.
    “Hi,” I murmured as I held open the door.
    “Hi.” She looked nervous.
    “Come on in.” I gestured inside and we walked towards the kitchen. “Do you
    want anything to eat? Or drink? I was just going to watch a movie.”
    “Oh. Um…” She laughed again and shook her head. “I can’t believe this.”
    “Believe
    what?”
    “This. Me. You.” She waved between us. “I’m nervous and I’m never nervous.
    I’ve gone against some of the richest snobs in the nation and I’m nervous around you.”
    “Why?” I took out a Diet Coke and slid it across the counter to her. “You want a glass with some ice?”
    “Sure.” She sat on a stool at the counter. She explained, “I’m nervous because… I don’t know. Dumb, huh?”
    Tijan
    Jaded
    56
    “I told the school’s counselor and the secretary of our principal to expel me today,” I stated bluntly. I hopped onto the counter and dangled my foot over the edge.
    “It’s not dumb, but there’s not a lot that makes me nervous.”
    “I know. I heard. That was pretty balsy.”
    I shrugged. “Had nothing to do with balls.” I just hadn’t cared about the
    consequences.
    “So…” She took a deep breath. “Have you thought about what I said before?”
    “About being friends?” Who outright asked for a friendship?
    “Yeah. I know…it’s kinda stupid, but I just wanted to know before I entered the social scene tomorrow.”
    “Actually,” I smirked. “I’m supposed to become friends with you anyway.”
    “Why?” She asked suspiciously.
    “Because of Corrigan. He asked me this morning to make friends with you. He
    wants you to come to a party this weekend.”
    “Oh!” Disgust flickered over her face before she contained it. “He recognized me after you left school. He did a double-take and started muttering about second chances. I don’t believe in second chances for scum like him.”
    I frowned and pointed out, “He’s one of my best friends.”
    “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I just—”
    I waved her off. “Don’t worry.” I laughed and drank some of my own Diet Coke.
    “Corrigan’s an ass. I told him myself this morning.”
    “I’m sorry. I knew he was one of your best friends. I just…when I met Corrigan, he slept with my best friend and never called her. She cried for an entire week.”
    Tijan
    Jaded
    57
    That sounded exactly like Corrigan. I smirked.
    Mena grimaced again. And then she cringed when her phone rang.
    “It’s my brother,” she mumbled just before she answered it and moved into the living room.
    When the front door slammed again, I heard Corrigan call out my name,
    “Sheldon! Where are you, you freak?!”
    I waited as I heard his voice grow louder. Just as he turned the corner, a sly grin spread across his face and he shook his head.
    I
    laughed.
    “I cannot believe you,” he stated as he patted his chest. “You are my idol. I love you. I will always take