T.R.O.U.B.L.E. #7

School wasn't too bad. It was the after-school stuff that was hard. Katherine still refused to get a job and help pay bills, so I'm going to have to figure out how to help dad out. "Hey Mikayla. Ridge asked me if I could come over to his house Friday night for a sleepover." Cody said.

"Yeah, he invited me too," Caleb said. "If I don't know his parents, then you two probably can't," Dad said. "Oh, I go to school with Ridge's older brother, Jax. He could give me plenty of insight into his parents. He is one of the co-owners of the Rockin' Rays Ranch. Hard hard-working man has seven sons, two daughters and two nieces, four nephews, and one son already married.

"And I could probably accidentally run into Mr. Ray before this weekend. I still need to get dog food, and the cheapest place is the feed store." I said. Dad just looked at me. "Their one of the best-known families in Marshall. How am I not supposed to know the family without knowing them completely personally?" I asked him.

He was quiet after that. I got a shower after finishing my supper and went to bed.

I got up with my alarm, went through my whole morning routine, then went to school, dad dropping me off like usual. He dropped Katherine off for an interview, and my brothers were at the elementary.

I walked into the building and was greeted by Ginger. We went to our lockers and got our notebooks out for our first class. As I was about to close mine, a hand stopped my locker. "Hey, baby girl, what are you doing this weekend?" Eric asked.

"Kicking your ass," I said, slamming my locker on his hand. He jumped back, holding his hand. I closed it good then walked with Ginger to our class. "He's going to hate you when he realizes you will not do what he wants." She told me.

I shrugged at her comment. "To be honest. He's like an annoying bug that won't leave me alone, no matter how many times I try to kill it." I said as the guys came in. Jax sat down behind me as the bell rang. The teacher closed the door, and Eric was left in the hall.

"I'd like to see his reaction to that." Ginger sneered. Eric knocked on the door. I kept my cool until he chose the seat right in front of me. I would switch with Jax, but I don't know how well he'd take it.

I zoomed through my work, finishing it quickly. Eric kept turning around every second to look at me. Oh, I could get him big time for that. I put my notebook over my paper as Jax leaned forward.

"Is he looking at you or your paper?" He asked. "Probably both," I said. "I did close his hand in my locker this morning because he refused to let it go."

"What are you, a bad girl when no one is looking?" He asked. "Oh, I am a bad girl. I just never get caught doing the wrong thing." I said. My notebook started to slide. "Mr. Zynn. Eric keeps trying to look at my paper." I said.

"Mr. Edwards, move or you'll be going to the office." I sat there looking innocent as he got up and moved seats. The third hour came before I knew it. I sat in a seat near Bryce. Eric came right up to me as I was checking my Facebook.

"I don't know who you think you are, but you will not be rude and mean to me because I've been nothing but nice to you." He gritted. I stood up slowly. "I know who you are, and I don't care that you think you need everything in this world. If you think you're ever going to get me, you're badly mistaken. I don't go for the snotty preps that think the world revolves around them. So I suggest you either leave me alone, or you won't like how I handle it if you don't." I told him straight.

He glared at me before walking away. I sat back down. "Had enough of him?" Bryce asked. "You have no idea," I said. As soon as the bell rang, I got up and walked out. The first thing I felt as soon as I left the room was a cinderblock wall.

"You don't talk to me that way. Do you understand?" Before I could say a word, he was jerked back. "You don't touch her or even talk to her. She warned you about messing with her. You either do as she asks or you definitely won't like it." Jax said, standing in front of me. Several teachers standing around saw the whole thing.

Jax then picked up my books and handed them to me before walking with me to my locker. I put my books in it, then grabbed my lunch. We entered the cafeteria and found Ginger Bryce already sitting down.

I sat down across from Ginger. "Heard what happened." She said. "Yup. And if he calls it a threat, the teachers have seen what's been going on since I got here." I said. I took a bite out of my sandwich before my phone rang. I checked to see who it was and didn't answer.

"Who's that?" Bryce asked. "My stepmother."