8

Archer
Bly is a sadist through and through. I don’t know what exactly happened to him as a kid, but Oak reckons it was very dark and disturbing. No one can get him to open up about his life in Russia. He just says he doesn’t remember.
Oak is already sitting at the table in the diner where we eat weekly, a beer in hand.
“You two are late,” he says as we approach the table, eyes fixed on me.
“Don’t look at me.” I glance at Bly. “I had to call Bly to find out where he was.”
We sit in our usual seats, and the waitress, Jenny, comes over, batting her eyelids at me. “Hey Archer,” she says, twirling her hair around her fingers.
I’ve flirted with her a lot and even got close to asking her out until Oak and Bly banned me from going anywhere near her. They don’t want a reason not to come here, as they do the best ribs and burgers in town.
“Hey,” I say, as she sets down three menus.
“I’ll be back to take your orders in a minute.” She twirls around and walks away, glancing over her shoulder at me.
I shake my head. “She doesn’t want to quit, does she?”
Oak sighs. “It’s your fault for flirting with her constantly.”
Bly nods. “Yeah, that was always a bad idea.”
I swallow hard and look at my menu, even though I already know I’m going to have the ribs. They are delicious.
“How’s your week going?” Oak asks.
I run a hand across the back of my neck. “It’s been okay.” It would have been better if Adrianna hadn’t refused my advances.
Bly clears his throat. “So, who is it this year?”
I glance at him, as I’m surprised they haven’t asked me already, to be honest. “No one, yet,” I lie, knowing that it is too embarrassing to admit that Adrianna isn’t falling at my feet like the other girls.
If she continues to reject me, I know they’ll tease me to no end.
Oak narrows his eyes. “We’re five weeks in. You have always got your eye on someone by now.”
Unfortunately, my friends know me too well.
“And I saw you getting close to Adrianna Vasquez when I met you earlier. Don’t deny it.”
Fuck.
I thought that he hadn’t seen us together. “She was gone by the time you arrived.”
He smirks. “But was she?”
“Vasquez?” Oak asks, shaking his head. “She doesn’t seem like the type that would go for you.”
I clench my jaw. “She’s being reluctant at the moment. In what way isn’t she my type?”
Bly chuckles. “She actually has a brain.”
“Hey.” I punch him in the shoulder. “I don’t go for idiots.”
He arches a brow. “You go for ditsy blondes, and Adrianna is basically the polar opposite.”
“Bullshit. I go for girls that are beautiful and athletic, and Adrianna is both.”
Oak laughs. “She’s as stubborn as they come, though. So if she’s resisting now, don’t hold your breath that anything will change.”
I narrow my eyes. “She may be stubborn, but so am I. I won’t give up.”
“Whatever, let’s not talk about school or students,” Bly says. “Did you see the game last night?”
Football. It’s one of the few things that Bly and I really have in common. We both follow the New York Giants.
“Of course. They were fucking exceptional.”
Oak sighs. “I don’t get why you two love football so much.” He glares at Bly. “Especially you. I expect you to be into MMA or something.”
Bly winks. “We all have guilty pleasures. Although I do like MMA as well, especially when it gets really bloody.”
I shake my head. “You are sick in the head.”
“And proud of it,” Bly says, glancing around. “Where the fuck is Jenny? I need a drink.”
One of the other ladies who doesn’t normally serve us obviously hears Bly whining as she comes rushing to the table. “Apologies for the wait. What can I get you?”
“Whiskey neat and a full rack of ribs,” he answers.
I nod. “I’ll have the ribs too, but with a beer.”
Oak clears his throat. “I’ll have the burger and fries.”
She nods. “Sure thing. Coming right up.”
I rub my stomach. “I’m starving.”
“When aren’t you starving?” Oak asks, shaking his head. “You ate an entire plate of pasta for lunch, followed by three helpings of dessert. Where do you even put it all?”
I shrug. “I burn it off. That’s what happens when you are active.” My stomach grumbles. “See, starving.”
Bly rolls his eyes. “You don’t know what it is like to be truly starving.”
“And you do?” I ask.
He nods, a dark look in his eyes. “Yes,” he says simply.
I don’t know what my friend went through to make him as fucking sadistic as he is, but it couldn’t have been good. “Fair enough. I’m just hungry. It’s a saying.”
“One that is said far too flippantly.”
Jenny comes over with our drinks.
“Thank fuck for that. We need to get drunk and liven this conversation up.”
Oak shakes his head. “You know my plan is in motion now.”
I sit up straighter at the mention of the sole reason Oak bought the academy. “Right. I forgot Eva had arrived, since she’s not been in any of my classes.” I run a hand across the back of my neck. “How is she doing after those bitches fucked her up?”
Oak’s jaw clenches. “Fine. I’m taking advantage of the fact she’s not going to gym or combat classes to use her to bring down her parents.”
I nod. “All the boys are talking about how hot she is. Is she hot?”
Oak clenches his fists. “She’s alright. I guess.”
From the look in his eyes, he thinks she’s more than alright, which would complicate his plans if he wanted her in that way.
“Anything like her asshole parents?” I ask.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Practically the opposite.”
Bly frowns. “Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet?”
Oak shakes his head. “Of course not. She’s just not what I expected.”
Bly’s about to speak when Jenny comes over with two plates of ribs and a burger.
“Thank God, I’m sta-” I notice Bly glare at me. “So hungry.”
She smiles as she sets my plate of ribs down in front of me. “Sorry we’re very busy, but I hope you enjoy your ribs.” Again, she gives me a look and I ignore it. Oddly, for the first time, I’m not even tempted by her flirting.
“Thanks.” I pick up a rib and devour it, getting a disgusted look from Bly, as she hasn’t even put his ribs in front of him yet and I’m already eating.
“What? I’m hungry.”
He rolls his eyes as Jenny walks away, looking a little deflated at the lack of reciprocation. Despite knowing I couldn’t go there, I’ve always been a little flirtatious, but I’m not feeling it today and I know the reason.
Adrianna Vasquez.
She’s deep under my skin, and until I get her into my bed, I won’t want anyone else.