Caught In The Middle

Just come quietly

The very next day as Quinn approached the side entrance of the main building to go to her locker she saw Vanessa and her gaggle of rich girls standing on the stoop like they were waiting for her.

Quinn never really cared about brands or fashion and just wore what she wanted, mainly based around comfort and now hiding the rope burns and bruises from spending her weekend with Antonio. So today she was wearing jean tights and an oversized t-shirt from an energy drink company, as well as her favorite grey and black striped arm warmers with the thumb holes that kept them covering her wrists. Her hair was up in her usual ponytail with the front few strands free to frame her face but usually ended up being tucked behind her ears. She knew her look was edgy, but she really didn’t care.

As she passed the girls on the step Vanessa gave her a little twisted smirk and Quinn just knew something was going on even before one other girl spoke out in a shrill voice.

“Oh my god! You look so trashy today!”

Quinn stopped and looked at the girl with her tight miniskirt and see-through blouse. “I believe you had better look in the mirror and get a dictionary to look up the word trashy because you…” She waved her hand in a circular motion at the cheerleader. “…are the one that’s all over that word.” Quinn walked off inside leaving the girls all stunned and gaping at her.

Vanessa hissed and stormed off down the stairs.

In the cafeteria at lunch Vanessa saw Quinn enter and looked across the way to see that Cory was with the football team. She elbowed Mila and whispered in her ear. Mila looked up and saw Cory had noticed Quinn and was watching her.

“Quinn! Quinn!” Mila called out, waving her arms and bouncing in her seat getting the attention of both Cory and Quinn. Quinn frowned at her and Vanessa as they beamed huge friendly smiles at her. “Come sit over here with us!”

Quinn turned back to the counter, paying for her chicken salad to go and walked off. Mila glanced at Cory and he frowned at her in question as Quinn ignored her and walked out to find somewhere else to eat. Mila gave Cory a little innocent shrug and smile and he walked over.

“What was that about?” He asked.

Mila draped her hands over his arm, squishing her boobs up against him. “We’ve been trying to be friendly with that freshman, but she’s quite nasty.”

“Yeah, I even invited her to live in the house with us…” Vanessa added.

“You did?” Cory asked, surprised.

“Of course, she’s fit…right? Should be one of us, don’t you think?” Vanessa’s smile was like a snake.

Cory scratched his nose. “Yeah, she should be part of our group…I think she’s just shy, quite reserved, you know? Keep trying, I’m sure she’ll come around, she is only a freshman after all.”

“That’s what we thought.” Mila said, putting on a fake pout.

Cory disentangled himself from Mila and gave her a smile. “Cool, you guys are coming to Lucas’s party, yeah?”

“Of course.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” They both beamed huge smiles.

“Okay…” Cory walked off back to his mates and they made their way out to the grass quad. He saw Quinn sitting at a table with a group of freshman girls and smiled to himself to see she wasn’t alone. She looked up and caught him looking.

He waved out at her but she looked away quickly. Maybe she was just shy?

He wandered over to say hello and gave all the girls a sexy smile, sweeping his golden locks back from his face.

“Hello ladies…I’m Cory, quarter back of the Lions, you probably saw me at your welcome ceremony but I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you all on a more personal level.” He leaned over and reached out to grab Quinn by the hand and pulled her off her seat and started walking away dragging her with him. The other girls descended into whispers and giggles wondering what was going on.

“What the hell are you doing?” Quinn hissed under her breath, looking around and seeing that the popular girls were all watching through the large glass windows of the cafeteria. She pulled against his grip of her hand but he had interlaced their fingers and when he squeezed more firmly Quinn whimpered in pain.

“Just come quietly.” He said in a tone that made Quinn’s body tremble. She went quiet and let him take her away and around the building to a quiet corner.

He finally let her hand go as she noticed he had her boxed in against the wall. He finally saw the fear in her eyes and his clouded with remorse. “s**t, relax, okay…I just wanted to talk and…fuck, why are you so scared?”

“Ah…because you physically dragged me here and hurt my hand!” Quinn quailed, she was trembling and looked like a scared rabbit cornered by a vicious wolf.

“Sorry.” Cory reached out and took her hand gently, rubbing it and checking it over. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” She snatched her hand back before he lifted her sleeve.

“I just want to talk…and I know it’s insane but it’s best to do that away from the crowds and I want you to be nicer to the girls is all.”

Quinn looked at his guilty expression as he rubbed the back of his neck, he seemed genuinely sorry for hurting her, that was something at least. “You know those girls weren’t sincere about being nice to me?”

“What makes you say that? I can see them really trying to be friendly with you and being a freshman it should be a big deal.”

“Are you f*****g serious?” Quinn snapped.

“Yeah, look if you get in well with them then it means I get to see a lot more of you as well.” He looked up under his brows and grinned.

“Oh, I get it…” Quinn folded her arms over her chest and leaned her back against the wall. “Is this place really that cliquey?”

“Yes it is, trust me, being in the wrong group here could impact future success…think of this place as an opportunity to network for future prospects.”

“Network what? Where to get my hair bleached and my nails done?” Quinn sneered.

Cory chuckled. “Wow, you’re vicious, aren’t you…like a real alley cat.”

Quinn looked startled for a moment then her gaze dropped to the ground dismayed. “I have my reasons.” She muttered quietly.

Cory noticed the sudden gloom mellow her attitude and frowned in curiosity. “I would really like to find out about those reasons and other things about you?”

Quinn blinked and looked up at him. He was gorgeous, fit and muscular, a real boy-next-door type but with a very powerful protective aura.

“Can I get your social media info?”

“What?” She startled like a cornered rabbit again. “Um…I don’t really…”

“Hey…” His calm soft tone brought her attention back. “It’s no big deal, you know…everyone has everyone’s here, especially these days, right? Just give me your Insta…”

Quinn was chewing her bottom lip nervously not sure what to do. Cory’s eyes were intently fixed on it as he licked his lips wishing he was licking hers, they were full and pouty, naturally and looked soft and pink.

“I won’t let you leave till you at least give me that.” His voice was strange and husky and Quinn’s eyes widened. He saw her pupils dilate out. He coughed and cleared his throat awkwardly feeling like a predator.

“Here…” She said suddenly, taking her phone out and scrolling to it and holding it up, her hand shaking.

Cory quickly added her and grinned in triumph. “Thanks, so your name is Quinn Malley?”

“That’s what it says…” She said, back to her abrupt self. “Can I go now?” There was a desperate pleading in her voice and Cory started to feel bad.

“Sure, thanks.”

“Whatever.” Quinn pushed passed him and made quick her escape.

He wandered back around the corner and bumped into Reese.

“What the f**k’s that goofy grin on your face for?” Reese asked in a surly tone.

Cory pointed back down the other side of the building and Reese saw the back of the red ponytailed girl retreating in the other direction. “Just got her Insta…”

“f*****g prick.” Reese breathed in shock. “You’re a real jammie bastard, give it to me.”

“f**k off, get it yourself…if you can. I had to practically kidnap her back there and not let her leave until she gave it to me.”

“You f*****g what?” Reese chuckled unbelieving. He clucked his tongue and rubbed his forehead. “If this s**t keeps up she’s going to report both of us for SA.”

“What SA? All I’ve done is hold her hand, what the f**k have you done?” Cory’s tone was accusatory.

“Not much more…but I think it’s time to escalate things.” He grinned, licking his tongue over his teeth.

Cory knew that look. “What are you planning?”

Reese gave him a piercing look. “Give me her Insta…”

Cory huffed. “We’re supposed to be competing…”

“Okay, I’ll see you around then…” Reese wandered off looking cocky and Cory worried about what plan Reese had cooking.

Quinn it seemed was easily scared and that invoked strange feelings to well up inside him.

Mila watched as Quinn came out from the little through-way between buildings and walked off. She grit her teeth at what she had heard. Cory was interested in this girl!

There was no way she was going to listen to Vanessa any longer and be nice to this b***h! It was all on…