Read Crushing on the Bully for Free Online Page B

occasion, but when Skull said it, the label carried a sarcastic jab.
    “Let’s just go inside,” Skull said and led her to the door.
    Clarissa took a deep breath and dread filled her belly. She wasn’t looking forward to being surrounded by sweaty men, most of which were likely to be felons. When Skull opened the door Clarissa took a deep breath and held it as she waited for a cloud of smoke to waft out the door.
    Clarissa blinked and cocked her head to the side. The bar’s interior was much cleaner than she had expected to find it and the air wasn’t stale with beer, piss, r smoke, either. Instead it smelled of chips and salsa although a few of the guys at the bar were throwing back beers. Many of the men were dressed like you’d expect bikers to be and looked just as intimidating as they did in the movies. On the left arm of every man was a star with a bold black X over it. The matching group tattoos made Clarissa think that the men might be part of a gang. What Clarissa couldn’t understand was why would the Goth-at-heart Skull would want anything to do with these guys.
    “Hey, Skull, you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?” one of the men at the bar called out.
    “I’m not his girlfriend,” Clarissa said, putting her hands on her hips.
    “Not yet,” one of the other guys laughed.
    “So, Skull’s not-girl-friend, do you have a name?” the first man asked.
    “Clarissa,” she answered.
    “Hey, kid, I’m Hugo,” the guy said and lifted his beer into the air, “and that’s Boss and Lobster.”
    “Lobster?” Clarissa asked arching an eyebrow.
    “Yea?” he asked.
    “Where do you guys get these names from?” Clarissa laughed.
    “There’s a reason I shave my head,” the guy laughed, “Why don’t you kids sit down and I’ll tell you about it?”
    “Sure,” Clarissa grinned and moved towards the bar.
    “Actually, Lobster, we’re here to play pool,” Skull cut in.
    “Oh,” Clarissa said, “I don’t know how to play.”
    “I’ll teach you, come on,” Skull said and took her hand again.
    Hugo winked at her as Skull led her to the other side of the bar where a shabby-looking pool table stood. Clarissa tried to pay attention to what Skull was saying, but someone had turned on the jukebox and she couldn’t quite make out his words.
    “What?” she called out over the music.
    “Here, just let me show you,” Skull said and handed the cue and stepped up behind her.
    Clarissa’s heart skipped a beat and she swallowed hard. He stepped closer and she could feel him pressing against her body.
    “Hold it like this,” Skull said and carefully guided her hands to the appropriate places, “and then like this.”
    Skull leaned forward slowly guiding Clarissa into the proper position to take her shot. Clarissa bit her lip and tried to concentrate on the white ball in front of her, but all she could think about was how close she was to Skull and how good it felt. She allowed Skull to move her arms and aid her in striking the cue ball. A second later the white ball crashed into the others and sent them scattering across the table. She waited for skull to move, but he stayed where he was. Clarissa turned her head and looked up at him.
    “Good, now try it again, but by yourself this time,” Skull said, but Clarissa could tell he wasn’t as focused on the game as he was pretending to be.
    “Okay,” she said and looked back to the table, but before she could even take aim her cellphone vibrated in her back pocket.
    “Shit,” she said, jumping and pulling the phone from her pocket. For a moment she stared at the vibrating cellphone and hesitated. It was Maggie which meant she was being called into work. She didn’t want to leave.
    “Just a minute,” she said and turned away, walking to the far wall, “Hello?”
    “Hey, kiddo, I hate to do this to you,” Maggie said, “but I need you to come for a few hours.”
    “Can’t,” Clarissa said.
    “Um.. why?” Maggie asked.
    “Because