I already knew Archer way back then, as the most popular guy of Beverly High School. The best basketball player, the school president, the best debater, the prom king, and so much more.

He noticed me, many times, when he substituted Mr. Hamilton, to watch the delinquent students at the detention room. I had many offenses - skipping classes to watch movies or go to the nearby beach, cursing my teachers, chasing someone with a bat at the school hallway, fighting with the mean girls, giving a boy a black eye, and other things.

"Stop winking at me, that won't work on me." Archer would snap at me in front of the others in the detention room.

"Bullshit, I want to go home! Who gives you the right to keep us here, huh? We're off at three, and it's four o'clock now."

"You have no right to complain either. You shouldn't have broken the girl's bathroom mirror if you want to go home early."

"That was unintentional. I slipped and bumped at the mirror!"

"Stop lying."

"I'm not lying! Why would I ever lie?" My voice rose in an octave, as I reasoned out with him. "I. DID. NOT. BREAK. THE. MIRROR. Did you hear me?"

"I'm not deaf. Someone saw you hit it with your fist."

"Ha! Who do you think I am, Captain Marvel?" I let out a sarcastic grin, "I don't understand why everyone believed Pipa. She's making up stories just to spite me."

"For what?" His eyebrows rose inquiringly.

I shrugged my shoulders and gave him a wicked look.

"She knows I'm fucking you."

Everyone in the detention room was shocked and gave us a curious look.

"Hey! She's lying." Archer defended himself and kept going for another five minutes, but failed to convince everyone.

I was having a great time watching him so distressed, while the students ignored his explanation and laughed at him.

He eyed me with monstrosity and said. "Take back what you've said, Roxanne, or I'll extend your detention time for another hour."

My victory was short-lived, and I responded to his expression with animosity.

"Okay fine! That's not true. He's not my type, ugh! I would rather fuck Chewbacca that this scumbag."

"That's it. Another one hour for you." He gave me a sarcastic smile, and a flying kiss.

I caught it and threw it back at his face.

"Fuck you, Archer West!"

Many girls had a crush on him. Almost everyone, including Julia. There was a phase in her high school life that she could not stop talking about him.

Archer never appealed to me. I hated him when he monitored me at the detention room. He followed me, even when I went to the bathroom. Every time we met in the hallway, he would give me a suspicious look, as if I had planted a bomb inside the bathroom.

I had my own way to spite Archer. I would wink at him secretly or blow a kiss. He would respond by giving me an angry look.

One evening, things got crazy when I received a chat from him on messenger. He already graduated Senior High and was leaving for University.

It was a half body nude picture of him.

To spite him, I sent him a nude photo of my full back. But something bad happened. I sent it to the wrong person. To Grayson King.

I surpassed high school and went to university to study Criminology. I had a great time in college; I did not have to deal with the bullies and mean girls in high school anymore.

I learned constitutional law, sociology, criminal law and theory, psychology, government, and juvenile delinquency. I also grew up, and became a mature, disciplined, and law-abiding citizen of the country.

I met Archer again when I was 19 and he was 21. It was summer school break. One morning, I was jogging in the park when he came up beside me.

"Hello gorgeous."

"What do you want?" I did not bother to look, to know that it was Archer.

"A dinner date."

"Ha! You wish." I ignored him and continued running, increasing my speed until I left behind him.

The next morning, he was at it again. Asking me out.

"I'm serious, Roxanne. I want to take you out for a date."

I ignored him, and he continued talking. "I promise, it will be very special."

"Stop bothering me, Mr. West." I sped up, and he was finding it hard to catch up with me.

The third morning, he was there waiting for me when I arrived at the park. He was desperate, cornering me from running faster.

"Please, give me a chance."

"What is wrong with you? We hate each other."

He shook his head. "I don't. Well... maybe a little, because you didn't like me. I have this huge crush on you, that won't go away every time I see you."

That was a shocking revelation. Archer West has a huge crush on me?

"It's your ego that's talking. Because I was the only girl in high school that didn't have a crush on you."

"No, Rox. I'm not that kind of person who thinks so highly of myself."

He was right though. His parents taught him well to be humble, kind and caring.

"Let's try it. One dinner, that's all I ask. Then you can decide if you like me or not." He pressed his lips together, "If you don't, then I won't bother you again. Promise."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Okay."

His eyes lit up happily, a wide grin planted on his face.

"BUT, I have a condition. Catch me first."

His expression transformed into a strong, determined man who would do anything to get what he wanted. Victory.

"Cool." He agreed. He let me go first and followed in ten seconds.

It took him five minutes to catch up with me. He admitted he was not a runner, but he would do anything just to have a date with me.

"I caught up. So, dinner on Saturday?" He asked, panting.

"Yes. One dinner. My place, seven sharp. Don't be late."

He arrived in the house, looking so devastatingly handsome, in a white sweater and black trousers. He brought a bouquet of red roses, crab cakes, a basket of berries, and a bottle of red wine.

I tricked him.

It was not a dinner date for the two of us, but I prepared a family dinner, with my mom and granny Mary.

"Archer is here because he wants to interview our family for his feasibility study about the socio-economic conditions in our area. So, after dinner, he will ask you both some questions."

"Oh, really?" Granny smiled brightly at Archer. "Can I go first? It's been so long since I got interviewed. You can ask me anything you want."

"Thank you, it's an honor to interview you, granny." Archer bowed slightly with a smile.

"Are you sure?" Mom was hesitant, "I thought this is a..." she looked at me, then at Archer.

"Mom!" I gave her a hard look, then turned to Archer, who planted a polite smile on his face.

"I'll be delighted to talk to you Mrs. Vergara, and get to know the family more."

It turned out, Archer was enjoying the company of mom and granny. It became a bad idea when they became closer and created a strong connection.

Granny invited him for lunch the following day, and he did not refuse. He kept on coming into our house, bringing crab cakes, fresh fruits from their farm and wine from their vineyard.

One day, mom asked him to fix my shower.

"I'm sorry that mom suggested this, I could have called a plumber." I said to him, as I struggled to hold the shower head above us while he tightened a screw.

"I'm happy you didn't. It's my pleasure to help."

"You've done too much for us. I don't have any money to pay you."

He chuckled throatily, "you don't need to pay me, Rox. I just need you to like me."

My stomach tightened.

Suddenly, I was aware of him at the proximity of the bathroom. I could feel the heat of his body and smell his male scent. My hormones were getting wild with excitement of being near him.

Do I like him?

Absolutely. In fact, I'm falling so deeply for him. My feelings grew stronger every day that it was impossible to fight it anymore.

"It's done. You can put your hands down." He said, and I stepped back without realizing that my back pushed the knob of the shower.

The water sprayed directly at him, soaking him all wet.

I laughed and giggled.

He chuckled, and without warning, he pulled me towards him. I gasped when the cold water sprayed on me.

"Oh, no...no..." I protested, but the words I uttered died, as his mouth covered mine, kissing me hungrily with intense passion.