"When you said you had a shirt, I thought you meant something other than some girl's horrible wardrobe choice. And I shouldn't have to point out that this isn't school appropriate." I tugged on the pink halter top, glaring at Tyler.

The look in his eyes said he wanted to eat my face off in front of school. And that was so not happening.

"Then put on the hoodie I gave you," Tyler suggested for the tenth time before he turned into the school parking lot.

"I hate pink, and I hate halter tops!" Slamming my back into the seat, I groaned angrily. "And I don't wanna wear your hoodie. It'll make people think we're together."

"Just wear it." Tyler eased his car into the same spot. "Most girls would die to wear it. Would it be such a bad thing if people thought we were together?"

"Yes! I shouldn't have to remind you that I have a boyfriend. Plus, you don't even date, and I'm not one of those girls. I don't do cocky, conceited dickwads, and I won't advertise myself as easy by wearing your clothes." I yelled and instantly felt terrible when Tyler flinched like I'd slapped him. "Sorry, I appreciate your help, but you know what I mean, right? I can't be another girl you laugh about in the locker room."

Tyler studied the black drool-worthy sport bike parked next to us. "I hear you."

I turned his hoodie inside out and slipped it over my head as I hopped out of the car. "Thanks for everything. I'll bring back your clothes in the morning."

"Wait," Tyler said before I shut the door.

God. What did he want now? My day was already ruined, and an awful migraine was coming on. After this horrible morning, I needed to get my stuff and hoof it home so I could get some rest. Tomorrow I could come back a new person and have a much better day.

"What class do you have second period?" Tyler rushed to my side, acting like we were friends.

"English, but I'm not going." I walked faster.

"Why?" Tyler kept up with me way too easily and hurried to open a door for me.

"I'm suddenly feeling sick." I opened a different door and stalked through the huge cafeteria toward the stairs.

"I have English too," Tyler whispered as he followed way too close.

Ignoring him, I jogged up the stairs as he stayed right on my heels. Why wasn't he getting the clue? I didn't want him around.

And, yeah, hard pass on sitting through English with this dude. Maybe I could get that class changed too.

"Slow down and talk to me." Tyler grabbed my elbow, causing me to miss the next step.

I gasped as my hands flew out, falling back into Tyler's hard chest. He caught me around the waist and helped me find my balance.

After a moment, I released the breath I was holding, and spun to face him as I whispered, "What the fuck? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry." Tyler whisper-laughed. "You should see your face. You're pale as a ghost."

"I wonder why?" Being saved from my near tumble down the stairs was a huge relief. I slapped his arm as I started whisper-laughing with him. "You almost killed me, asshole."

"Never." His sky-blue eyes stayed on mine as our laughing slowly died. The look in his eyes was so intense that they began to glow. "I'd never let anything happen to you."

"What's up with your eyes?" I had to know if what I was seeing was real or if I was losing my damn mind.

"What're you talking about?" Tyler's eyes began to burn brighter blue. It was hypnotic.

"Call me crazy, but I swear they're glowing." The thumping in my temples eased, giving me a welcome reprieve.

"Uh... I'm not sure." Tyler examined my eyes like they were glowing too.

My lips parted to speak, but I didn't know what to say. Something told me he knew more than he was letting on, but this wasn't the time or place to discuss it.

Before I knew what he was doing, Tyler grabbed the front of my hoodie and tugged me forward. His gaze roamed over my face before settling on my lips.

"I can't believe you're real. You're more than I ever imagined." Tyler's warm breath danced over my skin.

Confused by his words, I sucked in my bottom lip as I studied his lips. Like they had a mind of their own, my fingers dug into the front of his hoodie, tugging him closer.

Tyler's sweet minty breath hitched in response as his gaze caressed over my face before he lowered his head, hovering his lips inches above mine. His hands slowly slid down to my hips, holding me in place.

I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to taste his minty goodness. One corner of his mouth lifted, and damn, his lips were so close. Only millimeters from mine. All I had to do was lean in.

Giggles and gasps from somewhere nearby shattered the moment, causing the pounding in my head to come back with a vengeance.

Glancing over, I realized we'd somehow ended up standing directly in front of a classroom full of students. The door was wide open, and we had an audience. A group of girls stood there, watching our every move.

They'd nearly witnessed something I never wanted to happen. For fuck's sake, I had a boyfriend! What the hell was wrong with me?

With an angry huff, I spun and stalked up the last few steps.

"Ember." Tyler whisper-shouted.

My name coming off his lips did weird things inside me. Like when Justin said my name, something deep down was commanding me to listen.

Ignoring the desire to answer, I jogged to my locker. I couldn't believe that he'd almost gotten me to fall for his bullshit. How could I have been so stupid?

Opening my locker, I yanked out my backpack and stuffed everything inside. Just like I'd thought, moving here had been a huge mistake. There was no way I could go to school here. I needed to talk my mom into letting me do homeschooling or whatever. More than anything, I just needed to get the fuck out of this school. Now.

Tyler was suddenly by my side, leaning one shoulder against the lockers. "What're you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going home." Angrily, I struggled to zip my bag shut. Once I finished, I clenched my fists. "Why are you doing this to me? Literally less than two hours ago, you had your tongue down Jenny's throat. Now you're pretending you like me. Is this some sick bet or something? Just tell me how much you get once you sleep with me."

Tyler squinted as his brow wrinkled with confusion. "There's no bet."

"Oh, yeah? That's really hard to believe. I know you and your friends are up to something." The bell rang as I threw my backpack over my shoulder and rushed toward the exit. "Nice knowing you."

"Ember!" Tyler hollered as students flooded the hallway.

The strange desire to go to him stirred in my belly, but I didn't look back as I made my way down the stairs. Fuck him and this school of assholes.

💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙