“Oh, Hello…. How’re things going at school lately? It feels like I haven’t seen you in weeks,” My mom asks Elisa with a soft and warm smile at her sitting beside me at the breakfast bar as we share a plate of tacos that Monique made us. It’s early afternoon, after school, and we’re home to study together.“Good, Mrs. Masterson.” Elisa is always the model of politeness when it comes to my parents. “We’ve just been busy with some schoolwork. It’s only a few days till break, and I think we need it.”“Mom… Lees is staying here tonight. If that’s okay?” I ask as my mother wanders around the kitchen, looking for something, and gives another perfunctory smile as she tilts her head back to us. It’s obvious she is not fully invested in us and is distracted. She wanders to the cupboard where we keep the first aid and medicines and rummages inside, reminding me of that idiot Dane when I catch sight of the green box in full view, and my stomach sinks into my lap, churning up my nerves and anger o

I sit upright, narrow my eyes on him with severe scrutiny and start patting at his clothes, looking for the keys to his bike because I am sure he came here on it, and the accident line is bullshit. If he thinks I’m going to sit back and watch him ride off into the night, he’s got another thing coming.“What are you doing?” Dane sits up too, trying to catch my wrists as I slide my hands into his hoodie pockets, looking for them, and end up wrestling him while fighting to keep searching. Combatting his slower-than-usual responses and getting the upper hand because moving hurts him. Dane catches my hands, pins them behind my back, and yanks me into his chest so I can’t get loose. We end up nose to nose, with both of us half kneeling, half sitting, and breathing hard.“I know your bike is out front, so don’t give me this bullshit. You plan on taking your things and leaving? I won’t let you. I’ll call your dad and tell him…. I’ll stop you.” I can’t conceal the anger in my voice or the fier

My mom texted me this morning telling me Bryan heard from Dane, and he’s gone on vacation to a skiing resort, and I was glad she didn’t call me to tell me. I don’t think I could have stayed neutral and kept the lie. I didn’t even keep it from Elisa, who knew something was wrong as soon as she woke up. I haven’t slept and tossed and turned all night worrying about this idiot. So, of course, I look like death and have crazy dark circles over a dull skin tone.Dane wanders in a few minutes later, with his lower half dried and dressed in the sweats he had laid out. He’s carrying a tee and zip-up, but there’s still water over his shoulders, upper back, and hair. I move to take the towel he has under his arm and instinctively start patting his upper chest and neck before gesturing for him to lean down to run his hair. Dane narrows his eyes on me, obeys, and sets his gaze on his feet instead.We say nothing, just stand facing one another while I dry him off and then maneuver his clothes on c

“Just one more, please.” Elisa is tugging me towards the pool's edge and brandishing her phone high. The girl is on a selfie mission tonight, and I am being dragged around like some underpaid model. She’s slowly getting used to being in heels and a dress and keeps turning heads now she has relaxed. She looks knockout, and I’m sorta mad Tyler isn't here to see it.“I’ll take one with you.” Jordan shrugs in and moves up behind me to nestle shoulder to shoulder, and I inwardly recoil. His body heat travels up my naked arms and over my ass and back as he hunches my way to get in close. I am not too fond of the sensation.He’s been ultra attentive since we arrived a couple of hours ago and keeps following me about like a puppy, and it’s grating on my nerves. I am trying to be nice, but it’s suffocating that I can’t seem to gain breathing space from him. I feel like if I stay alone with him for more than a few seconds, he might get down and propose. He’s never been this clingy at school, an

Elisa and I are vegetating in the tv room this morning. Tired from a sleepless night but trying to ignore its obvious reasons. Neither of us can be doing with drama today. Last night affected us more than either cares to admit, and we can hardly deny those two boys have a serious hold on our hearts and mental state.How did it get like this?Neither of us has turned our cells back on as we made a deal to keep them off until tomorrow to give Dane time to cool off and realize what an idiot he was being. That all of that was stupid. I don’t think we dare to go round two on angry, jealous boys who have lost their ever-loving minds.Elisa is acting guilty, curled up and pouty like she caused all this, but I won’t hear of it. All she did was post pictures of us dressed up and having fun with our classmates. There was nothing wrong with that, and even though I didn’t understand her intent, it’s not like any of it was purposely posed to try and get at Dane. Those photos were natural and held