ls like home. No. Home is a fabric softener bra

e h

open reveals I'm

m not

sheets as if he owns them. He's as beaut

eyelashes are black and so long I want to trace them with a finger. T

ys who have ever

legs, and his chest is bare. I d

here? Did I crawl into

ll me I didn't

pop my cherry back before he revealed himself a

of our own heads so we can fantasize about stupid sh

his lashes flutter my he

shit,

more, and I e

eals the soft colors of the early-morning sun pee

e room I haven 't

t when he moved in. His guitar rests against the wall by the door. He

ed on the dresser. faded T-shirts, blac

for his final album hitting platinum, I got

shirt until t

messing around with music on my Dad's tour-bus-turned-studio, or questing to find a best cheese fries in Phill

friendship. He traded it

every day, even for a moment in the hallways or before or

your ass

my Dad might've thought he was involved in the pa

I laughed with and dre

re feet. The speakers have long since gone silent, and there'

bottles and cans before putting

is done, I sneak u

er and desk, and the comfy armchair by the window I use to read and do homework. The dark sp

p by the last one

" streams out until

t, played by gears instead of humans. The little d

usical and keep Carla and her damned minions

oth, but the reflection of the gi

she's hungov

earing a frayed

and party, dress in jean shorts and a

a picture of the Villa they've

No one died. I don't think Carla and I are de

ome other clothes into the laundry, then grab The Great Gatsby for English c

es closing as I lean a s

ve spent every ounce of their precious time f

ngs and creati

forgotten since: life isn't about money or winning or even

is laughing from a chair at the table and

ther word for the way that in

n Gods, but if th

each time that bo

and enter the ki

noon." Rudy

e maker without making eye contact and pick out a pod. My stepmom found

ow is when you bribe me." he adds with a wink as I

play like a prodigy, kid, but that guitar is a

d's band laughing their way through a cover o

d in the making of last night's gathering." I

, and as I go to retrieve i

see is the guy who lives in the pool house. Gray sweatpants cling to his hips, and t

st bare last night,

y he uses it that's impossible to for

e, like it's his favorite suit of armor and t

t his bed hours ago, but standing up as if he woke the moment I w

is imp

"Why did I wake u

assessing. "Why did I wa

it sends shive

e wall before rising and crossing to the counter next to me

ss to the coffee maker and cupboard o

ds before that

ffee, burning my tong

ange the coffee pod. I don't think he'

label or school or hanging out if it was one of those nights. The worst part wasn't finding a plac

is face as I think of the T-shirt he must've pulled over me aft

talk to you." Rudy's voice

I said about you living in the pool house. It was cruel and insensitive,

my breast in a way that sends awareness flowing through me. I tuck my hair behind my ear, swal

g. It's a good reason to keep fro

it in front of him. He stares at it as if he

u. I don't. I envy you. You take what you want, and you don't fe

how we've talked more this week

ng him add cream to his coffee. "Because late

cation he's heard me. I shake my head to clear it as I set the

wh

have me

lf, it's more evidence I'm not as capab

rince of Oakwood, but

d toenails graze Timothy's socks. I tilt my head up to take in every

is," I murmur. "I'll tell

day he finds out I'm not

es up to brush a thumb along my cheek, tracing beneath

replies at last, his breath ligh

Dad would freak if you let me ride your bike. He

on the counter and takes a lo

harply, and his

your mind if you w

loods my body, hardening my nip

smaller because I'm vi

th barely veiled innuendos.

the hel

at's between us

the one who

Rudy holl

mothy. "Your T-shirt's in the washing m

ack. I'm dreading rehearsal that afternoon, but it'll be

don't have t

u okay? There's a rumor going around that you begged Chris to punch your

ow it happened." I deadpan. "I planned the whole

gaze lands on Avery's empty se

fifth periods, Carla and her minions have been spread

to look him

e's a reminder of how stupid I was to

e Mr. Chris Albright doesn't have lacros

s. Perfect. I get to beg for

drop my bags on the corner of

no Chris

"He must be running

rest of the crew goes

the party this week, which

my arms lif

ady to put you on stag in the leading role after

tightens at once

he can't take t

ening to poison you with your own water bottle or poin

en he's here. I ha

ecently." I admit. "But I'll fix th

er phone. "I can give you ten days, but I'm making sure Carla is well versed in the lead. If you

can't find the

eet my prince, who's taking his sweet time shrugging out of his blazer. When he straightens, my ga

opening night. We can't have our prince look

s his voice. "You can wave your ass in my face and then fuck someone else

at...?" That's not from lacrosse

"Don't pretend

on words, but act

not to tell my

me he'd take matter

seen lose his tem

ened or angry, a

urge of convict

I step closer. "I know what you think happened, but

k Timothy Ada

outh to respond,

I w

I don't look to see if it's C

s. "Because he doesn't let petty bul

e, but for the next hour, do