Chapter 12


    Harper


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    Tears start to burn at his rejection, at his cruelty, so badly that I can’t see where I’m going as I shove


    through more grinding bodies and surging hormones. My vision blurs as I run back down the hall. I look


    over my shoulder and sure enough Easton’s still watching, that smug asshole smile in ce.


    Im hard into something and fall, hearing Easton’sugh along with Aisha’s over the pounding music.


    I blink up. It’s ke, because of


    course it would be ke.


    “Oh shit.” He quickly pulls me to my feet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”


    Because I’m invisible, aren’t I?


    Unwanted


    Uninvited


    Great, am I really going to cry in front of him, of all people?


    The biggest ass in the senior ss with the emotional intelligence of а реа.


    He takes one look at me and curses, then starts dragging me down the hall and into the garage, where


    I burst into giant, gut


    wrenching sobs.


    My night’s ending where it started.


    From famous makeout session with the off-limits guy I’ve crushed on for years, to the yer who’s


    slept with every girl on the cheerleading squad and dance team, now awkwardlyforting me.


    ke’s staring, his green eyes roaming over me like I’m some sort of foreign creature. He lifts his


    hand, then drops it, before he finally pulls me in for a tight hug.


    Both embarrassed andforted, I briefly hug him back,pletely weirded out that the third part of


    my brother’s friend trio-the one who once jumped off of the roof into our pool, screaming I’m Britney


    bitch is trying tofort me.


    “Anything I can do?” he asks.


    I pull away, frowning. “Are you drunk?”


    “The hell?” He shakes his head. “No.”


    “High?” My frown deepens but at least the tears stopped flowing.


    “Why do I suddenly feel offended?” Heughs. “Do I have to be drunk or high to care about your


    feelings?”


    I think for a minute then blurt, “But you’re you.”


    “Wow.” He crosses his bulky, tanned arms. “Okay, I’m officially offended, no takebacks.”


    I find myself smiling. “You know what I mean.”


    “You should probably exin it to me since I’m a guy and we’re dumb.”


    | always forget how pretty he is, with his dark hair pulled back into a bun and his green eyes focused


    only on me.


    I lick my lips and try again. “I just mean you’re ke Elliot. You have a certain reputation for, you


    know…idiocy.”


    He lifts a brow. “Wanna know a secret?”


    “Sure?”


    He leans in, looking like bad choices and sin. “I actually have one of the highest grade point averages


    in our ss. I’m just bored as hell sitting there, so you know…I entertain.” He spreads his arms wide.


    “Impressed?”


    I narrow my eyes. “Are you being serious?”


    “No, actually I’m failing and might have to repeat my senior year for the third time.”


    “What!” My jaw drops.


    Hisugh has me joining in. “God, you should have seen your face just now. How old do I look? Damn,


    now I’m doubly offended.” He holds up his right hand like he’s taking an oath. “I’ve never repeated


    school ever, not even when I idently killed the ss lizard in first grade because wanted to set him


    free.”


    “Uh, I don’t know this story.” And I feel like I know all of ke’s


    stories.


    “I felt bad for the little guy, trapped in his cage. Like a prison. So, decided to let Mike go, that was the


    lizard’s name, by the way.”


    “Ooookay.” I shake my head.


    “Oh, good, you’re keeping up.” He winks. “Anyways, that’s how Mike met his untimely death in the


    school toilet.”


    “Let me guess, because all drains lead to the ocean?”


    “Exactly. I thought he could swim his way to freedom.” He holds his hand up for a high five.


    I p it as the door jerks open.


    Easton stands there seemingly drunk and uncertain on his feet. “Are you seriously hiding out in my


    garage now, Harper? With ke? How desperate are you?”


    I can’t decide if I’m embarrassed or angry at this point as I try toe up with something to say. Maybe


    I should just find a baseball bat, let out a war cry and run toward him just to see his reaction.


    Easton scowls. “Seriously, Harper, maybe you’d be more popr if you didn’t try so hard.”


    “Wo.” ke wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You kiss Aisha with that mouth.” He snaps


    his fingers. “Oh wait…”


    “Stay out of it, ke.”


    “Quick, how many fingers am ! holding up?” ke holds up three


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