THE DEAL BREAKER

1

HER 1

1:48 PM

Dammit, I only have twelve minutes to get this paper to him. My poor stomach growled in distress as I crossed the cafeteria catching Cole's curious glance in the process before dashing off after the prude Mrs Alistair who conveniently was walking faster than the speed of lighting towards the teacher's lounge, I was breaking through the horde of boys who made themselves the impenetrable forest in my path. With a lot of hard pushes and shoves, I made it right before she walked through the door.

"Mrs Alistair," I panted handing her the paper which she took, scoffed at and walked inside leaving me hungry and confused. She had wanted it done by lunch.

I turned around about to run back to my mac and cheese waiting for me in the cafeteria, when the bell rung.

Another missed lunch, yippee.

"Jules?" I turned and my eyes met with the impressingly firm broad chest of Cole Stanley.

"Why are you pouting outside the teacher's lounge?" he asked amused.

I pouted a little more and then my stomach growled.

"Figured you'd miss lunch," he shook his head again in amusement, "The mac and cheese were great by the way."

And then he proceeded to give me a much exaggerated groan.

He laughed at my less than amused face.

"Wanna skip and hang out?" his eyes danced suggestively and I elbowed him.

"You have physics right now in lab 4." I deadpanned and his eye brows rose.

"How do you know that?"

"I got your schedule from the desk at the reception. No surprise you didn't grab it." I shrugged.

He sighed, "what are you gonna be doing till the end of school?"

This time I sighed, "You will find me in the library probably, I have nothing this period. Now leave, you are gonna be late!"

HIM 2

"You and Julia...how long is that gonna last?"

Not the first time having this conversation with the same blonde asshole I grew up with.

"What do you mean?"

I am scoffed, "this thing with you and her is three months old now. Cole you can't really tell me you're getting anything out of it."

I stayed silent as we walked out of class.

"I knew it!" he exclaimed, "You are not hitting that are you?" and he chuckled shamelessly.

This prick.

"Look, Tammy has been asking for you, I can arrange something if you want, you know." he suggested and I started to walk away. Tamera was hot sure. She had long model legs and lips that would drive any guy mad. But I did already hit that. She was nothing worth repeating.

He grabbed my arm and turned me back, "Cole Stanley, are you going soft?"

My anger rose, "Ian Sanders, don't think for a second that I would hesitate landing you on your ass if you so much as dare suggest that again. Julia is none of your business, stay out of it!"

I got my arm back and turned away.

"Whatever you say, mate!" he shouted, "We'll see how long you can last with blue balls!"

I rolled my eyes turning to start up the stairs to the library floor.

"Hey, Stanley boy, glad you made it!"

I smiled as Moses the librarian beamed at me in relief at the doors of the library.

"I wasn't sure who to call exactly," he said nervously and I nodded in understanding. Jules didn't have any friends at this school. None I knew of anyway.

I met him at the entrance and he smiled looking inside. I followed his gaze and watched Jules slumped up in a corner with a mountain of textbooks about history and business, funnily enough in her hands was a biology textbook open to the page I am sure I covered with my teacher last week.

"Jules,"

I got down to her level and pushed a loose dark strand from her face.

"Jules, we have to go," I cooed at her and she shook her head, "come on open those eyes for me."

Her eyes blinked once then twice until she slowly raised them to mine, my heart sped up when her warm browns stared at me. Her lips were in a pout that dared me to kiss her but Moses was still behind me very obviously watching us.

"Cole?"

"Yes, it's me, Jules." I confirmed and she sighed.

"I am so tired," she complained quietly pouting once more.

I placed my hand under the back of her knees and her lower back bringing her to my chest, my physics books long forgotten.

"Come for your books first thing in the morning." Moses said grinning and I nodded in gratitude.

"Thanks."

Sleepy Jules had her arms wound around my neck before she flopped back dangling mid-air.

Bridal style wouldn't work. Somehow I managed to manoeuvre her to my back with her legs hanging at my waist. With a little help from her, I managed to hold her steady.

"Jules."

"Hmm"

"Put your hands around my neck, baby. Wouldn't want you to fall."

I felt her shudder a little before she followed my instructions. Her slow breaths tickled the back of my neck sending tingles down my back.

I laughed to myself as I took the stairs. Looking back to a month ago, I couldn't have imagined that she wanted to end this before it even started.

She didn't know it yet. But she was mine.