𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 5] If We're Being Bad

I open my locker, taking notes of some extra decorating ideas I could do for it as I set my Math books inside. It's the official first day of school and so far, so good.

Dakota and I have a somewhat similar class schedule and while I'm only two periods in---I haven't had Harry in any of my classes, which is something that is bringing me an insane amount of peace.

I exhale as I absent-mindedly tidy a few small things on the shelves, lost in thought.

I ended up sleeping at my mom's house last night because I was so stressed out and upset that I was pretty sure driving wasn't a good idea.

So, instead, I watched my Christmas comfort movies and ate more brownies. A lot of brownies...to be honest.

I huff in annoyance, thinking about last night. Seriously, why can't Hunter just be like a decent older brother? All he ever does is get into trouble all the time and make my life miserable. Besides, isn't he way too young to be having a mid-life crisis?

My thoughts are interrupted  by a voice and a name that are becoming all too familiar:

"Hey Knockout."

I pause for a moment, thankful my locker door is blocking him from my immediate view. Great. Just what I need.

Collecting myself, I clear my throat, closing my locker so I can turn to my right and face Harry. "I told you not to call me that."

"What? Knockout?" He repeats it, just to irritate me and it feels like yesterday all over again. "It's just a little nickname for my first new friend."

He shrugs as if everything he does and says is harmless and I scoff with far less grace. "We are not friends."

"Oh, come on." he clicks his tongue in disappointment. "How can you say that after everything we've been through?"

I don't respond and instead just stare at him evenly.

He smiles slightly, my silence undoubtedly giving him the motivation to open his mouth, once again. "You know, YESTERDAY WHEN YOU PUNCHED M---"

Instinctively, I clap a hand over his mouth, my eyes going wide. "Are you crazy?"

His blue eyes twinkle down at me and I can easily imagine the grin on his face behind my palm.

I immediately drop my hand as a result, sensing that physical contact was the last thing I should've initiated.

"You're crazy," he informs me, crossing his arms over his torso.

My gaze gets slightly sidetracked by the spectacle of his muscles pressing against the sleeves of his school button down, almost like his shirt can barely hold them in---

Kelly, snap out of it.

"Fine. You're right." I look up at him blankly. "I am crazy. So, you should leave me alone."

"Maybe I like that." He shrugs casually and I laugh shortly. "Maybe I don't care."

"Quick question." He leans against the row of lockers, quirking an eyebrow in curiosity. "Exactly how hard is it for you to pretend like you're not insanely attracted to me?"

Caught off guard by his bluntness, I scoff and sputter some nonsense before crossing my arms tightly. "How hard is it for you to accept that maybe not every girl thinks you're hot?"

He takes a step closer to me, shamelessly displaying his towering height and Greek god physique. "Hard."

I swallow, forcing my eyes to remain locked onto his so they don't go traveling anywhere else.