Guilty

Juliette

"You are so lucky to have been picked. I mean I know it's probably morally wrong that we get a push to apply to law schools but..."  Summer says trailing off as she loses her train of thought when we stop outside the cafeteria.

I smile at her half-heartedly. She's right it's not fair but it's stupid for me not to accept opportunities handed to me, otherwise, it would go to someone else.

And Lana deserves the best.

"Are you nervous about going up against Harvard's selected two?" Summer asks me as we sit down to eat lunch.

I pause thinking, "I have to meet them first to get a gauge on them before I decide to shit myself. Right now I'll be delusional and pretend they're incompetent," I say smiling a little. Summer laughs and reaches over to take one of my fries.

"Getting to spend all that time with Zane Ivory must be a pretty good bonus."

I roll my eyes at her, "Come on Summer not you as well." She shrugs at me and smiles.

"Spending time with Zane is mutually torturous for us both."

She frowns at me leaning closer as she drops her voice to a hushed whisper, "I don't think he feels that way considering he refused to even enter the competition unless he was paired with you. I heard him telling our Professor."

This is why I am friends with Summer. She is incredible at always picking up people gossip. I think for a moment about the information she shared with me.

Zane flirts with me yes, but he flirts with any female with a pulse. I've always made a point never to believe I was special or different. But I could admit he was going to extreme lengths to sell the joke.

Maybe it wasn't a joke anymore.

I feel someone wrap their arms around me, suddenly. For one moment I am paralysed by fear, I'm back in Emery's hallway fighting for my life. I tense hard as I blink slowly coming back to reality.

"It's me," Zane says quietly, so only I can hear. I decide for my mental health not to analyse the reassurance.

"Remove your hands from my body," I ask him, quietly.

He leans down to my ear, "No can do, Trouble. My stalker is approaching."

I turn my head and see Mackenzie walking into the cafeteria with her friends. Her gaze immediately lands on Zane and then drops to his arms wrapped around my shoulders. She gives me a death glare and then moves on with her friends.

"I didn't agree to be your fake girlfriend forever," I say annoyed.

"Yeah well it keeps Mackenzie at bay doesn't it?"

"She doesn't strike me as the type to not to home wreck," I reply coyly.

Zane smiles at me and I erase the image of his dimples from my mind immediately. He lets go of me and sits next to me. I sigh loudly and give Summer a withering look when she gets up and walks away, smiling mischievously. 

"I have received a party invitation." Zane tells me, I sigh loudly and watch as he pulls out a water bottle and hands it to me. "You need to drink more."

I reluctantly take the water from him and take a couple sips. He's right I barely drink water and I see no point getting into a fight with him about something I actually need.

I pick and choose my battles.

"Guess who will be at said party?" Zane asks me.

"Who?" I ask dryly, taking more sips from the water bottle as he watches.