The Detention Deal

Chapter Two

It was not exactly my first time being subjected to the cruel torture that was known as detention. I frequently accrued tardies due to my inability to resist Colin. I made my way to the library, which was where detention was located while the basement was being renovated. As soon as I had arrived at the dimly lit library- which reeked of mildew and looked like it had gone untouched for several decades- I knew that this was going to be a brutal two hours.

Mrs. Wright, our librarian, assigned each of us a cart of books, which we were to place on the appropriate shelves. I took my cart and began to organize each book according to the serial number located on the siding, as Mrs. Wright sat down and sipped on her Diet Coke.

"Get to work you little delinquents. I expect all of these books to be sorted properly otherwise none of you will be leaving until it is done correctly," Mrs. Wright remarked with a look of complacency plastered onto her face.

I rolled my eyes at her statement and continued working.

As the hours ticked by, I continued grabbing books and placing them on the shelves. I made my way over to the history section, where I had to place a book on the top shelf. I mentally cursed my shortness as I stood on my toes and stretched my arm. In a split second, I had lost my footing and I felt myself tumbling backwards towards the ground.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the pain that was to ensue as my body crashed into the hard, wooden floors of Cleardale's library. I slowly began opening my eyes as I felt a pair of hands on my back, holding me up.

"Watch it Miller," a deep voice cooed.

I tensed up at the sound of the voice, as I forced myself into an upright position. I slowly rotated my body to face the mysterious voice which I seemed to know all too well. As soon as I observed the dark wash skinny jeans, paired with high top converse, I knew that the voice belonged to Reid Taylor- Cleardale's very own bad boy.

"Uh- I uh," I muttered finding myself at a loss for words.

"I understand that I'm irresistible Miller, but you really can't throw yourself at me like that," Reid stated as a smirk formed on his chiseled face.

"I did not-" I interjected, but Reid cut me off.

"Sure you didn't."

His arrogance was astonishing.

"Look," I said, with a surprising amount of strength behind my voice. "If I was interested in any guy in the hellhole that doubles as this school, I guarantee that it would not be you."

Reid raised an eyebrow at me, clearly taken aback by the level of confidence which had swept away my usual awkward state.

"That's right," Reid stated, taking the book from my hands and placing it on the shelf with ease. "I forgot you're in love with wonder boy."

My eyes widened as I took a step back.

"What-wh-I... am not..." I let my voice trail off before averting my gaze from Reid's piercing brown eyes.

"Don't try to act all innocent Miller," Reid said smugly. "Anyone with a brain can tell that you are head over heels for that guy, though I will never really understand the interest."

"What do you have against Colin?" I asked, allowing a defensive tone to occupy my words.

"Nothing," he paused. "Aside from the fact that he is the epitome of a privileged jock who won't have to work a single day in his life."

I opened my mouth to reply, but stopped when I realized that Reid was not exactly wrong. I mean, sure, Colin was privileged in the sense that his family had money, but he never let that prevent him from working hard to get what he wanted.

"Whatever," I remarked as I began to walk away.

"Oh what's the matter Miller? Afraid that wonder boy is going to get jealous?"

I stopped dead in my tracks as I rapidly spun myself around.

"Why would he be? It's not like he will ever notice me as anything other than a friend," I mumbled, tears threatening to form around the edges of my eyes.

Reid paused, attempting to formulate a response. As a smile encompassed his face, I knew that he had an idea.

"Let me make a deal with you," he said. "I will pretend to be your boyfriend to make jealousy fire up inside of wonder boy, but on one condition."

"And what would that be?"

"You have to be the subject for my art project," Reid stated, shooting me a complacent smirk.

I stood in front of Reid silently, weighing the pros and cons of his proposition. I mean, it would get Colin to see me in a new light, wouldn't it? Before I could stop myself, I nodded, accepting Reid's proposal.

I had just made a detention deal with the biggest womanizer in Cleardale.