Dangerous Affection

Chapter One: I Do Not Recommend Napping In Class

"Gwen Callister, please come grab your worksheet," Mrs. Stephen called.

I rose from my plastic chair and stumbled up to the desk, still half-asleep. I could hear the snickers behind my back and blushed, silently cursing myself for falling asleep in class again."Thanks," I mumbled as I grabbed my paper, then shuffled back to my desk.

Daphne Elliston, one of my best friends, leaned across the aisle and gestured for my paper."Lemme see who your paired with. I bet it's me."

"Here," I replied tiredly, then scrubbed my eyes with my fists and shoved back my hair."Who'm I with, Daph?"

"Conner Smith! The new boy!" Daphne squealed with glee, completely forgetting we were in class. She ignored my wide-eyed look and grabbed my arm excitedly."He's absolutely gorgeous! And smart!"

"But," I tugged on the hem of my shirt and thought through my protests."He's out of my league, and anyway, I'd rather be with you!"

"Well," she rolled her eyes in annoyance."You get a cute partner, so don't waste your chance."

"Ms. Elliston, Ms. Callister, do you mind keeping it down?" Mrs. Stephen stopped in front of our desks and placed her hands on her wide hips."The rest of us are trying to learn."

I blushed and stammered."Um, sorry, Mrs. Stephen. We'll, um, pay attention."

"I should hope so."

As soon as she marched back up to the board, I settled my cheek in my left hand and fell back asleep for the remainder of class. The bell woke me, twenty minutes later, and I grabbed my binder and pencils and hurried out the door, head down.

"Wait, Gwendolyn!"

I spun around and did a double take when I saw who'd called after me. Conner Smith, the 'most gorgeous guy in school', strode up alongside me, watching me with his unnerving golden eyes.

"Uh, hi?" I was completely lost as to why this beautiful, mind-boggling, gifted boy was talking to me."Um, can I help you with, um, anything?"

"Oh, I was just going to ask if you wanted to meet at your house...or-"

"Wait, um, what?" Did I miss something? Did he think I was someone else or something?

"For the project?" He raised his eyebrows at me, fighting a laugh.

I tugged on the bottom of my shirt, frowning."Huh?" My nap was taking its toll on my brain. I was totally out of it. And the heavenly boy in front of me wasn't exactly helping matters.

"We're partners for our journalism project. Are you okay? Should I take you to the nurse?"

"Oh, yeah, um, okay. Wait, um, I don't mean I need to go to the nurse. Um, we can work at my house. I'm just...yeah. Um, so does four work?"

"Yeah," Conner's eyes sparkled with laughter, making me blush even harder. Great. Now he probably thought I was hilariously stupid. Perfect."Do you want me to drive you?"

"Um, what?" I frowned at him.

"Home. Do you want me to drive you home, after school, since, otherwise, I'll be waiting at your house." He thought for a moment, then burst out laughing."Sorry, I guess that sounded kind of weird. I will be at your house, but to work on the project, not in some weird, creepy, stalker way."

"Oh, um, sure." I smiled timidly."If its not, um, any trouble."

"I'll meet you at the front when the bell rings, then. Bye, Gwendolyn."

"Bye, Conner."

I watched him walking towards his next class -not in a weird, creepy, stalker-y way- until the one minute bell startled me out of my stupor. I groaned and ran through the halls to my sixth period class.

*******

I slammed my locker-door shut, remembering to lock it this time. I pulled on my grey sweater and bookbag, trying to rearrange my textbooks. They were making my bag bulge funnily and, when I hoisted the strap on my shoulder, the edges dug into my side."Ouch, you mean old books," I muttered under my breath.

"Oh look, Retard Girl is talking to herself again." Kailey and Miya flounced past, purposely shoving me into the wall of lockers."Ooh, I'm SO sorry. Not."

Kailey laughed an ugly, dead-donkey/evil witch laugh. Miya smiled sweetly and sashayed off, probably to go terrorise some other poor girl. I stuck my tongue out at her back, smirking at my satisfying -yet so, so lame- 'revenge', if you will.

After I apologised to the girl whose locker I'd been shoved into, I turned and headed towards the front area. Conner was waiting for me, spinning his car key around one finger and chatting with some bros or whatever you call them. As soon as I came barreling around the corner, he looked up and smiled at me."Hey."

"Um, hi." I shied away from the jock-boys, most of whom's girlfriends teased me on a regular basis."Sorry I took so long to get here, I, um, got held up."

"No problem," Conner pushed himself away from the wall and nodded to his guy friends."Bye, guys. See you at the party later."

"Bye, bro."

He beckoned me to follow him and began walking towards the parking lot. I hitched my bag strap up and hurried after him. I had to keep up a brisk trot in order to not be left in the dust. Apparently, Conner realized that we were not running a marathon and slowed his pace."Sorry," he said over his shoulder."I'm just used walking fast."

"It's okay," I huffed, trying to conserve my breath.

His car was a blue pickup; shiny, new, and expensive looking. But then again, I knew about as much about cars as Mr. Weasley knew about muggle things. Conner laughed under his breath, startling me, and opened the passenger door. I smiled a thanks and hoisted my tiny self up onto the seat.

As I reached for my seatbelt, Conner was already buckling his, much to my amazement. Somehow, he'd shut the car door, made his way around the car, and got in, all in, like, five seconds."Um," my mouth blurted, against my will."You're fast...."

He looked at me, startled expression on his gorgeous face."Excuse me?"

"Oh, um, you got in the car really q- nevermind." I blushed, tugging on my shirt, and ducked my head, decoding to just drop the subject. Because really, he didn't need to know I was a little cray-cray.

Conner smiled, then turned his face to the window, hiding his reaction to my crazy imagination. I groaned -mentally, of course- and pretended to be mute for the rest of the ride. This project was definitely off to an awkward start. Fantastic.