"I need you," he whispered from the passenger seat. Why would I trust a bad boy? But I felt, for some reason, that I needed him to. I turned to look at him, but he was already leaning in to kiss me. Why is love so complicated? Maya Reeds is a seventeen year old girl thriving on independence and drive. She thinks boys are mindless, immature imbeciles and has steered clear of the entire concept of love in general. Her single mother is not just a role model, but an inspiration. Leaving for a business trip to China, Maya's mother has high ambitions for her future. However, she can't leave her daughter alone for all those months. That's where Carrie Groom comes in. Carrie has been friends with Maya's mom for years, and her home seems like a harmless place to stay for the duration of Maya's seeming abandonment. Never thought that Carrie could've raised a bad boy. As Maya endures this temporary move, she is sent into a whirlwind of desire, heated emotions, and betrayal- all fueled by the boy who lives just down the hall.

"Cay, will you look at me?" I turned around and lifted my eyes to look into his. His arms were braced on the counter and he was looking at me sideways. The glow of the light coming from the living room and into the kitchen gave his face an otherworldly impression. I waited for him to continue. He closed his eyes and sighed, "Cay... Just so you know... I wanted to do it. Right there, a while ago. But you know why I couldn't, and why we shouldn't." There was a pain in my chest at his words. But I just gazed at him, unsure of what to say. He was right. It would be a mistake. And no matter how many times my weak heart and frail mind wanted him to kiss me, it would be selfish, not to mention immoral. In the end we would both regret it, and that would hurt the most. © rainthereader 2012 All Rights Reserved