The things we almost were

Kaelin to say a word wh

ned on him - heart pounding with leftover anger a

d, tossing my bag onto his couch

ng me like I was performing some kind of drama for his ente

and on my waist, that stupid grin, and the way the new girl ha

she was already imagining who w

s that, Kae?" I demanded, my voice echoing through

and annoyingly calm, like

I said before I could stop my

, knowing smile forming. "This about ear

n impulse,

. "You grabbed me in front of everyone- including t

row, smirk still t

g? It's not like this is the first

t back. "That's

this was just another Tuesday. "Come on, I was t

t's what he does - makes you feel stupid for

- when he leaned in way too close, like he was about to kiss me. I'd sto

er, it just made me want to find her a

e," I muttered, draggi

ery bit of my frustration. "You

nto the couch, muttering, "You

ding toward the cellar door. "You're

lazy wink over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll go easy

up anyway, followi

and smoke - so him it almost made me laugh. He bent do

id firmly when h

wisting his cap open.

-and-silence kind of guy. So when he did laugh, really la

at made it hard

pulled out a lighter and a ciga

ously

cking open with that metallic click.

that," I said,

muttered. "One a

aught me watching him. His hand froze mida

tossed the cigarette into the ashtray. "Damn i

this time - not teasi

d gave his shoulder a quick pat. "

aint smirk crept back in. "You're too nice, El,

taking a long sip from my

off the walls. For a second, the

when he crossed every line, som

***

ia's

shoulder. Turning, I came face-to-face with a guy who lo

e kind that makes you instantl

flashing me a grin that could sell p

, returning the smile a

t," he said, chuckli

ook it, his palm was warm - enoug

he checked his watch. "Crap, I'm l

ing down the hall with that confident

nutes, and I was already meeti

o chaos,

buzz of laughter, footsteps, and chatte

both stupidly good-looking in different ways. T

k he laughed at the world more than he lived in it. They weren't talking loud, but t

ut them just.

resting than the guy

their deal was, but t

ass, a woman with sharp eyes

she asked, her to

via Trevor. I just moved here with my dad - he runs a restaurant do

I could stop myself, and I

ome, Olivia. Everyone, be nice to

ed a familiar grin - the same gu

e you again this soon," h

," I said with

eaning back in his chair

he laughed - the kind of laugh

eird school rules, and apparently, the

s drifted to

looking fo

smirking. "Those two psychos

ychos? That's.

ss. Both have rich families, both act like they own the

. "Wait-two guys

ows raised. "Yea

ed, remembering how close they'd bee

amilies are famous. Both dads are big-time names - politicians,

oftened. "Oh...

everywhere. Happened on Elian's birth

t," I murmured. "Said

his son like he's carrying that legacy. Especially s

ple even think they'r

ked. "

You tell me - you saw t

looked... close. Like they get e

is breath. "Yeah, that

conspiratorial tone. "Hey, about them - if people talk

e," I sai

e image of those two by the lockers - that unspoken c

is school year wasn'

ng to be i