“I already know that he doesn’t like me,” I say with all the finality I can muster. “It would be a lot easier for all of us if I could do this project with someone else. Maybe Sam?”
Sam is sweet. I don’t have a lot of guy friends, but he’s one of them, and he’s always been kind to me. We’ve had the same honors classes together since our freshman year, and he even took me to the prom last year, though just as friends. He knows where I stand when it comes to relationships and sex, and he’s never tried to push himself on me.
He hasn’t even tried to kiss me, and with Sam, I would’ve considered it. I still might.
I glance over to where he usually sits, one of the girls with a too short skirt on sitting next to him, a little scowl on her face as Sam tries to talk to her.
“I’m sure he’d want to switch to be partnered with me,” I tell Skov as I watch Sam smile at that girl, hoping to warm her up. Her name is Natalie.
She’s not very nice. I avoid her and her friend group at all costs.
“I’m sure he would.” Ms. Skov sounds amused, which I find faintly annoying.
This isn’t a laughing matter. This is the next three weeks of my life. The most intense time at school—nearing the most important finals week of my senior year. The one that counts the most. Daddy reassures me our family money can get me into any college I want, but I also prefer to get in to one of my dream schools on my own merit.
My family name makes that nearly impossible, but we’ll see what happens.
“So you’ll let us switch then? I bet Natalie would love to do this project with Crew.” I think they were together at some point over the last couple of years. At the very least, they hooked up.
Ew.
“No, I’m not going to let you switch. The whole point of this project is to learn about someone who isn’t like you, who is part of a different friend group. You and Sam went to prom together last year so that means he’s out as a possible partner,” Ms. Skov says.
Everything inside me withers and dies. “It’ll just be easier. I’m comfortable with Sam, and Crew makes me…uneasy.”
“In a threatening way?” The concern in her voice is very, very real.
Maybe this is the weak spot, where I can burrow my way into getting what I want. “Yes, he always has such a horrible look on his face.”
“So he’s never actually threatened you in any way?”
This is where my honesty gets me. “No. Not really.”
His mere existence feels like a threat, but I can’t tell her that. I sound like a horrible person for thinking such a thing, let alone managing to say it out loud.
“I think you need a challenge, Wren. You’re always wanting to help people.”
“Girls,” I stress. “What do any of the boys have to worry about at this school?” I’m not condoning it, just stating facts. “They’re all golden. Untouchable. They can do whatever they want, especially the one whose name is everywhere we look.”
My skin grows prickly with awareness when I sense someone approaching. I can feel his warmth, smell his deliciously intoxicating scent, and I know.
I just know who it is.
“Is there a problem?” Crew asks, his deep, rumbly voice touching something foreign inside of me.
I brace myself for Skov to tell on me.
“Miss Beaumont had a few questions on the project. Right, Miss Beaumont?” Ms. Skov smiles broadly at the both of us.
I nod, keeping my head down. I can feel his gaze burning my skin as he watches me, and I’m worried if I look into his eyes, I’ll turn to stone. Like he’s freaking Medusa with a bunch of coiled snakes as hair.
“You two should go sit down and get started,” Skov encourages.
“Okay,” I croak, daring to look in Crew’s direction.
To find him already watching me, the look on his handsome face so dark, my knees nearly buckle.
FOUR
CREW
Wren Beaumont is petrified of me.
I knew the moment she shot out of her seat and went to Ms. Skov’s desk that she was trying to get out of working with me. I could tell. Everyone else in the class was shifting into position, pairing up with their project partners, while I sat there by myself and fumed.
She’s making me look like a damn fool, and for what? Because she thinks I’m going to treat her like shit? Doesn’t she realize she’s only making things worse? She’s just too wrapped up in her own worry to realize what she’s done.
Typical behavior.
In tandem, we turn away from Skov’s desk, and Wren goes to hers, about to settle in when I speak up.