Oh my God.
My fanfic. Here I am thinking my fanfic is going to help me seduce the mean boy. How did I delude myself into thinking I could really do this?
“Contestants, take your positions!” the announcer shouts.
My palms sweat as the other women start lining up. Tristan stands near the Grecian arches of the Business Administration Building, looking like he was born to be there. The king ready to be fawned upon by his subjects. I move as quickly as I can, wanting to get this over with. Triumph skitters through my veins when I see that I’m second in line.
There’s no backing down now.
“Your time starts now,” the announcer says.
I wait as Tristan disappears inside the building with the first contestant in line. The first five minutes pass surprisingly quickly, probably because my thoughts are racing.
When it’s finally my turn, Tristan opens the big metal door and gestures for me to follow him. I take a deep breath as I walk inside and into a nearby room. As soon as we get inside, Tristan plops down on a plush sofa and drapes one arm over the back.
“Well, we’re finally here.” A wicked glint flickers in his eyes. “My shy little nerd.”
I grimace as I walk over and sit beside him, careful to keep my distance from him. “How can you say things like that and not cringe at your obnoxiousness? Just talk like a normal fucking person.”
Tristan snorts out a laugh. “Never mind. I must have forgotten about your word vomit. Just a nerd, I guess.” His smile softens. “Mynerd.”
Heat floods my cheeks. I tug at the hem of my shirt, suddenly self-conscious. “Just wait until this nerd seduces you.”
Fuck, why did I say that? I must be nervous. What could be less sexy than stating your seduction plan outright? I said something similar last night, but I could forgive myself for that. I was practically in a fugue state after catching Tristan masturbating.
My gaze flickers to the student at the corner of the room. His gaze is fixed on his phone screen, his eyes wide as if he’s riveted.
I refuse to cower, even though I did just say something unbelievably stupid. Even though the whole school will be able to scrutinize that stupid thing whenever the YouTube video is posted.
“You’re still planning on doing that?” Tristan asks.
His deep voice draws my gaze. He’s wearing that affectionate smile that’s fooled me once before.
Never again.
I lift my chin. “Of course I am.”
His smile grows. “I wasn’t expecting you to say it on camera, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I can never predict what you’re going to say.”
I frown. “We hardly ever talk.”
He averts his eyes from mine. “No, but we used to.”
When he first got together with Harper, he means. We had a few conversations when I was trying to get to know him for her sake. I remember thinking maybe he wasn’t as bad as I had assumed before. He was smarter. Kinder.
I was an idiot.
“And lately, I’ve overheard you talk in the classes we’ve had together,” he says. “To your friend.”
“My friend?”
He scratches the back of his head. “That guy…”
“Cody,” I say immediately. “When have you heard us talk?”
His jaw works, but he doesn’t answer. He’s quiet for a moment. When his eyes return to mine, something sinister flickers in them. “Why do you never talk to me anymore, Ames? It hurts my feelings.”
Fuck, I hate it when he mocks me.Ames. What a repugnant-sounding nickname. I glance at my iWatch, straining for nonchalance. “Because I don’t like you.”
