His hair is spiked up like he's run his hand through it a hundred times already today, and his glowing green eyes are dancing. He's tall and leanly muscled, he fills out his uniform in a mouth-watering way, and I want to rip it off him.
My knees are weak just looking at him, and I’m sure I look like a deer in the headlights. My brain finally catches up with my body, and I move out of his way.
He doesn't notice my meltdown, thank god, and he swaggers down the hall with an air of confidence that would be so obnoxious on any of these other rich dicks, but on him I am swooning.
Swooning.
Lord save me, because I may die from the very presence of this guy.
I duck behind something random, a potted plant, to stay out of his sight line because honestly I'm making a complete fool of myself and my heart stutters just a little when I see him grin. Sweet lord, there’s his dimples.
Then he throws his arms around Ash fucking Beaumont's neck, and they grin at each other like they're in love. Then Harley pops around the corner and joins in on the group hug and then, fuck me, Avery squeals and piles on too.
This school is ruining every aspect of my life.
Why couldn't I keep Blaise? It is so unfair, and I feel like this might be the thing that breaks me.
Why!? Ugh.
Suddenly I remember all the conversations I've been listening to about ‘the Morrison kid’. The teachers had talked about his door being stuffed with panties, and Avery had told Ash she couldn't wait for him to get here. Fuck.
Because the world hasn't actually finished shitting on me, I have to sit next to Harley in chemistry, and Avery is sitting in front of us once again. The whole seat assignment by surname is really a pain in my ass, and I consider a name change to get away from him.
I'm sweating and shaking like mad when I sit down, but Blaise isn't in this class, so maybe my brain will kick in at some point. I can feel Harley’s eyes on me as I empty out my bag with trembling hands.
“What's your problem?” he says in a haughty tone.
I give a shrug because, well, we're not friends and I don't owe him an answer. He grunts at me, and then grabs my wrist to turn my hand over. My knuckles are red and a little puffy. I must have hit that dickhead harder than I thought.
“Fighting isn't tolerated on campus,” he drawls.
I give him a look, and he surprises me by grinning. The teacher walks in and starts to take attendance. Harley leans over to whisper in my ear.
“I would have paid good money to watch you punch that asshole.”
The corners of my mouth tug up into a grin. Who would have thought the way to civility with Avery's boys was by acts of violence toward Joey’s group?
The positive of sitting next to Harley is that he doesn't speak at all during classes. He just sits and soaks in information, like the hottest sponge you've ever laid eyes on. Watching him helps distract me from the throbbing pain in my knuckles. I’m going to have to start packing instant ice packs into my school bag.
I watch as Harley writes neatly spaced notes flawlessly. Unlike every other rich boy I've ever had to sit next to, he doesn’t spread out obnoxiously onto my side of the desk. If he wasn't tied to the devil that is Avery Beaumont, I might fall for him.
But I only have to remember the stink of urine on all of my belongings to shudder and swear off him.
When we are dismissed from chemistry, I have to take a minute before I can get up and head to choir. Harley looks at me curiously, and then falls into step with me. I shoot him a look of my own, but I don't say anything. Avery ignores me completely and tucks her arm into Harley's.
I make it three steps out of the room before another random junior I've never seen asks me out. He words it better than the last guy, but it's still pretty obvious he's after sex. Avery's giggle is infuriating, but I manage not to hit this guy. I just tell him I'm not interested. Four more steps, and I see another junior make a beeline towards me.
“Fuck, am I going to have to elbow my way to class?” I mutter, and Harley grins at me.
“Such popularity! Maybe you should try and move up to the junior class instead of slumming it with us, Mounty,” says Avery as she breezes forward, tugging Harley with her. He grumbles at her. “If she flattens another guy, I want to see it. If she does it to Joey, I will wank over it for the rest of my life.”
I blush, and then I curse myself for it.
“If she hits Joey, she'll be dead before the week is out.” Avery's tone is no-nonsense, monotone, and dark. I shiver.
The Beaumonts are not the type of people to fuck with without serious consideration. I need a plan.
* * *
