Page 1

Chapter 1 – Operation Mascot

Friday

Once I set my mind on something, it was all I could focus on. Conviction was a good thing.

At least, it usually was. But not when I kept failing. Over and over and over again.

I watched Mr. Halifax walk by my locker on his way to his classroom. His brown hair was slightly disheveled today. Like he’d stayed up late grading papers. And the tie around his neck looked like it needed my hands to slide the knot higher. I pressed my lips together, thinking of how amazing it would be to brush my fingertips along his collarbone.

He walked past me without a glance in my direction.

I sighed. I’d had a crush on Mr. Halifax since he started teaching here my sophomore year. And my mind was set on him. Unfortunately, his mind was set anywhere but on me.

My eyes gravitated to his ass. Khakis weren’t exactly a sexy choice for a pant, but he always made them work. To the point where I wasn’t even sure if they weren’t always sexy.

But then Mr. Hill walked by in pair and I shuddered. It was definitely just how Mr. Halifax wore them.

“Ugh,” I said. “Mr. Hill does not wear khakis well, am I right?” I closed my locker and turned towards Scarlett and Axel.

They didn’t seem to have heard what I’d said. Normally they’d be making out against the lockers. But today they were whispering about something. Scarlett caught me staring and pulled her lips away from Axel’s ear.

Scarlett cleared her throat. “Ready to get to class?” she asked, way too casual for someone who was clearly harboring secrets. We were cousins so I’d known her forever. I could always tell when she was lying.

My eyes bounced back and forth between them. “What were you guys just talking about?”

“Nothing,” they both said at the same time.

“You do realize you’re acting very suspicious right now?”

“It’s nothing,” Scarlett said and looped her arm through mine. “See you at lunch,” she said over her shoulder to Axel.

“See you then, baby,” he said.

The two of them were too adorable for words. But we didn’t have any time for words right now anyway because the bell rang.

“Crap, we’re late,” I said and pulled her toward Mr. Halifax’s classroom.

Mr. Halifax turned from the board to see us walk in a few seconds after the bell. “Miss Hunter and Miss Hunter, thank you for joining us.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Scarlett said. And then she scrunched up her nose, realizing she’d just said the weirdest thing possible.

Mr. Halifax shook his head and turned back to the board.

I stifled a laugh and pulled Scarlett toward the back row where we always sat. “The pleasure is all mine?” I whispered as we sat down. “So flirtatious. What will Axel think when he hears you were hitting on our teacher?”

“I wasn’t,” she hissed.

I knew that. But it was still fun teasing. I pulled out my phone and started scrolling on it without looking. “Oh, Mr. Halifax,” I whispered. “Your pleasure is mine.”

“That is definitely not what I said.”

Mr. Halifax cleared his throat. “Miss Hunter and Miss Hunter. Are you planning on speaking during my whole class?”

“That depends,” I said. “Are you in charge of detention today?” I leaned forward slightly.

I swear his Adam’s apple rose and then fell. And his eyes trailed down past the collar of my blazer. Or...had they? I’d imagined him staring at me like he wanted to devour me so many times that I wasn’t even sure what was real anymore.

“No, I’m not in charge of detention today,” he said.