After a relatively quiet weekend hanging out with Grandpa, and spending Saturday night chilling with the guys, I headed back to school feeling upbeat and in control.

I’ve convinced myself that asking Chloe out isn’t a bad thing.

Luke laughed when I told him, then congratulated me on my brilliant plan to pull the sisters apart from the inside. I cringed when he said it and admitted that wasn’t really my plan.

“You like messing with her, don’t you? Maddie Barlow makes you hot.”

I hissed and tried to shake my head. “She’s gorgeous, but she’s a…bitch.” I basically squeak the word because my brain hates me saying bitch and thinking of Maddie at the same time.

Luke whooped and slapped me on the shoulder. “Look, whatever, man. Just as long as they don’t humiliate us out there, I don’t give a shit who you have a hard-on for.”

I bit my lips together and didn’t respond. We were sitting on the water tower, neither of us ready to go home. Luke’s mom didn’t have a night shift so he was taking advantage of the zero babysitting duty. Since his dad left, Luke’s had to step up and help take care of his little sister, Lexy… a lot. But not on Saturday. We stayed out until the early hours of the morning. Until our butts couldn’t take the cold anymore.

I could have pulled an all-nighter. It would have been awesome to see the sunrise from the tower, but the early morning air was damn freezing and a hot shower was calling.

We collected our empty soda cans and reluctantly headed for our cars.

Neither of us will ever admit this, but just sitting there shooting the breeze is one of our favorite things to do.

Shit, that makes us sound like girly BFFs.

But I needed someone to talk to, and although I don’t trust Luke with all my secrets, I didn’t mind letting him in on my Chloe crisis.

After he finished hassling me about my hots for Maddie, he did make me admit that I asked Chloe out just to piss off her older sister, and then he made me feel better about my choice.

“Don’t worry about it, man. What’s done is done. Take Chloe. Have a good time. It’s not like you’re asking her to be your girlfriend or anything. Dance. Make out. Take her home. No harm, no foul, you know?” He nudged me in the side. “Maybe don’t sleep with her.” His shoulder hitched and I elbowed him with a frown.

He snickered. “I’m just saying. Her dad is one scary-ass looking dude. You don’t want to risk taking her V-card and pissing that beast off.”

“You can shut up now,” I grumbled and shoved him again.

He laughed at me, but he had a good point.

I haven’t promised Chloe anything more than a date to the dance. I’ll keep my hands to myself and be the perfect gentleman.

She’s sweet. She’ll understand that.

It’ll be fine.

Strolling into school, I raise my eyebrows to acknowledge a few of the girls saying hello to me. I keep this up as I’m either waved at or spoken to by half the student body. I’m used to it. People like me, they want to think they have a chance at being my friend, so I hand out on a few smirks and smiles to keep up the illusion.

They’ll never make it. I don’t let too many get close.

Rounding the corner with a slight bounce in my step, I’m feeling pretty good…until someone grabs my arm and hauls me into Mr. Johnson’s empty classroom.

“What the…” My words peter out as I come to a stop and find Maddie standing in front of me.

Wow. She’s stronger than she looks.

My forehead wrinkles as I gaze down at her, but I smooth out my expression and paste on a cocky grin.

“You know, you don’t have to pull me into an empty classroom if you want a little privacy. I know some great spots in the library and behind the gym where we can—”

“Don’t even.” She shuts me up. “I’m not after privacy so we can do something nasty, I just want to talk for a second. And I don’t want an audience.”

“Why not?” I perch my butt on the edge of a desk and watch her pace away from me.

She’s in skinny jeans and a fitted purple sweater today. I can see the curve of her ass just below the edge of her sweater and I can’t help admiring the shape of it.

She turns back around and pins me with a serious frown. “Why’d you ask Chloe to the dance?”

My mouth goes dry under her scrutiny but I manage to clear my throat and murmur, “Because I want to take her.”

“Because you like her?”

“Sure.” I shrug but have to look away. I set my gaze on the cluttered wall at the back of the room—movie posters, book covers, quotes from famous writers and poets, students’ work, photos. Everything is overlapping each other, cutting off the quotes and images so it’s like this cacophony of letters and color. Mr. Johnson loves to pin stuff up but has an aversion to taking anything down.

Maddie’s sharp huff draws my eyes back to her. Her scowl is sharp yet beautiful, making her cheeks tinge red. “Stay away from her. Tell her you can’t take her anymore. I don’t want you guys going together.”

“Why?” I snicker.

“Because she’s sweet and impressionable. She’ll fall for you in a heartbeat when all you’re looking for is a good time. Or to prove a point. Or whatever the hell you’re trying to do!” Her hands dance in the air while she’s talking. “She doesn’t need some fake asshole. She deserves a guy who’s going to treat her like a queen.”

“And you don’t think I can do that?” I smirk.

“Don’t do the smirk right now. It is so irritating.” She points her finger right at me, which only makes my smile grow.

Rising from the table, I slowly step towards her, crowding her out and putting on an extra burst of Carter charm. “Admit it, you like my smirk.”

What the hell are you doing? Are you flirting? You don’t like this girl, remember?

My shouting brain is ignored as I inch just a little closer and find myself staring at her lips. I like the shape of her mouth. I want to know what it’d feel like pressed against mine.

“No, actually, I find your smirk arrogant and very off-putting.” To my surprise, she doesn’t back down. She doesn’t inch away or turn her head to the side. She just stands a little taller, making her lips that much closer to mine. It’s obvious she doesn’t like me this close but she’s never going to admit that.

Standing her ground, she lifts her chin and meets my smile head on.

Damn, she is so gorgeous.

Those eyes.

That fire.

It’s hard not to reach forward and skim my fingers down her soft cheek, thread them behind her neck so I can pull her towards me. But I’ve got to stay strong right now. I’m not going to have her boss me around, even if I do get a kick out of it. The best way to disarm this situation is to make her squirm.

It’s not flirting, it’s just getting the upper hand.

That’s what I tell myself as I shuffle forward another inch and get so close to her face I can feel her quivering breath on my chin. “Admit it,” I whisper. “You’re attracted to me. You think I’m hot.”

“I do not think you’re—” She swallows. “Hot.”

I grin. “Oh yeah you do. You like me.”

“No!” She shoves me away, once again surprising me by her strength.

“Come on, admit it.” I spread my arms wide.

“No!” she snaps and then proceeds to kill me with rhetoric that hurts more than a punch to the balls. “Why would I ever like you? You have no personality! You think you’re so amazing with your cool blue eyes and cut body, but can either of those things make me laugh or inspire me? Face it, you’re nothing more than a pretty boy with hollow insides. I’m not interested in dating cardboard. I want someone I can actually have a conversation with.”

Her spiky words hit me right between the eyes.

I want to bite back with something smooth, witty—hell, I’ll even take sarcastic—but I’ve got nothing.

People think the sun shines out my ass.

Girls love me.

Guys want to be me.

And this little hottie is standing there putting me in my place like no one has ever dared to do before.

Stepping into my space, she jabs me in the chest with her finger. “Chloe is too kind and beautiful for someone like you. Let her down gently, and then stay the hell away from her.”

She stalks out and all I can do is stare at the cluttered wall in the back of the room. One of Shakespeare’s eyes stares at me from behind the Hunger Games cover image.

For some weird reason, my heart is thundering. It’s pulsing in my ears, drowning out the hub of activity in the hallway outside the classroom.

Making a fist, I smash the top of the desk. Pain radiates through my knuckles and up my arm. I wince and curse myself for doing something so stupid.

Snatching my bag off the floor, I throw it over my shoulder and storm out of the room.

I’m instantly met with friendly smiles and one sultry “Hey, Holden” from a brunette cutie in knee-high boots and skintight jeans.

“Hey,” I croak, turning left and walking the opposite direction.

I’m not in the mood to catch up with the guys outside Miss Kettle’s room today. We usually meet before homeroom and hang out for a while, but right now, I just want to be on my own.

I head to the library, finding a space in the back corner and leaning against the wall behind the ancient encyclopedias.

Maddie’s words shouldn’t be riling me so bad. Part of me wants to be pissed at her, but a louder part—a more depressing part—is shouting at me that she’s right.

I act like a shallow asshole. I’m a cardboard cutout at this school, because I don’t want people to know who I really am.

But dammit, I have my reasons! And they’re valid.

Why should I care what Maddie thinks?

I don’t.

Because I don’t like her!

At least I don’t want to like her.

Closing my eyes with a huff, I scrub a hand down my face.

“Get it together, man,” I mumble. “She’s just a chick.”

I’m not going to let her get into my head. Who gives a shit what she thinks of me? I’m taking her sister to that dance and Maddie Barlow can stick it.

I’m not wasting one more ounce of energy on that girl!