Everything is not okay.

All anyone can freaking talk about is the Barlow sisters. They’ve become the hot topic of the day. It’s now lunchtime and I’m kind of over it.

Yes, they’re pretty.

Yes, they played baseball with us yesterday.

Yes, nothing exciting ever happens in this town, so these three newbies are being treated like celebrities.

I watch them carry their trays through the cafeteria and find a space at the table near the wall.

Practically every guy in the school has tried to say hello to them at some point. Talk about embarrassing. We’re acting like a bunch of drooling puppies when we should be acting like Pitbulls.

We’re fierce. We take no shit.

We will not be turned into starry-eyed zombies over a bunch of girls.

So why the hell can’t I stop looking at them?

I sniff and grab my water bottle, gulping down the last of it. I’m still kind of pissed that I went to use my Carter charm this morning and got completely stonewalled. I should have known better than to start with the bitchy sister. But Chloe had taken off before I could get to her, so I figured I’d offer to walk Maddie to class. She was standing there looking kind of lost, so I strolled up to her and smirked.

“Can I help you find your way?”

She gave me a caustic glare and muttered, “I’m a big girl, I’ll be fine. Thanks.”

“Just trying to make you feel welcome.”

“Sure you are.” The fiery look in her eyes shot straight through me. It was almost disconcerting. Like if she wanted to, she could peel back every one of my layers.

I countered with my classic smirk. “Have a nice day, Madison.”

“It’s Madelyn, Mr. Welcoming Committee.”

“Right.” I grinned at her again while she made a face like I was gross and then spun away in search of her homeroom.

It’s been bugging me ever since. Why the hell was riling her up so damn fun? The Carter charm obviously doesn’t work on her, so I’ll save it up for Chloe, but…

Those fiery blue eyes.

Damn, they are something.

My gaze tracks back to the first girl who’s ever put me in my place like that.

Turns out Maddie and I are in a few classes together—Stats and Comparative Lit were this morning, and both she and Max are in my Computer Sciences class this afternoon. Luke overheard them talking schedules and clued me in.

He’s obviously still pissed about the baseball thing, because he’s not happy about these hot new sensations.

Seriously, ever since his dad split he’s been this insecure mess. Anything to threaten his high school world really throws him. He’s got status in this place. He’s important here. No one’s going to turn their back on him and make him feel like a worthless piece of shit.

Man, I need to win him over on this Barlow sister flirt-a-thon. If he can get one of the girls to fall for him… Damn, he’d have a hot girlfriend and she’d be too loved-up to focus on taking his place on the baseball field.

I can’t hide my grin as I picture Luke and Max hooking up. Or maybe he’d be better with Maddie.

My smile fades and I shake my head. No way, she’d squish him like a bug. He needs someone sweet and adoring…which leaves Chloe. But I’ve already established a connection with her.

Look, whatever. I’ll work that part out later.

All I know is that this should be an interesting finish to the year.

I won’t let Luke’s final six months be ruined by three newcomers. No way. We’re going to have some fun…turn this thing around.

I glance at my best friend. He’s checking out the girls like everyone else in this place. His upper lip curls and he lets out a quiet huff before looking down at his tray.

The sisters are sticking close, obviously gathering strength from each other.

Max glances around while uncapping her water bottle. Her eyebrows pucker and I follow her line of sight, wondering what she’s looking at.

All I can see is the table of emo kids, and behind them are Cairo Hale and his band, Velocity. Huh, they’re out today. Usually they’re hiding in one of the music suites on the bottom floor.

Of course she’s looking at him. I roll my eyes, irritated by the school heartthrob. He’s the only guy I really have to compete with when it comes to the ladies. The guy plays guitar, and he’s all cool and mysterious. It’s only made worse by the fact that he’s got this exotic look going on. His mother is Indian and his father’s Scottish, so he’s this blend that apparently is drop-dead gorgeous.

People at this school either love or hate Velocity. Their music is pretty decent, but some of the band members are questionable. Latifa used to be a full-blown bitch until she started playing bass guitar. Apparently music saved her life or something. As for Roman, the drummer, he’ll always be a problem. The guy’s one of those quiet snakes that plays it cool. He’s small in stature, so not a big brawler. He knows better than to start a fight with any of us. He’s got the kind of smile that can hide all sins, but I’ve heard rumors. The guy has some shady connections and according to Luke, he tried to sell him drugs once. Luke shot him down, threatening to beat his ass if he ever tried that shit again. We can’t afford to mess around with drugs and get kicked off the team. We’re not stupid.

Since then I’ve given the entire band a really wide berth. I’ve got enough troubles to deal with and I don’t want to be associated with teenagers trying to act like rock stars.

It’s pathetic. They think they’re such hot shit, scoring gigs at nightclubs and bars outside of town. They’re all underage but they get in anyway. Roman’s connections obviously turn a blind eye.

Whatever. I’m in the not-a-Velocity-fan camp, and I’m happy to stay there. My upper lip curls as a bunch of girls flock around Cairo like he’s some superstar.

I glance back at Max and notice she’s now engrossed in a conversation with her sister, no longer checking out Cairo. I can tell it’s Max because she’s wearing zero jewelry, other than the two silver studs in each ear. Maddie is sporting the same gold necklace she had on yesterday. The heart pendant rests between her collarbone, giving away the fact that she’s into simple, no-nonsense beauty.

Shit, that’s the kind of thing Dorian would say.

My older brother is a fashion designer and I’ve grown up with him assessing everybody’s choices as they walk past us on the street. It’s kind of painful and I’m embarrassed that I find myself doing it too.

Thank God I can keep the thoughts to myself.

“What are they wearing?” Sadie, one of the most popular girls in school, plunks down beside me, her dark eyes scathing as she checks out the new girls.

Chloe is sporting the same pink hoodie she had on yesterday, while Max has replaced her baseball shirt with a khaki bomber jacket. Her long hair is pulled into a messy knot at the back of her head. Yeah, there’s nothing overtly girly about that chick. Maybe she’s not into guys at all.

I cast my eyes over her sister. Maddie’s gray Adidas jacket is baggy and kind of swallows her figure, but it suits her. She’s wearing a fitted tee beneath it and with the jacket unzipped down to her navel, I can tell she has a decent rack. Her boobs aren’t huge, but they’re a really nice shape.

Clearing my throat, I look away from her, annoyed that I’m now thinking about her tits when I’m trying not to think about her at all.

Bess, the girl with the nicest rack in school, sits down beside her best friend and the two girls start ripping shreds off the sisters.

Talk about a threat alert.

Sadie and Bess are going after everything from the fact that the Barlow sisters are acting like self-righteous snobs—“I heard Zane invite them to sit with us, but they just took off to their own little table”—to the idea that they must shop at a men’s clothing store—“It’s like they went in with blindfolds on and just started grabbing stuff off the racks.”

Who the hell do they think they are? The fashion police?

My eyes skim Sadie’s curves. She’s hiding nothing in her skintight clothing, and that’s just the way she likes it. It’s tempting to brush my index finger over the exposed skin around her navel, but it’s a fleeting thought. I’m not going down that road with Sadie again. We dated when I first arrived at the school and I was still trying to find my way, but we quickly figured out that we drove each other freaking nuts.

Since then, I haven’t seriously dated anyone. It’s just easier to flit around the ladies. Make out at parties and keep things casual. I’m not looking for anything serious, especially after the year I’ve just had. I’m not about to overcomplicate my senior year by scoring myself a girlfriend.

My eyes flick to the couples down the end of our table. Only two of my teammates are really involved, and those four are like the lovesick puppy squadron. From what I can tell, the girls are constantly pressuring them to hang out and dragging them away from team parties. It’s so not worth it.

Kingston and I used to hang out all the time, but now he’s got to make time for Bridget.

Groan. It’s such a drag.

Wiping my mouth with the side of my hand, I’m about to get up and leave the table when my phone starts buzzing.

I pull it out of my pocket, my insides immediately deflating as I register the number.

Part of me wants to leave the table and take the call in private, but if I do that everyone will start asking questions.

Why did Holden leave the table?

Who’s he talking to?

Clenching my jaw, I answer with a smooth smile. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Hi, Holden. I’m really sorry to call you at school.” I recognize Nurse Carrie’s voice immediately and my stomach bunches into a tight knot.

“Is everything good?” I ask in a low voice while keeping my smile in place. Hopefully it hides the truth from those around me.

“He’s having another episode. I tried to call your mom but she’s not answering. You’ve told me not to bother with your dad, so sorry…but you’re all that’s left.”

“No, that’s cool.” I reach for my trash and start packing up my tray, hoping my hands aren’t shaking.

Where the hell is Mom?

It’s her father we’re talking about here and she’s not answering her fucking phone!

“I don’t suppose you know where I can reach your mother, do you? I don’t want to disturb your school day.”

“No, that’s fine. It’s all good. You know I’ve got it covered.”

Luke glances at me from across the table, his forehead wrinkling in question.

I wriggle my eyebrows, trying to hide it all.

He smirks and lifts his chin, figuring I’m probably heading out of school for a little booty call.

That’s how I hid it from him last time. I lied and told him there was a hot nurse who works at Cresthill Home for the Elderly. That’s why I sneak off there all the time, so we can make out in the janitor’s closet.

I still can’t believe he buys it. Luke’s not one to question much. That’s probably how I get away with it so easily.

I wish I could tell him the truth, but my best friend is a blabbermouth when it suits his purposes, and I don’t want him telling the school about my insane grandfather who I end up taking responsibility for because my father doesn’t give a shit and my mother’s too drunk to care.

“Okay, well, I’m really sorry, but can you come help? I’m happy to call the school to explain if you need me to. I don’t want you getting in trouble.” Carrie’s always so accommodating.

“No problem. I’ll see you soon.” I drop a little husk into my voice to try and sell the lie that I’m arranging a hookup, then quickly end the call.

As soon as I slide my phone into my pocket, I stand tall and grab my tray.

“They’re not even wearing makeup.” Sadie is wrapping up her bitter diatribe about the new girls.

Rolling my eyes, I lean down and whisper in her ear, “That’s because they don’t need it.”

I ignore her gasp and put on a show for Luke. “Gotta split, man.”

“You dirty dog.” He slaps my hand and says he’ll cover for me. As I walk away from the table I can already hear him telling our friends that I’ve got a secret cougar offsite. He’ll embellish the way he always does. The guy can spin a story when he needs to.

I don’t care what he says. Thankfully at my particular table, ditching school to have sex with an older woman makes you cool. I’ll have to make sure the gossip wheel doesn’t spin too fast and get me into any hot water, but I’m already formulating a story that will keep mine legit and not have questions reaching outside of the school grounds.

Dumping my tray, I weave around the tables, walking right past the Barlow sisters. Chloe glances up from her yogurt and gives me a blushing smile. I return it with a wink and dodge the scorching heat Maddie’s firing my way.

Seriously. What’s her problem?

Flinging the doors open, I walk into the empty hallway and reality catches up with me like a freaking bullet train.

Grandpa’s having an episode, which means I’ve got to go in there and stop him from throwing bedpans at the nurses and cursing anything that moves.

I’m kind of used to it, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

It’s a far cry from hot sex in a janitor’s closet, that’s for sure.

Man, putting on a show is exhausting. Some days I wish I could just tell all my friends the truth.

But they wouldn’t get it.

Armitage High sees me as the guy who’s got it together.

I need them to see me that way. It helps me believe that I can do this. That I can be the person I’m supposed to be.

I start jogging for my car.

I’m the son of Mayor Carter, the captain of the only winning team this school has, the senior every guy wants to be.

If they knew the truth, who knows what it would do to my image?

Dad would freaking kill me if the truth came out. That’s why he acts like it’s not a reality. I’m not the only one putting on a show. We Carters have a reputation to uphold. Armitage is depending on us to be the people they look up to, the perfect family that proves a better life is possible.

I’ve only got six months left of this masquerade and then I’m out.

At least that’s what I tell myself as I sneak down to my car and fire out of the parking lot.

I’m still not sure how I’m supposed to face the questions that haunt me.

Who’s going to help my grandpa through his final stages of Alzheimer’s?

Who’s going to stop my mom from drowning in a sea of alcohol?

Checking my watch, I speed towards Cresthill while making a mental note to stop by the house before heading back to school for an afternoon workout at the gym.

Hopefully Mom’s just forgotten her phone, or can’t hear it buried in the bottom of her bag.

“Please make it that,” I mumble, dreading the idea of finding her passed out on the kitchen floor like I did last time.