I highly dislike high school boys. They are utterly awful, completely disgusting, and totally ridiculous. In that order. Their immaturity and tendency to flaunt their bodily functions sickened me. If I had a choice, I would go to an all-girls school. Of course, I don’t. My dear mother would never stoop to actually paying for my education. That might deter her funds from worthy expenditures; my scholarly needs held lower rank than her luxury lifestyle. And so I reside in the public school education system, doomed to spend the rest of my high school days watching Peter Harding and his friends belch the pledge of allegiance.

I sighed inwardly, trying not to watch, and yet boredom couldn’t tear my eyes away. It was truly a shame. Peter had such potential. He was cute, in that boy next door kind of way. Soft dark curls that hung over his forehead and warm hazel eyes with flecks of amber and green. I actually had a crush on him in junior high. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. Especially him. His mouth was as big as his propensity to embarrass the fairer sex.

“Rae,” he belched my name.

I rolled my eyes.

“Rae,” he said my name again when I didn’t acknowledge him, but at least he stopped belching. Small miracles.

“What Peter?” I tried not to sound annoyed. It didn’t work.

His eyebrow rose in humor, “Do I irritate you?”

Oh no, I was not encouraging this line of conversation. Devious little . . .

I shrugged.

“Hey, what are you doing this Friday night?”

Nothing, at least not with you. I turned in his direction and smiled, “Wherever you are sure to be absent, that’s where I’ll be.”

He pretended to look hurt, placing a hand over his heart in mock injury. I rolled my eyes again.

This was a common occurrence in his presence.

“Rae, there’s a kick-ass party at Devon’s Friday night. You should go. With me.”

I stared straight at him, acting like I was considering it. Then I shook my head, “Absolutely not.”

This time he seemed genuinely disappointed, “Why not?”

Did he really have no idea? “Because if I wanted to take a child with me, I would bring my baby sister.”

His friends let out whoops of laughter.

“Harsh,” Jake told him, clapping Peter on the back. R.J. was staring at me, his face curious. Beckett smirked from the back row.

Peter wasn’t deterred, “Come on Rae. You know you’ve been in love with me since the sixth grade.”

I laughed so hard that my sides ached. Is that what he thought? Seriously? He looked a little indignant with my continued humor.

“Are you sure it isn’t the other way around?” I asked between giggles.

The brief flash of shock and then hurt was quickly covered up with a lazy smile, “Yeah, sure babe. You know I’m irresistible.”

His friends laughed but Peter’s eyes told a different story.

I was dead on.

His feelings were as transparent as his inability to think for himself. His friends dictated his every word and behavior. Always a show. Another reason Peter was not the guy for me.

“Yeah, Peter. Your rendition of the pledge makes me weak at the knees.”

More laughter. Peter’s eyes narrowed. Crap. What was he going to do now?

“Rae, come with me Friday,” he leaned forward so only I could hear him. “Please baby?”

I turned to face him, surprised by the endearment. What was he playing at? Was this some kind of joke?

“Peter . . .” his hand settled gently on mine. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I have to shampoo my hair or something.”

Half the room erupted in laughter. Great, we had an audience.

“I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll pick you up at seven so we can go for pizza first.”

He leaned closer as the bell rang, not budging. Kids jumped up from their seats, but the two of us remained, his body pressing nearer to mine. “Think about it. I promise you won’t regret it.”

As our eyes locked on one another the rest of the class gathered their books and bags, leaving the room as quickly as possible.

We were alone now, even the teacher had left for lunch.

I sighed, “Peter.”

He pulled me up, placed his hands softly on my cheeks, and lowered his lips to mine. I was so shocked I didn’t move. Did he just kiss me?

“Rae,” he leaned back, “you’re the only girl for me.”

I met his eyes, unable to look away, “Why?”

He smiled, “You know why.”

I shook my head. What was happening? I loathed him. Right?

He grinned, like a damn fool, “Maybe I should kiss you again. It makes you speechless . . .”

I arched an eyebrow, pushing against his chest, but he remained in place, holding me in his strong arms. “Peter . . . please,” I whispered.

His head lowered until his mouth was hovering above mine, “Stop fighting me, Rae. Don’t you tire of the same old games?”

Huh. That was profound, even for him. And the answer was yes. I nodded.

“Then give in, just once. Say you’ll come with me Friday.”

“Ok,” I acquiesced. “One chance. Don’t screw it up.”

He laughed and squeezed me in a tight hug, “I won’t. But be careful Rae.” At my confusion he grinned, “You might fall in love with me.”

Good God. He was ridiculous. See my point?

“Peter!” I shouted, punching him playfully on the arm. “You –”

I never uttered another word. He kissed me again and left, winking before he turned the corner.

“Rae! Hey Rae, where are you?”

My best friend Hayley was calling to me from the hallway, her voice echoing in the now empty concrete hall. I grabbed my backpack and headed toward the sound of her voice, completely baffled by Peter’s sudden change in behavior. We had been at odds the entire school year. Not a single day went by without him teasing and my sarcastic remarks. Was that what he liked? I shook my head. Silly boy.

“What’s up Rae? You seem a little distracted.”

“Sorry Hay,” I took a deep breath and tried to process the last few minutes. “Peter just asked me out and . . . he kissed me.”

Her eyes widened, “He kissed you?”

I nodded.

She squealed like a little pot belly pig, “How did the kiss feel? Did you like it? Do you like him?”

“Wait a sec,” I giggled, raising my hands. “It was soft and sweet. And I’m actually totally disgusted by him, at least I thought I was until five minutes ago. I have no idea now.”

She laughed lightly, “Boys are so confusing.”

“Right?”

The rest of lunch we discussed the pros and cons of dating Peter. The list was evenly matched, much to my surprise. For the first time, I considered what it would be like to spend actual time with him, time that counted. The thought didn’t repulse me as much as I assumed it would.

Boy, was I fickle or what?

Peter shared most of my class schedule so although I didn’t see him at lunch, I saw him right after in chemistry. He sauntered in, making jokes with his buddies. Funny, but I never noticed before how the guys followed him or how they seemed to admire his ability to control a room when he entered it. I always thought of him as a follower, but now I saw he was actually the leader of their little trio. Beckett and Shane seemed to follow the other three most of the time.

This was weird. How did a simple kiss make me see him so differently?

Peter’s eyes sought me out almost immediately and he winked. Great. Was he going to make a scene? “Hi Rae,” he took his normal seat next to mine.

“Hi,” I responded, then turned my back to him on purpose, to talk to Hayley.

I felt an arm drape across the back of my seat. What was he doing?

Hayley giggled, “Um Rae,” I didn’t dare turn around. “Peter wants you.”

She could hardly hide her laugh but did so behind a strained cough. I narrowed my eyes at her. Slowly I turned around, meeting Peter’s confident grin. Did he think we were a couple now or something?

“What do you want Peter?” I asked, wary of his agenda.

“Rae,” he pretended innocence, “I’m just saying hello. Calm down.”

Oh, he was so irritating. I frowned. What did I get myself into now?

The chemistry lecture started and I had a reason to ignore him, as difficult as it proved to be. He paid no attention to the teacher, his eyes darting to my face often. The more he stared, the angrier I became. By the end of the day, I was ready to rescind my offer to give him a chance.

“Rae,” I heard a roar – the pretty purr – of Peter’s olive-green Nova. “Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”

I shook my head, unable to speak in my frustration.

“Please, Rae?”

I started walking faster and turned the corner. Avoiding him proved impossible. He followed me until I walked up my driveway, which was sweet if I hadn’t been so aggravated with him.

“Bye Rae!”

Ridiculous headstrong boy. I refused to answer him and let myself in the front door, resisting the urge to glance back over my shoulder.