Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“That maybe I want that, too.”

He doesn’t know that I’m aware of his story with Kass. I don’t think I should tell him that I witnessed them this morning. Kass made me promise not to tell anyone about this.

Not even him.

“What? A complicated bad boy with a secret past?” I tease.

“No, a girl that I’d chase forever if I had to. A girl I’d chase like he’s chasing you.”

I almost tell him that I know he’s already found that girl. It’s none of my business, but I hope these two figure things out. They’ve both changed each other for the better. What he said resonates with me, although I can hardly believe that Will said something wise. Haze is far from perfect, but he tries… and maybe, in the end, it’s all that matters.

We sneak back into the house that’s dark and completely silent. It’s past midnight. I find myself in bed, tossing and turning, while my brain comes up with a hundred scenarios that will most likely never happen. I wonder what Haze was going to say before his dad walked in earlier. I wish he’d have had the chance to finish speaking. I really thought, for a second there, that I got through to him.

I hook my phone to the charging cable next to my bed. It’s been dead since I left Haze’s. My heart jumps when the screen lights up and I see the one message I’ve been dying to read.

Haze: I’m taking you out to dinner after your appointment tomorrow. I’ll be waiting out front after school. You want to know everything? Fine. Be ready.

I throw myself back onto my bed, the giddying speed of my pulse making me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I bring a pillow to my chest and take a deep breath, thinking that maybe, just maybe…

We still stand a chance.

“Good morning, sleeping ugly,” Will says, ripping me away from a dream I wish had never ended. I yawn, pull the cover over my head, and groan. When he sees that I’m awake, he walks out of my room and makes sure to slam the door.

Since Will’s been staying with us, he’s taken it upon himself to wake Kendrick, Kass, and me for school in the morning. Needless to say, his waking techniques aren’t the most delicate, and he annoys the heck out of everyone, but he doesn’t care.

He wouldn’t be Will if he did.

I spent the entire night dreaming of my date with Haze. Will interrupted the best dream yet. The date ended up in the bedroom. Need I say more?

He’s going to come clean, for good this time. The possibilities are endless and, quite frankly, terrifying to think about. I push the warm blanket off

my skin and run a hand through my knotted and messy morning hair. I glance outside my window. The sun’s shining, birds are singing. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh, right. I’m going back to school today.

That’s what could go wrong.

Twenty minutes later, I’m walking into the kitchen and ignoring Will’s yapping about how excited I should be to go back to school. He knows how nervous it makes me, and so he just has to annoy me.

“Where’s Kendrick?” I change the topic as I head for the fridge.

“Don’t know. He left early this morning. I’m giving you a ride.” He takes a mouthful of cereal.

“What about Kass? Does she ride?”

He chokes on his food.

“W-what?” he says after he finally manages to stop coughing.

It physically hurts not to laugh. His face is priceless.

“Does she ride with us to school?” I arch an eyebrow.

“Oh, hm… yes, she will,” he stutters.

I promised Kass I wouldn’t tell him that I know about them; I’ll just have to let him figure it out on his own. Until then, I’ll keep dropping hints that will make him beyond uncomfortable and completely paranoid. Payback’s a bitch, Willi.

“Kendrick does know that never facing me again doesn’t erase what happened yesterday, right?” I attempt to ease the stinging sensation in my chest. I still can’t believe he left.