Unwritten Rules (Rules 1)

I wish I could reciprocate Kass’s excitement, but all I can think about is the risk I’m taking by going to another party after what happened. The boys said it should be fine. That it’s actually better to be in a large crowd than to stay home like a sitting duck. But still, Will, Blake, and Alex decided to come along to keep me safe just in case.

Because it definitely has nothing to do with the free booze and the multiple girls running around in their bikinis.

The clock reads that only fifteen short minutes separate us from the beginning of next period. I tell the girls I’ll see them later and exit the cafeteria. I know that getting to my locker is going to be much harder than I anticipated when I see the crowd of students gathered in the hall. I make my way through the sea of teenagers and freeze.

What is he doing here?

With his back against my locker and his hands deep in his pockets, he’s glancing around, obviously waiting for someone.

Me.

He’s wearing a black T-shirt, the tightness of the sleeves complementing the ripped and perfectly defined muscles of his arms. This is ridiculous. He looks like he stepped off the cover of a freaking magazine

Stop drooling.

The absence of anxiety in his features throws me off. He’s relaxed, casual, while I am the very definition of a nervous wreck.

His gaze travels up to my face, his eyes so sharp they could cut through the toughest diamonds. I consider walking in the opposite direction for a second but decide against it. It’s too late. He’s already staring at me.

And he’s already smiling.

That goddamn smile.

“Look who decided to rise from the dead.” I stop in front of him.

He smirks. “Well, hello to you, too, Kingston.”

“What do you want?” I try and push him off my locker but fail miserably. He barely moves, crossing his buff arms against his chest. I sigh as my eyes stick to his tattooed arm where the numbers 04/16 are on display. I still have no idea what it means. I doubt he’d tell me if I asked.

“I came to ask you what you’re doing tonight.”

“Seriously?” I scoff. “You’re not going to acknowledge the fact that you disappeared for three days at all?”

Does he really think a couple of text messages magically make up for his disappearance?

He tilts his head to the side and shrugs. “I had business to take care of. I told you.”

Still no real answer.

“I see.” I sigh. “Can you please move?”

He doesn’t budge. “I know a place if you want.”

“A place for what?”

“For your phone. It’s obviously broken since you’re not texting back.”

I can’t stop a grin from growing across my face. Dang it. I’m supposed to be mad at him.

“We’re in a no-texting period, remember?”

He pouts. “What? But I thought you were kidding.”

“I wasn’t. Plus, you can’t just show up to my locker like this. Kendrick may be gone for now, but the boys still go to school,” I warn, well aware that he doesn’t care.

“What are they going to do? Attack me in the hall?” He snorts and glances around. “Let them try.”

Students pass us, making sure to stare for as long as humanly possible. I can literally hear them thinking, “What the hell does Haze Adams want with the new girl?”