Chapter One
Theo West waited for the perfect moment to approach Ruby James. His friends were all gathered around, talking about the game last Friday. A couple of cheerleaders were hanging off their arms as they spoke. It was just like every other day. Guys and girls passed them in the school halls, and each person was desperate to catch someone else’s eye. Theo didn’t have time for that bullshit right now. He was focused on only one girl. He’d not seen her yet and knew she wasn’t going to the cafeteria first, as he’d been watching her for six months.
She always came to her locker to put away her books.
For six months she hadn’t done anything different, and he doubted today the beautiful blonde would even consider doing anything like it. His locker was nowhere near hers, but he had the perfect excuse for watching her. He was standing with his football buddies.
His friends were starting to move on, slamming locker doors closed, and she still hadn’t made an appearance, which really pissed him off.
“Hey, Theo, what are you doing tonight?” Rachel asked. She was one of the best cheerleaders on the squad and had been trying to get with him for some time. He had no interest in putting his dick anywhere near her. She was often the main discussion in the shower room where most of the guys talked about how she liked to fuck. He didn’t want any part of that. Not that he had a problem with sex. Not at all. He loved sex. What he didn’t want was Rachel.
The girl that had been starring in his fantasies of late just so happened to round the corner before he and his guys left for the cafeteria. Mike, his best friend, who also happened to know whom he wanted, smirked at him.
“See you soon.” Mike shook his hand and took off, leaving him alone with Ruby.
Her face was red, and she looked really frustrated as she got to the locker. He watched as she twisted the dial back and forth, before waiting for the door to open.
The school was old, and so were their lockers. She had to bang the door three times for it to open. Most of them had to do the same.
“Hey, Ruby,” he said.
“Theo, what’s up?” she asked.
He waited as she opened up her bag, putting three books inside before grabbing out three more.
“Why does there have to be something up?” He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the locker. She closed her door, and her face was no longer hidden to him. She pulled her bag on, watching him.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“No.” That was a total lie. Of course he was.
She smiled. “Then what’s up? It’s not like you to stand around waiting for me.” She tilted her head to the side. Her face had lost the red color.
Her pale skin looked so soft, he wanted to reach out and stroke it. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment in his life when he realized that he wanted her, only that it had become an obsession of his.
“I’ve been thinking we should go out some time.”
She started to chuckle. “Okay, good joke.” She made to move past, going in the opposite direction of the cafeteria.
He didn’t expect that kind of reaction from her. “It’s not a joke.” He grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving. This wasn’t going how he intended at all.
“Theo, what’s going on? I’m kind of confused at the moment.” She stared at her arm where he held her, and he had to force himself to let her go, even though he didn’t want to.
“I want to take you on a date.”
“Theo, you do know I’m Ruby, right? I’m not on the cheerleading squad or, like, associated in any way with football, or sports in general.” She licked her lips, and he wanted to kiss her.
“I know. Just because you’re not part of the team doesn’t mean we can’t hang out.”
“We’ve never hung out. Like, ever.”
He was used to chicks being all over him. He was one of the most popular guys in school. With just the snap of his fingers he could have any girl, and yet the one he wanted looked at him like a crazy person.
“Let’s change that.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She pulled away, and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say to make her stop.
That was not what he wanted.
Running fingers through his hair, he watched her ass sway. He stared until her curvy body was no longer in sight before heading toward the cafeteria where Mike had already gotten him a tray of food.
“How did it go?”
“Bad,” he said.
“Really? Wow, that does surprise me,” Mike said.
Theo took a bite of his burger and looked toward his friend. “Why does that surprise you?”