Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“You okay?” is all he says.

He knows something’s off.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” I never meet his eyes.

He frowns at my tone but doesn’t insist. Luke joins us two minutes later. He greets me with a smile, which I return to the best of my “sorry I stood you up” ability.

Morgan, Luke, and I make small talk for the rest of the class. Will doesn’t comment once, depriving us from his usual snarky remarks, which makes for a heavy, awkward period.

“So, you’re feeling better?” Luke asks five minutes before class ends.

I stare question marks at him.

“You had food poisoning, didn’t you?”

“Oh, right.” I’m reminded of my lame excuse. “Yes, I’m much better, thank you.”

Will not-so-discreetly scoffs.

I glower at him while Morgan glowers at me, confused as to when on earth I got food poisoning. Makes sense. She has no idea Luke asked me out. It just didn’t come up.

“So… Does that mean you’re going to the pool party tomorrow night?” Luke continues.

“There’s a party?” I ask.

“Yeah, it’s at Natasha’s place. Everybody’s going.”

My gaze travels to Will, whose attention doesn’t budge from his project whatsoever. His careless behavior sends my mind to a place I don’t like.

A place I can’t escape.

I picture him moving in and out of Callie, see her writhing beneath him, clawing at his back, and wonder if he slept with her recently. Probably. Maybe even the day he came over and slept in my bed. Why wouldn’t he? He’s single.

But so am I.

“I mean, will you be there?” I offer Luke a seductive smile, nearly wincing at the sour taste this bad decision leaves on my tongue.

That finally seems to be enough for Will’s head to jerk up.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Luke nods.

“So… you’

ll save me a dance, then?”

Why am I like this?

“Oh, I can save you a lot more than that.” Luke’s flirtatious response only fuels the disaster that is this conversation. I can feel Morgan’s eyes burning into my skull, hear her thinking, “Why are you leading him on?”

But I can’t answer her.

Because I’m wondering the same thing.

The bell rings and I make my way out of the classroom with Morgan on my tail. I beg her to accompany me to this party, tell her she owes it to herself to have at least one night out during her high school years, to which she replies with a reluctant “I’ll think about it.” The second I lose her into the crowd, a tall silhouette materializes in my blind spot.

“What the fuck was that?”

I yelp in surprise when a strong body cages me into the tight corner couples use to make out near the girls’ bathroom. Will stands tall before me, eyes flaring with… something. Anger? Hard to tell. For all I know, I’m just seeing what I want to see.