I shake my head, telling him about the part of the conversation I overheard.
I want to feel bad, but it’s like I’ve conditioned myself to not give a shit. Will it stop me from doing these stupid ass dares? No. Should it? Yes.
The unfamiliar feeling that I felt in my chest, I want to say it was guilt, but it didn’t last long enough to make a permit residence. It was gone almost as fast as it came.
“You’ll really do anything, huh?” Dax, another good friend of mine, chuckles and rips the marijuana from Mav’s hand.
Leaning back on the couch, resting my arms against the back, spread out and feigning indifference, I shrug a little. “You guys have yet to give me something I won’t do. My morals are a little low.”
“Alright tough guy,” Mav says, leaning forward, bracing his elbows against his knees. His eyes are sharp, golden brown and light, compared to Dax’s dark ones. They’re both on me. Dax’s jaw is tight and sharp, waiting to see what Mav has up his sleeve next.
I fling my leg up over the other, waiting.
Mav runs a hand through his buzzed hair, a smile spreading across his face that suggests he has something fucked up to say.
“I dare you to make Clayton Reeves fall in love with you and then break his heart.”
“That nerd in our Anatomy class?” Dax laughs, passing the joint to me.
“Yeah. Say what you need, do what you need,” Mav chuckles, but shakes his head. He thinks I won’t do it, but the problem with that is I’m not afraid.
He wants me to break some kids' hearts? Okay.
“Fuck it,” I say.
They both whip their heads toward me. Eyes still sharp, Mav’s hand running over and up his face. The joint slips from Dax’s fingers.
“Didn’t think you were into guys,” Dax says.
“I’m not, but I think I can play the part,” I retort.
“Damn, y’all are cold.”
“I can’t fucking believe you, dude. What won’t you do?” Mav asks, completely shocked.
“Maybe we will find out one day,” I respond back, but I’m not paying attention.
I’m already running through the ways that I can make Clayton Reeves fall in love with me.
Chapter 2
Maxwell
OurAnatomyclassfeelsdifferent today. There is a thickness in the air that settles between my friends and I.
The lecture is background noise to the staring contest I’m having with the back of Clayton’s head. He can sense me, turning over his shoulder every so often. I can see from rows away how his body is tense, thinking something is off, but he doesn’t know how this is only the beginning. My eyes won’t be off of him for a long while, but I have to play this smart. Can’t let him know what I’m on about, my plans, or that my stare isn’t going to be off of him.
I have a plan. I just hope that it works.
“Alright,” Professor Adams claps his hands together. “There is going to be a partner pop quiz. One of you will have the answer key and the other is going to do the quiz. I want to see if you guys can map out the Endocrine System,” he goes on explaining. “I know this isn’t how I usually do things, but I’m in a chatty mood today.”
He goes on pairing people up and it feels like some twisted sign of fate when I hear, “Maxwell and Clayton.”
Maverick shoves at my arm with his elbow, snickering and mumbling something that I can't hear.
This must be kismet.
Everyone in the room moves around to find their partners, chaos among students trying to introduce themselves.
