Page 76 of Darkest Obsession

“Maybe some guys,” I say. “But there’s someone out there for everyone.”

Molly rolls her eyes. She’s one of those people who takes a lot of work to keep positive, but I don’t think she’s a bad person.

“No way,” she says. “All the hot guys only go for bitches. Look at Martha. She’s all over every guy on the crew team in our chem class.”

“She’s just friendly,” I tell Molly. “And I don’t think she’s dating anyone.”

“She wants to date Thomas,” Molly blurts out. “I can tell.”

Why the hell does everyone want to involve me in Thomas’ business? As for dating Thomas. It doesn’t matter if any girl wants to date him. He’s undateable — his words. Not mine. And considering his confession about Amelia Harrington… I’m not in the place to say he’s wrong about his own assessment.

He should stay far away from women. Including Martha, Clover or anyone else. At least I know Clover’s only really working on an ethics project with him. She’s not smitten like half the girls at this school who think Thomas is some kind of brooding bad boy. He’s dangerous, not brooding. There’s a huge difference.

“Lots of people want to date Thomas,” I respond neutrally.

Molly puffs out air in frustration. “Isn’t that strange? He’s not that special.”

Even if I might agree, Thomas is my friend and I don’t really want to shit talk him with Molly. Kola emerges with the Pop Tarts and a new move to her happy dance.

“I got a sick reputation for handling tarts,” she raps to the tune of Freak-A-Leek by Petey Pablo. I shut her down before she can subject us to more of her rap lyrics. Kola tosses me a pack of two from the box and then offers a couple to Molly.

“No thanks,” Molly says. “I already ate.”

“Cool,” Kola says, eagerly unwrapping hers and sticking them in the toaster. Home girl is starving.

“I talked to Jamal today,” Kola says, unperturbed by Molly’s presence.

“Oh?”

“I think he’s going to ask me on a date soon. I’ve been dropping hints that I really want to go to this restaurant a few miles away.”

After Kola gushes about her crush on Jamal and I make (and eat) my Pop Tart, I have to escape to get homework done. Molly still sits there reading her book and I head back to my room. It’s still weird coming in here after all the vandalism. He doesn’t want me to be alone.

My phone buzzes after a couple hours of homework. I know it’s him before I even pick up. My hound.

“Hey,” I whisper. “Where are you?”

“Early,” he says. “Can you come over?”

“I should finish my homework.”

“I’ll help.”

I giggle at the thought of him helping me with homework. There’s just no way.

“No. Can you just wait thirty minutes?”

“I’ve already waited way too long to see you.”

When he says romantic stuff like that, my heart flutters. I get so angry with myself for even allowing my body to have that involuntary reaction. Isn’t there some way to suppress those feelings? Thinking about baseball? Too bad I don’t know shit about baseball, so I can’t really think about it. I was more of a football chick. See? Every time he says romantic stuff, I just stop myself from thinking about it. Romance.

“Thirty minutes. Please.”

“We won’t have to be apart like this for long,” he says. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“Is it going to happen tonight?” I whisper.

“Yeah,” he says. “If you’re ready.”