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“Oh my gosh, he’snotmy king. Maybe I should just hack into the school system and change all his grades to As.”
Owen’s eyes bug out. “Can you do that? For me, too? And Knox and Vince and Mario—”
“Get out of my face before I report you to Principal Nakamura.”
It looks like he wants to argue, but thinks better of it and walks to another kid. He, unlike me, doesn’t hesitate to agree to do Colton’s homework. Unbelievable. Why do the popular kids have such a hold over the students? I mean, sure, they’re the most good-looking kids at the school. They’re charismatic and charming and have a cool aura about them. But isn’t it the inside that counts?
Maybe not in high school. Which is why I seriously doubt I’ll meet the guy I’m supposed to spend my life with until I’m much older.
Mr. Espinosa enters the classroom, orders the rowdy kids in the back to settle down, then starts his lesson.
Chapter Two
Colton
A guy like me should be used to having all eyes on him. But even after two and a half years, I still feel a bit too exposed.
The gossip going around school is my breakup with my ex-girlfriend, Vanessa Maywood. Honestly? I just wish they’d find something else to focus on and let me deal. Somehow.
Mr. Espinosa, my history teacher, finishes up his lesson just as the bell rings. The students grab their things and dash out the door like they’ve got super speed. You’d think a troll was chasing after them.
“What’s the hold up, Colt?” my best friend Owen asks, leaning against my desk as I throw my school things into my backpack. Our other friends are already out the door.
“Coming.” I swing my backpack over my shoulder and follow him toward the exit of the classroom. The place is pretty much empty except for a few kids lagging behind.
Owen throws his thumb in the direction of a girl we pass—Willow Park—his dark hair getting in his eyes. “That’s the geek who didn’t want to do your homework,” he tells me. “What’s the point of smart, nerdy kids like her if they refuse to help us?”
Her head snaps up and brown eyes narrow at us.
“Dude, that wasn’t cool,” I tell Owen as we leave the classroom and make our way to our next class. “She heard you.”
He shrugs. “Shoulda agreed to do your homework, man.”
“Told you I’m okay with Cs.” It’s a total lie. I get straight As. “And don’t force anyone to do my homework for me.”
We stop in front of bio and he claps me on the back. “Was just trying to get your mind off Vanessa. And didn’t you tell me yesterday that your dad’s been on your butt about your grades?”
I want to snort. Sure Dad’s been on my case. More like he locks himself in his home office when he’s not in his actual office and pretty much pretends I don’t exist.
But I lied to my friend because I don’t want him to know the truth.
“What the heck? You just got all weird,” Owen says as he stares at my face, brown eyes narrowing. “Like you saw a ghost or something.”
I hike my backpack strap up my shoulder. “Nah, man. Was just thinking. So who did you get to do my homework for me?”
He nods toward a kid with curly light brown hair who’s trying to get his locker open. “Guy practically salivated when I told him to do it,” Owen says with a chuckle. “Kids would doanythingfor you, man.”
Wish they wouldn’t.
I slap his chest. “Meet ya in bio? Going to the bathroom.”
“Yep.” He walks inside.
I hike my backpack strap up my shoulder again and make my way to the guy still working on his locker. He mutters under his breath. The bell will ring any second, so the guy’s freaking out that he’ll be late for class.
“Hey, man,” I say.
He glances up and stiffens. “I’ll email you the homework tonight. I swear.”
