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"Hey!"Kell shouted. He was startled at the loudness of his own voice. "Hey," he said again, softer. Parker stopped and looked over his shoulder at him, the usual uninterested expression on hisface.

"What do you want?"

You,idiot,was the first thing that flashed through his mind.Oh god,he thought immediately afterward.What's wrong with me?But it was true. Despite better judgement and better taste, a desire for Parker had blossomed from nowhere and was now taking hold ofhim.

"Ithoughtwe were going to talk after class," Kell said, walking up tohim.

"Why would we do that?"

"For our project,"Kellsaid.

"Dowe have anything to talk about right now? We're going to meet tonight, aren'twe?"

"Well, I just thought..."

Kell's heartstarted to pound, like someone was turning the volume up on a stereo. Thought what? That they were friends, now? That they'd just meet casually to say hello andchat?

"We never agreedon a time to meet," hefinished.

"I've got your number,"Parker said. "I'll message you. I've gotta get to work." He turned and left, the door swinging shut behind him. Kell stared at it, feeling like a fool. He didn't know what he'd expected. After all, nothing had really happened between them the night before. Kell had felt like Parker had opened himself up, just a little. He felt like he understood him a bit better, like he could see past the cold exterior—but no, in reality nothing really had happened. They weren't actually closer, were they? That was just in hismind.

Stupid.This was the perfect reality check. Parker was still an asshole. Always would be. The realization should've been enough to reverse whatever feelings he'd developed for him, but for some ridiculous reason he only wanted him more. Parker's denial had fanned theflames.

He feltan ache tighten around his heart. Damn. He really likedhim.

"Hey,"Jessie said, coming out of the classroom holding Kell’s backpack. "What wasthat?"

"What?"He took the bag from her and avoided looking her in theeye.

"Ah,ah! You can't hide from me," she said, and hopped in front of him. She peered up into his face, grinning. "I saw what happened. There was some teeennsiiooon." She drew the word out obnoxiously. "All that electricity in the air! What is goingon?"

"Shush,"Kell said as they walked out of thebuilding.

"Don't tellme you've got a thing for him," Jessie said. "Oh, man. I knew it! I knew it, I knew it. You've always had this weird complex about Parker and I could never figure it out. It was soobvious!"

"Stop psychoanalyzing me,"hesaid.

"It makessense for you to be into him. You don't need to be embarrassed about it. And besides, you guys would be cutetogether."

"Really?"he said, trying his hardest not to sound too perkedup.

"You'd bean art power couple. I mean, I couldn't imagine dealing with an attitude like his, but maybe he's actually a tenderlover."

Kell snorted."He’s a dick. I'm pretty sure he doesn't give two shits about me, other than thinking I'm a good artist. I doubt he gets along with anyone. He's just an asshole all thetime."

"Aw,look at you. You've got a crush. How did thishappen?"

"Ihave no idea,Jessie. But he's going to be coming over tonight to work on theproject."

"Whoa. Whoa-hoh. To your apartment?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are you going to do anything?"

He frowned."We're going to work on theproject."

"Maybe you could dosomething sexy. Something to show him you're interested inhim."