Page 12 of Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

The smell of his cologne floats around us. I used to hate Blake’s cologne. Thought it was too strong. But Will’s cologne? I don’t mind it. It’s nice.

Kass, focus.

“Please.” I snap back to reality. “You don’t have a boyfriend bone in your body.”

He sneers. “Because you know so much about me from all the conversations we’ve never had before?”

He does have a point.

This is our longest conversation to date.

He didn’t even bat an eye at my existence before. I have no idea why he’s talking to me now.

“Well, you don’t have a girlfriend, do you?” I point out.

> “Oh.” Discomfort colors his features. “I see what this is. Look, Kass, I’m really flattered, but… you’re my best friend’s sister. I think we should keep it PG.”

My jaw hangs. “What? N-No. That’s not… That’s not what this is, I…”

Will watches me word vomit for a solid ten seconds before cracking a smile.

“You’re fucking with me.” I scold myself for falling for it.

“Took you long enough.”

Somehow, I’m not surprised when he picks my water right out of my hands.

“Wow, you are really easy to mess with.” He takes a sip.

He would know. He’s the king of fucking with people. You know how each school has a funny guy? The prankster, the class clown? Well, Riverside High has William Martins. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, the troublemaker isn’t that hot. He’s popular, yes, because he’s entertaining and endearing in a “Wow, you’re really dumb” kind of way but…

When he’s got the jokes plus the looks?

Hook, line, sinker.

I’ve known girls to catch a crush over one of Will’s flirty jokes.

“This is going to be fun.” He hands me my now empty water bottle. I can already picture it—him bugging me every time he comes over from now on.

“Stop acting like we’re friends,” I remind the both of us.

“Ouch,” he pouts, walking over to the pantry to grab a bag of popcorn and shoving it inside the microwave. He selects three minutes.

I bite my tongue not to intervene.

He notices. “What?”

“That’s way too long.” I saunter to him and press the Reset button. “It’ll burn. Two minutes tops, less if it stops popping.”

A mocking smile reshapes his lips as I enter the right digits and push Start.

“Kendrick’s right,” he says after a while. “You are bossy.”

I’m about to object when the door creaks open.

Zoey’s head slips into the doorway.

“Kass, would you be a doll and bring us water, chips, and paper towels while you’re at it?” Before I can gather a response, she tops it off with, “You’re sweet. Thanks,” and strolls back to where she came from.