Page 3 of Mine

“How was the physical contact, though? He’s a guy I wouldn’t mind butting heads with,” she giggled as I swatted her arm.

“Don’t be a knob, Rose.”

I made it home in one piece, falling onto my bed fully clothed. Suddenly my phone vibrated in my pocket.

LUKE:

Sorry, babe. I just got back, and I’m wiped. See you tomorrow?

I was so annoyed I didn’t reply. I closed his message and slipped into my comfy pyjamas, falling into my bed gratefully. My mind drifted back to Cal, as my stomach tightened with excitement. What was his deal? I couldn’t imagine it had been easy for him, transferring in his senior year. Especially to Winterburg, where nothing interesting ever happened. I drifted off to sleep, his deep green eyes following me every step of the way.

Chapter Two

GRETCHEN

The next day I considered what to wear. It wasn’t like it mattered; I always wore the same things. I settled on my skinny jeans, knee-high boots and a long black t-shirt, slicking on some lip gloss and mascara. Cold frosted my bedroom window, so I pulled on my coat and slipped my phone into my bag. As I walked the fifteen minutes to school, I felt relieved that I didn’t live too far away; in warmer weather, it was a refreshing walk.

When I reached my locker, a pair of hands covering my eyes blocked my vision.

“Guess who?” A husky voice murmurs in my ear as I whipped around, striking blue eyes inches away from mine.

“Luke,” I said flatly, putting my hands onto his chest, moving him away from me so I could see him better. He wore a football jersey, his toned body visible through it. His helmet was in one hand as he ran the other through his jet-black hair, whilst he gazed at me.

I turned back to my locker and continued to put my things away, whilst Luke leaned on the locker next to me, frowning at my reaction.

“Am I in trouble? I’m sorry about last night. My cousins just moved here, and my parents insisted on having them over for dinner.”

He frowned, blowing the hair out of his eyes.

“Fucking pointless — one of them upped and left halfway through—apparently he needed a smoke. But then he never came back,” he rolled his eyes before focusing on me. “Anyway, do you forgive me?”

He gave me that puppy dog look that worked so well with me.

“Yes, but you can make it up to me later,” I dropped a chaste kiss on his lips as his eyes lit up.

“That’s a deal, right there. Gotta run babe, I’ll see you at lunch yeah?”

He winked at me as he walked in the gym’s direction. I grabbed my drink from my locker and opened it for a quick sip before class. I forgot to open it slowly so orange soda exploded all over me. Luckily, the hallway was quiet with everyone in class, so I made my way to the restroom to clean up as best as I could.

Is there anything worse than being covered in sticky orange soda?

Grimacing, I left the restroom, still brushing my clothes down with the paper towels. If I hurried, I wouldn’t be too late for class. I checked behind me to make sure I hadn’t made too much of a mess near the locker; the janitor was a freak, and I wouldn’t want to give him a reason to speak to me if I could avoid it. I turned back, walking straight into a hard chest.

“Shit!” I muttered as I looked up in horror to see Cal gazing at me.

“Are you trying to make a habit of this,Raven?”

His lazy voice had a Brooklyn accent, ever so faintly, but it was there. He smirked when I lost my footing, scrunching the paper towels in my hands as I balanced myself on the wall beside me.

A slow, sexy smile filled his mouth as he moved towards me, closing the distance between us. The heat from his body combined with the faint whiff of cigarettes made me light-headed, and I forcibly took a step backward, shaking myself mentally.

“Raven?” I scoffed. “My name isGretchen,” I stepped back, feeling more in control the further away from him I got.

He held his hands up in mock surrender as he chuckled, my skin tingling in response.

“Yeah, okay, doll. Either way, that’s the second time you’ve thrown yourself at me. It’s getting a little embarrassing; for you, not me,” he smirked as he glanced down the corridor.

What?