The One For Me(13)

“Stop calling me that,” I say, buckling my seatbelt. “Katy, will do. And thank you, I’m doing swell. Didn’t you hear, I’m the new class whore?”

He turns and reverses out of my driveway. “Okay, Katy will do, the new class whore. I’m glad you’re doing well.”

Smartass. I click my tongue against the top of my mouth and wonder how he is so calm, rested against the seat, legs sprawled. “So, you finish and type your essay for science?”

He nods. “Yep,” he gestures toward his backpack in the floorboard. “Red folder, you can take a look if ya want. I figured I better try a little harder than usual, Mr. Fringe seemed a little pissed no one had done it.”

I had done it.

I hesitate, I’m not sure it’s appropriate to see what he wrote about me. What the hell, I can’t wait. I dig through his bag until I pull it out.

“Anxious? Got to know what your fake boyfriend thinks about you?” He laughs and turns up the music a bit.

I scan the paper. Antsy. Self-centered. Nice Rack.

I gape at the paper. “What the hell, Liam! These aren’t things that would attract the opposite sex; these are things that will have them running. I am not antsy or self-centered.” I’m not going to mention nice rack.

He waves me off and runs his fingers through his hair. “Calm down, I should have put worrier on there, too.” He turns left on the road toward school. “Those are good things, they attracted me, I am your boyfriend now.” He smiles at his own sarcasm.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Rewrite this,” I demand. “We cannot read this to the class.”

“Hell no, do you know how long it took me to write that damn thing? I am not rewriting it. You won’t have to read it, I will. Jeez. I said you had a nice rack. That’s good enough.” His eyes dart toward my breast and I cross my arms over them. “Speaking of, you could dress to impress, ya know. You have to keep my interest. That’s not an easy thing to do.”

“I’m not dressing like a slut, Liam. I’m not one of your old hoochies.”

He rolls his eyes and looks down at me. “Showing a little cleavage isn’t that big of a deal. It’s normal.”

“Not for me.” I scowl.

“Obviously.”

“Shut up.”

Liam laughs and turns into the school parking lot. I swallow a hard lump that is forming in my throat. My hands are shaking and my head spinning. “Someone is nervous?”

“Yeah, I am.” I turn to him. “I’m not sure I can do this,” I say. I turn back to the school and watch all the teenagers walk around. It’s Liam Erickson. The school’s bad boy, the boy that doesn’t hear the word no very often. The man whore or Avalon.

“It’s going to be easy. Just let yourself love me, like you know you do. We’re going to rock their worlds, Katy. Let’s go make some more gossip, shall we?” I look over and he gives me an encouraging nod. I swallow and reach for the door. “Wait,” he shrugs out of his leather jacket, “you should wear this. Ya know, to show its official. I guess that’s boyfriend do, right?”

I shrug, even though I know it is. I take the jacket and glance over at him. He rolls his eyes. “Don’t get attached to it, this is just pretending remember? It was your idea.”

“I know,” I say and put the jacket on. It smells like him. I try not to smell it where he can see, that might freak him out, or give him more reason to make fun of me. I don’t need anymore of those.

“Ready?”

I nod. “As I’ll ever be.”

“Let’s do this, honey.” He smirks and gets out of the Jeep. When I step out I feel small and a bit stupid. His jacket is heavy on me and my heart is pounding against my rib cage. I can barely see straight. This is nuts, why did I think of this?

I feel Liam’s arm around my waist and I stiffen. “For effects, sweetheart. Loosen up or we’re never going to pull this off.”

“You’re right,” I say and nod. I try and relax the best I can but it’s hard when everyone in the school is staring at us. Not to mention I really don’t feel comfortable with Liam this close to me. Last time, I stuck my tongue down his throat. That’s not going to happen again.

Liam pulls me closer to him and we walk toward my locker. I hear whispers beside us and Liam laughs lowly. He leans down and I feel his lips touch my ear. “This is going to be fun. Everyone is already talking.” The rumor mill has begun to churn.

I groan. “God.”

Jennifer is at my locker when I get there. Her mouth is open and I give her a look. She doesn’t catch it. Please don’t make a scene. Her face twist into an angry scowl. Ah, hell.