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Chapter
One
FLEUR
If not for the football jersey lying over the back of the chair next to the desk, I wouldn't be so sure I was in a boy’s bedroom. Everything is so clean and neat, but then again, Van seems to be very uptight, so it shouldn’t surprise me. I’m noticing anything he touches he excels at.
I shuffle through some of the papers on his desk. Unable to help myself, I pull them out of order, putting them all back randomly. I don’t know why it gives me such pleasure to mess his things up. Too bad he won’t know it was me that did it. He’s downstairs pretending to be security for his own damn birthday party. Guarding the punch bowl like he’s on a personal mission to make sure no one can have any fun.
I check out his closet next. “Are his clothes seriously organized by color?” I snort a laugh as I snap a picture with my phone. It’s a habit. I’m not sure what story I’m looking to find here. I don’t think there is going to be one. Van does everything by the book. Except he can be a bit rude, but that could be partially my fault. In the short time that Van has graced our high school I find myself trying to push his buttons. I don’t know why but I take immense pleasure in ruffling his feathers and getting a reaction from him.
Though I don’t think it is all my fault. The glare he shot me the first time I met him had me locking in on him. I stopped taking shit from people in the fourth grade when I shot up taller than all the boys. A lot of them have caught up since then, but they tried to tease me. My bright red hair and freckles didn’t help. Sure, some of their words hurt but I got better at playing games than they did.
If you want to whisper behind my back with your cruel words, then I’ll find out all your secrets, and I’ll tell the world. Now I’m trying to find out Van’s but coming up with nothing. This is a total bust. I’m not a quitter, though, and eventually I’ll find something on him.
I continue to snoop around, but nothing is jumping out at me. That’s when I hear some commotion coming from downstairs. I quickly head for the door, open it, and slip out. I thought I was in the clear until I lock eyes with Sadie as she’s coming up the steps. Busted.
“The hell happened to you two?” I ask like she didn’t just catch me coming out of her brother's bedroom. I try to remain calm. Don’t be suspicious, I silently remind myself. Sadie looks flustered, so I’m hoping that she’s too preoccupied to realize what I was doing. When I see Dunc coming up behind her, I know that he’s the cause of why she’s in this state. He has a way of tripping over his own feet when it comes to her. It’s adorable and so not Dunc, which makes it extra endearing.
“Why were you in my brother's room?” Sadie counters, letting me know that she’s on to me.
“I thought it was the bathroom.”
“Friends don’t lie to each other.” She calls me out on my dishonesty. A few lies here and there are sometimes the cost of a good story, but Sadie isn’t wrong. I actually really like her and think we could be friends. She’s different, and I understand being different.
“Fine, I’m nosy. I can't help myself.” I throw my hands up in defeat. That’s true. It has become my nature. I do, after all, run the school newspaper. “What happened to him?” I nod toward Dunc, trying once again to divert her attention.
“I fucked up,” Dunc sighs. He looks so damn pathetic at the moment. This is not the Dunc I’ve grown up with. He and I have never had any problems. Dunc doesn’t give you shit unless you give it to him.
“That's a good start.” I smack him on the shoulder as I make my escape down the stairs before Sadie can ask me any more questions about being in Van’s room.
I stifle a laugh when I get to the back door to see that I missed all the fun. Rose and Van look as terrible as Dunc did. Rose is definitely giving off Carrie vibes with the red punch that's all over her. But she would be the one to set up the bucket of blood. It’s nice when karma does its thing.
“Fleur!” she screeches at me when I snap a picture. Van narrows his eyes on me. I can see a small trace of blood coming from his nose. When I feel that stupid flutter I always get when I first see him, I smoosh it all the way down.
It would be a total lie not to admit that Van is one of the hottest—okay, the hottest boy in our school. Actually, he’s the hottest one I’ve ever seen. I hate that I’m attracted to him. His stupid dark hair and deep blue eyes. Not to mention the abs. I’d gotten an up close view of them when he was at football practice. I don’t think I’ve been the same since.
“You got a little something.” I motion toward my nose. He shakes his head at me like I’m the most annoying person in the world. He probably hates that I don’t fall at his feet so he can ignore me like he does all the other girls that swoon over him.
“You’re such a bitch, Fleur.” Rose is seething. “This is why no one likes you.”
I hate to break it to her, but it doesn’t matter. People were jerks before I started to stand up for myself.
“I think you should leave,” Van mutters, pulling off his shirt. He uses it to wipe the blood off his face.
Why does the comment hurt? It’s the first time in a long time that words have affected me. I shake it off.
“See you at school, Mr. All-Star.” I roll my eyes, pretending I couldn’t care less before I turn to head back into the house toward the front door to make my escape.
“Fleur!” someone yells after me, but I don’t stop. I’ll never let any of them know they can hurt me.
Never again.
Chapter
Two
VAN
