Eighteen Below Him

ra's

s the worst, but t

int Trenton High, my backpack snug again

everywhe

d Chris as if they owned the hallways. His raven hair fell perfectly over his forehead, and

my birthday. Two weeks to make my plan real. And yet I was stuck in t

a's voice cut throug

a smile.

her eyes sparkling with misc

nd yes, I still ha

strong word for someone

from a safe distance was purely scientific. At least, that was the lie I was telling my

mself, calm and confident with a quiet danger hidden in his relaxed posture

ngton was calling roll, and the room buzzed with whispers about last week

ulder, and a smile sharp enough to cut glass. She spotted me, and h

ontinued whispering to her friends, tapping her manicured nails and plotting. I

lked in with his friends. He scanned t

. Fan

ington's lecture about symbolism in Romeo and Juliet. Classic

rs. Hunting

, ma

e passag

me, unwavering and heavy. I refused to meet his eyes. From their desks, Novia an

y mind screamed to glare at him, storm

ood. Si

yes lingered a moment longer than necessary. Then

Denver passed by, grinning. Chris waved at Novia. Frederick laughed at Calvin's joke. I sat in the c

slammed, friends yelled across the corridors, and Calvin's

locker when Ashley Johnson blocked

it is."

atching her tone. "Ash

ar without collapsing under the pressure.

bled with my locker combi

her voice. "Everyone is curi

he was fishing

at information?" I asked,

irk. "We all know you only pretend to hate him." Her m

ut. "Cute. You really

and his friends appeared at the

derick. Chris smirked at Novia and Aman

e of my thoughts. I looked down, pretending to tie my shoe, though

set that his attention had not been

Smooth, Sam. He de

. Novia, stop!" I hiss

ure, Sam. Keep tel

acted in English

sted. "Distrac

. The hallway erupted again, and I hurried to class, h

this time partnered with Calvin for a project. Fan

arms crossed and eyes sharp

. You look like you are w

e urge to punch him and grabbed my notebook instead. The

he asked, leaning c

cannot see what is right in front of them." I c

ed briefly. "Cut

p." I m

ection became a small battle. Every movement twisted my stomach in ways I refused

st of the day." Novia whisp

flutter in my chest when Calvin's gaze li

nouncement I had

nior party will be hosted at the Simms residenc

Calvin's house. My

w the venue yet, or she woul

like our plan just got

d. Him, his friends, and a party where everyon

ks until your birthday. You ar

part in front of him. And yet I had a sinking feeling that by Friday, nothing would