Page 20 of Rules

Brook opens her mouth but thinks better of it. Her eyes roam my face for a while. I’m not sure what she sees, what she’s looking for.

Uncomfortable, I shift in my seat. “I’m not trying to shit you and make you do all the work. Promise. Let’s go home, find some more material we can use, and meet here on Friday to discuss it. That okay?”

She stares at me a while longer before she finally nods in agreement.

“But it’ll have to be next week, maybe Monday.” Brook thinks about it, then nods. “Yeah, Monday.”

Then she starts gathering her things, dismissing me completely.

My brows furrow. “What’s wrong with Friday?”

It irks me, the way she can just tune me out like I’m not even there. I’m not sure what I did for her to hate me so much, but for some reason she does. From the very first day, Brook Taylor has either lashed out at me or ignored me completely. And while I don’t understand her issue with me, I’d take her anger any day of the week instead of the cold shoulder she usually gives me.

She chuckles humorlessly. “You have practice, like today, and I’ve got places to be, Hot Shot.”

“Like where?”

Almost all of her things are already in that worn backpack she always carries over her shoulder, so I do the same, quickly grabbing my things because I know she’ll dash as soon as the zipper is pulled.

“Like it’s none of your damn business, Sanders.”

“It is when you’re ditching on this project we’re supposed to work on together.”

Wrong. Words.

Why do I always say the wrong thing when it comes to this chick?

Her head snaps up, fury fuming in those field-like irises. She throws on her two-sizes-too-big leather jacket and slides the backpack over her shoulder.

“I’m working aroundyourhockey schedule, Sanders,” she grits. “Let’s not forget that, shall we? See you on Monday.”

Those last words she throws over her shoulder as she walks away. She’s already at the door when I snap out of it.

“Brook, wait!” I call after her.

The librarian gives me a dirty look, but I ignore her. Grabbing my still open backpack, I run after the girl who’s getting away.

“Brook!”

Cool night air hits me as soon as I’m out of the library. It might be early October, but you can feel the crispness in the air once the sun goes down.

I see a small body rushing away toward the bus stop, so I run after her. “Brook!”

“What do you want now, Sanders?” she asks, without turning around.

“Let me take you home,” I offer. “It’s late, and it’s getting dark outside.”

She stops for a second, laughing. It’s one of her pretentious, humorless laughs that is so like her. The laugh that irritates the hell out of me. I don’t think I’ve heard her laugh, not once, for real.

And I want it.

I want her laughter.

Something real that she doesn’t show to the rest of the world.

I stop in my tracks, startled by the thought. Brook and I have been at each other’s throats since I moved here. She’s stuck up in her own little world, holding back from everything except Lia.Maybe. And I’m her complete opposite. An easy-going, open guy who likes to meet new people and expand my horizons.

Everything she avoids.

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