Page 49 of Sweetheart

Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and strode toward the main building. So what if I was nervous? That never held me back before, and it wouldn't now. I was going toapproachthis like I did everything. Give it one hundred percent, hold nothing back, and hope for the best.

"Hey, Scarlett," DaphneGomez said when I walked in the door. We'd known each other since grade school. She was a member of pep squad and also the person you went to if you wanted the latest dirt on anyone. "I heardyou and Sam Bishop are dating. Is that true?"

Fake dating, I mentally amended, then nodded.

"Yeah, it is," I said.

"Oh, cool." She smiled. "A bunch of people are saying you got caught making out yesterday in the music room."

I startled. "People are talking about that?"

Daphne nodded. "But you know, I always like to get confirmation from the source."

"It was just a kiss," I said.

"So, that's true too?" Her eyes went wide. "Wow, Scarlett, I didn't think you had it in you. Stealing Brisa's guy right after they break up? You're ruthless."

"Hey, I didn't steal anyone."

"Tell that to Brisa. I heard she was pissed."

"Really?"

Another nod.

Huh. This might be easier than I thought.

As Daphne walked off, Wyatt Ward saunteredup to me and said, "Hey, Scarlett. Long time no see."

"Yeah," I said slowly. The wholeinteractionconfused me, mainly because we'd had classes together nearly every day for the past four years. But this was the first time Wyatt, wide receiver on theChariot High football team, bothered to talk to me. "What's up, Wyatt?"

"You and Bishop.When did that happen?"

"It's pretty recent. Why?"

"No reason," he said. "But hey, you want to go out sometime?"

I turned to face him with a frown. "I just said I'm with Sam."

He shot me a grin. "Yeah, but it's not like that's going to last. Right?"

Wyatt shrugged.

"If he dumped Brisa for you, I figured you might be worth getting to know. You know?"

"No," I said, "I definitely don't know. And Sam didn't dump Brisa because of me. Not sure where you heard that. But it's false."

"Whatever you say," he said then lifted his chin. "See you around, Scarlett."

"I hope not," I mumbled.

Two people blocked my path then, and they looked giddy with excitement. Grayson and Alexandria didn't waste a second.

"What the what, Scarlett?" Grayson said.

"Don’t even try to throw us off the scent," Alexandria said next. "It's all over school.Scam."

I tensed. "What did you just say?"

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