Page 117 of Tainted Romance

Still?

I slowly made my way there. “Zane.” I tilted my head. “What’s up?”

“Thought you might want to sit with me this period?”

Ever get that feeling like every pair of eyes in the class are on you? Well, I wasn’t imagining it. It was really happening.

“Instead of sitting by yourself?” he added.

This wasn’t part of the plan, but my wolf was stirring, and she was waking being near him. I guess I could just try and make up a plan as I go.

I dropped my textbooks down next to him. “So, this is different.”

“So is your hair and your clothes. In fact, it is like I’m meeting a completely different Allie.” He put the toothpick back in his mouth. “Wanna explain why?”

“A change is always good.”

“Yeah and usually there is a reason why behind it.”

“Guess it will just have to be a mystery to you.”

“Babe, you are a mystery to me.”

Babe.

One word and it stirred so many emotions inside me.

Not fair.

I flipped my hair back. “I’m not that much of a mystery if you really knew me.”

“You know smoking kills you.” He turned side on, facing me. “Shortens your life.”

“And why would you care if my life is shortened?” I arched my eyebrows. “It’s not like we are friends.”

“I think of you as a friend.”

“Then I would hate to be your enemy if this is how you treat friends.”

“Fair enough. Guess I have some ground to make up with you.”

“And what has you thinking I want that ground to be made up?” I looked him squarely in the eye. “You aren’t as smooth as you think, Zane Harris, and you don’t have me on my knees.”

“Now, babe, if you were on your knees I think we skipped friendship altogether.” He smirked.

I leaned closer to him, hearing his heartbeat increase. “You don’t know what you are messing with, I’m not just any girl.”

“No.” He pulled the toothpick out, and the smirk dropped. “You’re the girl that drives me crazy. So, no, you aren’t just any girl, you’re my girl.”

“And how did I become that unlucky?”

“You tipped orange juice down the front of my shirt.” He cracked a grin. “Been cursed since then, babe.”

“Whatever. You’re likely to take all this back by next period anyway.” I turned back and looked at the front of the class. “That’s the game you play. Hot and cold. You enjoy the chase.”

“I haven’t played games with you.”

“Really.” I snapped, “Then what do you call talking to me one minute, and the next minute you are not? You were meant to be my forever, and all I got was pain.” My words just tumbled out, and I snapped my mouth shut once I said it. “Can we just focus on the class?”

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