Page 94 of Tainted Romance

"Get it out of your system before you see him." I pulled her to a stop. "I mean it, Ebony, Zane won't be able to take it so reel that shit in and keep it to yourself."

Letting go of her arm, I walked off on her. I swore I heard her mutter ‘if only she were as lucky.’

Scanning the front yard, I couldn't spot him anywhere. Maybe he was going to give the first day a miss. That would be a good idea. Just as I thought that, my eyes landed on him.

"Hey, Zane!" I called out and jogged to catch up to him.

He looked better than last night; although you could tell the man hadn't slept.

"Can't deal with Ebony's crap today," he muttered while taking long strides. "My parents told me it would be best for me to not see the year out."

That meant they didn't trust him to stay away from her. If there was one quality everyone knew about Zane, it was he prided himself on keeping his word. If his parents thought that he couldn't stay away from Allie, Zane was probably thinking the same thing.

"Come on, man. It's a big school, so doubt you will even spot her today." I slapped him on the back while holding the door open for him, and that was when everything I just said meant nothing.

A flushed and stumbling Allie slams right into Zane. Her books slapping and spreading across the hall, and of course, she had to have been drinking a can of orange whichwent all over Zane's white unit t-shirt.

FUCK was the first word that bounced into my mind, followed quickly by, holy fuck!

"Oh my God, I am so sorry!" she stuttered, not caring about her books; nope, her full attention was on the mess on Zane's chest. She took off her cardigan and started to dab it dry.

Zane was frozen to the spot while my mouth just hung open in shock.

"Seriously, I'm sorry. I think I, um, it’s…" She stopped and looked up at him, only to see his cold expression. Hell, at least the man was keeping up the frozen exterior well. "Ruined,"she muttered softly, you could hear the regret in her voice.

Zane's eyes locked on her, then without saying anything, he stepped around her and continued walking up the hall, leaving her there embarrassed with her books splattered across the floor, not to mention the mess of orange soda.

I heard her groan and, feeling sorry for her, I dropped down and helped collect her things.

"Don't stress too much about it. He'll get over it," I said, handing her books.

She tossed the cardigan she had attempted to rescue his top with in the bin; knowing the stains weren't coming out of the white wool.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "I'mAllie by the way." Shesmiledout of embarrassment. "I think we've had a few classes together."

And we've fake dated, you've slapped me multiple times, and I couldn't count how many insults you have sprayed at me. "Yeah, I think we have. I'm Taylor." I smoothly smiled at her. "Hope your day gets better," I said, thenleft her standing there.

***

ALLIE

There are moments in life where you wish you could just wipe it from your mind completely. As I walked away from thecrime scenewhere I had just stained the hottest guy in school’s t-shirt, if he didn't know I existed before, he sure as hell did now.

As the girl that ruined his top and stumbled out words.

I groaned.

I should have just stayed home today. Seriously, even mom encouraged it for some reason. I dragged my feet to Art Theory. It didn't help Blake nor Chase were in this class, which meant I would have to sit by myself.

I was already running late forit too, thanks to sticky hands.

The bell rang just as I stepped into the classroom. Score! No way could the teacher give me an earful for being late now. I was too busy smirking about that to notice how full the class was.

I gulped sharply.

Oh no.

Please God NO!

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