Page 33 of Prove You Wrong

It’s hard, but I focus on recording answers and ignoring the prickle of electricity emanating from the gorgeous man sitting by me. His proximity is turning my brain to mush. Everything’s going to mush, including my resolve.

The paper is full of my writing at the end of the round, not that I can recall any of the questions.

‘I’ll hand that in,’ chirps Nate.

As he moves away, a feeling of lightness surrounds me. Like I can breathe again, now my senses aren’t being overloaded.

Filling my lungs, I notice Josie eyeballing Blue Shirt. ‘What’s your plan with lover boy?’

She winces. ‘Am I still playing it cool or have I gone over into being plain cold?’

Nate’s heading back to us and I feel the oxygen getting sucked out of me again. ‘I think you can play it cool a little longer. Or at least, don’t leave me on my own with Nate before you act on anything.’

I’m not sure I can cope with him without Josie as a buffer.

‘What’s wrong with the poor guy?’she murmurs through her smile so he can’t hear.‘I quite like him. And he totally bailed us out with his sports knowledge.’

Holding up the next answer sheet, Nate drops onto his stool. ‘It’s a music round next. How are you on song titles?’

‘We’ll probably be fine now.’ I try my luck.

‘No,’ Josie objects. ‘I’m shocking at music. And, unless it’s from the last decade, you’re screwed too.’

‘I can do the noughties as well,’ I retort, straightening my shoulders.

Josie grimaces.

‘Looks like I should stick around.’ Nate waggles his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps my wisdom and experience will come in handy?’

My traitorous core is thrilled by his suggestion and aching at his proximity.

‘Are you even that old?’ I roll my eyes.

‘Twenty-five.’

‘Well, we’re twenty-two, so it’s hardly like you’ve got years on us.’

‘Ella, I think we need all the help we can get,’ Josie pipes up.

‘Fine.’ Seizing the paper, I huddle over it, letting my hair fall down as a flimsy barricade.

Snatches of music and lyrics go by in a blur but my spinning head can’t focus and the sheet remains blank.

Leaning in, his breath tickles the shell of my ear. He rasps, ‘Are you gonna be my girl?’ sending a shiver through my body.

My breath catches in my throat.

‘By Jet,’ he adds, casually.

He’s somehow turning the answers into seductive chat up lines, leaving me exasperated and … craving more. Gripping the pencil tighter, I focus on writing the answer and notquivering.

Another snippet of music is played and Josie shakes her head, baffled.

Before I can scour the recesses of my brain, Nate moves in close once again. ‘Do you want to?’ His words are hot against my cheek. Loaded. I squeeze my legs together and breathe out slowly.

He raises a satisfied eyebrow. Dipping my head, I implore with my eyes for him to stop. He’s driving me crazy.

He returns a most innocent look and whispers, ‘By Franz Ferdinand.’

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