8.

MIA

"Well what did he want?"

Maya gently shoved her locker shut, leaving most of her books inside. I hadn't gotten to mine and my back starting to hurt.

"What does that even mean? Did you listen to a word of what I said?"

She bit her lips, acting thoughtful for a few seconds.

"So let's get a few things straight. I drove here nearly getting a speeding ticket."

"Oh that's all on you babes."

We were moving towards my locker instead. The bell for AP Maths would go off any second. Maya wasn't in it which meant seperate directions.

"I storm in visibly pissed off yet calmly explain what happened."

We reach mine and I toss in the combination, pulling the locker open, stuffing a few books inside and grabbing the others which I needed.

"He blackmailed me."

"Nope. That would assume a threat was made in return."

"It doesn't take a genius to figure it out."

"Wait whose side are you on?"

"Yours. If he comes down here any day, I'm prepared to fight. But in here with just the two of us, I have to at least try to talk it out."

"Why would he want something?"

"You'd never know because you turned yourself into a miscommunicator. Walked out before he had the chance."

"I'd rather not speak to him at all. It's pointless."

"It doesn't matter what you want. It happened. He's in your father's life which extends to yours, you need to deal with it."

The bell sounded. "It seems as though you're doing it for the plot."

"Obviously."

She giggled striding towards her class.

"He's fucked up. If I ignore it long enough, it'll go away. That's how I fixed all my problems so far and it hasn't failed me."

"Until it does."

That was the last thing we said to each other before dispersing in seperate directions.

****

A few of my classes were AP so I spent time apart from Maya and everyone I knew. Maya could be here if she wanted to, but in her wise words "Why bother when I'll get accepted regardless?"

After debating for a few hours, I did a deep dive. Not my finest moments, but my best friend was right. This man was in my life. The more I knew about him, the better.

Logan Jackson. Graduated from Crestwood High when I was a junior. He's Twenty-One. The boring stuff. His height which I could've guessed. Eye and haif colour, both I've seen. I added another element to the search.

Logan Jackson history. Then I scrolled over to the news section and I noticed articles after articles.

These date back to two years ago, it seemed heated but they've all died down.

One of them stands out amongst the others. The title is what catches me, prompting a quick navigation towards the whole article.

"Star Quarterback loses scholarship."

Some key words inside the report matches Logan. It's also football news which stuns me because I didn't know he played football. Granted I don't know him at all, but that felt like a buried secret.

Which would remain buried it seemed because the article was gone. The main link to it remained in the search engine, but when I tried to open it and see what it said, it popped an error.

Class was over and I assumed that was my sign to stop digging. Clearly there's drama and secrets, both of which I should run far away from. But then if I had leverage, he couldn't blackmail me. Yet using his past and possible mistakes against him would make us the same.

"Hey baby. It feels like forever. What are you thinking about?"

Nick ambushes me in the hallway. Yes I know what I said. There's people around, but his arms are roaming from my waist, thighs, nearly settling on my ass.

He's hardly like this in public.

"Yeah, I sort of had a long day."

"You were at your dad's hospital yesterday."

He says it more to himself than me. Like fitting a puzzle and a tiny piece just clicked in.

"Yeah I was. Why?"

I'm dredging what's next knowing Logan and Nick had already spoken. What if I say something that contradicts it? He'll know I lied.

"My brother is interning there."

If you listen close enough, you could've heard the sigh of relief escaping my lips. That's good, he knows.

"What's his name."

"Logan. He claimed you didn't run into each other. We had a family dinner yesterday."

"How is if possible that I never knew you had a brother? He wasn't in any of the photos either."

"He wasn't a secret. Logan is just reserved. I doubt you'd cross paths. I don't see any reason to, and if you do, it's best you don't engage so much."

He pressed me further to himself, reaching the too of my forehead, then placing a gentle kiss.

"Why shouldn't I? He's your brother."

"It's complicated. Just trust me on this one."

"I can't if you find give me a reason."

We're both in the cafeteria, and Nick tries to embrace his usual powerful aura, but I'm irritated and my demeanor shows it.

"I think I'll eat inside."

I slide out and take the nearest exit out of there. A few people will gossip but Nick will turn all the rumours down. He's great at it.

"Wait for us!"

Two cheesy voices called out as I strolled back into the hallways.

Chloe and Zoe. Most people call them the twins, and they are. They look almost identical. The only reason I can tell a huge difference between both of them is we've been friends for so long.

Chloe has a lighter tone than Zoe. The shade of her dark hair is much thicker than Zoe, and in some cases, they tend to have different reactions. But they're pretty much the exact same person.

"We saw you bolt and pretty boy smiled like nothing was happening. Gracie is probably coming up with a tweet now, twisting the story through her myopia eyes."

"Chloe!"

Zoe cautioned, offering me a sympathetic look instead.

"But yeah she's definitely burning you at the stakes."

"I don't care guys. I couldn't go in there and play out another day of all of that."

"We've graduated to faking now."

Chloe whispered, knowing I could hear every word.

"I'm okay guys. Really. It's just one of those days where you want to stay alone."

"Figured. Maya is out with some jock."

"Expected."

All three of echoed.

"Go have lunch. I'll get a meal to go later."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

They both embraced me, pulled away then retreated in the direction they emerged from.

I preferred the halls like this, everyone is either in the cafeteria or sneaking around to hook up in bleachers.

There's a few teachers in their offices and of course the principal whose office I stroll past by, it's at that time the door pushes open and the voice I hear inside is his.

"Thank you Mrs Peters."

The laugh is the same as the previous day. Soft and smooth. A sound you could have on repeat and not get pissed.

The reality knocks me over as soon as his face comes into view.

Logan is at Crestwood. Why the fuck was he at Crestwood?

****

"Don't run."

He reads my mind in ease. I had every intention of skipping past the office, then hiding out in the nearest classroom.

"Run? I'm walking past an office. Why should I feel the need to run?"

His upper lip tugs. He's hiding a smile.

"A few hours ago you flipped me off. Now you're running off at the sight of me."

"I flipped you off because you were being an asshole."

I snorted. "Rude."

He cautioned. I blinked in horror. See what I meant by possible insanity somewhere in there?

"I'm being a great friend —"

"We're not friends."

I affirmed, looking around.

"We're not?"

He clicked his teeth, seemingly thoughtful.

"Regardless, I asked for a favour in exchange for helping you out. A harmless one even."

I crossed my arms. "Right."

"And you came nonetheless so all that drama this morning seems very pointless."

"I'm confused."

That seems like a reoccurring feeling around him.

"I needed you to get a reference from Crestwood. It would've saved me a trip."

"That's all you wanted?"

He tucked his hands in, stepping away from the door and towards to me.

"Why? What were you thinking?"

He drawls at each word. "I don't know."

I hardly meant to stutter, but it's something about the way he towers over me, biting back an obvious smirk.

"You intended it. If that's all you wanted, you would've spat it out."

"I hardly had the time. You were flipping me off."

"Fuck you."

"Ask me nicely and maybe I will."

I push back a few steps, utterly stunned.

"I'm convinced you're insane."

"I can think of several ways to change your mind."

I can't breathe. He's sucking the air out.

"You've gotten what you want. Leave."

"Since I'm on campus, I think I'd have a look around. Check what's changed."

"Logan."

"I like that."

"You say my name with just the right amount of rage but if you listen closely, you can hear the longing. The angst is everything."

He closes the gap and tips my chin so my eyes are on his.

"Tell me I'm wrong."

I should. I truly should. Scream maybe. Run off like I intended.

I don't know what's mesmerising about this? The thrill of knowing how wrong it is? Or his sultry voice as he gazes at me?

"Mia."

There's a thick accent beneath his usual tone. If he kisses me in the hallway with his brother at the other side of the building, there's no explanation, no going back.

So why can't I shrug him off? There's a battle raging inside me. It's not my mind and heart. Fuck that. It's my mind and my mind.

He dove into my life and divided it in half. The recently developed part wants me to taste his bottom lip, pull it into mine and see if the taste is familiar.

That would be insane?

"You're sick. Whatever game this is, it's sick."

"Enlighten me."

His fingers curl the edge of my shirt.

"You made it up. You didn't need me to get references. You're only using that as an excuse to continue playing whatever twisted game this is."

"Or it's all in your head."

"It's not."

We're almost touching, our lips are nearly grazing. Just a little closer.

"Logan."

"Maybe you're right."

His fingers sunk into my hips and I gasp, folding into his touch.

"I'm a mastermind. Tricking you in thought and action. Everything is all part of my plan to get what I want."

"And what is it that you want?"

I suck my lower lip, his eyes dart across, a low groan escaping his lips, almost like this was tormenting him. A mixture of pleasure and torture.

"No games. This might be the only time you get the truth out of me. So listen carefully, Red."

He caresses the hair against my face, bridging his nose to my ear. It's embarrassing how badly I tremble.

"All I want is you."

His hands fall. His face escapes the side of mine and he's gone from reach.

"This is the part where you tell me to stay away. Snap. Run."

"Is that the part you scripted out?"

I smirk. "Maybe. But I learned from this morning that you tend to go out of character."

"Uh huh."

I wet my bottom lip as the look crosses his eyes again. The one from before.

Fight or flight.

"It'll be a shame to disappoint you then."

I snort. The next couple of sentences were aimed at flipping him off, but I have my lips parted in one second Logan's arms grab mine and tug in another, this time he doesn't stop his lips from brushing mine, he still taste like strawberries.

On impulse, I squeal. His other arm covers my lips at the same time and in the last few seconds, I'm shoved against the nearest classroom with the food closed behind us.

That's when my other senses materialize and I hear the shuffles in the hallway.

Someone was coming. Logan backed me against the wall, both hands still pressed on my body, and I can't help but wonder how damning it would be to bury my face in the crook of his neck.

I've already committed so many sins today, why not add one more? But I don't, his voice halts those intrusive thoughts.

"One more thing you owe me for."

He groans into my hair. His grip on my arm falling to the curve of my waist. Another strained grunt leaving his lips. It would appear I'm not the only one with intrusive thoughts.

****