Chapter 10: CHAPTER 10

"So let me get this straight--you woke up today and decided to play dress up?"

I threw an olive at him, which he unfortunately dodged. How sweet of him, dress up, he calls it. Like it wasn't a pretty outfit I had already received seven compliments (and still counting).

With the way he dismissed me earlier I would've thought he barely noticed. Yet here he was, in the middle of lunch interrogating me like I was a prime suspect to a murder case.

With a hand on his chin, his icy eyes jarred me with suspicion, daring me to turn away. My mouth parted in amazement. Where did all of this intensity come from?

Withholding a string of insults, I said, "Yesterday I wanted a reset, so that's what I did."

I took another bite from to day's tacos. The meat was bland and they were definitely too light handed with the cheese. Glancing back at Cross, I realized he was still staring like I'd just confessed to murder.

"You're not doing this for Kevin, are you?" He asked, clearly unconvinced.

And now I wanted to scream. How much longer would I have to hear that nonsense come out of people's mouth?

It was bad enough Kevin stopped me earlier to apologize and ask for a second chance (to which I firmly said no).

They didn't hear that though; all they saw was his immense regret and my unbothered strides walking away.

Great job Spencer!

Now that's how a girl does it!

Except that was never my intention! I did this for me, not him! I wiped a fake tear from my eye. Oh, the burden of being misunderstood... well, at least I was a leading example on how to make a guy eat his words and come crawling back. My mom would be so pleased.

"Leave the girl alone. You look hot anyway," Theodore cut in, throwing me a wink.

Warmth blossomed in my chest. His compliment meant more than he knew. As much as I recognized the importance of self-confidence, words of affirmation were my weakness.

Across the table, Cross's jaw ticked. He was annoyed Theodore jumped in before I could respond.

At this point he could think whatever he wanted. I was tired of explaining myself.

Thankfully, David chose that time to return from the bathroom with news. "Eliza's having a party tomorrow. Eight P.M. Her house."

The name was familiar. Eliza...oh. She was the girl Cross had on rotation during the time he toyed with Amy. The kicker? She's Amy's so called "best-friend".

The boys dove headfirst into debating which hot girls would go. Finally the spotlight shifted off me. But even as the chatter rolled on, Cross's gaze slid back to me. The message was clear: Were not finished.

"This month's health class topic will be basic life support. Can anyone tell me what that entails?" Ms. Ken gaze swept the classroom. Silence. No one raised a hand. She arched a brow. "Come on class, I have a male/female project coming up, but if no one speaks we won't get anywhere."

Instantly, hands shot into the air. Everyone knew when she mentioned "male/female" project things got interesting. Last time she made students kiss to prove HIV couldn't spread through casual contact.

Educational? Maybe.

Creepy? Absolutely.

Let's be honest-Ms. Ken enjoyed these projects a little too much. She was suggestive. Not in a skimpy-outfit kind of way, but in her comments, the way she lingered on the good-looking guys just a beat too long.

Everyone knew it, even if no one dared say it out loud. Cross, to my surprise, had dismissed her outright calling her a "walking STD". Can anyone see the irony in the statement, like I do?

"Yes, Eliza?" Ms. Ken smiled at the increase in participation.

"Keeping a person alive in an emergency," Eliza supplied smartly. She was seated behind Cross with two other cheerleaders on her left, and right side.

"Yes, what else?... Cross?"

The entire class perked. They always enjoyed hearing what he had to say.

"Giving breaths and keeping the heart pumping."

"Very good, that's CPR. By the end of the month you'll all be certified. Very useful to add to your resume," she incentivized.

My stomach sank. Certified? That meant actual practice.

"Does that mean we're going to do mouth to mouth?" I blurted, more nervous than I intended.

Laughter rippled through the room. Of course, the girls were excited. I, on the other hand, hadn't even had my first kiss yet, and the thought of locking lips in class no matter how medical made my face burn.

At best, it could be awkward, at worse it would be gross. I didn't want to arbitrarily connect lips with a random person in this room.

"Not mandatory" Ms. Ken reassured, though she smirked like she enjoyed my panic. "But highly recommended if you want a high score. With protective gear, of course.

My hand trembled. Was she serious?! If I wasn't blushing before I was definitely blushing now. Eliza and her two groupies giggled like Christmas came early, I could tell they were going to enjoy this project. Eliza draped a possessive hand on Cross's arm, already staking her claim.

"Do we get to choose our partner?" Asked the red-head sitting on Eliza's left.

"No. The girls will write their names on a scrap of paper, and then the boys will pick them out of a hat.

It's how we always choose partners.

"How about we take them out the mannequin's butt instead?" David offered.

The class erupted.

"I'll stick with a hat for now." Ms. Ken said, winking.

"Alright girls, rip a small piece of paper and write your names in them. I'll go around with a hat so you can throw them in. "

I grudgingly did so, being the frst to place it in the hat due to the other girls spending extra time decorating theirs with specific symbols or distinguished colored paper, making sure Cross got a glimpse before it fell into the unforgivable random pile. Not very wise, in my opinion. If another guy noticed they could grab it too.

The boys lined up. All but Cross, who remained slouched in his chair, arms crossed and eyes unreadable. Girls crossed their fingers, hoping they weren't chosen so Cross may be the one to pick them.

After five minutes (filled with many groans of disappointment) there were only two namnes left: Eliza and me. There were also two boys: Cross and Robert Darin. Cross may be a conceited jerk but I was hard-pressed to want him above Robert, who was currently scratching inside his underwear, then lifting his fingers to sniff. I became light-headed.

Please, not him. For the first time in my life, I desperately wanted Cross.

Ms. Ken held out the hat. Both boys reached in. I didn't look at Robert. I couldn't. Similarly, Eliza leaned in with baited breath, so forward she looked ready to faint.

Cross unfolded his slip. He cleared his throat, and the room seemed to hold its breath. His gaze snapped

upstraight at me.

His lips curved with mischievous delight, like he knew all along that was my paper.

"Clara James."