Chapter 25

As I walked through the busy hallway of Cambridge High in the direction of my locker, I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off my face. I wasn’t trying to, but even if I was, I would not have succeeded.

Last night had been nothing short of magical. Logan had touched me in ways I’d never been touched before and I had done absolutely nothing to stop him. Not that I'd wanted to. The way his strong hands had moved around my body like a skilled potter mending clay, it had almost felt wicked.

I thought about all those historical romance novels I liked to read, about how the male protagonists had touched and teased their female partners, compared the little soft sounds they had made to the too loud ones I had more like bellowed last night. I had no doubt at all that if his sister or mother had been around, they’d surely heard me. The horror.

If my mother could hear my thoughts now, she’d blush to her roots. That said, I had every intention of letting Logan touch me again. In fact, this time, I would probably take off more than my bra. I giggled as the memory came flooding back. Yes, Logan had touched my breasts last night. He’d even put his mouth on them. I stopped giggling when my lower abdomen took a little dive at the recollection. Jesus. I’d held on to him for dear life while his tongue did wicked, pleasurable things to me. And when his roaming hands had slipped into my jeans, I’d whimpered in delicious agony.

Nobody had ever touched me like that, not even Trent. I’d always thought I was a prude until last night. Maybe I should be feeling a little like a wanton considering all the things I’d allowed to happen with Logan in his room last night but instead I felt elated, free. And just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, I was going to tell him to do it a couple more times.

I didn’t forget that he’d said he loved me too last night. But what surprised me was how he said. Even before he knew what love was? I made a mental note to ask him about it sometime today since I’d been too carried away by his mouth to care at the time.

In my daydream, I realized that I’d walked past my locker and had to turn around to find it. I was in the process of collecting some textbooks when the entire hall erupted in whispers and gasps.

Turning around to see what the fuss was, I was surprised to find everyone running towards the school’s exit door. “What’s happening? I asked no one in particular, and it wasn’t long until I was literally the only one left on the hallway.

Whatever it was that was going on outside had to be one big spectacle and so my feet carried me and pulled me closer to the crowd outside. I wasn’t really interested because this was Cambridge High and drama resided in this school just for the sake of it but being the odd one out in this situation didn’t appeal to me. If I had to hear any other rumors that I didn’t see for myself, I might actually lose it.

But when I reached the crowd and saw the object or rather objects of spectacle, my jaw fell straight to the ground.

Logan and Trent were in the parking lot throwing punches, surrounded by students that were way too enthusiastic about two teenage boys beating the shit out of each other.

“Oh no,” I murmured as Trent landed a blow directly on Logan’s right eye and winced when Logan reciprocated by knocking the wind out of Trent, dropping him to the ground. “Oh, God.”

Whatever their reason was for this stupid act, something told me I was at the center of it. While I’m aware that I should’ve been flattered, I was beyond horrified that they thought this was the best way to settle whatever dispute existed between us. I backed away, because I couldn’t take the violence. They were beating the living hell out of themselves but it wasn’t what I wanted and I didn’t know how to stop it.

It didn’t help when the whispers increased and I heard my name somewhere. I hated it because it was true.

I was the reason they were fighting. Me.

Before I knew it, I was pushing through the crowd, making my way into the circle. I busted out, panting. “Enough!” I yelled as high as my lungs could carry, which was surprisingly high because the entire parking lot quieted. I stared at both of them, now separated. They both stared me back, and I swallowed at the sight of blood seeping from the open wounds on their faces. Logan was sporting a black eye and Trent’s upper lip was busted.

“What is wrong with the both of you? What on earth will beating the fuck out of each other solve?”

“He started the rumors, Hale. He admitted it to me,” Logan sputtered, giving Trent a dirty look before meeting my gaze.

“I know that,” I told him. His eyes widened for a second.

“So you know he’s a piece of shit?” he asked me.

“Yes, I do,” I nodded. “You should’ve come to me instead of picking a fight with him. He’s not worth it. Principal Donna might expel you.”

“Fireball—”

I cut Trent off because I was honestly tired of hearing that name. “First of all, stop calling me that. Secondly, the fact that you thought spreading rumors about me would make me run back to you shows how completely devoid you are of common sense. I stopped loving you a long time ago and nothing you could’ve done would have changed my mind.”

Trent stared at me for a few moments. Logan could really pack a punch because Trent’s upper lip was becoming swollen and there was a cut on his forehead from where blood was dripping down his face. He sighed, lowering his gaze to the ground, letting out a small chuckle. “I’m sorry, Lexi. I admit I’ve been very selfish.”

I had not expected him to apologize and so he took me by surprise but I recollected myself back in time to nod. “Yes, you have been.”

“I was wrong and I don’t deserve you. I’m sorry about everything.” He walked away and I noticed then that he was limping.

For as long as I’d known him, I’d like Trent. He’d been kind and sweet to everyone, especially to me. It was no wonder I’d cared for him so deeply two years ago. I still cared about him but not as much anymore and he would never know how much I appreciated his apology.

For now, Logan was all that mattered. He was the one I loved, the one I cared for. I reached for him, drawing him close to my body, exhaling deeply when his familiar arms came around me. Slowly, the crowd around us dispersed. Somehow, I’d began to care less about what other people thought of me. People would still talk anyway, so why worry about it?

What mattered was the people I cared about and what they thought about me. We hugged in silence for a few seconds before the bell for first period rang. No wonder no teacher had been in sight. It was still a bit early.

“I can’t believe you got into a fight because of me,” I whispered against Logan’s chest.

“Nope,” he whispered back. “I got into a fight for you.”

Cheesy. I liked it. “Potato potahto.”

‘You see what you do to me, Hale? I lose my mind when it comes to you. I think it’s safe to say you’ve bewitched me,” he murmured, pulling me closer.

I giggled. “You’re such a lover boy.”

“Only for you, Hale.”