Chapter Four

James

I play it cool, studying the unraveling video game on the screen while all the guys worship me with half-opened mouths.

“Watch out for the dudes behind the water tower.” I nod to the screen, and Jordan turns just in time to catch five guys blowing him up.

Emma’s glare may as well contain lasers. It’s too bad she cares so much about who I date, because I haven’t put any thought toward her since I broke things off.

“James?” Edelweiss nudges me.

I gaze down at her. So close, her thick eyelashes and naturally blushed cheeks somehow make her more beautiful. I need to get us out of here before we’re caught.

“Later guys.” I toss out, praying I seem calm. I take Edel’s hand like it’ll break—the way they do in old movies—to lead her off our little stage.

Tuti jumps up from the bench outside the lounge, arms open to receive her wet roommate. “Are you all right? James texted me.”

“Yeah. I’m good.” Edel spins around the moment the lounge door shuts, pointing her index finger into my face with a heated glare. “What was that?”

“Umm, I saved you.”

“No, you made everyone suspect we were a thing.”

I laugh. “Edelweiss, you need to relax. Who cares if they think we fooled around a bit?”

“I do.” She pulls her towel tight.

Tuti sighs. “James is right, Edelweiss. Everyone already thinks you guys fooled around because you snuck into dinner late.”

“Are you serious?”

She nods. “I’ve been trying to dispel the rumors all evening, but this.” She nods to both of us, her in a towel and me shirtless. “It erases everything I’ve said.”

Edel’s jaw drops. “I thought you guys were kidding at dinner about James.” She looks over at me. “How many girlfriends have you had?”

“None.” I cross my arms.

“Which is exactly his problem.” Tuti reaches out and pulls Edelweiss away from me. “He won’t commit.”

Edelweiss focuses over my shoulder toward the lounge. “So they all think I’m a slut?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I offer. “It shouldn’t matter anyway. It’s your body, your choice what to do with it.”

“All too true. But, yes, they do.” Tuti shrugs. “Give it a few days, and it’ll blow over. Once they get to know you, they’ll redefine you.”

“So that’s why that guy asked me to watch a movie with him tonight.” Edelweiss shakes her head. “God, I was so clueless.”

“What guy?” I wasn’t kidding when I told Edelweiss I’d promised to look out for her.

“I don’t remember.” Edelweiss presses her palms into her eyes. “It was something that sounded like Chase, but it wasn’t.”

“Jace Michaelson.” I nearly growl as I say his name. What if she’d said yes? That guy’s got to be the horniest kid in the junior class. There’s no way I’ll let Edelweiss near him if I can help it. “Surprised he even let you out of the conversation, to be honest.”

Edelweiss winces. “Emma sort of sent him off. Told me to stay away from him.”

Tuti adjusts her hair, miraculously transforming it from a ponytail into a knot on top of her head with only a pencil. “Well, if there’s ever proof that Emma isn’t heartless, there it is. At least she protected you from Jace.”

“It’s hard to be thankful for that when she tricked me into a situation that could’ve gotten me expelled,” Edelweiss mumbles.

“It’s better than being alone with Jace. He smells like he did eighty-two takes of an Axe Body Spray commercial.” Tuti wraps her arms around Edelweiss’s shoulders, giving her a hug. “It’s all going to work out, Edel. I promise.”

I step up. “Forget about Emma. She’s just jealous because I paid attention to you today and blew her off.”

The lounge door behind us squeaks open. “Tuti?” Jordan sticks out his head. “Betcha can’t beat me at Grand Theft Auto IV.”

“You okay?” Tuti asks Edelweiss.

“Go play,” she says. “I’ll be fine.”

With Tuti gone, the hallway feels larger. Admittedly, I’ve never stood idly next to a girl in a towel. My hands don’t know what to do with themselves.

“Listen,” Edelweiss tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “This is going to sound weird, but bear with me.”

“Shoot.”

“I noticed at dinner that girls kept bothering you. You even moved outside. Is that normal for you?”

Moving outside to get away from girls? No. Definitely not normal. This whole not-dating thing is going to be way more challenging than I imagined. But I can’t tell her that.

I slide my hands into my pockets. “Now that I moved on from Emma, it seems I’m like a light for bugs.”

“Really, bugs?” She scrunches up her nose. “Please don’t tell me you’re the type of guy who lumps insects and women into the same category.”

“Sorry. Poor choice of words.”

“Do you like the attention?” She cocks her head to the side, gazing at me. Her blue eyes are brilliant yet soft.

“I’m not gay, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“That’s clear to me, don’t worry.” She laughs. “I mean, do you like having girls around? Every time I looked at you tonight, you seemed annoyed.”

“I was. My senior year needs to be low key so I can focus on graduating. My dad has high expectations for me this year.”

“Well,” she takes a deep breath. “What if you dated me?”

Her? I laugh before I can stop myself. “Sorry. I mean, we just met.”

“I know, but if we dated—not even for real, just like, fake dating—it’d solve our problems. Girls would leave you alone, and I could have some time to figure out the social climate around here without guys hitting on me. Figure out who is a friend and who I should avoid. Plus, my mom will be thrilled if I have a boyfriend. I think she cares more about me having that experience than my GPA.”

“I…” I step back, raising my eyebrows.

“You said you were here to help me. I don’t know how I’ll ever get stable feet here at Brockmore as Emma’s target without your help.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.” She shrugs. “It’s like a business deal. This way I won’t have to try navigating dating here, which I’m obviously not ready for, and you can have a secure, drama-free relationship that will allow you to focus on school, make our parents happy, and keep other girls from distracting you.”

“Listen, it’s not that you aren’t pretty but…” My words can’t find their way off my tongue. How do you reject a girl who is offering a fake relationship?

She grins lightly and punches in the code to access the girls’ dormitory. “Forget I said anything. It was just a thought.”

“Most girls don’t approach me off just a thought. It’s always calculated.”

“That must be exhausting for you to navigate. Anyway, good night, James. Thanks for your help.” She pulls the door shut behind her, leaving me alone and shirtless in the middle of the corridor.

Better get dressed before I get a warning. I retreat to my room and toss on an undershirt. For the first time ever I have nothing to do. Usually my first night back at Brockmore is spent tossing down lazy responses to the summer reading essays, but I finished my essays a month ago.

I wasn’t kidding about turning things around this year. Now if only I hadn’t done that prairie-dog prank this evening. Temptation always wins with me. One last hurrah is too good to turn my back on.