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CHAPTER ONE

I knew my locker wouldn’t budge before I touched it. It was our tradition between my locker and myself. I’d never admit it, but I’d come to love the tradition. I heaved a deep sigh and regarded the bent metal for a moment, then I swiftly reared my leg back and smacked my locker.

It sprang open.

That was the other part of the tradition.

The locker wouldn’t move. I’d hammer at it with clenched fists, swear, curse, and in the end—only a swift kick did the job.

A perfect metaphor for so much more.

I was always rewarded by a picture on the inside of my locker from the current month’s issue of Sex-R-Us. Their celebrity model was Denton Steele. (The magazine wasn’t really Sex-R-Us, but it should’ve been. The content inside suggested my theme.)

And alas, I’d forgotten—Denton Steele had been torn down in a rage. And again, correction to where your thoughts might go: it wasn’t by me.

I would never mar that gorgeous chiseled angular cheekbones of his. His back was another item altogether. I’d marred that plenty. I’d heard through the grapevine that my nailmarks were still visible a week later.

Denton hadn’t minded. Neither had I. The screaming orgasm was proof enough.

No. The magazine photograph was ripped to shreds by Screaming Jillery. Her name wasn’t really Screaming Jillery, or even Jillery for that matter. That’s what I’d named her first day of school and that’s what she’d stayed ever since.

Screaming Jillery hadn’t taken a liking to me or my friends who took to her name.

The whole school called whaterever-her-name-was Screaming Jillery. That eventually got shortened to just Screamer.

The guys loved the name and it’s been a hit for the past three years.

It might have been a self-fulfilling prophecy because the guys all pointed out that she was a screamer.

I’m progressing: Yes, the Screamer had ripped down Denton’s sweat-drenched, glistening pectoral, salivating-enhanced magazine layout from my locker.

She hadn’t liked learning that I’d gotten a real taste of the local celebrity turned national heartthrob.

Of course, I’d always had the inside track.

Denton grew up next door to me. His parents had been my parent’s best friends. And no, this isn’t going to be one of those sappy stories how the prince and princess, enjoined by their parent’s adoration and urgings, fight the attraction and finally catapult to everyone’s heart content.

First off, my parents use the term ‘best friend’ extremely loose. The Steeles played golf with my mother twice and a few times both couples had been in the country at the same time.

There was one shared Thanksgiving holiday.

Denton and I had met a few times through those awkward sittings.

One night I had decided to attend under the influence of some happy pills and it had turned me naughty.

Denton had enjoyed it and we’d spent the night in his garage.

The nailmarks showed the results from a successful mind-blowing screw.

Denton had returned to his life as the ‘up and rising sexiest actor’ and I’d returned to kicking my locker and enjoying stories about Screaming Jillery.

“Hey, baby.”

Corrigan Raimler was my school’s most popular leach. You know the type. The guy who’s at the top of the food chain and hits on anything with two legs and a vagina. That’s this guy. Didn’t help he was stereotypically gorgeous to boot and a professional skateboarder.

He took two things seriously. Skateboarding and women (sex).

“Hi, Corrigan.” I murmured as I grabbed my calculus book. I hate the topic, always will.

He draped an arm across my neighbor’s locker and ignored their weak-kneed protest as he turned his back to them.

I didn’t look, but I didn’t need to. I already knew he wanted something and he had his trademark panty-melting grin on that face of his.

The green eyes helped, trust me.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

Corrigan always wanted to know my weekend plans, but he rarely got the information ahead of time.

I couldn’t commit to any scheduled appointment two days in advance. He wasn’t going to get an answer. It was a dumb question and we both knew it.

“Why? What do you want?” I moved down the hallway and Corrigan snapped my locker shut as he kept pace.

The flies flew around us and no one jostled us.

“Harris is throwing a party.”

Shock. Not.

“So?” I drawled out, bored as I turned to my class. Corrigan followed behind and draped his arms across the back of my chair. He wrapped his arms around me and breathed into my ear.

My table partner, Leisha, nearly fell off her chair. No joke.

“I was hoping you’d go.”

“Why? Want to get laid?”

I wasn’t a whore, but I wasn’t exactly a saint. And I’d never been with Corrigan. It wasn’t because I didn’t agree with his morals, he just didn’t do it for me.

“Well….” He glanced to Leisha and shooed her away.

Leisha shooed and he dropped into her seat.

“You’ve got the hookup with Steele, right?”

Here it was.

Corrigan added as he leaned closer to me, for my ears only, “Word is that he’s got a hot sister coming home for the summer. You should go visit, make friends, and bring her to the party.”

“Why would I go and visit the female Steele?”

Denton and I weren’t friends. We weren’t even screw-buddies. It was a one time deal and I wasn’t looking to extending it to a two-time deal. Going to visit his sister would put that possibility into his head.

“No, no. Not her, but him. And then make friends with her!” Corrigan nudged me in persuasion.

“Mr. Raimler.” Mr. Aldross barked with a frown. He wasn’t a Corrigan fan.

I leaned back with a grin of amusement. This I could find entertaining.

“Yes, Mr. Aldy?” Corrigan returned smoothly and leaned back in his chair. He removed the arm around my shoulder and the one that had been kneading my leg.

“This isn’t your class. What are you doing here?”

“Well, Mr. Aldy…” Corrigan took a deep breath, ready to jump into his charming persuasion.

Mr. Aldross shook his head and barked, “Get out before detention. I don’t have time to play your game.”

There was a spark of disappointment in Corrigan’s eyes, but he stood slowly, winked at me, and moved to the door. Just before he left, Mr. Aldross called out, “And Mr. Raimler…”

“Yeah?”

“I enforce a no-mauling policy in my classrooms. You and Miss Jeneeve can pick up your ‘mauling’ elsewhere from now on.”

Corrigan barked out a laugh and suggested to me, “What do you think, Sheldon? You, me, janitor’s closet in forty eight minutes?”

The classroom laughed. Mr. Aldross frowned.

I winked and drawled back, “Which one?”

“Get out.” Mr. Aldross barked again and Corrigan left, his shoulders laughing.

“Miss Jeneve.” Mr. Aldross frowned my way.

“Yes?” I yawned and stretched, knowing my breasts were nicely outlined against my thin top.

He did too and I hid a smile.

“Would you please write your answers to questions eight and ten on the board?”

“Sure thing, Mr. Aldross.” I stood and walked to the board. As I grabbed the chalk, I spoke up, “And Mr. Aldross?”

“Yes, Sheldon?” He asked, a weariness in his tone.

“Corrigan can maul me, but I don’t maul back.” I sent him a seductive grin and whispered, “Just wanted you to know.”

Mr. Aldross shook his head, probably in disappointment while more than a few coughed behind me.

Just then the door opened again and Bryce Scout strolled in and took a seat at my table. Bryce was Corrigan’s exact opposite, but the two fitted the best friend duo perfectly. Corrigan smoozed anyone and everyone he chose while Bryce produced results with his silence. The quintessential gorgeous badboy was known to remain quiet even during his speech presentations in classes.

It didn’t matter. All the girls fell over themselves for him.

“Mr. Scout.” Mr. Aldross sighed. “You’re late. Again.”

Bryce greeted him by laying his head down on the table. He closed his eyes and the class watched as he promptly fell asleep.

I laughed.

A few others laughed and Mr. Aldross sputtered in shock.

“Mr. Scout, you will wake up as you progress to the Principal’s office.”

Bryce lifted his jet-black Mohawk and grinned triumphantly. He quickly grabbed his books and left. As the door closed, the collective sigh of the girls sounded.

Mr. Aldross glared. He had played nicely into Bryce’s hands. Bryce wanted to leave, but he wouldn’t go to the Principal’s office. Everyone knew that.

“Miss Jeneve, please return Mr. Scout to the classroom. You can inform him that I’ve changed my mind.” No doubt he wanted to torture Bryce by making him actually stay in a class.

Everyone knew why he sent me. Besides Corrigan, I was the only other person that Bryce would listen to and do what I say.

Whatever. I didn’t have to write the answers for the questions. I hadn’t done them anyway, so Bryce saved me too.

As I strolled out the door, I glimpsed Bryce turning a corner. Not the hallway towards the Principal’s office.

I grinned and knew I’d made a right decision to grab my book before I left.

“Bryce.” I called out.

A second later, as I turned down the same hallway, I saw Bryce was at his locker.

“Hey.” I greeted, lazily, as I leaned against the locker beside his.

“Hey.” Bryce greeted, his head still in his locker. A second later, he raked his eyes over me and grinned as he reached for my book. He placed it in his locker, grabbed my hand, and led me farther down the hallway.

“What are we doing?” I already knew.

“Why’d you come after me?”

“Mr. Aldy wanted me to inform you that you weren’t going to the Principal’s office anymore.” I left the rest out on purpose.

“I wasn’t going to go anyway.” He grinned as he pulled me into a janitor’s closet. Once inside, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as his head dipped and took my lips in his, fiercely. Hot.

This is what Bryce and I did. We made out—a lot. We weren’t together, but most everyone assumed we were.

Neither of us did commitment, but if we had, it would’ve been to each other. That was another unspoken agreement. If anyone wanted out of the situation, the other would let them go with an easy smile. Probably no well-wishes though.

Our clothes were still on, and would’ve remained on (I had some class), when the door opened abruptly and the janitor stood frowning at us.

Before he could muster a lecture, Bryce pulled me out and we both meandered towards his locker. He kissed me deeply, once more, before the final bell rang and the hallway was flooded.

Our hands fell apart when he opened his locker and produced my book.

“Thanks.” I murmured, ruefully.

Bryce looked to say something, but Corrigan interrupted as he bounced up to us and threw one arm over both of our shoulders.

“How are my greatest friends?” Corrigan asked, cheekily.

Bryce smirked.

“I’m not making friends with Steele.” I retorted.

“Oh, come on. I bet she’s hot. She has to be hot. Be friends with her, for me.”

“What’s up with Steele?” Bryce questioned.

“He’s got a super-fine sister coming to town. I want Shell, since she’s hot and heavy with Mr. Sexiest Man Alive to seduce his sister around to our social crowd.”

“Seduce?” I grinned. “I don’t do girl on girl.”

Bryce chuckled as a bright smile lit on Corrigan’s face.

“That’d be perfect! You can do that too.”

“Hi Bryce. Hi Corrigan. Hi Sheldon.”

Becky Lew was one of the head cheerleaders and the queen of the underworld minions. You know that girl. She ruled all her little queens, cheerleaders, dance team, some of the cross-country, yearbook, all the skinny blonde girls who aspired for popularity. Some brunettes and redheads too, but there just always seemed to be more blondes than any other hair color.

I didn’t not like her, but I didn’t like her either.

Becky hated me, but was nice to me. I was pretty tight with Bryce and Corrigan so she needed to be nice to me. To tell the truth, I would’ve handled it on my own anyways. I could turn bitch when I was heated enough, but it didn’t happen that often.

When Screaming Jillery had torn Denton’s picture down, I’d leaned back and laughed. That pissed her off more and she’d fulfilled her name. It had been hilarious.

“Becky.” Corrigan grunted and turned his back.

Bryce leaned his back on his locker and watched.

Tara and Adrina Olson (duh—twin sisters) gasped behind Becky.

Corrigan had snubbed Becky Lew.

Why had Corrigan snubbed Becky Lew?

“So, Sheldon—let’s talk about this weekend. I’m thinking that when you go to reacquaint yourself with Steele, you should wear one of those pink lacy thongs. You have about a million anyway.”

“How do you know what my thongs look like?” He’d never had opportunity to see them. “You snuck into my room, didn’t you?”

Corrigan looked affronted, but I saw the mirth that sparkled in his eyes.

“Asshole.” I swore.

“I just went up once to look for Bryce. Any decent red-blooded male would’ve looked too.”

“Corrigan.” Becky spoke up.

Corrigan resumed, passionately, “And then you should ask if Steele’s sister has a matching pair of pink lacy thongs. That’d be awesome. You could both wear them when you bring her to the party.”

“Corrigan.” Becky said again.

I laughed and shifted so my side pressed against Bryce’s when I noted, dryly, “Someone’s knocking at your door, Corrigan.”

Bryce snaked an arm around my waist and cupped my hip.

Corrigan grew still and sighed. He turned to Becky and asked, “What do you want, Lew?”

“I’d like to know when you’re coming over tonight? My dad’s coming home for dinner and it’d be nice to work it so that he won’t walk in on us.”

Corrigan froze in place.

Becky smiled sweetly.

And hot damn—the twins seemed to preen.

Bryce and I remained quiet, content to watch.

Corrigan said slowly, “Becky, if and when we hook up—you can be sure that your dad’s going to be scheduling around us. Not the other way around.” He made a tsk, tsking sound.

Becky tightened her mouth, but retorted, “Please. That’s not what you begged for last night.”

I drawled, “Corrigan. I never knew. Were you hoping for a twosome with Steele’s sister and Lew?”

Becky hissed, but caught herself in time. She knew better than to play her games with me. Or, after four years of high school, I would’ve hoped that she knew better.

Bryce must’ve grown bored because he straightened away from me and left the group.

“Where you going, Bry?” Corrigan called after him and eagerly left to follow.

Bryce had given him his ‘out.’

Don’t ever say best friends don’t look out for each other.

“It’s true, you know.” Becky tore my attention from the guys back to her.

“What is?” I asked, suddenly tired of the game. Baiting her wasn’t fun without Corrigan to suffer the consequences. Plus, I loved to watch them all dance for Bryce and dance harder when he continued to ignore them. It gave me a sick pleasure.

“Me and Corrigan. We hooked up at Bryce’s party on Friday. You weren’t there.”

No, I wasn’t. I knew everyone wanted to know where I was, but I told none.

“You and Bryce have a fight or something?” Becky shifted closer to me, like it was a whispered secret between the two of us.

See—everyone thought Bryce and I were together. And neither of us ever corrected it, a part of me loved that.

“Well, if we did then we just kissed and made up.”

“I don’t get the two of you. You’re on his arm half the time and the other half, he’s got someone else on his arm. What’s the deal?”

“So you and Corrigan, huh? Good luck with that.” I patted her shoulder and pushed past to my own locker.

I wasn’t really surprised to see that Corrigan had waited for me.

“Your girlfriend’s a bit too nosy for her well-being.” I murmured as I opened my locker and stashed my book.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” He muttered.

“Where’d Bryce go?” Spanish for second period wasn’t looking too enticing. Sex was.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “What am I going to do about Lew?”

Spanish it was. Sadly.

Corrigan fell into step beside me when I pointed out, “It’d help if I knew what did happen.”

“We hooked up.” He evaded.

“And went back for seconds last night?”

“Please.” He beamed in arrogance. “Thirds was last night.”

His cockiness just rolled over off his shoulders.

“And you suggested a fourth tonight?”

“Something like that.”

“So Becky Lew is your new screw-buddy and she doesn’t know it?”

“She thinks she’s my girlfriend. Please.”

“And that’s why you want me to bring Steele’s sister.” It made sense. A movie star’s sister would trump Becky Lew on any day. A person had to hope that whoever the sister was, that she had balls of steel to withstand the public scrutiny that Corrigan would just add. It wouldn’t be national, but local scrutiny.

“Oh—that’s just for ass. You know me better than that, Sheldon. I can dodge Lew all week.” He flashed another arrogant smile.

I think the girl behind me fainted, but I didn’t care.

“You’re an ass.”

“Please.” He huffed. “And you’re not? You and Bryce are always all over each other, but the minute emotions might come into play, the two of you are all over someone else. Who’s the ass?”

Coolly, I promised, “You might want to watch it.” He knew where to step and where to avoid. He’d just stepped wrong.

“I’m just saying, help me out. Please.”

“You don’t need my help getting ass, Corrigan. A certain conversation I just overheard points that out.”

“It’s different. Girls in school are different. Seriously—make friends with Steele’s sister for me? Please?”

“How do you even know if she’s hot? Maybe there’s a reason why she’s not known. She could be ugly and fat.”

I think Corrigan might still go for that. He liked all girls, all shapes and sizes.

“She’s not. I’ve already met her.” He cursed at his slip.

I arched an eyebrow and asked, “You didn’t want me to know that?”

“Look.” He glanced up and down the hallway and moved closer. One of his hands rested at my hip as he whispered, “She’s not exactly a fan of mine.”

I slapped his hand away and said, “You already shagged her, didn’t you?”

It was kinda funny. As he’s dodging one girl, he’s asking my help for another girl, and he just tried to cop a feel.

That’s Corrigan for you.

“Not quite.” He sounded pained, but shook his head. “Just…do it for me? Please, Sheldon?”

Whatever.

I sighed and replied dully, “Yeah. I’ll make buddy-buddy and bring her round.”

“To the party?” He pressed.

“To the party.”

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