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avoiding my gaze. I’m quite shocked she was able to pull off today at all. Maybe she won’t be leaving the store any time soon. I watch her clock out and quickly leave. She’s not even going to wait for me? I stuff my time card into the archaic looking device and run after her. Why isn’t she waiting for me?

Better yet, why am I running after her?

“Hey!” I shout, running faster when she doesn’t pause. “Wait up!”

“What do you want?” She asks, not bothering to look at me. She stuffs her hands into her jean jacket and keeps her head down against the wind.

I slow when I catch up to her. “What? We’re heading in the same place,” I say while gesturing in front of us.

Rachel laughs bitterly. “Doesn’t mean we have to talk to each other.”

I shrug. “There’s a party going on tonight. The guys and I are going. You could come along… too.” I cringe at how awkward I sound. What the hell is wrong with me?

Rachel is already shaking her head. “I can’t. I have that big project I’m working on for photography. I still have no clue what theme to pick or what to do for it exactly.”

“I could… help you,” I say and immediately regret it. What the hell am I even saying? I’m an asshole. She thinks I’m an asshole. Why am I being so nice? I feel like a puppy begging for attention from its master. And all for a kiss. A stupid little kiss that means absolutely nothing, I remind myself.

She looks at me then and I feel my face heat when my eyes go to her lips. I remember them feeling soft, her tongue like velvet as it brushed against mine. She raises an eyebrow at me. “You can help me?” She chuckles. “And how exactly can you help me, Garcia? Art isn’t even your thing.”

I try to think of something to reply with, but my mind is already carrying me far away, imagining her moans as I suck on her tongue, nip at her bottom lip. I imagine my hands playing with her nipples, her head thrown back in bliss.

I clear my throat when she continues staring at me and quickly say, “I know Aurora. Aurora is beautiful.” I wave a hand around us at the houses we walk pass. “And I love Colorado. I’m sure there’s something there you can take a picture of.”

Rachel shakes her head. “I doubt you could help me.” She looks at the sky and sighs. “Most likely you’re just going to take me somewhere, leave me out in the woods to defend myself against rabid wolves and drunk homeless men.” I grimace at the imagery. “And then I’ll fail my photography class.”

“Why would I do that?” I ask. “I’m an asshole, but I’m not pure evil.”

Rachel shrugs. “You haven’t been the nicest as of yet.”

“Scouts honor,” I say, holding up two fingers.

Rachel laughs, covering her mouth with one dainty hand. “I doubt you’ve even been a boy scout.”

I shrug. “You’d be correct.”

“Then no deal.”

We’re coming up to the apartment. At least a ten minute walk away when I get a dirty little idea. “First one home then,” I say with a wink.

She throws her hands up in the air. “No, not another challenge.”

“First one home wins. And if I win you have to join me on a tour of the town.”

Rachel shakes her head. “No.”

“Yes,” I say, laughing and bolting ahead.

I feel the wind under my feet. I don’t even bother looking back, already knowing I’m flying so far ahead of her while she’s stuck in the back. I reach the staircase easily and when I turn around I see her in the distance, gasping to keep up with that heavy backpack on her shoulders. Her cheeks and nose are pinked from the chill air. Her nose is scrunched up in irritation. Probably because she lost. Again.

She stops in front of me, slumping over with her bag sliding off her shoulders and onto the sidewalk. “Damnit,” she says between gasps.

“I win!” I shout while raising my arms into the air in victory.

She inhales deeply while straightening herself. “You promise not to leave me out in the middle of the woods?”

“I promise to make sure you are returned home safely,” I say, holding out a hand which she takes and shakes firmly.

“Next Saturday,” she says without breaking eye contact.

I nod curtly. “Next Saturday.”

We walk up the stairs together and there’s a bounce in my step. I’m going to spend a whole day with Rachel. Rachel with the soft lips and the cute freckles. Rachel, the art girl with small breasts and a nice ass. And I’m completely excited.

I must be dying.

Something must be seriously wrong with me.

I unlock the door and find Hunter in the kitchen, trying to make a protein shake with one hand while Lucas sits on the couch playing Mario Kart on the TV.

“Hey,” says Lucas, waving one hand at us. He smiles softly and I glance at Rachel, seeing her return the smile.

My heart falls and all excitement leaves me.

Before I can say anything to Lucas, or Rachel, I catch Hunter’s scowl out of the corner of my eye, aimed in my direction. “You,” he says, pointing at me with his bandaged broken hand. “You were the one making all that fucking noise this morning.”

I roll my eyes and throw my jacket onto the couch before sidling up next to him to pour myself a glass of water. “So?” I ask with a shrug.

“Why can’t you keep it down?” He groans. “Just for once.”

I give him a dark scowl. “Why are you whining like a pussy?”

“I’m in pain you asshole,” says Hunter, shoving pass me and down his shake with one long chug.

“Are you sure you should be going out tonight?” asks Rachel from the couch. She’s sitting next to Lucas. Too close. Like thigh brushing thigh close.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” asks Hunter, slamming his glass