a P

ast," she said sweetly, "I'll make sure he know

going to lie about everything. Ma

ster," Cassandra whispere

rek said as I walked int

a's threat and the fake dating deal I had made with Derek. My eyes were red

ttered, trying

m gently and pulled me t

an I expected. "Are you okay? You lo

rise. Was Derek Stone ac

d, pulling my arm

mly. "Something happened after I

ar laugh behind me. My blood turned cold

everyone!" she c

er waist. She looked absolutely perfect - blonde hair shining, cheerleader unif

g straight at me wi

fake excitement. "I didn't kno

replied, but his voice sound

ad like she was confused. "Then why a

I had to start pretending to be Derek's girlfriend, in front o

se suddenly his arm was around my sh

y girlfriend," Dere

went comple

open in shock. "Wha

k said confidently. "

taring at me like I had just grown two heads, an

his head. "Lila hates you. She told me

th a shrug. "Sometimes love hap

ach. This was all fake, but hearing Derek say i

Cassandra asked, her vo

or a while," Derek lied smoothly. "But we

hen my whole w

with confusion and something that m

ow could I tell him the truth? How could I explain th

ned around me, remi

word feeling like poison

. "But you said you hated him. You said he was arroga

g every word that came out of my mout

smile that made my skin crawl. She was enjoying watchin

ainly surprising. Derek Stone and little

me feel thirteen years old again. S

voice getting dangerous.

Cassandra's smile falter for just a second.

hrough his hair. "We should get to class. I want

ey walked away. His eyes were filled with confusio

," Derek said on

id you see Ryan's face? He lo

"Maybe now he'll stop treati

n shock. "What is th

ine. "I see the way you look at him, Lila. I see the way you follow him arou

ent. "You don't know anything a

quietly. "And I know that maybe it's tim

nt, the bell rang and students

y," Derek said, tak

electric feeling I had experienced last night. But I pushe

staring at us. Derek Stone and Lila Richmond, the bad bo

e staring,"

, squeezing my hand. "You're

in surprise, but his

door. Before I could say anything, he cupped my face i

o-" I star

e whispered ag

was gentle but firm, and I felt my knees go weak. For a moment, I forgot this w

ment, it

, I was breathing hard

end," he said with that coc

lips, completely confused

tanding at the end of the hallway, watching me. His fa

toward me, his hands

out, his voice sh

y stopped to watch. Ryan neve

teps, his eyes blazing with so

e said through gritte

bbed my wrist and started pull

oing?" I asked, stumbl

pt walking, dragging me through t

I heard Cassandra's v

you taking