NORA

For the following week, Tyler and I avoid each other as much as possible. And when we can't, like in track practice, we speak as little as possible. It's easier to pretend nothing happened than to talk about it since neither of us knows what the hell drove us to make out in the first place.

Mads is still ignoring me, as well. If I'm home, she makes sure to keep in her room, like she can't stand to be in the same space with me. I don't even know if dad's contacted her and if they're talking. It's okay when mom's home, but when she's on one of her trips, it gets really lonely. The house feels bigger and emptier than ever.

I've been concentrating on training to drive out the emptiness, and I'm in the best shape I've ever been. I've been so tired from practices and school that I've had no more trouble falling asleep at night. The last two meets have gone great and I'm really optimistic about my changes to go to state. Now if only Tyler wasn't on the same path.

It's Monday and I'm walking to lunch with Olive, when she suddenly stops.

"Um, let's go another way," she takes my elbow and tries to turn me around.

"What, why?" I frown and look up from my phone.

"No reason," she says nonchalantly.

I narrow my eyes at her and dig in my heels. Then I follow her gaze and realize instantly what she didn't want me to see.

Tyler stands in front of the lockers in a tight embrace with Shannon, one of the varsity cheerleaders. They're making out like their lives depend on it, trying to eat each other's faces off, apparently.

My chest feels tight and I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

"Are you okay?" Olive sounds worried.

I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat and nod. "Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Nora..."

"It's fine," I can't tear my eyes away from the couple sucking face. "There's nothing going on between us. He's free to kiss anyone he wants. It's nothing to me."

Just then Tyler's eyes flicker open and meet mine. He stares at me, seeming to forget what he's doing for a moment there, but then he frowns and goes back to kissing her. Like he doesn't care who sees. Well, he's never cared before, why would he start now?

"Let's go" Olive grabs my hand and pulls me away.

I follow her in a daze, trying to sort out my thoughts. Why the heck do I care who he kisses? He's kissed plenty of girls before and it's never bothered me before. Just because we made out a couple of times doesn't mean he's off limits. Hell, I don't even want to kiss him. So he can do whatever he wants with his mouth. Matters nothing to me. Or so I try to convince myself.

Olive seats me at out table and I distractedly answer everyone's "hello"s and pick at my food. I don't have much of an appetite anymore.

Giggles fill the cafeteria and I look up to see Shannon flicking her blonde locks over her shoulder while holding onto the crook of Tyler's arm. Tyler's jaw is clenched tight but she doesn't seem to notice.

They make their way to a table not too far from ours where Evan is lounging with a half a dozen girls around him, all laughing at something he's saying. Tyler takes a seat and Shannon sits down so close to him she could just as well sit on his lap.

I grip my water bottle a little too tightly and water spurts out.

"Oh, sorry!" I hurry to dry it off and my friends give me odd looks. "What?"

"What's up with you?" Lexie asks. "You seem... absent-minded."

I wave her off, forcing a fake smile. I have no idea why I'm letting Tyler affect me this much. "I'm fine, just tired. The thing with dad and Mads... I just haven't been sleeping well."

My friends give me sympathetic smiles and leave me to my thoughts for the rest of lunch. I can't help but sneak peeks at Tyler and Shannon, who seem to be making out every time I look. Seriously? This is a public place!

Luckily neither of them are in my next two classes, but when I make my way to the track, I see Tyler and Evan laughing together at something. I skirt them and wait with Jordyn for everyone to arrive before we start leading the warm-up.

The rest of the week goes by pretty much the same way, except Tyler seems to be over Shannon and is flirting with a bunch of other senior girls, as is his way. I have no idea what they all see in the idiot.

I'm walking to my car after practice on Friday but stop in my tracks when I see Tyler flirting with Claire, a cute cheerleader I actually like, by a pale blue car parked right next to mine. She's leaning in real close and he's twirling a strand of her strawberry blonde hair in his fingers.

Are you freaking kidding me? I groan at the universe. The lot is practically empty already but of course they have to be right next to my car!

I stomp my way over, trying to make as much nose as possible so they'd notice me and spring apart. No such luck. It seems like they're in their own little bubble. I don't want to squeeze by them to get to my car so I stop a few feet away and clear my throat.

"Excuse me," I grit my teeth. They look around, as if having forgotten where they are. "That's my car," I point at it.

"Oh! Sorry, Nora!" Claire turns slightly pink and scoots away from Tyler, who doesn't seem at all bothered by the events. "I'll see you around," she winks at him and hurries around the car with a small embarrassed wave at me before getting inside. The car starts and she drives off, leaving me standing alone with Tyler, whose eyes are examining my face.

"What the hell are you staring at?" I cross my arms and cock an eyebrow.

"What are you mad about?"

"I just don't like people making out right by my car," I defend myself, though I realize they hadn't been exactly making out.

He raises a brow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Or maybe you're just jealous."

I scoff like that's the most ridiculous thing ever, which it is. "Why would I be jealous?"

"Because you want to kiss me."

I almost choke right then and there. "You're delusional."

"Am I?" he smirks. "I don't think so. You're jealous. Why else would you care if I'm flirting with someone else? You've never cared before."

"I still don't," I lie.

"You're lying."

"No, I'm not. Why the heck would I want to kiss a manwhore like you? You go around making out with half the school."

"And it bothers you," he's standing only a feet away now.

"No, it doesn't," I avoid his eyes.

"Yes, it does. I've seen the way you've looked at me flirting with all the other girls."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't," he grins with a devilish glint in his eyes.

"Wait—" I gasp as a ludicrous thought enters my mind. Sure it can't be... "Were you flirting with all those girls to try to make me jealous?" I swear, this boy...

He laughs as if the whole idea is ridiculous. Ouch. "No. I was trying to get you out of my head."

"You...what?" I can't seem to be able to form words. He's been thinking about me? What?

"You're a good kisser," he shrugs like it's no big deal. "But I don't want to want you, so I've been trying to distract myself. It's not working."

I open my mouth, then close it. Again, what?

He continues, ignoring my dumbfounded expression. "And I know you liked it, too. You had a taste and now you can't get enough of it, enough of me."

"That's... crazy!" I sputter. "I do not like you."

"Who said anything about liking anybody?"

"What? You just..." I gape at him. What the hell is he talking about?

He grins and takes a step closer. I can smell his delicious cologne now. "You want me. You want to kiss me. And maybe some other things..." he leaves the sentence hanging but the heat in his gaze tells me exactly what he's talking about. My insides are a mush and my heart is beating rapidly.

"I..." I can't get the words out. He's so close. His lips are only inches from mine. Memories of our last kiss fill my head and light a spark inside me.

"What?" he raises a brow, as if knowing the effect he has on me.

"I... oh, what the hell," I grab the back of his neck and bring his lips down on mine.

He groans and slips his tongue in my mouth and I pull him closer and wrap my leg around his waist. His hand travel to my ass and he picks me up, holding me flush against him. I can already feel him harden against me and moan. I need him. Bad. He's right. This arrogant stupid jerk is right.

He starts walking without breaking the kiss and my arms tighten around his wide shoulders. He pushes me against a wooden wall and presses his body against mine to help hold me up while he uses his other hand to open a door.

Then he carries me into a dark room. The equipment shed, I realize but am immediately distracted by him putting me down on my feet so his hands can roam my body. His hands leave a trail of fire on my skin as they move up from my waist to my chest.

My fingers tighten on the hem of his shirt and pull it up over his head. I take in the chiseled abs and pecs and I can't help but move my hands over them. The bulge in his pants is growing and I feel a strong urge to release it.

The fever in his eyes tells me he's feeling the same need. He takes off my shirt and pulls down my shorts, leaving me standing there in my black lace underwear.

His eyes heat up as he takes in my body and then he's all over me. I can't help the sound that escapes when his lips go my neck and start sucking on my sweet spot.

I pull down his jeans and grind myself against him, which earns me a growl. And then a moment of clarity strikes. What the hell am I doing?

I spring away from him and try to calm by heavy breathing.

"What's wrong?" he frowns, surprised by my sudden change of mood.

"I..." I grasp for the words. "What the hell are we doing?"

"Having fun," he takes a step closer to me, his eyes burning with desire. I take a step back and he stops.

"I don't want to be one of your conquests. You were just seconds away from making out with Claire! And now I'm... Oh my god!" I never thought I'd succumb to his charms, but here I am. "I'm just like them." Oh lord am I screwed.

He rolls his eyes. "You're overreacting."

"No, I'm not," I cross my arms over my chest. "I don't want to be one of the — I don't know, tens — of girls you sleep with. That's disgusting."

"So, what then?" he snaps, clearly offended. "You want to date?" he looks at me like I've sprouted another head.

"No!" I'm quick to answer, mortified he'd think I like him. No way in hell do I want to date him. That would just not turn out well. Not to mention he doesn't want that either. "I'm not into you like that. Gods no."

Something flashes in his eyes but it disappears before I can figure out what it is. 

"So let me get this right," he looks at me steadily. "You don't like me and you also want to fuck me but not really because you don't want to share?"

I nod, relieved he got it. "Exactly."

He looks at me, calculating something. After a moment he speaks. "What if you were the only one?"

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