"Hold up."

Charlie held up a hand, looking shocked to the core. She wielded a french fry in her other hand as she pointed it at me and continued, "You're telling me, Leonardo Bracci, Willow Creek High School's very own Golden Boy, captain of the football team," She flicked the fry in the general direction of the table said captain was currently sitting at. "Accidentally sent you a nude photo of himself? And he doesn't know who you are?"

I was thankful our table was in a corner and the students we shared it with were on the other end, or they might've heard what my loud-mouthed best friend just said. The cafeteria was bustling, as usual, teenagers going about their own business, but I couldn't be too cautious. I kinda understand how Leo felt now.

I nodded my answer to her question, and her mouth dropped open, the fry falling from her limp hand. I gave it a sympathetic look. You poor thing.

"I gotta see!" Charlie slammed the same hand down on the table, and I gave the people at the end an apologetic smile. One of them actually jumped. They gave us some weird looks, before going back to doing whatever it is teenagers these days do at lunchtime. I eat and gossip, by the way.

"Girl, calm down," I whisper-shouted at her, and she simply rolled her eyes at me. I tsked and shook my head in mock disappointment as I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket and unlocked it. "No respect for the elders these days."

"You're only two months older than me, grandma!" She snatched the phone right out of my hands, then focused on its screen. "Which one is it?"

"The unknown number, Lee." I deadpanned.

"Well, duh." She laughed at herself, and I watched just a bit nervously as she scrolled through my exchange with Leonardo-freaking-Bracci. Her brows rose, then a few seconds later, her hand came up to cover her mouth as her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a light shade of red.

Guess she found his nude.

"Oh my god, Jus!" This time she whispered, her wide eyes snapping up to meet my own. "He's even hotter naked!"

Of course, that would be her reaction. She looked back to my phone, then giggled. Fucking giggled! It was my turn to look shocked. Charlie Saint doesn't do giggles. She laughs like there is no tomorrow, because contrary to her last name, she was quite the devil. Aah, irony at its finest.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated with a notification, and she squeaked! Is the world ending?! She looked back to me. "He sent you another text."

"What?" I raised a brow, then stood up before vaulting over the tabletop to sit next to her. She handed me back my phone, and I almost died.

Unknown Number:
Hello from the other side!!!

My head snapped up to look at the table Leo usually sits at with his friends. Charlie and I have a good view from our seats. I sighed in relief when I found him laughing at something someone said, pocketing his phone.

Beside me, Charlie wiped at the imaginary sweat across her forehead. "Whew...I thought we were busted for a second there."

I rubbed at my temples. "If he keeps doing this, I'm headed for an early grave."

"Why are you not telling him who you are again?" Charlie raised a blonde brow at me, and I gave her a disbelieving look in return.

"Because it would be awkward."

"For him or for you?"

"Both!" I pulled my tray of food towards me and stabbed some salad with my plastic fork. "Plus, what's the point in it anyway? He's Mr. Popular, and I'm not." I chewed on the surprisingly fresh lettuce. "It simply isn't done."

"Oh! He's texting again!" Charlie slapped my arm, and I winced.

Not seconds later, my phone vibrated again. Charlie grinned over my shoulder as I read the text.

Unknown Number:
Come on...you know you wanna reply.

"Dude!" Both our heads snapped up at Leo's loud exclamation. He had a deep voice that was hard to miss. He was holding off one of his friend's heads with one hand, while the other kept his phone high above his head. Everyone was watching.

"Who are you texting?!" The friend laughed, trying to escape.

"That's Jeremy Hummer." Charlie provided, and I nodded.

"None of your damn business!" Leo replied, but there was no heat behind his words. He was actually smiling, revealing the set of dimples on each tanned cheek.

I narrowed my eyes, stabbing another forkful of salad before bringing it up to my mouth. Stupid, Italian dimples. Well, half-Italian really, but still. No one should look that good and have dimples.

An evil plan formed in my head, and I chuckled darkly as I reached for my phone. I kept an eye on Leo and Jeremy as I typed.

Me:
Do I really?

And send!

He looked up at his phone then, and Jeremy took the chance to dodge under Leo's hand, then with lightning speed, leaped for the phone, only to have his head collide with Leo's chin. They both fell back unto the tiled floor and out of view, and the cafeteria was filled with a collective Ooohh! complete with wincing faces.

"Ow, fuck!" Leo's voice exclaimed, followed by Jeremy going, "Shit man! What is your jaw made of, steel?!"

Next to me, Charlie burst into laughter. She turned to me with actual tears in her eyes. "What did you do?" She wheezed out.

Instead of answering, I showed her my phone screen. She shook her head in a mixture of disbelief, and - dare I say - a bit of awe. "You're the devil."

I grinned. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."

Hey, maybe the world is ending.

* * *

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