Saturday—I was sitting in my empty house, watching the news in the living room because I was too lazy to find the remote. The doorbell rang. I thought it was a package delivery because my dad loved wasting his money on old vinyl records or first edition books. When I opened the front door, my head tilted quizzically. "Miller? What are you doing at my house?"Zac grinned at me, amusement washing over his features. "Nice to see you too, Bloom." He allowed himself into my house, walking right past me. I gaped at him. "What—what are you doing here?" "Nice home," he glanced around. "Very—homey."I narrowed my eyes, baffled.What the hell was he doing here? "Zac." I grabbed his arm, pulling him to stop wandering around like an elf and look at me. "What are you doing here?" "Here I thought you'd be happy to see me. You're already breaking my heart, Bloom." He placed a hand on top of his heart, pouting out his bottom lip like a child.I rolled my eyes and swatted his arm. "Seriously, w
was sitting outside on the bleachers by myself at lunch—when Zac came over to me. He didn't say anything. He walked up the bleachers and sat down beside me, silently. After a moment, he spoke quietly. "It's cold outside, you shouldn't sit here. You're going to get sick." He took off his coat and placed it over my shoulders.I looked at him flatly. "I don't care if I get sick, Zac.""I do." He just looked at me. Both his gaze and voice were gentle. I ran a hand down my face sighed. "I'm—I'm sorry I lost it this morning."Zac shook his head frantically, his eyebrows pulling together. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Bloom. I'm the one who—well, I apologize for Shane being a dumbass.""He didn't know." I shrugged. "Not his fault. It's not anyones—I just don't like my birthday."Zac turned to look out at the empty field. "I hate Christmas." I looked at him. "It just reminds me of how fucked up my family is—reminds me how much my family isn't even really a family." He chuckled dryly.
As soon as I walked into Tyler's house, I wanted to turn and walk right out. The house was packed, the air smelling like sweat and booze and the music making my eardrums vibrate. "Why did I agree to come?" I walked over to Bea and Jade, shaking my head already. "I'm surprised you came," Jade admitted. She glanced around, trying to spot more familiar faces. Bea cocked her head to the side, eyeing me with confusion. "Did you Uber?" I nodded, scanning the room to try to spot Evan. "Long story—I'll fill you in later." Bea pulled both mine and jade's arms as she dragged us into the kitchen. "Let's get out drink on, bitches." I scrunched my nose as the strong smell of liquor flooded my senses. I shook my head when Bea held a drink out for me to take. "You know I don't drink." Bea sighed. "You're not DD tonight." I shook my head again. "No—thanks." Luckily for me, my knight in shining armour cut in. "You look lovely—as always." Evan wrapped his arms around me from behind, leaning do
1"He's such an asshole." Bea's face scrunched in distaste as she watched the scene that was taking place down the school hallway."A hot asshole." Jade shrugged, laughing as she pulled her books out of her locker. I just watched.Bea rolled her eyes. "Yes, he's hot—but that doesn't give him the right to kill anyone who dares step in his way." Jade shut her locker and turned to look down the hallway herself. "Zac Miller is the guy who can do anything he pleases. The world runs the way people like him want it to run."Bea scoffed loudly. "People like you are the ones allowing people like him to do so."Jade only laughed. She was amused by Bea's annoyance. "I don't see you stopping him, Bea." Bea opened her mouth to argue but then shut it, seeing that Jade was right."Earth to Jas." Jade waved a hand in front of my face, pulling me out of my thoughts and into their conversation. I looked at her blankly. "Huh?""Let's go, we have class."The three of us starting walking down the hall
2As it turned out, the lucky individual on the soccer team who I had agreed to tutor was none other than Zac Miller. It could have been anyone but to my lack of luck, I happened to be stuck with Zac Miller. Don't get me wrong—I don't know him well enough to judge him. I only knew the things I had seen and heard. I wasn't typically a judgemental person—at all but I really believed that nothing good could come out of me tutoring Zac Miller. Aside from him passing the class and being able to stay on the soccer team, of course. I just—he was the last person I'd want to get involved with. From the things I had heard, he wasn't a good person. "Miller," I mumbled, my eyes narrowing slightly. "What can I possibly do to assist you?"He looked at me for a moment, a grin etching its way onto his face. He was amused by the frustration he could see hiding behind my eyes. "Well, that's just it—you're my new tutor, Bloom."I gaped at him. I didn't even know how to react.This was bad. "What?"
3As soon as I walked into Tyler's house, I wanted to turn and walk right out. The house was packed, the air smelling like sweat and booze and the music making my eardrums vibrate. "Why did I agree to come?" I walked over to Bea and Jade, shaking my head already. "I'm surprised you came," Jade admitted. She glanced around, trying to spot more familiar faces. Bea cocked her head to the side, eyeing me with confusion. "Did you Uber?" I nodded, scanning the room to try to spot Evan. "Long story—I'll fill you in later." Bea pulled both mine and jade's arms as she dragged us into the kitchen. "Let's get out drink on, bitches." I scrunched my nose as the strong smell of liquor flooded my senses. I shook my head when Bea held a drink out for me to take. "You know I don't drink." Bea sighed. "You're not DD tonight." I shook my head again. "No—thanks." Luckily for me, my knight in shining armour cut in. "You look lovely—as always." Evan wrapped his arms around me from behind, leaning
4"Bloom."I turned around to see Zac. I was putting my things in my locker when he walked up to me—an annoyed look on his face.I was surprised to see him come up to me at school. I didn't know if me being his tutor made us friends."Miller." I quirked an eyebrow. I was slightly intrigued. "You could have texted me, you know. Let me know that you got home safe and weren't drugged and kidnapped by your Uber driver." His expression was impassive, his voice cold. I blinked, almost wanting to laugh. Was he serious? Was he—worried about me?"I don't have your number—how was I supposed to text you? You didn't tell me to."Zac ran a hand down his face, evidently frustrated. "You have my number.""No, I do not." I gave him a confused look."I put it in your phone—when you were at my house." Annoyance seeped through his voice. I blinked. I was taken aback by how weird he was acting. "Was I supposed to somehow just know that?" Zac groaned, shaking his head. "You should have told me you got
5I was walking to my car after school when I got a text notification.It was from Zac.Meet me at my house, BloomI didn't bother texting him back. I'd be at his house in the next ten minutes anyways.I spotted Evan with his friends, standing by his car so I went over. "Hey."He smiled, leaning down to kiss me. "Hi. What's up?"I looked behind him—Jack and Lucas were watching us intently with grins on their faces. I lowered my voice to have them from overhearing—knowing very well they would make a scene out of anything."I have to go—tutor. I just wanted to let you know."Evan's grin diminished. His lips fell into a straight line. "Where?""His place." I mumbled, shifting on my feet. I knew it was weird—me going to another guy's house. If I were in Evan's shoes, I would probably feel annoyed too.Evan had never been the jealous type—honestly, he probably had too much ego and confidence to become jealous.However, when it came to Zac—I had never seen something get under Evan's skin mo