AUTHOR'S POV Anticipation laced the room as Brock stared up at Katherine in shock, blood still streaming down his nose. The geek who had been the center of negative attention now stood forgotten next to the jocks that had tormented him only moments ago, all equal in their shock.Tyler stood a little way behind Katherine, keeping his distance like the coward he was, waiting to see what Brock would do in retaliation, but even Brock was surprised with Katherine’s strength.But it wasn't Brock who spoke first."That was a warning. The next time, I won't pull my punch. And I won't stop at one hit."Not waiting for a reply, Katherine turned on her heel and walked over to the geek.

AUTHOR'S POVThe walk home was taken with leisure and ease. No race to get back to get dinner ready and on the stove. No yelling parents to hurry home to - if you could call that place Kathy's home.Fortunately for Kathy, both her parents were at a business lunch/golf thing with the vice president of Mr. Scott's advertisement agency. They wouldn't be back until dinner time and Kathy would have the entire house all to herself until they got back. She could get loads of writing done with the five or six hours she had before her parents got back to the house. Kathy could have complete peace while cooking dinner, unlike she usually did when her parents Would shout from whatever room they were in that she was taking forever, along with multiple insults that would very likely shock having lunch with her charming parents that afternoon.Kathy was by no means the type for a Cinderella-complex-she hated self-pity - but sometimes Kathy had to hope that her beat

AUTHOR’S POVIt can't be, Tyler thought in disbelief. It can't be her...Tyler refused to believe it was Katherine Scott's scent that he smelled on the crisp autumn wind - refused to believe that she had invaded his home as she had been invading his mind all day. She'd even made him lose it so much that he'd kissed her!When Katherine hadn't shown up to her next scheduled class, Tyler had been strangely worried, though at a loss as to why, so he had asked the teacher for a bathroom pass and made his way to Giselle's office. He had been furious when he'd heard that Giselle had suspended her, even if it was only for two days. After how bravely Katherine had stood up for that spineless geek she deserved a medal, not a suspension on her record. Giselle had explained her reasons for the suspension and how well Katherine had taken it, but that had only made Tyler even more furious.He hadn't stopped thinking about Katherine since. It seemed as though nothing coul

AUTHOR'S POV"Okay, let me get this straight: You want to be a professional writer, a career choice no one in your family supports, your parents are borderline abusive, your sister is a trampy diva, and your brother, who is away at college and only calls once every blue moon to vent about how crappy his life is and make sure your parents haven't driven you to insanity is your best and only friend. Have I got everything?" Sofia asked, sounding absolutely livid on Katherine’s behalf."Well... when you put it that way, it sounds kind of bad," Katherine said meekly."Oh, does it now?" Sofia said, rolling her eyes sarcastically, her bejeweled hand on her hip. "And don't think that I don't know you glazed over some stuff, because I do."Sofia raised her eyebrow at Katherine, silently daring her to deny it, but she couldn't."Look, it's not quite as bad as it sounds. And I'm okay, really. My life could be way worse," Katherine said, trying very hard

Katherine's first few days had gone smoothly. Tyler had been very relieved but he still believed it was only a matter of time before something happened.Giselle had been going to stay home from work to show her around the first day but Tyler had volunteered on the excuse that he really needed a day off from dealing with the "mindless, soulless corpses that walk the halls of Northview High," to which Katherine had replied with a sarcastic remark that made everyone but him laugh.Surprisingly, Giselle hadn't protested, and, though she seemed a little surprised, she also seemed pleased at his willingness to help Katherine. Sofia had wanted to stay home as well but Giselle had said that Tyler should be the one to show Katherine around, looking at Sofia with meaning that the younger woman seemed to understand immediately. Sofia and Giselle smiled conspiratorially at one another, and then looked at Tyler and Katherine. Katherine seemed creeped out, while Tyler was just irrit