The entire time we sit in Rickets' class, Sam has my fingers ensconced in his own as if for safekeeping. As if I might disappear if he relinquishes his hold for even a split-second. There's never a moment when he isn't toying with them or stroking his thumb against the sensitive flesh of my palm. It would be distracting if it weren't so cute.It's been over a week since the night at O'Brien's. I have to say, it's been pretty amazing. I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out. I keep expecting to feel itchy or antsy or whatever-it-is-I-start-to-feel before I decide to cut and run.That has yet to happen.My state of happiness is disconcerting. Almost as if everything is right in the world. I'm flooded with an overall feeling of wellbeing, which is scary.I've never felt this kind of contentment course through me. Certainly not over a guy. It's odd how such a subtle shift in our relationship has made me feel complete. Unexpectedly settled in a way I couldn't have dreamed p

He leans over and presses his lips against mine. As I open my mouth, ready to deepen the caress, he pulls away. Not far, just enough so that I can feel his warm breath drifting across my lips. Just enough to leave me yearning for more. Eyelids fluttering open, I find his blue depths piercing mine."Everything will be fine, Vi. You need to relax and stop worrying about the future."I almost snort. Sam has no idea what it's like to work your ass off academically. And the grades I'm pulling, they're not exactly stellar. I work hard just to earn B pluses and A minuses."It's so easy for you," I admit. "You've never struggled in school the way I have." Ever since I've known Sam, he's breezed through everything. Academics have never been a challenge. Even when he loaded up on AP classes junior and senior year in high school, I don't think he expended any more energy than before. I took two AP courses each year, and had to hunker down, carefully plowing my way through the mate

With a couple of hours to kill in between class and practice, I make a quick trip home to see my parents. It's a little after two in the afternoon when I walk through the front door."Hello?" My raised voice echoes off the hardwoods that run through the first floor. Since it's early, I know my sister and brother are still at school. Gavin is on the eighth-grade basketball team, so he won't be home until four, which is around the time my sister, Ari, gets off the bus from elementary school."Mom," I call out again, wondering where she is. After a moment, I hear footfalls coming up from the basement. I go to the door and pull it open as she appears with a few stacked boxes in her hands."Hi, sweetie!" She gives me a quick peck on the cheek before sweeping by. "This is a surprise." Concern flickers in her eyes as her brows slide together. "Is everything all right?""Yup, it's fine. Just thought I'd stop by and see how everything is going."When she doesn't respond, I poi

It's only when the pizzas have been demolished, and all of the football players have been thoroughly dissected, do voices finally settle and peace once again reigns over the land.Sheesh. You would seriously think these girls were discussing world politics or global warming by how fiercely debated some of these exchanges were.Once the conversation turns to the men's lacrosse team, I excuse myself to use the bathroom. I have zero interest in listening to them break down the lax players in the same manner they did the football team.And I don't want them asking any more in-depth questions about Sam. For the time being, I want to keep our relationship all to myself. What we do is private, and the last thing I need is a bunch of girls wanting to know how he is in bed. When I finally make it back from the bathroom, Caroline holds my phone in the palm of her hand. Four girls are crowded around her, staring at the screen. As I move further into the room, they simultaneously glan

As I push my way through the locker room doors, I yank out my earbuds. It was the only way I could drown out all the people catcalling my name. If I hadn't tuned it out, I would have totally lost my shit. And this situation is fucked up enough without me adding to it by going off the deep end.As I drop my bag onto the bench, my eyebrows lower, and a growl of displeasure rumbles up from my chest as I catch sight of an eight-by-ten picture of my naked ass taped to the locker. I grab the photo, ripping it down before crumpling and hurtling it clear across the room.Fuckers.Ignoring the guys who are already getting into their gear, I focus on pulling out my pads and suiting up.From the corner of my eye, I catch Dylan and Roan walk into the room before heading in my direction. Their lockers flank mine. I swear, if either of them makes one joke about the situation, I will unleash the fucking beast I keep locked up tight. Just because I seem easygoing and amicable doesn't mean I