The Arrangement

Prologue

I will always remember the first time I met Nicolas Romano.

We were both in high school at the time, as he stood in front of me with black ripped jeans, his casual white T-shirt stretched tightly over his muscles, a shiny leather jacket and his emerald green eyes staring down at me— through me, almost.

I was told by our football coach to let him know that he was failing badly and needed to find a tutor asap, or he'd fail his senior year and have to repeat it again next year.

So that brings us to now, as I stand in front of him, biting my lip nervously.

"And you are?" he had asked, one dark brow raised and his tone clearly bored.

"I'm—" I sigh, a shiver running down my spine, stopping my words.

I didn't know what to say. I just looked up at him in my oversized shirt and leggings, my dark wavy hair in a messy ponytail.

"I..." I trailed off, a little taken aback by this man before me, his face looking like a guy who was constantly up to something—thinking of a witty remark, but the small scar going down his left eyebrow and the hollow look in his green eyes told me a different story.

Of course, I didn't know then what I knew now.

"What is it?" he looked away from me, a small piece of paper in his hands. "I don't have all day."

My seventeen year old self didn't know what to do with herself — the only boys I had come across, were the ones who approached me, which was also very rare, might I add.

And here I was, practically putting my life on the line just to tell him that he was failing.

And what does he do? Insult me to the fullest.

I wasn't quiet. I just only talked to my best friend Sofia because she was the only person I knew in this whole shitty high school.

"Coach told me to tell you that you need to find a tutor urgently. If you continue school with the grades you have, you will get kicked off the football team and you will have to redo your entire senior year," I inform him, inhaling deeply.

He rolled his green eyes, brushing past me and into the building. I frowned, my fascination turning into annoyance.

Who the hell did he think he was anyway?

God, I really needed to grow a spine.

"Um—" I started, my heart frantically beating in my chest, but the guy ignored me.

Seriously?

I huffed in annoyance, turning on my heel and leaving the foyer to go to my dorm for my movie night with Sof.

One thing I knew for sure: it would be best to stay as far away from him as possible.