Our Toxic Love

Chapter Eighteen

*Ariana's POV*

I wear a baggy dark green shirt with skinny jeans. I don't bother applying makeup. I really don't feel like impressing Ethan today, I'm too tired for that.

I try to hide the hickey with some foundation but it just doesn't suit my skin color and it makes it even more obvious I'm trying to hide something. When will that thing fade away already?

I let my hair loose and smooth it out, letting them fall over my shoulders and hide my neck. I don't need to give people another reason to think I'm some slut or something.

When I get to school, I avoid everyone and head straight to my locker as usual. I take out my physics book and sit on the bench, reviewing for my quiz.

"Ariana," Danielle says, walking up to me.

"If you're going to tell me off for not doing an effort to look good today, save it, I'm not in the mood," I say.

She frowns. "Why would I do that? You look great."

"Thanks," I say uncertainly.

She sits next to me. "Everyone's already getting over the rumors, you don't have to be so grumpy."

"That's not why I'm grumpy," I note, trying to concentrate on the words in my book.

"What is it then?" She asks.

I look up at her. "I really hate Ethan."

"I figured."

"No, I mean, he just-there was this dinner with our parents and he was completely inappropriate and I-"

"Woah, woah, back up. Dinner with your parents?"

"His mom and my dad are old friends," I explain.

She laughs. "Well, I did not see that one coming."

"It's not funny. He kept making all these dirty jokes and-I just really hate him."

"I know but just don't... hey, what's that?"

Danielle moves my hair away and looks at something on my neck. I start to wonder what she's talking about when I remember the hickey. I pull my hair over my shoulder and press the strands to my neck.

"It's nothing," I say.

"Is that what I think it is?" She grins.

"No."

"Who'd you make out with?" She teases.

"No one."

"Oh, come on," she whines. "I'm your friend, you can tell me anything."

"Yeah, I know..."

"Then tell me."

"Ethan," I mumble.

Her eyes widen. "YOU MADE OUT WITH-"

I shove my book into her face, shutting her up as everyone begins to stare.

"Jesus, Dani," I complain.

She pushes the book away. "What happened?"

"Nothing. He just gave me this ugly thing," I point at my neck, "and thats it. Really."

She shakes her head. "It's working. It's working."

I sure hope so.

*Ethan's POV*

I'm sitting in my seat at the very back row on class as our history teacher goes on and on about some project or report we're supposed to be doing.

"You'll have to choose partners," he says.

Several girls glance at me except Ariana. I look over to Matt and we both make a silent agreement. We're partners on this.

The rest of the class breaks into noisy conversation as everyone decides on who they're paired up with.

"Settle down, settle down," Mr. Figman says. "Now, do you all have partners?"

Ariana raises her hand. "I don't."

The teacher looks around. "I'm sorry, I guess you'll have to work alone if no one-"

"She can be with us," I say.

Ariana looks back at me, her eyebrow creased.

"Uh, I don't think-" she starts.

"No, it's fine," Matt says. "We can work on it together."

Before Ariana can protest, Mr. Figman agrees to the arrangement.

Matt and I exchange a smirk. It's going to be a pretty fun weekend.