Not the Only One (Book 1 in the Four of Us Trilogy)

Sixteen

Miles

"Wanna come over to my house tomorrow to study for AP Euro?" I asked Rachel as we walked to 1st period Study Hall in the library.

"Sure, what time?" she asked, fiddling with the strap on her backpack.

"It doesn't matter...you could stay all day and that would be fine with me," I said, winking at her.

She blushed, which made me tingle all over. "Okay, then. I'll be over around 2 after I have lunch with my folks."

"Sounds good. If we study hard enough, maybe I'll take you to dinner."

"Yes, food is always good," she said, patting her stomach.

We walked into the library and sat down at the same table we shared at detention yesterday. I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" she asked, pulling her knees up in the chair in front of her chest.

"You know what. No funny business this morning. We're already on Ms. Dawson's bad side," I said, not meaning a damn word of it. Yesterday afternoon's detention had been the highlight of my semester. I had been thinking about it since it happened.

Constantly.

She smirked and batted her eyelashes. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

Before I could respond, Ms. Dawson was shushing us.

I sat for a while and went through the flashcards Rachel and I had made for AP Euro but got pretty bored. 

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I opened my text thread with Rachel.

Hey beautiful.

I heard her phone buzz in her backpack and Ms. Dawson looked up, but when she didn't see anyone on their phone, focused her attention back on her books.

Rachel unzipped the front pocket on her backpack and opened the text. Her cheeks turned pink again as she responded.

Hey handsome. Dawson will flip if she sees us on our phones. Are you trying to get us detention again?

I almost laughed out loud as I typed a response.

After yesterday? Absolutely. ;)

She looked up at me with heavily lidded eyes before she started typing again.

We don't need detention for that...

Oh, is that right?

Yeah...and if you keep texting with correct spelling and punctuation, you might just get lucky.

I blinked as I read that last message twice.

Well, just consider me an English major.

;)

The bell rang just then and everyone scattered out the side and main library doors. Ms. Dawson retreated to her office and left Rachel and I alone. We stood two feet apart on either side of the table.

"What class do you go to next?" I asked, just to keep my mouth busy so I wouldn't kiss her right here. I didn't want our first kiss to be in the damn library.

She cleared her throat. "Uh–Brit Lit with King...you?"

"Trig with Smith. We have a quiz today, but math is kinda my thing, so I think it'll be fine," I yammered, sticking my hands in my pockets.