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I froze "What do you mean?"

She opened her locker door and stopped to sht after you left the lunch roo what happened Jared walked over and said Madoc slipped and fell into a table or a chair…or sohed

I couldn’t help myself either It was too ridiculous

"Slipped and fell into a table? And he believed him? "

"Well, probably not, but everyone backed him up, so there was little Mr Sweeney could say about it" She started shaking her head in disbelief "And when Madoc finally got back on his feet, he backed up the story, too"

No, no, no They did not save , I took a seat on the bench in the middle of the aisle and planted ood news" She took a seat next toher shoes and socks

"No, I think I’d rather be in trouble with the Dean than indebted to those jerks" They wouldn’t have covered for me unless they wanted to ad to Colu, scientific , anything is probably better than this winding up on your record"

She rose, finished stripping down, and headed to the shoith her towel I stayed there a few ht I had a lot going for reat, I was fluent in French, had a year abroad under my belt and a slew of note-worthy extra-curricular activities I could survive whatever Jared had up his sleeve

My first day back at Shelburne Falls High School wasnoticed in a positive way I oodmy towel, I headed for the showers

The hot water cascaded down et when you’re cozy and enjoying soave us, I ended up lounging under the exhilarating pressure of the shower for longer than anyone else Myout wrapped in irls at the lockers, ereto dry their hair

"Get out Tatum stays"

I jerked asps I zoned in on Jared…as in the girls locker room! I clutched my tohich was still wrapped around hter as I frantically looked around for Coach

A chill ran over my body His eyes were on usted withht to be in here

"Are you kiddingstepsones

"Tatum"--he hadn’t used my nickname Tate since ere kids--"I wanted to make sure I had your attention Do I have it?" He looked relaxed, his beautiful eyes bore intome feel like there was no one else in the entire world but us

"Say what you have to say I’ too far, even for you!" I stopped retreating, butquickened Score one for Jared He’d surprised me, and noas completely vulnerable No lifelines and…no clothes

I clutched the towel at the top of ed myself with the other All of my important parts were covered, but the towel rode up just under s exposed Jared narrowed his eyes atMy mind swirled andme out His intimidation tactics were stellar

No smirk accompanied his violation He didn’t eye-fuck aze was reluctant, as if it was involuntary His chest heaved slightly, and his breathing got heavier Tingles covered my body, and another sensation I was a little pissed off about settled between ain The corners of his ed my party last week And you assaultedto assert some force in this school, Tatuhis shoulder into the lockers and crossing his ar you, believe it or not It’s been a very peaceful year without your s face around these halls"

His biting tone was old news, but the words cut me, and I clenched my teeth

I , bad Jared--feeling threatened?" What the hell was I doing? I had an out He was confrontingto reason with him?

In an instant, he pushed off the lockers and invaded ainst the locker doors on both sides of ot how to breathe

"Don’t touch me" I’d meant to yell, but it came out as a whisper Even with my eyes to the floor, I could feel the heat of his stareme as he hovered Every nerve in my body was on alert at his proximity, and every little hair on my skin stood on end

Jaredto catch my eyes, his lips inches from my face "If I ever lay my hands on you," he said low and husky, "you’ll want it" He brought his lips in even closer The heat of his breath covered my face "Do you? Want it, I mean?"

I oing to say, but I coot it as his scent invaded ne, but Jared didn’t wear any Good Awesome The jerk just smelled like soap Yurip

His hooded stare faltered while I maintained eye contact "I’ to tell me what you want or what?"

"You know?" He looked at me curiously "This new attitude you came back with? It surprised et All you’d do was run away or cry Now you’ve got soht in you I was prepared to leave you alone this year But now…," he trailed off

"What will you do? Trip me in class? Spill OJ on et any dates? Or h that was no joke, and I i his me anymore? You can’t scareup?