Trilina Pucci

I walk next to her, wondering which way we’ll take, a little sad, but she reaches down and takes my hand, letting me hold hers half of the way back—the long way

It’s the start of Thursday, and Mr. Green is already on the warpath, but I don’t care because my eyes are on the girl two rows over. Caroline sits at her desk and reaches inside for her morning journal when she stops and leans sideways to see inside.

Here we go.

She pulls out a small blue Tiffany’s box—one I stole from my mom—and a folded paper bag. Her head turns my way, but I’m already looking forward, pretending I don’t notice. I wait for a few more seconds and look back over, watching her unfold the bag and pull out the chocolate chip cookie—the cookie I made. Well, made with the help of our chef.

Caroline brings it to her nose, inhaling it, and places it back in the bag. She pushes it aside and opens the box, checking again over her shoulders to make sure nobody is watching her. The top lifts, and the scraps of tissue paper I ripped up fall out. Her delicate fingers reach inside and pull out the Care Bear sticker I stole from the nurse’s office days ago.

I’m staring, watching as her fingers brush over the top of the puffy sticker, and this time when she looks my way, I keep my eyes on hers. I point to the top of the box, and she looks back down, flipping it around, confused until she sees the writing on the inside of the top.

For the girl that feels everything and wears her heart on her sleeve.

Happy birthday, Carebear.

And that bet is why I’m walking on this goddamn carpet going to a goddamn party for a girl that I’m desperate to forget about.

Liam groans, “I think I’m already wasted,” laying sideways, putting his head in my lap and twisting onto his back.

My heart stops as he looks up at me. “Can I lay on you?”

I swallow, giving him a nod and feeling flush—everywhere. My eyes shift up to Grey. “Hold on. Why are you dressed like Scots if you’re going to a St. Patrick’s Day party?”

Grey’s face brightens the way it does when he has a tremendously wicked idea.

“Because the Scots hate the Irish, so we’re going to disrupt the party—and this time, the Scots will win the war.”

“Ah,” I say, narrowing my eyes down on him, “so you’re going to start a fight.”

His smile grows, and Kai laughs, “We’re going to finish a fight. They started it.”

I look down at Liam. “Asinine. And you’re supposed to be the future. It’s tragic, really.”

Kai puts his finger under my chin and brings my gaze to his. “Come with us. You could be our Mary, Queen of—”

“Pass,” I laugh, turning back to Liam, whose eyes are closed, now sleeping in my lap.

Grey and Kai start talking, laughing about the trouble they’ll cause, ignoring me and the fact that I’ve brought my fingers to Liam’s wavy wheat-colored hair. Hesitantly, I run my fingers through it so gently as to not wake him, savoring the feeling.

The car begins to slow. Grey looks behind himself, out of his window. Kai joins

him, leaning over, placing a hand on the seat. My face has pointed in the direction they’re looking until I feel warm lips press against the scar on my wrist, sending goosebumps over my whole body.

My eyes dart down to Liam, who’s awake and smiling up at me.

“I always regretted not doing that the first time,” he whispers.

I draw my bottom lip between my teeth, trying not to squirm as my heart races so fast that I’m scared I may pass out.

“Thanks for the lap, Carebear,” he breathes out, sitting up with a grin on his face. The boys start filing out of the car, Liam last. He looks back just before he exits.

“I never realized how nervous I make you. Your heart was beating a mile a minute.”

My eyes are wide. How could Liam know that?

“No, it wasn’t,” I lie.

His eyes dart to my lap, then back to my face.

“I could feel your heartbeat, Carebear.”

Liam gives a wink, and then he’s gone. The door shuts, and my mouth falls open as understanding settles. My hand shoots over my center, knowing my body betrayed me.

I’ve never been more embarrassed and turned on at the same time in my life.

Are you crazy?” I shout as we start to get drenched.

“Maybe. But only about you. Stay here with me.”

I feel his hand on my lower back as I careen forward again, enjoying the sensation.

“Hey, Carebear. Let’s be ‘not friends’ forever.”

The smile on my face feels permanent. I don’t want to be your friend either, Liam

“Good. Your skin’s too pretty to mark up. Unless it’s by my mouth.”

She releases the breath she’s been holding. “You’re insane.”

If she knew how fucking serious I am, it would scare the shit out of her. The more time I spend with Caroline, the more I wish I could hide her away and keep her to myself.

I pretend he’s joking, but I know he isn’t. His affections have become more apparent over the last few months. Maybe because we’ve been spending so much time together, just him and me. At first, I wasn’t interested because my sights have always been set on Liam, but now I’m starting to think Liam doesn’t feel the same.