I carefully clean the counter before washing the cloth off, grimacing at the heat in the diner today, beads of sweat gathering on my forehead as I work. Reaching up, I attempt to wipe it away, cursing under my breath at the sound of the door opening, instantly looking up and spotting the familiar jock, his Letterman jacket covering his toned body.

Isn't he hot in that? I'm sweating in this horrible brown diner dress.

The door shuts behind him and he looks over at me, a smile appearing on his face as he begins to make his way over. Quickly grabbing the notepad from beside me, I attempt to keep my face emotionless as he approaches.

"What can I get you?"

"I'm not going through all this again Savannah." Brett sits down at the counter, eyeing me warily.

"Nothing? Thank you for your cus..."

"When do you finish?" He cuts me off.

"What?"

"Your shift?" He smiles and I roll my eyes.

"None of your bus..."

"I'll wait."

"You... you..." I stutter, my voice lost at his words.

"Coffee please." He exclaims, speaking loud enough for Harry to hear from across the room.

"Coming right up." I respond through gritted teeth, grabbing a mug from behind me and placing it in front of him.

"Thank you."

"That will be a dollar, twenty-five," I reply, holding my palm out. He smiles slightly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some coins, looking down at them before placing them gently into my hand. I desperately try to ignore the flutter in my chest at the slight contact, instantly looking away, "Thanks."

I walk back out to the tables, cleaning the empty ones and refilling the napkin holders, anything to stop me from looking over at him.

He's sat there watching me, I can feel it. Why is he even here? Doesn't this boy have better things to be doing with his time? I'm still trying to work him out, maybe this is all part of some big high school prank to make me fall in love with him or beg to go to prom with him. Well, it ain't gonna happen.

I can promise you that.

The final half hour flies past as I busy myself with the little jobs around the diner that I normally give to the newer staff.

I walk into the back as soon as the clock strikes three, desperate to slip out the back without being noticed. The day has felt longer than normal, the humidity having made me feel exhausted and I pull my shorts on quickly, immediately feeling better, cool air touching my arms as I pull the lilac halterneck down over my head. Grabbing hold of the back door I yank it open, throwing my bag over my shoulder and leaving the diner, making it five steps before a hand curls around my shoulder, pulling me back and gently pressing me to the wall, his arms caging me in.

"Leaving?" Brett asks, his voice husky.

He's so close to me, I feel my heart flutter, my mind desperately praying that he doesn't notice my unplucked eyebrows. What? Why do I care?

"Yes." I reply breathlessly.

"I told you I'd wait." He smirks down at me and I feel my cheeks redden.

"I'd rather you didn't." I retort and he shrugs.

"I didn't give you a choice." He smirks and I feel my breath catch in my throat as his gaze drifts down towards my lips.

"You are..."

"What?" He cuts me off leaning closer, my breath catching in my throat as he gazes into my eyes. I can't look away, my heart pounding as his gaze falls to my lips and I lean my face in slightly, his hand landing on the small of my back.

Savannah, what the hell are you doing?

"Jesus, Brett get away from me!" I snap, using all my strength to push him away, watching as he stumbles back a mere two steps, raising his hands in a surrender.

"What?" He asks and I shake my head.

"You barely know me." I remind him, "And, you're with Ashley." I scoff, turning and beginning to walk off.

"I wouldn't say I'm with her." He argues, following me.

"The rest of the school would disagree." I snap, tired of his games. He grabs hold of my hand, whirling me back around to face him.

"Come on." Brett smiles.

"What?"

"Come on!" He repeats, gesturing towards his parked car.

"I just said I'm not..."

"Get to know me Hurst." He retorts. Hurst? Where did that come from?

"You know my last name?" I blurt out, startled.

"Surprising aren't I?"

"Goodbye Brett." I roll my eyes, turning to walk away from him.

"Come on, humor me!" He calls out, "What else are you going to do this afternoon?"

"Study." I shrug and he rolls his eyes.

"Boring, lets go."

"You infuriate me."

"Ditto."

"Then leave me alone." I smile sweetly at him.

"No, it entertains me," He retorts before catching up and standing in front of me, "Please."

"I can't believe you!" I snap, throwing my arms up in the air in defeat, turning and making my way to his car. He grins, following as I slip into the passenger seat. It's as plush as I remember, the seats the comfiest I've ever experienced and I'm certain that I like his car more than him.

He grins, turning the car on and revving it as he leaves the parking lot. I internally curse myself, unsure why I've given into his demands and regretting it already.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He retorts smugly.

"You have no idea how much you annoy me!" I complain, leaning my arm against the window.

"I think I know."

"Then leave me alone!"

"No." He replies bluntly, startling me slightly.

Why is he so persistent? No, really... there is absolutely nothing special about me. I am in no way on the same level as him, my blonde hair chopped just below my shoulders, my clothes old and cheap. My body is relatively slim, I know that, and I'm lucky, but I know that a hundred and twenty nine pounds is heavier than he normally goes for. Ashley is probably under a hundred.

Get over it Savannah. You're here to entertain him, nothing more, he isn't actually interested in you. Maybe as a friend, but that's all. I swear though, if he's playing me, not actually trying to be my friend, he'll regret it.

"A basketball court?" I blurt out as he finally turns off the engine. "Really?"

I have no sport skills whatsoever.

He ignores me, climbing out the car and quickly grabbing a ball from his trunk. I hesitantly follow as he makes his way down to the empty court that has been unused for years, the rumors of old Bill Saracen, the town's basketball hero, haunting it having left it deserted. It doesn't escape my attention that we are away from any potential prying eyes.

"You said we barely know each other." Brett grins looking back at me as he stops in the middle of the court. "You get one in, you get to ask the other a question."

"That's not fair you know I can't..." I'm cut off as his first ball sails through the hoop.

"What music do you like?" He grins at me and I sigh.

"Really?" I mutter, "All kinds."

"Specifics Hurst." He replies, shaking his head at me. I quickly fish around in my head for a decent artist.

"Taylor Swift?" I answer.

"Maybe we can't be friends." He smirks before throwing the ball to me. I thankfully catch it, grateful I didn't drop it like I normally do, "Your turn."

My shot misses by a long way, bouncing off the back board and back towards us. Brett catches it, immediately throwing it up and making another hoop.

"Great." I mutter.

"When's your birthday?" He smiles, throwing the ball back towards me. I swoop down, capturing it in my arms relatively easily.

"March twelfth." I reply, stepping back and jumping up as I throw the ball. It bounces on the rim, before falling through the net. "Aha!" I clap my hands as Brett grabs the rebounding ball. "Where are you going to college?" I ask.

"Not sure yet. Think I'll stay in state. Be around for my sister when she needs me." He answers, bouncing the ball on the floor in front of him.

"That's nice." I smile and he grins, before turning and throwing another ball through the hoop before walking towards me.

"Where are you going to go to college?" Brett asks, stopping relatively close.

"I want to stay in state too, near my sister." I reply softly, "I haven't thought about it too much because I don't even know if I'll be able to afford it. I'm looking for a scholarship." I finish, grabbing the ball out of his hands and running away.

"That's why you're always studying?" He asks, his eyes following me.

"That's another question." I sing, "But yeah." I shrug, reaching up and throwing the ball. It misses, flying straight past the net. "Damn it." I groan, running after the ball as it rolls further and further away.

"You'll get a scholarship Hurst." He calls after me.

"I don't think so," I mutter as I throw him the ball, "First I have to make an impression to a college. They won't even know who I am!"

"I wouldn't be so sure," He grins, barely glancing at the net before he shoots, the ball falling through the net, "Why are you a cheerleader?"

"What?" I am startled by the question, reaching out to grab the ball as it rebounds.

"You don't strike me as the usual..." I cut him off by raising my hand.

"Hey don't stereotype them!" I protest and he smirks, "Most of them are really nice girls. But... I do it for my college application."

"Everything for college." He taunts and I roll my eyes.

"Anything to get me out of Elle's apartment." I retort and he raises an eyebrow.

"You hate him that much?"

"Hey hey! It's my turn!" I complain and he chucks the ball at me, fumbling with it before I manage to hold on, throwing it up to the basket and missing. Brett catches it, immediately sailing it through the net, "Really!" I huff as he grins.

"Do you find me attractive?" He asks, bouncing the ball over to me. I grab it as it bounds up, widening my eyes as I register his question.

"What?" I stutter as he takes a couple of steps towards me.

"You heard."

"I... I guess... you're okay... quite nice to look at." I manage, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks. He shoots me a small smirk, taking another step closer.

"I see."

"You knew that anyway."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"This is a stupid game." I blurt, chucking the ball at him, him catching it easily as I take a couple of steps backwards.

"Only because you're losing." He teases and I roll my eyes, turning away, "Hey, come back!" He calls after me and I grin, leaning down to pick up my bag. "Savannah!" He exclaims, "Okay, you can ask me a question!"

"Really?" I grin, dropping my bag back down on the floor and turning towards him.

"Go for it." Brett gestures, grinning, "You can ask two!"

"Favorite color?" I reply, choosing to play it safe.

"Blue."

"Typical." I shoot back.

"Next one?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

Okay, what next? Favorite singer, favorite food? What's the point of those? Why are you even playing it safe - what are you afraid of? What do you really want to know, Savannah?

I know exactly what I want to ask but I'm truly terrified of his answer. God, just do it. Rip it off like a band aid.

"Why are you with Ashley?" I blurt before I can rethink my actions, "She's not the nicest of people."

"She's hot."

"Is that your serious answer?" I scoff.

"No."

"Then why?" I probe, taking a step towards him as he shakes his head.

"This is a stupid question," He turns, walking over to the other side of the court, bouncing the ball in front of him, "Why does it matter?"

"I was just wondering." I shrug.

"Quit nosing in my business." He snaps, stepping back towards me.

"Are you serious?" I snap.

"Fucking stay out of it." He yells, chucking the ball at the net.

"You wanted to play this game."

"You took it too far!"

"Go to hell Winters." I retort, whirling around and grabbing my bag off the floor before storming off, making my way back to the road.

What the hell is his problem? So he can know all the secrets in my life but I can't know his? How is that fair? He really is the most arrogant, conceited person I've ever met and he doesn't deserve a single second of my time. I have no idea why I keep entertaining him. Grow up Savannah, he's a waste of space.

Hot.

But a waste of space.

Seriously? If he doesn't want me anywhere near his life then why doesn't he leave me the fuck alone? I never asked for his attention. In fact, he should take it and shove it up Ashley's ass, she'd love it.

I angrily stomp along the road as I glance up at the sign before me. Only two miles left back to Edgewater Valley.

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Do we like Brett the more we get to know him? Or less?

Just a quick thing - the length of my chapters are roughly 2,000-2,500 words each and that's the way it's going to stay. It's just a personal preference, so that's how I've written my book. Unfortunately, it's not going to change - sorry if you don't like that!

Love to each and every one of you! 💙

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