In woodshop our book shelf was nearly done. We had done the sanding, added the stain, did some more sanding. Now we had to add the varnish.

We were outside for that part so no one would pass out from the paint fumes. Our group tackled each side of the shelf, coating it with the varnish to make the shelf glossy.

Mr. Barton let us hangout outside, soaking up the afternoon sun, while we waited for the coat to dry. Me, Candi and Hannah sat in the grass under a shady tree, the other students spread out in the grass as well or went back into the class room.

I only half listened to Hannah's story about how she and her older sister saw some celebrity at a gas station. My mind was focused on other things.

Since first period the whispers hadn't stopped. It seemed like the whole school knew about Nolan and I. It's what we wanted. Unfortunately, they weren't talking about us being cute or saying we were couple goals.

I never knew there were so many words for slut.

"Are the rumors about you and Nolan true?" Candi asked, pulling me back into the conversation.

Nolan was off to the side, leaning against the building's wall, away from everyone else as usual. He was tapping away at his phone, a scowl on his face. Either he was telling someone off or losing at Candy Crush.

I turned back to Candi. "That we're together, yes. Everything else is a lie."

Hannah let out a breath, clutching her chest. "Oh, good! Because I don't think I can associate myself with someone who would have sex in a public bathroom," she said, shuddering at the thought.

My own face scrunched up. "Is that what they're saying?"

"The people at this school really need to find better ways to spend their time," Candi chimed in.

"That's Bellcreek for you," Hannah sighed. "We should change our mascot from the Grizzlies to the Gossips."

Candi's brows pulled together. "What would that mascot even look like?"

I didn't get to hear Hannah's vision for the Gossip mascot because Nolan distracted me, waving me over.

I excused myself before walking across the asphalt the separated the grass area from the building. "What's up?"

The warm summer breeze dislodged a few wisps of hair from behind his ear and pushed them back. "What are you doing after school?"

"I have to take Taylor to Tiny Sprouts and then go see Mrs. Grice about a job."

"I'll take you," he offered.

I snorted. "On your motorcycle? And where would Taylor sit, the handlebars?"

He didn't seem amused by my reply. "We'll swing buy my place and get the car. Just let me take you home."

There was something else layered beneath his usual bored tone. The way his eyes shifted to our classmates made me uneasy.

"Is something going on?"

Instead of answering he slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his chest. My heart jack hammered as my nostrils filled with that generic boy scent.

He ducked his head as if he was about to kiss my neck, stopping just mere centimeters from actual contact. His warm breath fanned against my skin as he spoke, sending a wave of goosebumps down my arms.

"I don't know if it's true," he whispered. "But I heard some people talking about cornering you after school."

"Why?" I choked out in a weak whisper, trying to focus on anything but our bodies pressed together.

He pulled his face away from my neck so he could meet my eyes. "You want to stick around to find out?"

Point taken. Candi was right, the students of Bellcreek needed to find themselves a hobby. My gaze flickered to the remaining students that sat in clusters on the grass. That's when I noticed one guy, Quinton, a skinny dark-skinned boy who I vaguely remember as one of Deshaun's friends. He kept staring at me, a smirk on his face. He'd been doing it since class started, I just never thought anything of it.

Nolan must've noticed that too, which would explain why we were hugged up like that. Too fool the others into thinking we were just a couple that didn't mind PDA.

I turned back to Nolan, placing my hands on his chest, toying with the black leather robe of a necklace that was tucked into his shirt. It's the first time I've noticed it. What hung on the end of it?

"So, you plan on helping me escape?"

He shrugged. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I left you to fend for yourself?"

I'd smile at the sentiment if I could, but the whole situation made me sick to my stomach. Why was this happening to me? All I did was break up with a guy and now I'm public enemy number one?

Nolan gently lifted my chin with the knuckle of his index finger. He actually looked concerned. "What'd you do to piss these people off?"

"Nothing!" I dropped my eyes to the asphalt beneath our feet, embarrassed by the emotion in my voice. I couldn't cry. Not here. "I told you, people think I'm sleeping around."

He shifted, his arms loosening around me. Even though we were still so close I could feel him take a breath I felt he'd just pushed me away at arm's length. Could he hear the beginning of tears in my voice? Did it make him uncomfortable?

I dropped my hand from his necklace and took a step back, out of his arms, smiling up at him in case anyone was watching and got the wrong idea about our sudden distance. He let his arms drop to his sides.

"So, what's the escape plan?"

* * *

When the bell rang signaling the end of school Nolan and I walked out together, his arm slung over my shoulder. My heart pounded a mile a minute. I felt like I could throw up. It took a lot, but I held it together as we maneuvered through the mass of students all heading for the exit.

According to Nolan the ambushed would take place in the main building, where the lockers and main exit were. I'd just have to make do without some of my textbooks tonight.

"I'll be waiting on the corner," he told me and I nodded. "Head for the side exit and don't stop."

We were coming up on the point where we were supposed to separate. He was going to get his motorcycle through the after school traffic so that we could make a fast get away and meet me at the side exit. Hardly anyone went that way because the parking lot was closer the main exit.

My hand instinctively griped onto the back of shirt, not ready to part with him. What if he heard wrong? What if their covering both exits?

He pulled me closer, ducking down to whisper, his lips brushing against my cheek. "It'll be fine. They're supposed to be waiting for you at your locker so the side gate should be clear. Just walk fast."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"I'll just find a new fake girlfriend."

My eyes shot up to him, just in time to see the smirk on his face. I elbowed him in the ribs, laughing as if I wasn't about to run—or power walk—for my life.

As much as I didn't want to, I released his shirt and he slipped his arm from around me.

"See you on the other side," he said before I turned down the path leading to the side gate.

I kept my head down. Faces blurred past me as I walked against the current of students trying to get the main exit. Did this path get longer? It twisted and turned and winded around some trailers.

Finally the gate came into view. Nolan sat idling on the corner as promised. A smile made it's way on my face as I kept my eyes on him, keeping my pace fast.

Just as I was about to make it past the last trailer, a hand clamped around my arm, yanking me into the cut between two trailers.

I was ready to kick and punch whoever had the nerve to snatch me like that. Then I met a familiar pair of green eyes.

"Dammit, Bee!" I shouted, clutching my chest as I tried to catch my breath.

"I've been calling you since the bell rang," she said, waving her arm wildly the way she always did under stress. "Do you know that people are planning to egg you?"

Eggs? Seriously, what was wrong with these people? Was there literally nothing better to do?

"Nolan told me they were planning something," I told her, finally able to breath. "He's waiting for me."

I poked my head around the corner to see if he was still there. His bike was, but no Nolan. Where did he—

"Jade!" I jumped at the panicked sound of...Nolan? He must've been really worried about me. He seemed out of breath, his face slightly red, probably from the running. "I saw you, and then I didn't. I thought—"

"My fault," Bee said, sheepishly.

"We should go," Nolan said, walking ahead to his bike. Bee and I followed. "They probably realized you aren't going to your locker by now and are—"

He was cut off by a dull thud as something hit the trailer we walked pass. The three of us turned and watched the yellow goo of an egg slowly slide down the building.

Before I had time to react I was being pulled forward. I had to run or else be dragged as Nolan ran for his bike. More eggs splattered on asphalt, narrowly missing us as we kept moving. Bee yelled threats at the three dumbasses chucking eggs at us. Thankfully she didn't stop to make good on them.

"I'll call you later!" Bee shouted once we made it out the gate. She ran off in the other direction, probably for her car.

Nolan tossed me his helmet, swinging a leg over his bike. Putting my hair in a halo braid was a smart move, I thought as I slipped the helmet on. The group of egg throwers were closing in fast, shouting things I couldn't fully make out over the thumping adrenaline in my ears.

"Hold on!" Nolan ordered over the roaring of his engine once I was on.

My arms wrapped around his waist and he pulled off, leaving those idiots in the dust.