It took some persuading, but I'd finally gotten Nolan to agree to my costume idea.

He wanted something simple that required no effort. Suggesting to go to Gia's party dressed as mechanics or in our pajamas. When he suggested we dress up like peanut butter and jelly I had to put my foot down.

The artist in me wanted more of a challenge. One that would require a few hours of prep and a giant case of costume make-up, provided by Candi.

When I called Nolan Saturday night he sounded like he'd just woken up. Not surprising. He seemed to spend most of his time napping.

"What?" He growled over the line, groggy voice sounding particularly sexy.

"It's almost seven. Why are you still asleep?"

There was a pause and I could imagine him checking his phone to confirm. He let out a yawn. "I thought the party didn't start until nine."

"It does, but the make-up is going to take a while," I explained, laying our costumes on my bed. 

The ripped and dirtied Bellcreek football jersey looked perfect alongside the matching cheerleader uniform I was currently wearing. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I was still spooked by the zombiefied version of myself that stared back.

"Make-up?" He sounded fully awake now. "You never said anything about make-up."

"Unless you know of a way to get that natural just-risen-from-the-dead look, you're gonna need some make-up."

My words were met with a groan. "The mechanic idea is still on the table. The jumpsuits are super comfortable, too."

Ignoring the plea in his voice I asked, "So, are you coming over?"

"Is your mom there?"

"Yeah," I replied, glancing out to the hall. I could hear her on the phone, probably in her bedroom.

"Then you should come over here."

"You afraid of my mom?" I teased.

He sounded more serious than amused when he said, "I don't have the best track record with parents."

I pushed back the questions that sprang up. It was none of my business. "I'll be over soon."

* * *

Nolan looked completely out of place inside standing in the living room of his own house. His dark attire stood out like a shadow among the brightly colored walls and furniture.

The walls were a bright blue, the couches creme colored and full of throw pillows. It was an open floor plan so the living, dining and kitchen area were all in the same room.

An island separated the kitchen from the living room. That's where I set the make-up kit. Nolan eyed the case suspiciously, before his gaze flitted over to me.

I smiled wide, reveling in his worried expression. "You ready to become a zombie?"

"Do I have a choice?" He muttered.

I gently guided him to sit on a stool. "Nope."

I put my painting skills to work, using Nolan's face as a canvas. It didn't occur to me that I had to be that close to his face. If I hadn't already, after tonight I'd have every line of his face committed to memory.

The sharpness of his jaw, his cheekbones. The thickness of his eyebrows and his long lashes. There was a slight bend in his nose. Had he broken it before? How'd he get the small cut on his lip.

I ran my thumb along the corner of his bottom lip, smearing red face paint along it to look like blood. My pulse rang in my ears as I thought about his lips. How they were almost on mine. That teasing taste I had if them.

Nolan had his eyes closed during most of the process. Now they were opened. Watching, staring at me. I felt them before I looked up to confirm. I froze under his gaze, my mouth parting slightly in shock. God, I hoped he wasn't some sort of mind reader and could hear the voice in my head screaming for me to kiss him. For him to kiss me.

My heart thumped against my ribcage. Desperate for something it could never have. Desperate for a boy who's sights were aimed at one thing only. Leaving.

Still, I didn't feel alone in the moment. He had to have felt it too. The vibrating hum of something. Not love. Definitely not love. Lust, maybe. The mutual want of all the physical benefits of being in a relationship

Would it be so bad to add kissing to our agreement?

Nolan reached his hand up, his fingers slowly circling around my wrist. The touch of his fingertips sent electrical circuits up my arm. He pulled my hand from his face.

I didn't make a move, despite every cell in my body wanting to. It had to be his choice, though. It was his stupid no getting too personal rules he'd be breaking.

He blinked, breaking eye contact to grab his phone. The moment shattered as he told me it was nine-sixteen.

I stepped away, busying myself with putting the make-up brushes and sponges back into the case. My entire body felt white hot, my mouth dry. Had I imagined the entire thing? Did he not feel what I did?

Who was I kidding? Nolan had a one track mind and making out with his pretend girlfriend wasn't in the vicinity of his thoughts. I couldn't let myself forget that.

"I'm done anyway," I said, keeping my eyes on the make-up.

The front door opened. Nolan's mom walked in with a reusable bag full of groceries. She didn't notice us until after she had locked the door. When she did see us it was followed by a startled shriek and her dropping the groceries.

Once she noticed we weren't actually zombies she laughed into one hand, the other clutching her chest. "Oh my. Nolan, is that really you?"

As Nolan tried to collect the groceries that spilled from the bag his mom stopped him. She held him by the shoulders, her eyes going over every detail of the gory make-up.

"Oh my gosh," she laughed again, her gaze falling on me. "How did you talk him into this?"

I smiled at her reaction, the bright smile in her face. "I bribed him with cookies."

Another burst of laughter as she looked at her son again. They were almost the same height, even with her in flats. "M&M?" She asked, looking back to me. "But only the blue ones?"

Nolan escaped his mother's grasp, taking the groceries into the kitchen. I watched him, in awe.

"So, you weren't just being annoying when you requested them that night of the carnival?"

"Oh, no. Those are his favorite," she said, standing beside me. "When he was six he went through this phase where he wouldn't eat anything that wasn't blue, convinced it'd turn him into a Smurf."

My jaw dropped, a smile stretching across my face.

"Mom!" Nolan warned. His glare looked extra scary surrounded by black make up, giving his eyes a sunken look.

"That is the most adorable thing I've ever heard."

Nolan finished putting away the small grocery haul. He didn't seem amused by our giggling.

"I'm sorry, Nolan," his mom said, looking anything but. "You never bring friends around and I have all of these embarrassing stories piling up."

My ears perked up. "There's more?"

"We have to go," Nolan demanded, heading for the door.

Mrs. Chambers reached out, touching my shoulder. "Maybe later," she whispered. Then added, "I'm Allison, by the way."

"Jade," I said, shaking her hand.

"Let's go!" Nolan called out impatiently.

Allison gave me a knowing look, probably used to her son's constant bad attitude. I grabbed the make-up case and my purse, waving goodbye to her as I left out the front door.

Nolan was standing by my car, waiting for me to unlock it. I pushed the button on the key chain and he climbed into the passenger seat.

"I like your mom," I said when I got in, starting up the car.

"Can we just go?" He said, slouching down in the seat.

I sighed and pulled out onto the street, weaving through his neighborhood. "You better have your happy face on by the time we get to the party."