In the last three years, I've attended six private schools scattered across the UK, yet this is the first time I've seen blended fruit used as a weapon during a catfight. I've got to give some credit to Corrine though, she's excellent at improvisation.

Perhaps I should've intervened earlier but Kennedy seemed to have been holding her own; her face calm, her tone level during the two minutes I was semi-eavesdropping. She even managed to keep her cool when Maya and Larisa, who clearly have severe daddy issues, were spewing verbal vomit all over her. The fact that Kennedy is a virgin doesn't surprise me at all, the girl clearly hasn't let loose since her inception. It was all very humorous to watch, I just wish Corrine didn't take it too far because now my plan to talk to Kennedy alone is ruined.

"Oi, fuck are you doing?" I ask, striding towards the gaggle of girls, my eyes darting to Kennedy's stained green face.

Christ, Corrine got her good. Kennedy's using her sleeve to wipe under her eyes, her gaze affixed on the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. She was doing so well before. A shame.

"Oh," Larisa coos, biting her lip, her frighteningly blue eyes scanning me as I approach. "Speak of the devil. Hi, Oliver. We were just teaching little Kenny here a lesson in respect-"

"And honesty," Maya adds, twirling her dark hair around her finger. Is she trying to flirt with me? Oh, God. "Liars deserve to be punished. Really, if you think about it, we were doing you a huge favor."

"Me?" I ask, stealing glances at Kennedy who keeps taking deep breaths, her fists clenched. I'm not sure if she's about to explode with anger or tears. "Yeah? How's that?"

"We're basically defending your honor," Corrine explains, batting her lashes. Christ, she's creepy. Why are her eyelashes so long? They're like spiders. "You must have heard the news that Kennedy told everyone that the two of you were dating which is obviously a big fat lie. So pathetic, Kenny-" Her menacing eyes dart to Kennedy. "Plus, we all know nobody would willingly date her-"

"Well, maybe for a million dollars," Maya laughs.

"More like a billion," Larisa adds. "Personally, there's not enough money in the world to make me want to date Kenny. I'd rather die."

Based on the daggers Kennedy is tossing her, that's a possibility in the near future.

"We put her in her place so you didn't have to." Corrine chuckles. "So you're welcome."

Surprisingly, Kennedy doesn't comment as she peers up at me through her soaked hair, her eyes dim, defeated. For fuck's sake. Why does she need to look so bloody depressed? I suck in a sharp breath. I'm doing this for the band. For a little freedom.

She better fucking go along with it.

"There seems to be just one problem with your logic," I say, meeting Kennedy's confused hazel eyes. "We are dating."

Kennedy's mouth drops briefly before she snaps it back up, straightening her shoulders, a grateful glimmer in her amber eyes.

That's better.

"What?" Corrine snaps, crossing her arms. "Fuck off, you're lying. I don't believe you." She faces Kennedy, disgust oozing through her pores. "What did you do? Pay him? God, you're sad."

"No, I- I didn't pay him," Kennedy stammers, nibbling on her bottom lip.

Seriously? What happened? She was kicking ass earlier.

Why must everything always fall on me?

"Frankly, I don't care what you think," I state dryly, reaching for Kennedy's hand and linking my fingers through hers, hoping it'll solidify my proclamation. As soon as her hand touches mine, I inwardly cringe. She's fucking sticky! Good God, she's covered in juice. Disgusting. This band better be worth it.

"Oh my God, ew," Maya says, her eyes darting between me and an awfully tense Kennedy. "You're serious? You're actually dating her? Why?"

"Maybe he enjoys charity work," Larisa chirps. "Is she your little pet project?"

These girls are truly carnivorous. I almost feel bad. Kennedy's grip tightens around my hand as she tosses me a side-eye indicating she'd like to leave.

Although this has been marginally entertaining, I find myself now getting quite irritated by their nasty voices.

"Stay away from my girlfriend, yeah?" I say, yanking on Kennedy's arm and dragging her towards the auto shop, leaving a stunned Corrine gawking at us.

Kennedy owes big time. Big!

"Where are you taking me?" Kenny whines as I drag her behind me. "You can let go of my hand now. They can't see us anymore."

"Gladly," I say, loosening my grip as we stop behind the auto shop, Kennedy staggers backward and rubs her hands together. I cross my arms and cock my head to the side. "Well?"

"Well what?" she asks.

"I'd like a thank you," I say. "If that's not too much trouble. I mean, I did just save your ass from utter humiliation. The least you can do is act appreciative of my sacrifice."

She blinks. "Your sacrifice? What did you sacrifice?"

"Well, clearly I've just painted myself an outcast by attaching my name to yours," I explain, walking over to the hose and turning it on. I thought I remembered seeing one here. "So I'd like a thank you."

Kennedy's lip twitches. "You did not do that for my benefit," she acutely observes. What is she? A Mensa candidate? "I assume you've reconsidered my offer." She quickly eyes the water spurting from the hose in my hand, a frown marring her brows. "What are you doing with that?"

"You're dirty," I smirk, mimicking her words. "I think a little water ought to help, no?"

"You can take your wa'er and fuck off!" she exclaims, taking a step back, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You are not hosing me down!"

"So you're going to walk through the halls looking like that?" I ask. "Might bring some unwanted attention, don't you think?" I nod towards the window. "Have a look."

Kenny bites her lip, catching her reflection. "Oh God," she whimpers, picking at her clumpy hair, several damp blue shreds of paper stuck between the strands. "I look like a trash goblin."

"Accurate description." I let out a low chuckle, holding the hose in front of me. "Alright, come here, goblin. Time for a little bath."

Kennedy grunts before taking a hesitant step forward. "Just my hair and face, okay? Don't get my clothes wet."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I say with a grin.

What a trusting girl.

Kennedy lowers herself under the hose, the water trickling down her long brown hair and onto her face. I half expected pounds of make-up to start washing away but it seems like she's not wearing any, other than that damn sparkling lip gloss.

"Fuck it's cold," she murmurs, scrubbing away the evidence of Corrine's savagery.

Just as she's finishing rinsing out her hair, I decide to have a little fun. I never did get that thank you. She can think of this as payment for my troubles. I shimmy my thumb over the nozzle and the water spray out in all directions, drenching Kennedy's entire torso.

Oh hello.

"Fuck!" she shrieks, jumping backward, yelping like a wet dog. "Oh my God, stop! Oliver! I swear to God! Turn it off. It's fucking cold!"

"A little nippy?" I smirk, releasing the pressure and lowering the hose, my eyes raking over her trembling body. "Bad day to wear white, love."

Kennedy's eyes widen as she looks down at her chest, the outline of her black hearted bra on display. "Oh my God!" She quickly pulls her wet blazer closed, putting an end to her mini peep show. "You're such a dick!"

Shrugging, I turn off the hose. She's got a nice body, I'll give her that. "Yes, but I'm your dick now," I say with a cocky grin. "Simply the best boyfriend in the world, aren't I?"

Kennedy rolls her eyes as a noticeable shiver courses down her spine. "You're actually agreeing to do this?" she asks, raising a skeptical brow. "Really?"

"It seems as though I need you after all, as unfortunately as that is," I sigh, running an annoyed hand through my hair. "You need to cover for me three, sometimes four times a week so I can go to band practice."

"Band practice?" she asks. "You joined a band? What? When?"

"Yeah," I say, shrugging non-committedly, not wanting to get into details. She'd definitely have something to say about me playing in a pub. "Practices are from seven to ten so you'll have to sneak me out. I'm not sure how you'll do that but that's not my problem. I hold up my end of the bargain, you hold up yours."

Kennedy pursues her lips as she thinks, a tiny frown lining her forehead. "Okay," she says slowly. "I can do that-"

"Really?" That seemed too easy.

"But-" Ah, there it is. More conditions presume. "I'd like to discuss terms of the arrangement."

"Terms?" I sigh. God, she's going to make me sign a document, I swear. "What kind of terms?"

"Well for one, you cannot fake cheat on me, which means no flirting or making out with other girls in public. You will remain quote-unquote faithful to me for two months. Got it?"

I roll my eyes. "Seeing as all the girls at this school are terrifying, that shan't be an issue."

"Good," she smiles. She's in a much chipper mood now. "Also, you'll need to escort me to several school functions. The first being Lemar's house party this weekend and Homecoming next month. Acceptable?"

"I must take you to parties?" I ask, closing my eyes. This is getting absurd. "Can't I just hold your hand occasionally? Granted, I'd prefer it if you washed your hand first."

"Oh, funny," she jeers. "I'm usually a very clean person, trust me. And no, that will not suffice. If we're going to date, we must do it properly. People will notice."

Oh, God. She's a lunatic. I have a deal with a lunatic. "Who is Lemar?"

"He plays tight end for the Hilton Huskies," Kenny explains. "He always throws a back to school party the first week of classes at his parents' house upstate. It's like half an hour away. Everyone goes."

"Sounds lovely," I sigh. A house party full of morons. Oh, the joy. "How long am I expected to stay? I assume it's not for the whole night?"

"A couple of hours should be fine," Kennedy states. "Then you're free." She pauses. "Are you staying at your aunt's on the weekend?"

"Not likely," I scoff. Hilarious. "I was planning to stay on campus until Christmas break."

"Mmm," Kennedy hums. "Okay, that's fine. I'll give you the key to the service entrance tomorrow. You'll be able to sneak in and out at your leisure. The staircase is located on the east side of campus. The door opens up right by the unisex bathrooms so you'll bypass the admin office."

"You have a bloody key?!" I ask. "How do you have a key?"

Kennedy grins, shrugging coyly. She thinks she's so special, doesn't she? "It's for emergencies. A perk of being an SLO."

"So all you have to do is give me a key and I have to actually go places with you? That hardly seems like a fair exchange," I note. She made it seem like sneaking out would be the hardest thing to do. A key? That's all?

Kennedy tosses me a smug smile. "I never said that this arrangement would require fifty-fifty effort," she retorts. "I just said it will be mutually beneficial. And honestly, trusting you with a master key puts me at far greater risk of suspension than you taking me to a couple of places. If anything, I have more on the line than you do."

Again, her thinking process stumps me.

"In that case, you're putting a lot of faith in someone who you don't really know," I muse. "How do you know I won't fuck you over. Run to the Headmaster, key in hand, and turn you in?"

"Oh..." Kenny blinks, realization dawning on her. "I-um...I didn't think of that."

"What's that now?" I smirk. "You didn't think of that? Really? I'm disappointed, Kennedy. You always seem to be one step ahead."

"Well..." She sighs, scrunching up her face. "Fuck!" She starts pacing around, tapping a finger against her lips in deep thought. Oh, she's losing it. "Why didn't I think about that?! So stupid. God, this is so fucking complicated now."

My amused gaze follows her as she walks around in circles mumbling incoherently. I don't actually plan on turning her in. I want to avoid the Headmaster at all costs. There are millions of pounds on the line and I'm not willing to risk my inheritance just to mess with her. But she doesn't need to know that.

Not yet at least.

"Relax," I finally say with an exasperated yawn. God, there are too many hours in a day. "I'm not going to turn you in. I have an inkling that you'd take me down with you if I did."

"Oh, one hundred percent," she states, pausing in front of me, her gaze unwavering. "I would not go down alone."

"I figured."

"So? What? We have a deal then?" she asks, holding out her hand. I eye it carefully, scowling. She rolls her eyes. "It's clean."

"Alright," I say, our hands shaking in agreement. "You've got yourself a deal."

"Perfect," she states, checking her watch. "I'll text you later with details about the party tomorrow. I'll pull your number from the registry. I have to go and shower now before my last class." She pauses. "Wait, why aren't you in class right now?"

"A spare," I say. Somehow my credits from St. Augustine's exceeded Hilton's requirements. I'm sure it was an error but I'm not complaining.

Wait. No. Did she say last class?

There are only three classes last block according to the schedule; both chemistry and trig are not AP.

"What class do you have next?" I ask, dreading the response.

Please no. No. I pray to the gods. Do not let this happen. I beg of you.

"Photography," she groans as if it's the most revolting subject.

Blimey.

"You're taking photography?" I ask lethargically.

Why? Why must all good things be ruined?

She narrows her eyes, picking up on my tone. "Oh God," she whines. "Are you in that class too? Seriously?"

"I am just as disappointed as you are," I state.

She's going to make us sit together. That's what couples do. An entire class sitting next to the devil. Splendid.

"Shit," she grumbles. "Okay, well, I can show up late, and hopefully by then, you're already partnered with someone else. That way we don't need to interact with one another. Reasonable?"

"Surprisingly yes," I muse. Interesting. I did not expect that. "Good plan."

"Great plan," she retorts flatly, turning on her heel. "Anyway, I guess I'll see you in class."

"Can't wait," I state.

Kill me. Kill me now.

________________

These two OMG. The "hatred" is palpable.

THOUGHTS?

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