"Miss Perfect," he murmured which made her frown at the nickname she had heard countless times. It was what people called her but her life was anything but perfect. She was a cheerleader with a handsome boyfriend and a group of friends who hung on her every word. People saw what they wanted to and no one had taken the time to take a closer look.

If there wasn't an emptiness she was trying to fill she would be standing on the edge of a cliff trying to feel something more than the familiar numbness she lived with.

"Bad boy," She shot back. His mouth tipped up on the one side as he tried to suppress a smile.

"Touche."

We both had reputations but the difference was she was sure he lived up to his.

"I have to go," she stated, looking briefly to the dusty path that had led her to this point. There was a lone daisy flower beside the path. She loved daisies. It was another part about being there was every now and then she would pick some daisies to take home.

When she reached the flower she bent down and picked it up. It was beautifully formed with white petals. Her fingers touched the petal lightly. So pretty.

"I thought you were a roses type of girl," Maddox interrupted.

She shrugged. "No. I hate the thorns."

She rose and began to walk down the path admiring the daisy in her hand then noticed he was following silently behind.

"What are you doing?" She frowned stopping to face him.

"What does it look like?" He gave her a chance to answer but she refused. "I'm walking you back."

"That's not necessary."

He shrugged dismissively and remained where he was. She let out a frustrated breath before she swung around to stomp away but annoyingly his footsteps remained steady behind her no matter how fast she tried to walk to lose him. He was infuriating and annoying.

Even though it was late afternoon there was a chill in the air, it made her shiver. She felt a warmth envelope her, Maddox had draped his jacket over her shoulders. She stopped to turn to face him. She wasn't sure what to say but she held the sides his leather jacket tighter to keep herself warm.

"Thanks," she mumbled, feeling overtaken with the small act of his. She wanted to hold onto her annoyance but it was more difficult now as the heat from his jacket warmed her.

"You're welcome."

She continued the rest of the ten minute walk in a subdued silence, fully aware of the proximity he followed behind. Maddox Larson wasn't someone who disappeared into the background. He stood bold and consuming demanding attention. When they walked out of the forest and the road lay before them she recognised his beaten up old ford parked on the side. She took off his jacket to hand it back to him.

"Where's your car?" he asked looking around, noticing there wasn't another car parked nearby.

"I didn't bring it."

"Get in, I'll take you home."

She shook her head, not wanting to be in his company any longer.

"That's really not necessary," she replied as her house was only a short walk away.

"I insist," he said refusing to take his jacket back. "It's getting dark."

"Being so chivalrous will ruin your reputation," she remarked still holding his jacket.

He gave her a lazy smile. "I promise not to tell it if you don't."

She crossed her arms feeling unsure how how to deal with him, he didn't seem to react in a way she expected him to.

"Get in," he repeated, this time opening the passenger door.

She studied him for a few seconds debating the lesser evil. He was the bad boy of the school, breaking every rule in place, constantly pushing against authority. She didn't know if she could trust him, statistically most rapists where known to the victims.

"Come on Ashley, I don't have all day," he reminded her with a frown. He was an extremely good looking guy and it was hard to find her breath when he fixed his amber eyes on her she hated her unwelcome reaction to him.

She gazed down the road briefly wondering if it was a safer option. If he'd wanted to hurt her he could have done it already.

"Come on little Miss Perfect," he sighed, growing tired of waiting for her to make up her mind.

At the mentioned of the nickname she detested she shot him another glare. Nothing about her was perfect, she was flawed like everyone.

"Don't call me that."

"Get in." He motioned for her to get into the passenger seat.

Finally relenting she carefully slipped his jacket back and got into. He walked around the front of the car and slid into the driver's seat.

Even though it was pretty messy inside it wasn't dirty. Discarded bottles and take away boxes on the floor it smelled nice reminding her of the scent coming from his jacket she was still wearing.

He started up his car. It groaned a little before the engine shot to life with a rumble. The radio blared music giving her a jolt, he turned it down quickly.

She couldn't pull her gaze from his, seeing this different side to him was surprising but she was determined not be be one of his many followers besides she had a boyfriend. Logan. She had to keep reminding herself. They hadn't been dating for long, officially it had only been three months.

She shot a side glance to the boy driving her home. His concentration was on the road ahead and it gave her a few moments to study him.

He tapped one hand against the steering wheel and the muscles in his arm flex. It reminded her of his ruthless strength she had seen in action in more than one school fight. A scuffle had erupted right beside her once. He had taken down a guy with one hit straight to the face before a crowd of spectators could form around the two of them. The brutality of it had left her breathless. She could still remember the rage she had witnessed in the depths of his eyes when his gaze had momentarily caught her as he had rubbed his bleeding fist. His eyes fierce.

She made a point of looking away and studied the daisy she twirled with her fingers.

She believed she was only unsettled by him because he had caught her at a weak moment. It wouldn't happen again. her walls were back up.

"Address?" he asked distractedly, glancing in her direction.

She gave him the directions and clasped her hands tightly together. Time seemed to slow down and she felt like the ride was taking forever, she couldn't wait to get home and out of his car. The closed proximity to him was making her feel more self conscious with every minute.

"Do you go there often?" His question took her off guard. She stubbornly refused to answer.

"Do you do that often?" He wasn't going to stop with the questions.

"What?" she asked, resentful even though she knew exactly what he was referring to.

"Standing on the ledge of the cliff?"

He was digging deeper and she was in no mood to share.

"What does it matter?" she snapped.

"It does." She watched his features trying to read his mind but he wasn't giving anything away. She bet he was good a poker because she had no idea what was going on in that mind of his but she assured herself she didn't care.

"If you need someone to talk to there are people who can help you?" he said in a murmur.

Her exasperation level rose. Why didn't he believe her?

"How many times do I have to tell you I wasn't trying to hurt myself?" she snapped, her patience was running out.

"That's what it looked like."

She rolled her eyes before turning her attention away from him. It wasn't too long before he pulled up in front of her house.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she got out is car as quickly as possible hoping to limit the goodbyes.

"You're welcome Miss Perfect."

That stopped me just as she closed the door, her hands lingered on the handle.

"Don't call me that," she told him angrily. her forehead creased.

The dance of light in his eyes told her he was baiting her and she had taken the it hook, line and sinker.

"Then what can I call you?"

"Ashley," she told him firmly. Like everyone else. Just because he had intruded on a private moment and felt in some way he knew her more than he had before changed nothing between them. She was Ashley Rae, little Miss Perfect and he was Maddox Larson, the high school bad boy breaking every rule he encountered.

They weren't friends and she had no plans to get to know him better.

"Okay Ash."

That pulled another glare from her. He started the car and smiled at her refusing to be intimidated by her obvious anger.

"See you tomorrow Ash."

She was about to tell him she didn't want him to call her that either but he pulled away leaving her open mouth.

For a few seconds she remained fixed watching his car drive away with her arms crossed over her chest. It was then she realised she was still wearing his jacket.

How was she going to get it back to him without drawing attention to why she had it in the first place? She put a hand to her temple. It was something she didn't need. What would people say? And, more importantly, what would Logan say?