School on Monday is rather eventful, but not the fun kind.

I don't know how things turn out like this, but gossip about the two most popular guys in school getting into a fight over a girl is spreading like wildfire. The moment I step onto the school grounds, I keep receiving odd glances and whispers behind my back. My name leaves their lips every few seconds.

Even Carly, the conceited girl who often tries to flirt with Kyle several times, knocks right into my shoulder in the hallway. She sneers at me, obviously not thrilled after witnessing Kyle and I leave the parties together. Not just once, but twice.

"Watch where you're going, bitch."

I raise a brow at her. "You're the one who bumped into me."

Her blazing eyes narrow, and she advances towards me. Crossing her arms and pushing out her chest as if she's trying to make herself appear more intimidating. "Come again?"

I refuse to back down and give her that ounce of satisfaction. Now that I know she's all lies and ego, I'm not afraid of her. "It's what I've just said — be careful when you're walking next time."

Her lips twist into a nasty snarl. She's about to lunge for me when someone steps in between us—Kyle.

He glares down at her. "What the hell are you doing, Carly?"

"Kyle!" she exclaims, her face crumbling into tears. "I've been trying to reach you, but you never replied to my messages."

He glances at me, his fingers lacing mine, before turning back to the upset girl. "It's because I'm currently on duty 24/7. I only have time for my girlfriend."

Carly's jaw drops and her eyes flicker between us in disbelief. "G-girlfriend? This girl?"

"She has a name, you know, and it's called Riley."

"But Kyle! You barely know her!"

"So? It's none of your business."

"Wh–what about us?!"

He gives her a bored look. "There is never you-and-me in the equation, Carly."

Her face pales in shock. "Kyle!"

"Is annoying people your favorite hobby? If it is, I suggest you go pester somebody else."

He doesn't even give her time to respond before he pulls me away. The crowd that has unknowingly formed around us disperses too, but their stares never seem to go away, and it makes me hugely uncomfortable. Now that Kyle has declared me his girlfriend in front of everybody, I highly doubt they will cease within the week. People will have more topics to talk about now.

He glances at me with concern. "Riley, are you alright?"

I shrug. "Fine." And stares down at our intertwined hands in curiosity. "So we're going to go all public with our relationship?"

"Of course," he answers. "Wouldn't want other guys to come after you. Like Taylor."

I flinch at the memory from last Friday, and Kyle's face immediately softens. He places a hand on my check.

"If he gives you any trouble later, call me right away. Okay?"

I nod in agreement. We head for our lockers that's a short distance away, but I halt in my tracks when I realize that someone has spray-painted on my locker in red, bold words.

SLUT.

Coldness crawls across my skin. I sigh and search for my bag for wet tissues. Great. First, it was my father, then Carly, and now—this. Honestly, why is everyone making a giant fuss out of nothing? What goes on between Kyle and I isn't their business.

I'm about to wipe off the insulting remark on my locker when he catches my wrist. Surprised, I glance up and see him frowning at my locker. His eyes harden as he read. His face morphs into anger, gritting his teeth.

Without a word, he takes the wet tissue from my hand and wipes it off on my behalf. "If I find out who did this—" he says it louder than necessary so that every nosy student lingering in the hallway hears him and passes his message on to the others, "—they better watch their backs."

I'm stunned when the whispers stop and people are shuffling away from us. Stealthily. I've never noticed before until now, but he has some kind of authority over the other kids. He may be as popular as Taylor, but his frosty demeanor intimidates people. They don't wish to get on his bad side.

Not me, though. Not when I know how his smiles look and his laughter sounds.

We grab our books from the lockers. When I spin around, he's pulling me into his arms and capturing my gaze.

Last night, we texted little things about life, about movies and songs, and never about serious topics. I've yet to tell him about my father, mainly because I didn't want to spoil his cheerful mood after our first date. He doesn't like secrets between us. I try to mask my tiredness from my sleepless night as I peer up at his handsome face.

Later. I'll tell him everything later.

"Meet me after school?" he suggests. "Let's hang out at my house."

"Your house?"

"Yeah," he nods, running a hand through his tousled hair sheepishly. "Actually, Mom has been dying to meet you ever since I told her you were back and we're together again. She's been begging me for the past couple of days to bring you home."

The mention of his mother has me startled and leaves me in a nervous wreck. "Really? What should I do? I can't remember her. What if I offend her?"

His thumb grazes my cheek. "She knows," he assures me. "I hope you don't mind, but I told her about your condition and she's concerned. She wants to meet you in person and knows you're in good shape. Help me, Riley. She won't stop pestering me until she sees you."

The image of him at his mother's mercy earns a giggle from me. "Okay, I'll meet her."

His face brightens at my reaction. "Great."

Before I see it coming, he presses a quick kiss to my jaw, leaving me all dazed, and walks me to class. In History, my classmates shoot me curious glances, but I'm fretting over the meeting with Kyle's mother later in my head that I don't pay the others' attention. The day whizzes by as I take my notes in all the classes. When the bell finally rings, I'm out of the door in a jiffy and heading for the school's parking lot where Kyle is waiting for me.

However, luck isn't on my side. Because the moment I leave, I bump into Taylor himself. He's leaning against the wall right outside the laboratory. It's like he has asked around for my schedule and knows that chemistry is my last period, so here he is, waiting for my appearance.

He catches my eyes and calls out to me before I can leave. "Riley?" He jogs up at me. "Can I have a word with you alone for a second?"

I hoist my bag strap over my shoulder and give him the best stink eye I can. "We can speak here."

He hesitates, hyper-aware of the attention we're receiving from our schoolmates passing by. But he doesn't have much of a choice because, from my experience, I refuse to be alone with him again.

He lowers his gaze in remorse. "I'm sorry about the other night. I was drunk."

I study his face carefully. Is it just me or he doesn't sound sincere enough? "Apart from me, how many girls have you tried to assault?"

He cringes at my words. "I swear I've reflected on my actions. I know I did you wrong. If I had known Kyle had claimed you, I would have never touched you."

My eyes widen in surprise and annoyance at his last line—one which I don't agree with. So he's implying that he can do what he wants with me if I was alone? "Excuse me?"

Taylor doesn't hear me. Anxious and worried, he's mumbling to himself for whatever that's troubling his mind. "Can't have him sabotaging my sports career."

I'm confused. "Wait, what did you say? What about Kyle and your future?"

Taylor seems surprised at how clueless I am. "I'm supposed to receive a scholarship at the University of California, but somehow, it's currently on hold. From what I know, your boyfriend's dad is a sponsor for that school," he shares and gives me a pleading expression. "Look, Riley. I'm so sorry about what I did. Tell Kyle that I didn't mean to offend him either, alright? Can you get him to have a word with his dad?"

I reel back in surprise. Kyle mentioned to me that his father owns a company, but I don't know exactly how big it is. I didn't dwell on the topic because his family's background doesn't bother me or affect my feelings towards him. But to have this sort of influence in society? Is this why everyone in school is afraid of him? Is this why girls like Carly are fawning over him?

Who exactly are the Evans?

Taylor keeps giving me that expectant look, like a stray puppy with large, innocent eyes, and I admit he's driving me up the wall. I'm lacking sleep from the night before and feeling all cranky. I'm tired of people pushing me around, so when I give Taylor an answer, I don't hold back myself from lashing out at him.

I glare at him. "Maybe next time, keep both your hands to yourself."

I turn and stomp off.

🙌🏻😀