We changed into our P.E. clothes and walked out onto the field.

Once we got there, coach blew his whistle.

"Alright, listen up! An important piece of playing basketball is stamina. So you all are gonna run around the track! Thirty minutes, let's go!"

Groans of protests came from a few students. Most of them being girls.

We started jogging around the track. We kept up a pretty good pace for the first 20 minutes. Then it started getting harder.

Even though it was only 9:30am the sun was already quiet high and shining down on us.

After the last 10 minutes passed, we walked back to our coach. Most people dragged themselves back while Isla, Ryder, Blake, a few other guys and I were walking normally.

Even though the boys weren't out of breath, they were sweating. So they took off their shirts and immediately the girls started fawning over them.

I couldn't help but stare at Ryder's chest. He had gorgeous abs and golden tanned skin. No doubt he was extremely hot.

He caught me staring and smirked.

He started walking towards me.

"You like what you see?"

"You know every single guy in every book and movie says that but the girl never admits it?"

"So you're saying that you do think I'm hot."

I gaped at him once I realised my mistake.

"You know...I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to touch," he said and stepped closer to me.

"You know what? I do want to."

I saw him smirk but it quickly disappeared when I punched his abs. Then, I realised that they were as hard as a brick wall. I pulled my hand back and tried to take away the pain by shaking it.

He clutched his stomach from surprise.

"How do you punch so hard?!"

"How is your chest so hard?!"

"Hey Andrews, Cole! If you're done chit-chatting, you mind coming over here?" Coach Sanchez called.

We walked to to where the class was standing and Ashlin shot me a dirty glare for talking to 'her man'. Not my words, hers.

Just for the fun of it, I put my elbow in Ryder's shoulder and leaned against him. He noticed but didn't try to shake me off.

Ashlin turned furious and if looks could murder, I would be six feet under.

Coach left to get some basketballs and Ashlin used the chance to pull Ryder towards her. I stumbled a bit since I was leaning on him but straightened myself.

I rolled my eyes and went to stand next to Isla.

Ashlin saw and gave me a satisfied smirk. She smiled at me tauntingly and wrapped her arms around Ryder's neck.

If she thinks that it's going to get me jealous, think again.

I raised an eyebrow at her at her and gave her a questioning look.

She leaned in to kiss Ryder but he pushed her away. "Ashlin stop. I don't fucking like you, okay? Stop thinking that we're together."

I smiled to myself. That should show her.

I guess Ryder isn't that bad after all...

"Oh yeah? And what about the times that we did it? Huh? Did you not like me when we were in my room? At that party? In the janitor's closet?"

Okay, TMI.

"No. Not then, not now, not ever. You were just for my own amusement."

Nevermind. Ryder was an asshole.

She scoffed. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," he said, already bored with this conversation.

She rolled her eyes and turned to her friends. Ryder walked towards where Isla, Blake and I were standing.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "She gets on my nerves."

"Yeah, I can tell. Did she get on your nerves in her room too? Or the party? Or in the janitor's closet?" I teased.

"You're not gonna let this go for a while, are you?"

"Nope."

"Yeah, I kinda had that feeling."

Then, coach came back, carrying some basketballs. "Okay, get a partner everyone and just practise!"

"Hey, um, Isla...you wanna play together so you can show me how you beat me?" Blake asked.

"I...um..uh..." she stuttered.

"She would love to," I answered for her and pushed her towards him.

He looked at her and she confirmed it by nodding.

"Great! Let's go then!"

They walked of and left Ryder and I.

"You think you can beat me in basketball?" he asked me.

"Nope, not at all. But I can sure whoop your ass in a lot of other things," I said as I went and got us a basketball.

He caught up to me. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

"I'm not telling you yet," I said while I walked over to an open hoop.

I started dribbling the ball. "I think we have two lovers as best friends," I said.

"I know. I'm surprised he barely worked up the courage to talk to her now."

I stopped dribbling the ball and turned around to him. "What do you mean 'barely'?

"Oh well you know, he's liked her since the beginning of sophomore year but he was afraid that she would reject him since he's in a different social group than she is."

My jaw dropped to the floor and I smacked his upper arm.

"Ow! What was that for?! You know you're a violent girl," he said while rubbing his arm.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Why would I? I had no reason to and you didn't ask. And besides, it's unimportant."

"No it's not! She likes him too, you idiot!"

"She does? Wow, I did not see that coming."

"That's cause you're oblivious to everything that happens around you," I said and shot the ball through the hoop.

"Haha. You're very funny."

"I know," I replied and smiled sweetly at him.

He rolled his eyes at me and stole the ball.

From the other side, I could see Ashlin shooting my dirty looks and whispering things to her friends who then snickered.

I rolled my eyes and saw Ryder watching me.

"What?" I asked and took the ball back.

"You just need to ignore her," he told me, losing the playfulness from before.

"She doesn't bother me," I said and I shot another hoop. "By the way, I think we should get started on the english project soon if we want to finish it in time."

"Alright. I'll find you at lunch and give you my number so that we can text about further details."

"Sure. You should get started on reading the book. So that it'll be easier and faster to do the project."

"I already read it," he informed me and took the ball.

"What?" I asked and stood still.

"Yeah, I read it during the summer."

"You did?" I asked suspiciously.

"You know what? Fine, don't believe me, but I did read it."

I put my hands up defeatedly. "Alright, if you say so I believe you."

____________________

"So...how did it go with Blake?" I asked Isla and nudged her with my shoulder while we were changing back into our normal clothes.

"It was fun," she answered with a bright smile.

"That's it?! I get no details? None at all?"

She laughed. "I just gave him some pointers and we practised. Nothing else."

"So he didn't mention anything important?" I asked as I pulled my shirt over my head.

"No...what are you implying?"

"Huh? Nothing!" I quickly said and grabbed my backpack. "You ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

We walked out of the locker room and into the hoard of students. Suddenly, I heard an angry voice call my name.

I turned around and saw Ryder storming towards me. To be precise, a shirtless Ryder.

Much to the pleasure of every girl in the hallway.

"Okay well see ya!" Isla said and tried to run off but I held onto her backpack and pulled her back.

"Oh no. If I'm going down, you're going down with me," I whispered.

"I didn't even do anything!" she whispered back.

"That doesn't matter! You, as a best friend, have to stand by my side the whole time," I said.

"I hate you," she whispered before Ryder came.

"Heeeyy...Ryder! What's up?" I asked as if everything was normal.

"Hmm. I don't know, why don't you tell me?"

He dropped his cut up shirt at my feet and I gulped.

"Umm...yeah, about that..."

I made a dash for it and started running down the hall until I saw Blake talking with some guy.

"Hey! Blake...buddy, umm..you like me alive, right?" I asked him.

He gave me a funny look. "Uh..yeah?"

"Great. Then protect me," I hurriedly said and hid behind him.

That's when Ryder caught up and saw me hiding behind Blake.

"Ahh, so that's what this is about," Blake said when he saw a furious and still shirtless Ryder.

"Yeah so if you don't mind would you step aside? Thanks," Ryder said.

"Blake, don't,"I warned.

Blake chuckled and looked over his shoulder to me. "Sorry," he mouthed before stepping aside. My jaw dropped to the floor.

"Why would you betray me?" I dramatically exclaimed.

"Because as much as I like you alive, I have a feeling this will be hilarious."

Ryder stepped forward and patted Blake on the shoulder. "Thanks, bro."

He walked towards me and I took a cautious step back.

"Umm..wanna call a truce?" I asked.

He pretended to think before answering. "Nope."

My eyes widened in horror when I saw him step closer again. He smirked at me and walked towards me the rest of the way.

"Uhh..what are you doing?"

Instead of answering, he picked me up and slung me over his shoulder where I got a great view of his ass. Not that I'm complaining.

"Ryder! Put me down!" I yelled.

"Nah. I don't feel like it."

He started walking down the hall, not caring about all the stares he was getting. I hit his back with my hands but he didn't seem fazed one bit.

"Ryder, I swear to god if you don't put me down right now!"

"You'll what? Last time I checked, you were the one who was helplessly being carried around. By the way, you have a great ass."

I slapped him on his back and tried to get out of his hold. He just held on tightly and didn't let me go.

He opened the doors to go outside and walked across the courtyard. That's when I noticed his destination. A few yards away there was a water fountain about a foot deep. The school bought it for decoration a few months ago, so I was told.

I just hoped that the water is warm.

The students outside watched Ryder carry me towards the fountain. A few students from the hall had followed us outside. Isla and Blake included.

They were both watching with an amused expression.

Ryder stopped walking and I saw that he was standing in front of the fountain.

"I think this is where we part ways, my darling," he said and picked me up bridal style.

"Ryder! No! N--"

I get dropped into the water and it splashed everywhere.

I resurfaced and coughed out the water that got into my lungs.

Ryder was watching me, looking very amused.

I stood up in the fountain, soaking wet.

"Ryder!" I said through gritted teeth. "You are so dead!"

He just laughed and turned around to walk away. Before he could leave, I jumped on his back. He instinctively wrapped his hands under my thighs in support.

"Kennedy, get off! You're wet!"

"Yeah, thanks to you!"

"You know," he said. I could feel him smirking. "There's another way I can think of to get you wet."

I smacked the back of his head.

"Ow! You need to stop hitting me!"

"You stop being an asshole and I'll think about it," I told him as I jumped off his back.

He turned around and looked me up and down. "You look kind of wet. I have this really stylish shirt that you can borrow," he saId and smirked. He turned around and walked back into the school.

I glared at his retreating figure and walked over to where Isla and Blake were trying to hide their laughter.

"I hate you two," I said and glared at them before pulling Isla into the school with me and into the girl's bathroom.

"What are you gonna change into? We could ask the nurse if she has anything.."

"No way am I wearing baggy boy's basketball shorts and a school spirit shirt," I told her and shook my head.

"Well then what are you going to wear?"

I sighed and took my P.E. clothes out of my gym bag. Luckily, I didn't sweat that much in P.E. and they were fine to wear for the rest of the day.

I put on the tank top and volleyball shorts and put my wet hair into a messy bun. I wrung the water out of my clothes as best as I could before putting them into my gym bag.

"You do know what's going to happen once you step outside like that, right?" Isla asked.

I sighed deeply. "Yeah. I know."

As soon as we walked out of the bathroom, heads turned towards us. Boy's eyes grew wide and they started whistling when I passed them. A few girls slapped their boyfriends lightly for looking at me, but the guys barely noticed.

I saw Ryder leaning against the wall. He was wearing a muscle tee. Probably an extra shirt for P.E. that he had brought.

"You know, I'm regretting my decision less and less by the second," he said and shamelessly raked his eyes all over my body.

I rolled my eyes.

"Keep going and next time it'll be your balls that I cut and not your shirt," I told him and turn ed around to walk away.

I felt a hand lightly smack my butt.

I spun around and glared at a smiling Ryder.

"I can't wait," he said before walking away.