I woke early this morning to go for a jog before school. It'd been so long since I'd done it, I almost forgot how much I enjoyed it.

Aaron and I used to do it nearly every day before school. It was a great way to clear my mind which is something I could really do with.

Freshly showered and feeling chirpier, especially after getting so much off my chest to Aaron last night; I set off to school before everyone else.

I sat on the wall, my legs swinging, hitting my heels against the bricks as I waited for the girls.

"Well good morning" Natalie chimes, grinning broadly; Closely followed by Melissa, Nicole, Carl, Robbie, Summer and Benji.

They all glance at my legs, immediately noticing that I'm wearing the skirt, even though it's the freezing out.

Beauty knows no pain.

"How do you know that beaut on the motorbike?" Melissa asks bluntly.

I was going to answer honestly when Flynn appeared, reminding me of my stone heart.

"Oh Aaron, we go way back"

"Is he your boyfriend?" Nicole asks.

I jump of the wall as gracefully as I can in a thigh length skirt and heeled ankle boots. I snigger at her question and shake my head. "I never did commitments!" I smirk, hauling my bag onto my shoulder.

"I know there has to be a reason behind the old attitude and I hope you're going to tell me when we're alone" Summer whispers, linking her arm through mine.

"I'll tell ya everything later" I smile. I should have known she'd see through me.

"Seriously, How can you walk in those heels?" Natalie asks linking my other arm.

"I could run a marathon in heels" I glance down at my feet. "Especially these. You've no idea how much trouble I've gotten away from in these"

"She's got history with her shoes" Natalie chuckles to Summer.

"No joke, you should see her wardrobe. It's bursting with high heels and black clothes"

"I'm so raiding your wardrobe for Alex's party this weekend" Natalie asserts, not giving me a choice to refuse.

...

"Okay class, stay in your seats, I'll be right back" Mrs Foley, our Art teacher says before exiting the classroom.

"Hey gorgeous" Zack appears, leaning against my desk coolly. Although he did nearly put his elbow in the paint tray. "I'm loving the new style"

"Thanks" I grin up at him "But it's not new, just part of my dark side" I bit the corner of my lower lip and wink flirtatiously at him, making him squirm.

"I love a girl with a dark side" He smirks.

I hear whispers and turn to see Flynn and Benji glancing across and laughing. "Got something to say?" I glare daringly at Flynn.

"Yeah" Flynn holds my stare and I feel my heart flutter "Zack couldn't handle a girl with a dark past. He's too much of a wimp"

"Eavesdropping? Are ya seriously that desperate to hear what flirting sounds like?"

"Oh baby, I know what flirting is like. It's all I hear when a girl opens her mouth" His mouth twitches into a cocky smirk, that damn dimple appearing.

And all that's running through my head is the way he called me 'baby', I know he probably calls every girl that but it caught me off guard.

"Pity all we hear when you open yours is bullshit" I smirk back and his smirk fades.

I glimpse around the class. The entire class is sat blatantly listening to our dispute.

"I'd rather speak bullshit than desperation" He blurts and my jaw drops open in disbelief.

He starts chuckling smugly.

Oh hell no!

There's no way he can think he can call me desperate and get away with it..

Taking the closest thing to me, I pick it up and fling it across the room at him.

Everyone gasps.

Paint splatters flick off the brush before it bounces off Flynn's shoulder, leaving a streak of red paint across his cheek and jumper.

His mouth ajar in shock. He turns and glares at me.

A smile spreads across my face and then I burst into laughter.

"You think that's funny?" Flynn questions trying to retain from smiling. Mischief glistening in his grey-blue eyes.

"Don't you dare " I warn sternly as he loads his paintbrush loaded with paint. "I mean..."

Before I can finish my sentence, Flynn flicks the paint from the brush, splattering it across my face.

I narrow my eyes at him.

It's on Flynn Murray!

Grabbing the next brush to hand I flick paint back at him and he retaliates. Our classmates are scurrying from the line of fire, except Benji, Summer, Robbie and Nicole, who've joined in. turning it into a girls against boys paint war.

I slide under the desk taking the pot of paint and brush with me. At this stage I'm already covered in paint splatters so getting closer won't make a difference.

Seeing me approach, Flynn copies, meeting me in the center of the room.

Our eyes engage contact and I instantly feel like a million butterflies have been let loose in my stomach.

"I can't believe you called me desperate" I squint at him, residing my laughter but unable to take the smile from my face.

"I can't believe you threw paint at me"

"You deserved it" I tease, sticking out my tongue.

"I'll show you" He says and pounces towards me.

He grabs my waist and starts painting my face. I squeal and try to wriggle free but somehow just manage to twist around until his face is only centimeters from mine and my heart races, feeling as though it's clashing against my rib cage.

The corners of his mouth curve into the mischievous smirk and I shake my head. I reach my hand around the back of him.

There's no way I'm falling for his teasing again.

"WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE!" Mrs Foley yells, but just a moment too late.

The contents of the pot paint in my hand are slowly dripping down Flynn's head, a streak running down his face. He glares at me. His expression morphing from astonishment to a frown; And I burst into laughter.

"MS BROWN, PRINCIPALS OFFICE NOW" She yells across the now quiet classroom.

Satisfied with my accomplishment, I nod and retrieve my bag from my stool.

"The rest of you start cleaning this mess up" She growls through gritted teeth. "And don't worry you lot will all have time to think about this in detention today" She directs at Flynn and the others who had joined in.

...

"That shade of pink suits you" I snigger at Flynn, who's taken the empty seat next to me in the outside the Principle's office. He squints impassively at me. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I told Foley I started it all"

I twist in my chair and scowl at him. "Why would you do that?"

"Ms Brown. Mr Murray" Principal Phillips stands in his doorway, calling us.

"Just go with it" He whispers and stands with his bag.

"So I'm going to assume you both thought it'd be fun to start a paint fight?"

"Actually no sir" Flynn pipes up, staring expressionlessly at the principal. "We were having an argument and I threw paint at her so naturally she threw some back"

"Liar" I interfere, my eyes fixed on Flynn. "I threw it first sir. He's just can't accept that there's a girl who won't swoon after him"

His head shoots around to look at me. "I threw it first because she's a stubborn cow"

"I threw it first because he's a obtuse fucker." I growl, my eyes narrowing on Flynn's. He opens his mouth to speak but closes it again. "And I don't need anyone to protect me" I break our gaze and turn to face a stunned looking Mr Phillips. "Like I said I threw the paint first"

"Okay" Mr Phillips says, dragging out the O. "Well seeing as this is your first offense at our school and since it's Christmas, I'm going to let this slide with detention today, where you and all involved will clean the art class thoroughly"

"Yes Mr Phillips" I say trying to relax my clenched jaw. "Thank you"

I stalk out of the room, closely followed by Flynn. "What the hell was that about?" He grunts.

"It's exactly what it was" I stop suddenly and turn to face him, causing him to almost bump into me. "I don't need you to take the blame for me" I state and disappear into the bathroom to wash up.