Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(32)

“I do.” She smiles.

I'm not sure how to respond. I've drawn and painted personal pieces before. Things that speak to me, but this painting is so intimate. I'm literally calling it ‘Heartbreak'. It's my heart—my soul—on the canvas. Can I put something like that, something so close to me, in my portfolio?

"Well, think about it," she says as if reading my mind.

She walks back to the door, and I nod, walking out of the office and over to my easel. I pick up the waterfall painting I've been working on, I take a second look at Heartbreak, before putting the smaller piece on the easel. Grabbing my paints and brushes, I dip a brush into a marine color, and I'm just about to touch the canvas when I stop. Turning back around, I stare at Heartbreak.

I set the waterfall painting off to the side and grab the large canvas. I have to finish Heartbreak before I can do anything else.





Chapter 23





Carter





Jeremy leans over the aisle on our way back from the game. We were playing Mission Viejo High and doing well, until the fourth quarter. That's when it all fell apart, and they went on a 12-point run, that effectively ended the game. We couldn't catch up after that.

“Dude,” he whispers, bumping my arm. “You know that shit’s not true, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

I’m bummed about the game, but I’ve been thinking all day about how I’m going to fix things with Emma. After missing history today, I think I have a plan, now I just have to work out the logistics.

“You know,” he says lower. “What Sarah’s been saying.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know. She’s just on a rampage ever since the bonfire.”

“Cool.” He nods and begins to turn around. Then he stops and looks at me. “Hey, if I was interested …”

I stare at him like he’s a freak. A legitimate, mutated, abhorrent freak. “Are you serious?”

“What?” He shrugs. “You said at my party to have at it. I mean, I know you’re annoyed with her, but, dude, she’s hot.”

“Yeah, and a psycho.” He lifts his shoulder again, giving me a look that said he’s dated plenty of psychos before. No doubt he has. “Yeah, whatever, man. I don’t care.” Then, just because it annoys me, I add, "If you like sloppy seconds."

He gives me the douchiest, cheese eating grin that only Jeremy can give. “When a girl’s as hot as that, I’ll take sloppy seconds all day. And all night.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

A thought hits me - what if he does hook up with her? What if she tells him that we didn't do anything in that bathroom, except feel each other up and get our hands sticky. I push the thought from my mind, letting out an annoyed sigh. I'm done acting like some stupid player. That's what got me into this mess. Liking someone who hates me, because she thought I was some guy who hooked up with every girl in school.

“Hey, you got the assignment from Mr. Hilton, right?” Matt asks, sitting next to me.

“Yep.”

“And from Mrs. Yanick? The history one that’s due on Friday?”

I nod again, but this time I’m thinking about Emma. Before we left for the game, I picked up the assignment. I can probably finish it tonight or tomorrow and have it ready. But this is my in.

Maybe I can meet up with Emma before class and get her to help me with it. It's a long shot because first I'd have to tell her tomorrow after class. And meeting up at lunch right before class, what can we really get done, work-wise? She might see through it, but it's my only opening, so I have to take it.





The next day starts off great. I'm determined to make my plan work, but as the day goes on, I feel less and less confident about it. It's a stupid plan. Why would she meet me an hour before class to help me with homework? By the time lunch rolls around, an idea hits that might help. I can tell her I want her to double check my work. She's smart, so I want to make sure she thinks it's okay. Yeah, not a whole lot better, but it's something.

Getting to history, I watch her walk in. She's wearing this tight black skirt and high heels, that nearly sends me overboard the moment I see her. She always dresses so differently. No girl in school would wear something like that, at least not for school. It looks like something she would wear on a date. Or for a special occasion. But there she is, the skirt coming down to just above her knees, and her breasts peeking out just enough that it'd make any guy look. Then I remember she has art class next and my mind starts swimming in the gutter, imagining her getting paint all over herself.

Coughing, I straighten myself out and make sure she doesn’t catch me looking. Matt must see what I’m looking at, as he kicks my chair behind me. I can hear him laughing.

When class ends I tell Matt to go ahead, then catch up to Emma, matching her stride.

“Hey, Emma.”

She turns around, meeting my eyes, not as shocked to see me as the last time. “Hey, Carter.”

“Hey.” I clear my throat, determined to look straight ahead and not over at her, where her dress is pushing her boobs up. “Uh,” I stammer. Get it together, Carter. “I was wondering if you could help me out with something.”

“What?”