I rested my chin in my hand as I watched him talk. He was really good at public speaking. I knew that he wished he could take over his dad’s company one day. But maybe he had more to offer than that. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that his dad wanted Mason to take the reins. What careers needed good public speakers? Politics, for sure.
I smiled to myself. In the blink of an eye I could almost see our future. He could be the mayor of New York. I could take over my dad’s business. Matt and I could rule this town. Us against the world.
Sometimes thinking of the future made my chest hurt. I used to be scared of not having one. Of my life being cut short. But I wasn’t my mom. I wasn’t my uncle. I was healthy. Dr. Wilson had confirmed it. And if I could get these stupid panic attacks under control, I’d be perfectly content. I wasn’t going to die young. I had my whole life ahead of me. My whole life with Matt.
The bell rang and Matt slammed his book shut.
“Next time don’t talk during my class, Mr. Caldwell,” warned Mr. Hill.
Matt rolled his eyes and looked over at me. “You’re welcome,” he said.
“What? You were talking too. It’s about time someone got in trouble other than me.”
He laughed. “I know, I was just messing with you.” He shoved his book into his backpack. “Do you have time for a quick visit to the auditorium before you get whisked away back to my house?”
“What exactly are we going to do in the auditorium?”
“Just because I’m loving you out loud now, it doesn’t mean I don’t get to love you in private anymore. See you in a few,” he said and tossed a note on my desk.
I looked down at his familiar scrawl.
Baby,
Meet me in the auditorium in five minutes?
Love,
-Matt
P.S. I’ve spent a lot of time waiting for you in the auditorium. I hope my future wife doesn’t leave me hanging anymore.
I was smiling so hard it hurt. I looked up and Matt was already gone from the room. I folded up the note and slipped it into the pocket of the front of my blazer. It was the first note he’d ever signed. And he’d called me baby a few times, but for some reason seeing it in writing made my heart race.
“When are we going to meet up to do more planning on Operation Disappearing Troll?” Rob asked.
I almost jumped. I hadn’t realized he was still in the classroom. “I can’t, Rob. We’ll have to plan the rest of the prank via text. Here.” I wrote down my cell number on a piece of paper and handed it to him.
“James isn’t going to be happy about this. I’m pretty sure this breaks our deal. No prank means me and James don’t have to talk to the Caldwells.”
“I’m still going to help with the prank. The deal is still on.”
“If you say so.” He pulled out his phone and put in my number. “I don’t know why you’re so concerned about all of us being friends again anyway. We’re not fighting because of you. We’re fighting because Matt’s a snake.”
“He’s not a snake. You never gave him a chance to explain what happened with Rachel. You’re being unreasonable.” I pulled my backpack over my shoulder. I was done with this conversation. If Rob and James wouldn’t listen to one of their lifelong friends, why would they listen to me?
“Hey.” Rob grabbed my wrist before I could walk off. “I heard you had another panic attack. You okay?”
I was pretty sure he was the snake. Obnoxious one minute and then able to be sweet the next. But I didn’t think he was doing it to be manipulative. Deep down in Rob’s sarcastic way, he actually did care about me. Or else he never would have helped me through my first panic attack. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks.”
“You don’t need to be scared of Isabella. James and I have your back.” He let his hand slowly fall from my wrist, his fingers trailing down my palm. “See you tomorrow, Sanders.”
I shivered. “Wait. Rob?” If he really had my back, he could do me another favor. “Can you please stop pushing Matt’s buttons on purpose?”
He shrugged. “But they’re so easy to push.”
“Please?”
“Anything for you, Sanders,” he said with a wink.
Instead of going to my locker to get my things, I went straight for the auditorium. The last time I’d met Matt in the auditorium, I’d been scared out of my mind. And angry. God, I had been so angry at him. But this time? I loved him so much it hurt.
The heavy door closed behind me with a thud. The smell of old wood wafted around me, reminding me of our first kiss. The kiss he’d stolen. He didn’t have to steal anything from me now.
“Matt?” I whispered into the darkness.
Okay, this time was scary too. But not because I was expecting some terrible prank. It was just because the Empire High auditorium was really freaking creepy. “Matt?” I said a little louder.
I laughed as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“God you’re beautiful,” he whispered into my ear.
“It’s pitch black in here.”
“It’s not like I forget how beautiful you are in the dark.” He kissed the side of my neck. “You drive me crazy, baby.”
I turned in his arms and tried to make out his face in the dark. “Do you really think I can move in for a whole year? My dad said he’d talk to your dad…”
“It’s fine. I promise. I’ll let my parents know tonight, okay? Now, where were we?”
I laughed, but he silenced me with a kiss.
Not just any kiss. One of his frantic ones. Like we were running out of time. I had been getting used to his slow ones. The ones where we had all the time in the world. But right now…we didn’t. His football practice was starting any minute. And God, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love when he was a little wild. It reminded me of our start. I wasn’t a dirty little secret anymore. But maybe I kind of liked being treated like one sometimes. Sneaking around with Matthew Caldwell was the most thrilling thing in the world.
He backed me up until my back hit the auditorium door. He pushed up my skirt, bunching it around my waist.
“What are you doing?” I gasped.
His fingers slid underneath my tights.
“Matt someone could come in…” I moaned instead of finishing my sentence. Fuck.
“Do you know what causes panic attacks?” he whispered as his fingers drove me insane.