Giving It to the Bad Boy by Jenika Snow

schoolwork hanging over her head, she would be able to breathe easy. She still heard whispers and rumors about what happened at Haden’s party, but
    strangely enough they died down mid-week. It could have been the fact a tuba player in the marching
    band was found with cocaine in his locker and the attention had been switched off of her.
    She stood in line to grab a sandwich when someone bumped her in the shoulder. Reese came to
    stand next to her and gave her a big shit-eating grin.
    “Hey.” Since he dropped her off at home Monday morning they had only passed each other in
    the halls a few times. They shared no classes together, and despite Kiera telling him she wanted to
    hang out with him, she had somewhat avoided him, not because she didn’t want to see him, but more
    because his very presence intimidated her.
    To be honest, she was frightened. She was scared of her feelings for him and of the way she
    wanted to throw caution to the wind and give herself to the bad boy. She couldn’t help but let the dark tendril of doubt course through her. She had thought maybe he just wanted to be her friend because he found it funny and a cruel joke. Deep down she didn’t want to believe that, and felt if that really was the case he wouldn’t have helped her at Haden’s party or helped her escape school and taken her to
    breakfast. It was her own insecurities that were keeping her prisoner and making her think the vile
    thoughts. Reese was above all the petty shit that went on in their school. She could tell by the way he acted with her and how he held himself. She saw that clearly in just the short amount of time she spent with him, but it still didn’t stop her thinking those negative thoughts.
    His friends may be assholes, and the girls that hung around him were bitches who stabbed
    people in the back as their favorite pastime, but Reese had never done any of it. He kept to himself, didn’t really talk much, not that she ever noticed, and only started shit when said shit was thrown in his face. The rumors about him sleeping with nearly every girl in school were just that, rumors, or at least she liked to think that. So why was she avoiding him like the plague? Because she was afraid
    that her already unbalanced feelings for him would climb higher. That was something she could never
    let happen. Finding him attractive and wanting him from afar was a lot safer than being close to him and realizing he was actually a decent guy.
    Listen to her, sounding like some idiot girl with stupid notions of what she did and didn’t want.
    She was wishy-washy because what she wanted was not something she could really have. Over and
    over she questioned what he saw in her that made him want to hang out with her. Was it the fact he
    rescued her and now he felt like he needed to still do that? Like he was obligated to be with her.
    “How’s it going, Kiera?” For a second she was lost in the aquamarine color of his eyes. It was
    such an unusual color, and coupled with his black hair it made a striking combination.
    “G-good. I’m doing good.”
    He made her so nervous, and he didn’t even have to try. “I’m good now that I get to talk to you.”
    He bumped her in the shoulder again and smiled down at her. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think
    you were avoiding me all week.” A senior she had seen in the halls walked by.
    “Hey, Reese.”
    Reese lifted his chin in acknowledgment but turned his attention back to her. “So, you wanna eat
    lunch with me?” Kiera looked around his shoulder at the table he usually sat at. Marcus, Christian,
    and Leo along with a handful of other guys sat talking and laughing. Andrea and her posse of
    cheerleaders strutted to the table only seconds later and sat between the guys.
    “Um, not today. Not sure your friends would appreciate my company.” Reese looked over his
    shoulder, and a frown had his brows dipping low over his eyes.
    “Fuck em’. You’re my guest. Besides, they