In the Bad Boy's Bed by Sophia Ryan

laughed. "Well, I don't know about that, but thank you, Angela." He patted my shoulder. "You're a sweet girl for saying so."
    I smiled.
    "OK, now you get on to lunch so you can get back in time for your next class."
    "I will," I said to his retreating form, just as Nick ran across the quad toward the parking lot. Mr. Wilson called out to him, stopping him. I couldn't hear their exchange, but I understood the conversation by their motions.

    Nick looked toward the parking lot. Mr. Wilson shook his head. Nick shook his head, then dropped his backpack onto the cement, unzipped it, and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Mr. Wilson pulled it out of his hand, unfolded it, read it thoroughly as if looking for problems, then tossed it back toward him. It fell to the ground. Nick picked it up, refolded it, and returned it to his backpack. Mr. Wilson said some parting words, complete with finger pointing, and stormed away toward the administration building.
    Giving him a final look, Nick stood and continued on his way to the lot at a furious walk. His face was a thundercloud of emotion. He passed my car with barely a look in my direction and walked toward the road.
    I jumped into my car and soon pulled up next to him, rolled down the window.
    "Nick. Get in."
    He kept walking, his body stiff like a soldier on a march, his eyes focused on unseen enemies ahead.
    One eye on the road, one on Nick, I called to him again. "Nick, please. I need you."
    He stopped, turned his eyes to me. "I'm the last person you need. Just go back to your world. You don't belong in mine any more than I belong in yours."
    He would have walked off again, but I gunned it and pulled off the road in front of him. I jumped out of the car and went to him, grabbing his arm.
    "What happened with Wilson?" I demanded, though I already had a good idea.
    "Never mind. It doesn't matter."
    He shook free of my grip and moved away. I stepped in front of him again and wrapped my arms around his waist.
    "It matters to me." I kissed him.
    He didn't move away, but his statue-like stance didn't bend, his tight mouth stayed firm.
    "You matter to me." I kissed him again. And again.
    I soon felt his lips go soft, warm. Felt him kiss me back. Felt his rigid posture relax against me as he curled his arms around my hips.
    These kisses felt different somehow than any other kisses we'd shared. They weren't hot like those that drove us to this point. They weren't playful, like so many times before. They went deeper, made me feel comforted and comfortable, like we'd buried ourselves together beneath a fuzzy blanket on a snowy morning. I felt connected to him in a way I hadn't been before.
    It scared me, in an I've-just-been-shocked kind of way. I pulled back slightly. Took his hand. Smiled. "Now get in the car, Donnelly. You promised me some lovin'."
    The roads leading down to the riverbank were still muddy from the rain a few nights back and I didn't want to chance getting my car stuck. The explanations would be impossible. I suggested we go to a movie and sit at the very top row. He suggested we go to his house.
    I pulled into the driveway of a house that would fit into my three-car garage. The red brick walls were bordered with tan plastic siding. Windows, though small, were spider-web free, and unlike some of the neighboring homes, had screens that were intact and in place. A little patch of grass grew inside a rectangular border of thick railroad ties, and a couple of bushes with yellow flowers guarded the front door.
    It was old and used, with a favorite-old-pair-of-shoes feeling to it. It was so different from my own home.
    Nick unlocked the front door and pushed it open for me. I stood on the two-foot wide cement porch as motionless as the potted plants next to me, nervous about going inside. He took my hand and kissed my palm. The other hand went to my waist.
    "C'mon. Let's go in."
    My feet felt like part of the cement. "Are you sure this is OK?" I looked behind me as if someone was