Loose by Coo Sweet

to start volunteering at the county hospital a few days a week, and I’ve taken some advanced first aid classes, so trust me, I know what I’m talking about." 
     
    "Well I hope you're around next time I get hurt.” Sage poked at the scratch on his arm.
     
    “Hey, I…um…I’m sorry about that scene in the hall." 
     
    Jasmin shrugged. She doodled in her notebook to divert his attention from the disappointment she felt creeping up on her. 
     
    "Who was that? I saw her in the Health Center when we went to the phone." 
     
    "That was Hurricane Raven," Sage sighed. 
     
    "She your girl?" Jasmin kept doodling. 
     
    "Hell no! In her dreams maybe. I'm not with anyone right now." 
     
    "So what's the deal? Why was she so mad?" 
     
    "It's complicated. But we're definitely not a couple. Trust me." 
     
    "Okay. If you say so."
     
    Jasmin finally looked up. Her eyes bored deeply into Sage’s, mining them for any hints of deceit. He wilted under the intensity of her gaze. He tried to play it off by poking around at the scratch on his arm. 
     
    "Man, I’m glad this day's almost over. Way too much drama," he said. 
     
    "Speaking of drama...do I need to watch out for her? This Raven chick?"
     
    "Nah. She's just a bunch of hot air." 
     
    "Yeah? Well hot air can burn, you know." 
     
    "Don't worry, I--" 
     
    Sage was interrupted by the teacher rapping on his desk to signal the start of class. Jasmin pulled supplies from her backpack, grateful for the distraction from their sticky conversation, but Sage couldn’t let things just hang like that. 
     
    “For real, don’t let her bother you. Okay? There’s nothing between us.” 
     
    Jasmin gave him half a nod and turned her attention to the front of the classroom. Sage settled back in his seat and yanked a notebook and pen from his backpack. He slapped them on the desk with just enough force to make Jasmin squirm a little. 
     
    “Sorry,” whispered Sage. 
     
    After school, Sage sat out front waiting for Peyton. He was perched on a low concrete fence with his head bowed. He had muted everything around him. No incessant chatter, blasting music, nor random thigh bumping his knee evoked even a nanosecond of reaction. 
     
    Raven sidled over with a big Kool-Aid grin on her face. She planted herself directly in front of him. When he didn’t look up, she reached out and tapped his shoulder. He raised his head with herculean effort. 
     
    "Hey, Boo. Why the long face?" Raven asked. 
     
    Sage snorted a quick mirthless laugh. 
     
    "You have to ask?" he sneered. 
     
    “Oh, that's squashed.” Raven flapped her hand at him for emphasis. “And sorry about your arm,” she said, pointing to his injury. 
     
    Sage shoved the arm behind his back. “Whatever, Raven.” 
     
    “Aww…come on. Don’t be so sensitive. Anyway, you owe me a new shirt, remember? Let's go to the mall and have some fun.” 
     
    Raven turned on a megawatt smile and reached for Sage’s hand. He snatched that away from her, too, and jammed it in his pocket. 
     
    “Yeah, right. Going anywhere with you is not my idea of fun,” Sage said. 
     
    Raven’s nostrils flared just enough to be noticeable. Her chest rose and fell a tiny bit faster than it had seconds before. 
     
    “Look, you’re the one who got all bummed and crashed the party last night, so unless you want me to confirm to the whole school what a punk you are, you’d better get your ass moving,” Raven huffed. 
     
    Sage hopped off the wall. He got right up in her grill and focused on her with dark, menacing eyes. 
     
    “Listen, don’t threaten me. Okay? I said I would pay for your shirt, but I don’t owe you anything else. And I don’t give a shit what you tell people about me.” 
     
    Raven’s eyes popped open wide. She backed up a few inches, licked her lips, and relaxed her posture. 
     
    “Okay. Calm down. I’m just saying you were being a dick last night, and you know it’s true. So