“What?” She spluttered, so loudly her homeroom teacher glanced over. Thankfully, at the same time, an announcement came blaring in over the PA system, and she was saved from being told off. All the same, she lowered her voice. “There isn’t going to be any kissing. We’re just hanging out.”
“Seriously?” Now it was Nikki’s turn to splutter. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“He’s my friend. We’re not the sort of people who kiss.”
“Until three weeks ago, you and Bennet weren’t the sort of people who kissed, either, but it didn’t stop you.”
“I rest my case.” Cat didn’t want to admit kissing Bennet hadn’t exactly been the stuff MTV Movie Awards were made of. She’d assumed the more time they spent together, the more things would improve. Shows how much I know. “The last thing I need right now is a boyfriend. If Bennet’s taught me anything, it’s that boys mess up your plans.”
Not to mention your heart, your sleep patterns, and your ability to say no to ice cream.
“So young, yet so cynical.” Nikki’s eyes were bright as she fiddled with her hair. “Why can’t you be the sort of people who kiss? He’s hot, and you’re a babe. It’s a match made in yearbook heaven.”
“Only if you don’t know Alex.” Cat tried to picture him dating anyone. Or standing still for a yearbook photo. She failed on both counts. Because despite his brooding, stormy good looks, all he cared about was getting into college somewhere far, far away, only flying back to see Birdie before disappearing again to his new life. His better life. I can’t blame him. What he’d gone through was enough to turn anyone bitter. “He wants a relationship like he wants a hole in the head. Yet another thing we have in common.”
“Hmmm, I still think the lady doth protest too much,” Nikki replied in a serene voice before their teacher dismissed them and they headed to their first classes. The bustle of too many people, pushing and complaining as they flowed like a river down the corridors, created a frantic beat, reminding her summer was over. Besides, it didn’t matter what anyone said. They were just friends. Simple as that.
…
“Okay, I knew you liked coffee, but I had no idea how you drink it, so I got sweetener and milk.” Alex appeared in the school courtyard, silhouetted by sluggish clouds trying their best to hide the bright sky. In his hands were two cups from Barista on the Go, the off-campus coffee cart all the seniors favored over the gunk in the cafeteria. Her mood improved as he put down the drinks and dragged a bunch of milk cups and sweetener packets from the pocket of his leather jacket. “It’s probably the kind of thing I should know if we’re going to pull this off.”
“I take my coffee black, like my cold, dead heart,” she quipped as he slid onto the wooden bench across from her. She was touched he’d gone off the school grounds to get her one. Then again, if it wasn’t for her, he probably would’ve stayed away for the entire break. Still, the tantalizing aroma of the caffeine made it hard for guilt to stick. She discarded the sandwich she’d been unenthusiastically toying with. “But thanks. I’ve just had math, and my mind’s wrecked.”
Not to mention all the mental exhaustion from avoiding Nikki’s knowing smirks and ignoring the numerous people who wanted to talk about the YouTube clip. Not that they were all bad. A surprising number of people had come up and told her they’d disliked the video and reported it before it had been removed.
It restored some of her faith in the kids around her, but it didn’t solve the problem of Mackenzie.
“First day’s always tough.” He took the lid off his own drink and fished out the teabag. She widened her eyes.
“I guess we’re both learning things today. I wouldn’t have pegged you as a tea drinker.”
“I lived with Birdie for three years, remember? Tea drinking wasn’t exactly optional.” He shrugged off his jacket and leaned forward on the table, his mouth twisted into a thoughtful line. “How’s your morning been?”
“Let’s see, I’ve been propositioned by a volleyball player, stalked by the school counselor, and asked to join the ‘We Hate Bennet Miller Society.’”
In short, it had been everything she’d been dreading.
The only thing stopping her from ditching the rest of the day was the worry that if Mackenzie heard, Cat could kiss her newspaper job good-bye.
“Do I need to act the aggrieved boyfriend to anyone?” he asked, though his eyes had darkened like the sea before a storm. Cat stiffened.
He thinks I asked him because of his reputation.
Heat throbbed in her chest. More shame.
I’m just as bad as all those people who judge him. Who only see him as the kid whose mom was a drug addict. She licked her lips and tried to keep her voice light.
“No. You can put your testosterone back in the box for now. If I needed someone to beat them up, I would’ve just sent Nikki over.” She pried the lid off her coffee aware of the curious glances they were attracting.
“God help us all.” Alex shuddered. “If she’s anything like Carter and Taylor, Bennet would be toast.”
“I forgot you knew the twins,” she said. Nikki’s two older brothers had taught her to kickbox, not to mention swear, use a penknife, and climb trees. Cat took a sip of coffee and life flooded into her veins. Sweet caffeine, my one true love. “So, I take it you’re still happy to go ahead with this.”
He nodded, his eyes hooded and his face unreadable. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
“Hanging out with me should be enough. Everyone knows you’re a lone wolf. Between giving me a lift to and from school, a bit of hand-holding and eye-gazing, it won’t take long for word to spread. It will change the conversation. No more talk of YouTube and heartbreak. It will all be about our new relationship.”
“I think you might be overestimating my social standing. Hooking up with me won’t exactly be a good career move.”
“Trust me, not a problem,” she assured him.
Even though the rest of the world judged him unfairly, there was no denying he was hot. According to Nikki, it was the combination of the lip curl and the cheekbones that did it. Point was, he might have an undeserved reputation, but any girl with a pulse would get why Cat was dating him.
“I guess there are worse things I can do with my time,” he said before his mouth twisted into a straight line. “What about everything else? Kissing—”
“God, not you, too.” Flames sizzled down her skin, burning her cheeks, as the reality sunk in. She was basically asking him to drool over her good looks and hilarious personality. Which would be great if I actually had either of those things.
But she didn’t.
All she had was large golden-brown eyes, a nose that seemed to take up too much of her face, and full lips she’d been teased about for most of her life.
No wonder I like writing. I can change the details with the flick of my finger.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Okay, so, we just hang out for a couple of days?” he said in an even voice, making it impossible to tell what he thought of her answer. He certainly didn’t look disappointed. Which was good. Obviously.
“Pretty much.” She nodded and reached for the folder full of her article ideas. “There’s a newspaper meeting this afternoon. As soon as Mackenzie’s back on side, we can call the whole thing off.”
“Fair enough,” he said and grazed her chin with his hand.
His fingers burned against her skin, and the brush of his arm against hers caused mayhem. Her stomach turned to liquid, as if a paint factory exploded inside her body. She expected to see neon-bright graffiti blotched out along her skin as evidence. There was nothing but the boom, boom, boom of her pounding—and freaking fickle—heart.
Since when did Alex touch her?
Since when do I notice?
“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, hoping he couldn’t see her puckered skin, or figure out he was the cause.
“Being a loving boyfriend.” His eyes held hers. “W
hatever you do, don’t look left.”
“Why not?” She turned left and gulped. Oh, that’s why.
Bennet was walking toward a nearby table. His jaw was curved into a hint of a smile, and his arm was possessively draped around Isabel Lacey’s tanned shoulder. Of course, it was.
Isabel was perfection, from her pearly teeth to her long legs and her hair that swung on command. Cat couldn’t compete with that, even on her best days. It was made more painful by the fact that back in fourth grade they’d been inseparable, to the point of matching friendship bracelets.
But, like the bracelets, the friendship had unraveled when Isabel had started hanging out with a group of girls whose swingy hair rivaled her own. At first, Cat had tried to tag along, before one of the girls had made it obvious she wasn’t welcome. Even then she didn’t believe it until Isabel had falteringly given her the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech.
Being traded in for better friends was not exactly fun, and it had resulted in a couple of miserable weeks until Nikki transferred into the school. The two girls had become fast friends, and soon Cat hardly remembered that she and Isabel had even hung out.
This was a brutal reminder.
Except this time, Isabel didn’t trade me in, Bennet did.
Something else the pair of them had in common.
Her stomach twisted, and she turned away from their candy-floss perfection.
“Remember the douchebag stuff? It still stands.” Alex’s hand gently turned her gaze back to him. Part of her wanted to turn back. See if Bennet even cared she was with someone else. Not that she was trying to make him jealous. She just didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he’d broken her.
I’m a willow. I bend but don’t break.
Shit. Now she was quoting one of her mom’s greeting cards?
Never a good sign.
The worst of it was she’d never even given Bennet Miller a second thought before this summer. Sure, he was good-looking, as golden as Alex was dark and brooding, a senior so rich he lived in a different orbit. It wasn’t until he’d started messaging her about books that she’d paused to consider him as a real person—with a laugh like a caramel latte, smooth, sugary, and warm—rather than a rich kid with an aura of perfection around him.
Big freaking mistake.
Guys like Bennet belonged with girls like Isabel.
“You okay?” Alex said, his eyes scanning hers, no doubt to check for signs of hysteria. She sucked in a breath as the bell rang.
“Yeah. I’m good. I guess it was too much to hope he really did get eaten by killer ants. But I’m pleased it happened while you were with me.”
“What’s the point of being a fake boyfriend if I can’t help and distract?” He dropped his hand from her skin and shrugged on his jacket. His scent—all spices and danger—caught in her nose long after he walked away.
Her mouth went dry just as Nikki appeared from the other side of the quad.
“He’s dating Isabel Lacey?” her friend exploded. “And here I was thinking he couldn’t sink any lower. Are you okay?”
“I will be when everyone stops asking me that question,” she said before catching herself. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. But I’m fine. Really. Besides, let’s be honest—Bennet and Isabel make a lot more sense than he and I ever did.”
“Only because they both come with a pole placed in a certain part of their anatomy. You’re so much better off with Alex. And—” Nikki raised her hand before Cat could protest. “And don’t even try and give me the fake boyfriend speech. I saw the pair of you together. If that’s not chemistry, then I don’t know what is.”
She opened her mouth, but as the imprint of Alex’s finger along her face burned, she shut it again.
Perhaps she wasn’t quite so immune to Alex. To the low lilt of his voice. The solemn turn of his mouth. The fact he was one hundred percent freaking gorgeous.
Still, in a couple of days it’d be over, and things could return to normal. It was probably for the best, because Bennet had proved when it came to guys, she was a disaster.
…
“I call bullshit,” Mackenzie said. A large desk sat between them, filled with three computer screens along with several cell phones and tablets, while a large map of the world was plastered across the wall. Cat had focused on China as she’d explained all the reasons why she was mentally fit and able to work on the Franklin High Gazette, before presenting her numerous article ideas.
“You call bullshit on what?” Cat picked up her ideas folder. “Was it the story on the decline of grammar thanks to social media? Because that’s just an idea. Though, the research does show—”
“I don’t give two hoots about the research. What I care about is having journalists on my team who are mentally stable and aren’t going to flake on me during The. Most. Important. Year. Of. My. Life.” Mackenzie inched forward on every syllable just in case Cat hadn’t quite got the point.
Was it worth mentioning this was the Franklin High Gazette and not the New York Times, and last semester’s final edition led with an article on Pauly Parrot, the school mascot? She took in Mackenzie’s clenched jaw. Yeah, probably not.
“I’m fine. I already have a new boyfriend. Which means I’m hardly pining over Bennet. I’d be happy to do an article on the implications of viral posts on Social Media. Or one on slut-shaming and why it needs to stop.”
“It’s the new boyfriend I’m calling bullshit over. You and Alex Locke? Please. It’s a showmance, which means you’re not okay. And if you’re not okay, then you’re a ticking bomb. A bomb that sure as hell isn’t going to go off on my watch.”
“Showmance?” Cat yelped while making a mental note to stop repeating everything Mackenzie said. It wasn’t going to win her any favors. “You do know that only exists between celebrity couples.”
“And, apparently, desperate teenagers who want to get their own back at Bennet Miller for being a despicable human being. And if you think I’m going to let you near the paper in the hope you can write some slash and burn article on him, you’re delusional.”
“No argument from me about him being despicable,” Cat retorted. “But I swear I don’t want to get my own back on him. If I never have to think of him again, it will be one million light-years too soon.”
“I don’t appreciate hyperbole. And if you really don’t want revenge, then why do you want to be on the paper?” Mackenzie narrowed her eyes.
“I wanted to be on the paper long before I even spoke to Bennet. Writing is how I make sense of things,” she retorted before smothering a groan. Mackenzie was a perfectionist who only saw the paper as an extra box on her college application. She didn’t revel in the mastery, or feel the joy of pulling the right word out of the tangle of images and ideas in her head. All she saw was deadlines and a stable staff. “And if you want to know how I made sense of Bennet Miller, I wrote a short story about him. It ended badly as far as he was concerned.”
“How badly?”
“The police will never find the body, badly.”
Mackenzie’s mouth upturned slightly, which was probably as close as she ever came to smiling. “Okay, I’m going to give you one chance, and if you’re pulling my chain about being over Bennet, I’ll go full Dante on you. Are we clear?”
“Crystal. And thank you.” Some of the tension left her chest.
“Just don’t screw up. I want a five-hundred-word article on the school’s new septic tanks by Wednesday at five. Oh, and when I interned with Corey Bradley this summer, he preached about writing with heart.”
Really? Cat raised her eyebrows, since there was nothing about Mackenzie that said “heart.” Still, if heart was what she wanted, heart was what she’d get. This was Cat’s way back in. A chance to repair the damage Bennet had done. To regain her footing on the path her future self wanted to walk.
“Consider it done.”
“Great. And one more thing.” Mackenzie reached for a flyer on her desk
and passed it over.
“What’s this? A ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card?” Cat quipped. Mackenzie’s flat stare suggested that, along with hyperbole, she didn’t do humor.
“It’s for the annual Franklin High Tiara and Tuxedo Charity Ball. I’m on the decoration committee, and this year’s theme is Enchanted Forest.”
“O-kay.” Cat still wasn’t quite sure what was going on. “Well, good luck with it all.”
“I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work and planning. And, as it happens I need people to help build all the props. Metal replica tree sculptures don’t make themselves. The school’s given me the use of the old storage sheds as a workshop. Now I just need my army. You and Alex are my first recruits.”
“You can’t be serious.” She tried not to be put off by Mackenzie’s unflinching gaze. “For a start, I’ll be busy with my newspaper duties, and Alex is a senior. He’s not going to have time.”
Her words fell on deaf ears.
“So, you’re saying your new boyfriend won’t want to help you out?” Mackenzie folded her arms, the glare from the computer screens casting electronic shadows across her face like a Bond villain. The only thing missing was a white cat to really set the scene. “Unless there’s something you’re forgetting to tell me?”
She stiffened under Mackenzie’s unblinking scrutiny. If she said no to roping in Alex, her cover would be blown. But if she said yes, then she’d be forced to beg Alex to do her another favor. One he’d hate even more. How had this become her life?
Shakespeare has nothing on me.
“Sure.” Cat licked her lips as she stood up. “We’d love to help you build an enchanted forest.”
Chapter Four
Alex rubbed his eyes and shook off his fatigue from pulling an extra shift at the canning factory the night before. Later in the year, he’d have to turn them down if he wanted to keep his grades up, but right now the more money the better. It had the added bonus of letting him ignore the numerous text messages that pinged in all night, most of them from Cat.
The Heartbreak Cure Page 3