Resisting the Rebel

by Lisa Brown Roberts

  “You still need to do it!”

  “It’s like a warm-up for a prom-posal! So make it big, but not something you won’t be able to top when it is time for prom.”

  “You have to, Caleb. Mandy’s so sweet, and nobody’s ever done one for her before and—”

  “This whole dance was her idea! The seventies theme and everything. You have to.”

  He scooted backward. They were even scarier than Elle, all of them homing in on him like hyenas on a hunt, circling and trapping their prey.

  “Uh, I don’t know…”

  The girl with dreads sighed in frustration. “Ask some of the other guys for ideas.”

  Right. Like he’d just barge into the guys’ locker room one day and ask for prom-posal advice.

  “Anyway,” the blonde said, “I’m glad she’s going out with you. You guys are cute together, because you’re so…unexpected.”

  The girl with dreads nodded. “Totally. I was afraid she’d never get over that stupid crush on Gus. He’s such a tool.”

  Caleb frowned. “He is?”

  The girls all glanced over their shoulders toward Mandy, who was engaged in animated conversation with her group, laughing and gesturing, in full butterfly mode.

  They turned back to him, their beady eyes focused.

  “He’s got so many people fooled,” the brunette said, glancing at the other girls, who all nodded their agreement. “He puts on this goofy innocent act, so girls will trust him. But after just one date, he turns into a total octopus.”

  The blond nodded furiously. “Hands everywhere. Down the shirt, up the skirt, and he doesn’t like hearing no…”

  The old record Caleb was holding cracked in half. He glanced down at his white-knuckled hands.

  “Ooh,” the brunette said. “Don’t let Mandy see that. She loves that record.”

  Broken records were the least of his worries. “So, why didn’t you guys warn her about Gus? When you, uh, thought she still liked him?”

  “It’s a new strategy for him,” the blonde said. “But we know he’s done it with a couple of girls already. Word’s just starting to get around.”

  “I tried to tell her just last week,” the girl with dreads said, “but she’s sort of…blind about people sometimes. Sort of, uh, what’s it called? When you only see the good in people, not the bad? Even when they’re assholes?”

  “Pollyanna,” Caleb muttered. That was Mandy in a nutshell. He glanced across the room again, and this time she met his gaze. She smiled shyly, her cheeks turning pink again, and he wondered if she was thinking about their almost-kiss. He gave her his best loyal boyfriend smile.

  No fucking way was Gus taking her to this dance.

  Chapter Nine

  Just What I Needed

  Friday, September 23

  Mandy dug through her closet, yawning. The scavenger meeting had gone later than she’d expected, and she’d had a hard time falling asleep last night because she couldn’t stop replaying her almost-kiss with Caleb. She’d tried to replace the real memory with a fake fantasy of kissing Gus, but Caleb’s face kept taking over. She kept imagining Caleb’s mouth on hers, his hands in her hair.

  Cammie had driven her home instead of Caleb last night. She’d bolted up the basement stairs, telling Caleb she’d see him later. Totally unrealistic girlfriend behavior, but whatever, she’d needed to get away from him.

  He’d texted her after she got home, asking if she was okay, which had only contributed to the kissing replays. Because jackass Caleb was sort of turning into sometimes-nice-guy Caleb. And she hadn’t expected that.

  She burrowed deeper into her closet, the tangling metallic hangers sounding like a tuneless wind chime. Her clothes were a hodgepodge of thrift-store finds and clothes her mom used to wear—really awesome stuff from the seventies, colorful and sparkly. Clothes made her happy. She tugged a psychedelic tank top off a hanger, glad the freakish early snowstorm was just a memory and warm temps had returned. She imagined standing next to black-clad Caleb and smiled at the contrast. After tugging on the top, she grabbed jeans from the floor.

  Today was Friday, thank God. Tonight she was going to the movies with Cammie and J.T., and Sunday was the baking bonanza at Caleb’s house. She grabbed beaded earrings from her spinning jewelry rack on her dresser, deciding not to worry about Sunday until she had to.

  She put on mascara and lip gloss, gave up on taming her wild red curls, shoved her feet into platform clogs, and finally decided she was ready for another day as Caleb Torrs’s fake girlfriend.

  …

  Caleb waited at her locker, along with several of her cheer team friends. He looked panicked, like a little Nemo captured by a flock of hungry seagulls. Mine. Mine. Mine. The image made her smile.

  “Hi, Caleb,” she purred, just like a real girlfriend would. Her friends giggled appreciatively. “Hi, guys.” She waved to her friends. “You all officially met Caleb last night, right? This is Amber, Tonia, and Leticia. In case you forgot.” She pointed to each girl as she announced her name.

  He nodded, looking like he wanted to run away, but he stayed put. “Right,” he said. “Last night.”

  “Spirit Week’s going to be awesome, isn’t it? I can’t wait for all the events!” Mandy smiled at the girls, who nodded and chimed in their agreement as Caleb ran a hand through his hair, still looking like he wanted to escape.

  She caught his eye and winked. He blinked in surprise, then his usual smirk made an appearance. Her stomach fluttered, so she focused on cramming books into her locker.

  “We were just talking to Caleb about the dance,” Amber said. “And how we can’t wait to see whatever prom-posal he comes up with for you.”

  Mandy froze. What the heck? Caleb wasn’t supposed to do that, Gus was. After she and Caleb broke up. Or maybe before they did…she wasn’t sure exactly, but somehow…

  “Oh,” she managed to say, turning to face Amber. “Uh…I’m not really…expecting that from Caleb. It’s not his style.”

  Leticia tossed her dreadlocks over her shoulder. “That’s BS. Anyway”—she pinned Caleb with a meaningful look—“we’ll see you guys later. We just wanted to say hi.”

  The girls waved, then moved away, their skirts swishing in perfect synchrony.

  Slowly, Mandy turned to face Caleb. “What the heck was that about?”

  He looked stricken. “Uh, it’s kind of…well, last night at the meeting they sort of ganged up on me. Said I had to do a prom-posal for homecoming. That you’d be expecting one.”

  “Well, I am expecting one, but not from you.”

  He narrowed his eyes, suddenly morphing from nervous Caleb to pissed-off Caleb. How did he do that so fast?

  “You want your prom-posal from Gus.”

  She nodded, staring into his dark eyes. She did want that. Didn’t she?

  His lips curved, and suddenly she was in his car again, those lips brushing against hers and setting her on fire.

  “Maybe we didn’t really think this through,” he said. “If I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, then I’d be the one doing the prom-posal. Not Gus.”

  She swallowed. “But no one would expect you to, since you’re…you know.”

  “Since I’m what?” He sounded defensive.

  “Since you’re Caleb Torrs. Lord of Darkness. Hater of School Activities. Scarer of Freshmen.”

  His lips twitched. “Two out of three, maybe. I don’t scare them intentionally.” He reached behind her and slammed her locker shut. “Come on. I’ll walk you to class and we can keep arguing.”

  They fell into step together and people watched them, some smiling, some with raised eyebrows, some looking shocked to see them still together after two days.

  Caleb leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Elle at ten o’clock. Get ready.”

  Mandy glanced over his shoulder to see his stalker glaring at them, eyes narrowed. “Ready for wh—” But she didn’t finish her sentence because Caleb stopped and pulled her into his arms, squis
hing her binder against her chest.

  “Gus at two o’clock,” he leaned down to whisper into her ear, brushing her hair off her neck and making her shiver. She peeked over his other shoulder to see Gus leaning against the wall, Kay chattering in his face, but Mandy was so distracted by Caleb’s hands—one on her neck and the other gripping her waist—that she couldn’t focus.

  “Sorry we don’t have time to argue about this, Disco. Just roll with it.”

  Then he moved in for the kill.

  …

  This wasn’t how he’d planned to do it. He’d wanted their first kiss to be private. In his car, probably, or maybe his house, if he could figure out a way to get her there alone.

  But Gus and Elle were right there watching them, so he had to make his move. Sell it, just like he’d told her. Convince everyone this fake thing between them was real. But he didn’t want to be an ass and force himself on her, either.

  “You up for one fake kiss, Disco?” he whispered.

  Her eyelashes went into overdrive, and he felt her body tremble as a shiver ran through her. “Um, uh…maybe just one. Make it quick.”

  He smiled to himself as he ducked his head to her neck, inhaling her perfume as he kissed the soft skin. This was not going to be fast. He moved his mouth to her jawline, trailing kisses as he worked his way toward her mouth. He felt her tremble again and pulled her closer, wishing they were anywhere but the middle of a packed hallway. He needed to get rid of her stupid binder digging into his chest. Needed her closer.

  Needed her to stop wanting Gus.

  “Mandy,” he whispered against her cheek, his mouth almost to her lips. Let’s stop pretending. The words were almost there, just hovering in the back of his throat, waiting to escape.

  “Caleb,” she whispered back, just as he was about to finally taste her lips for real. “I want…”

  You, he willed her to say. Say you want me, not that tool Gus masquerading as a dork.

  “Break it up!” The barking voice startled them, and they sprang apart, coming face to face with Dr. Hairy, the anti-PDA principal. She tapped her foot on the linoleum, her mouth a thin line, while all around them people laughed and hooted and clapped.

  “I’m quite sure you’re both aware of the PDA policy,” Dr. Hairy said. “Since I make it very clear at the first assembly every year.”

  Mandy swallowed, her face almost as red as her hair.

  Caleb shrugged, schooling his face into a bored expression. “I might’ve missed that day.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Mr. Torrs, I’m quite sure you’re aware of the policy, because you’ve violated it before.”

  Why’d she have to bring that up in front of Mandy? Last time he’d been busted for PDA was when Elle had jumped him in the cafeteria, trying to convince him to stick around, because at that point he was already drifting away from her.

  “Detention. Both of you. After school today.”

  “What?” Mandy squeaked. “But it’s the first time I’ve…” Her voice faded away, and Caleb could tell she was mortified.

  “And your last,” Dr. Hairy said. She glared at Caleb. “You, too, Mr. Torrs. Now get to class, both of you.”

  …

  Mandy was going to die. Shrivel up and float away, like ashes swirling upward from a fire of embarrassment. She couldn’t believe Caleb had done that. In front of everyone.

  She’d rushed away from him and Dr. Harris, ignoring the catcalls as she ran down the hall. This fake boyfriend thing was done. It wasn’t worth it.

  No matter how amazing those kisses on her neck had been. No matter how real it had felt, especially when he’d whispered her name. Had she imagined the feelings she’d heard in that one whisper?

  Probably.

  Definitely.

  Her phone pinged with a text from Cammie as she slid into her desk. She glanced at it, not surprised to see a row of shocked face emoticons. Her phone pinged again, with almost the identical message from J.T. As usual, gossip traveled at lightning speed. She ignored her friends’ messages; there’d be time enough to deal with their joint freak-out later.

  Right now she had to figure out how to get out of this fake girlfriend deal, because it wasn’t going at all the way she’d planned. She glanced to the front of the room where her teacher was distracted, talking to another student.

  This sucks, she texted furiously to Caleb. I’m going to kill you.

  Sorry babe. I’ll make it up to you. Buy you lunch?

  Do not babe me! I am not your BABE. I am your FAKE GF, got it?

  Got it, BABE. ;)

  She shot back a row of angry devil faces, then shoved her phone in her purse because she sure didn’t need double detention today.

  She’d kill him later. After he bought her lunch.

  …

  Caleb figured he’d better take Mandy off campus for lunch so no one would see their imminent explosion. He didn’t need Elle seeing their big fight and thinking she could move back in on her imagined territory.

  “Let’s go,” he said, cornering her at her locker.

  She spun on him, hair flying, hands on her hips. “I changed my mind. I’m not going anywhere with you!”

  He glanced around, aware they were already drawing an interested audience. “Dial it down, Disco. Let’s get out of here and discuss this rationally.”

  “There’s nothing to disc—”

  At that moment, Gus and Kay appeared, holding hands, and Caleb wondered if maybe there really was a God, who might even be on his side.

  Mandy watched them, her expression changing from anger to wistfulness, and Caleb felt like he’d been punched in the gut. But he didn’t let her see it, instead reaching for her hand. Time to sell it.

  She stared at their clasped hands, then looked up to meet his gaze. He nodded slightly toward Gus and Kay. She blinked, then seemed to snap back to reality. He watched her expression change again, this time to one of swoony, devoted fake girlfriend.

  He frowned. He didn’t like that very much; he preferred authentic, pissed-off Mandy. But at least she was still holding his hand, so he’d take what he could get.

  “Where are we going to lunch, cutie?” she asked, raising her voice on the last word. He heard a few titters from their audience.

  “Wherever you want, babe.”

  He tugged her down the hall, determined to get the hell away from prying eyes and ears. As soon as they were in the parking lot, he turned on her. “Don’t ever call me cutie.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes. “Then stop calling me babe.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “It’s what I call all my girlfriends.”

  She blinked, and he watched her expression change from stunned to embarrassed. “T-then you better stop calling me that.” She swallowed, and he could tell it took effort for her to snap at him. “I’m not like all your other girlfriends.”

  They locked eyes for a long moment, and he felt a weird sense of pride for her, since she’d stood up to him. “No,” he finally said. “You’re not. Okay then, let’s go, Disco.”

  She tripped along next to him, trying to keep up with his long strides.

  “Slow down, Caleb.”

  He glanced at her ridiculous shoes. “Why don’t you wear normal shoes?”

  “Why don’t you wear anything besides black?”

  He wrenched open the passenger door of his car. “Get in, Disco.”

  She glared at him, but she slid into the car, then slammed the door in his face, making him smile.

  …

  Mandy stared out the window while Caleb drove, searching her mind for a mantra, but she couldn’t find one to fit the insane situation: kidnapped by her fake boyfriend for lunch because he’d kissed her like a vampire in public and gotten them both detention. She glanced at her mood ring, which was yellow, for nervous.

  “Drive-through or inside?” Caleb asked as he pulled into the parking lot.

  “Drive-through. I don’t want anyone seeing us together.”

  He g
runted and pulled into the drive-through line. “Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry about the detention. But you know why I did it, right? Both our targets were right there. I couldn’t pass up that opportunity.”

  She arched her eyebrows. “Opportunity?”

  He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “You know what I mean.”

  She shifted under his dark gaze, staring at his lips, remembering how they’d felt on her neck. “Um, so, okay, let’s say that’s true. Why didn’t you just kiss me on the cheek or whatever?”

  “Cheek? I told you we need to sell this, Mandy.” He smirked. “Pretty sure I did.” He accelerated as the drive-through line moved forward.

  “Who were you trying to sell? Elle? Gus? Or me?”

  His eyes widened, and she watched his Adam’s apple as he swallowed. “Uh…well…”

  A voice crackled through the speaker. “Welcome to Burger King. Place your order when you’re ready.”

  “Veggie burger and fries,” Mandy said. “And a Coke.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Veggie burger. Really?”

  “Yes, really. Are you buying me lunch or not, cutie?”

  He glared at her, but when he placed the order a hint of a smile curved his lips.

  …

  After they got their food, Caleb drove to a nearby park, and they sat in the car in the shade of a tree.

  “So you didn’t answer my question,” Mandy said around a french fry. “Who were you trying to sell with all that…vampire action?”

  “Vampire action?”

  “Yeah. All the neck slurping.”

  He stopped chewing. “I don’t slurp.”

  She smiled, giddy with her small victory. No way would she let him know how hot that neck action actually was, because heaven only knew what he’d do with that information.

  “Unfortunately, you do,” she said. “You might want to work on your technique.” She took a long drink of soda, forcing herself to maintain eye contact as his eyes darkened. “Not for my benefit, of course, but for whoever’s next in your girlfriend lineup.”

  He glowered at her. “I don’t have a ‘lineup.’ And there’s nothing wrong with my technique.” She glanced at him, and her stomach did a devious little happy dance at the worried expression flitting across his face.