Carve your name into my arm
Instead of stressed, I lie here charmed
'Cause there's nothing else to do
Every me and every you
"Every You, Every Me"—Placebo
Right Where You Want Me
Prologue
The first things I noticed about him were not his startling good looks, rebelliously bleached hair, or even the abs I could just make out through his too-tight, black henley. I didn't notice the sprinkling of chest hair—a shade or two darker than the artfully mussed strands upon his head—peeking out where the first few buttons were undone. I didn't even notice how his black jeans clung to his behind a little too nicely, showing just a sliver of plaid boxer.
No, I didn't pay attention to any of this—until after I had dragged my eyes away from an entirely different part of him.
He had his sleeves rolled up just past his elbows, showcasing a lovely pair of muscular forearms, along with...ink.
And not the kind that was encased in one of the pens I had stowed away in my locker.
Tattoo ink. Lots of it.
This told me many things about the boy I would come to know as Austin Moon. For one, this new boy was a senior or he had a killer fake I.D. to get the "art" upon his arms. For another, he was about five tattoos over the line between average teenager and utter bad boy and showed no signs of turning back. And lastly, as if the first two statements didn't make this obvious enough, he was already thoroughly off limits judging by the way Marino High School's royalty, Kira Starr, was pawing him.
Despite him being new that day—and my flawless attendance record and unceasing attention to detail guaranteed that he was—they seemed to know each other. Kira had a hand on his chest as she laughed musically at whatever he'd just said.
Oh, yes. Austin Moon was most certainly forbidden territory. Not that it would matter if he wasn't. If a passion for schoolwork hadn't already gotten me labeled as a nerd, my propensity to embarrass myself in front of anything with a pulse most certainly would. And did.
What would a guy like him want with an awkward, studious sophomore like me?
Nothing. Or so I thought.
Little did I know what would ensue in the coming months.