I was zoned out in Statistics when a crumpled up piece of notebook paper hit my back. I turned around to glare at Robin teasingly. She nodded towards it and mouthed 'Pick it up, dumbass."

I leaned down and opened up the wad of paper and smoothed it out over my desk. It read, So you and Eddie?

I took my pencil and scribbled back, tossing it directly onto her desk behind me without looking over my shoulder. What about it?

He's been hanging around you all week. Her returned note read. You kinda look cute together.

I blushed. I don't know what you're talking about, Robbie.

"Righht..." I heard her whisper with a little laugh. I heard he was talking to his D & D friends about you.

Who told you that?

Dustin.

I started to turn around to ask her a question, "Excuse me, Miss Stephens." The teacher paused the class. "Is there something you and Miss Buckley would like to share with the rest of the class?" He nodded down towards the crumbled up note in my hands.

"No, sir."

He frowned, "Well that's a shame, because secrets don't make friends." The teacher started to approach my desk. His eyes didn't leave the note in my hands. Fuck.

I shot Robin a look of panic. Was this teacher seriously about to expose this note to everyone in the class? I'd only been here a week, was it too late to pull the emergency 'Help me, I'm new" card still.

"Hand it over, Miss Stephens." The teacher held his hand out, patiently.

"I'd rather not." I chuckled darkly.

The teacher kept his hand stretched out, "I wasn't asking."

I could feel my stomach sinking out my butthole. All the kids in the class were now staring at me. If there's anything I detest in this world, attention makes the top of the list. I glanced back at Robin who was watching me apologetically.

I looked down at the paper in my hands. Desperate times.

"Fuck." I muttered. I reached towards the teacher's hand for a moment. In one quick movement, before he could take the paper from my hands, I shoved it all into my mouth.

"Eww." I heard some girl whisper.

Robin was trying not to laugh at the look on the teacher's face. Clearly he couldn't hide his surprise.

"Freak..." I heard one of the jocks whisper next to me.

I whipped my head around to look at him, faking an innocent expression. My mouth was still filled with crumpled up paper. I meant to say "Wouldn't you wanna find out?" But I'm really not sure what incomprehensible mumbling game from my stuffed cheeks.

"Miss Stephens," The teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kindly escort yourself to the office."

"Yup." I stood up, gathered all my shit, and headed for the door. After I got a few doors down the hall I spit our soggy exchange into the trash bin. That was close.

"Well, well well." A familiar voice sounded from down the hall. "I know you're not headed home early on me, princess?"

Eddie approached me, taking my bag from my shoulder and the books from under my arm before I could object.

"I'll have you know," I answered him as he matched my pace down the hallway. "I'm on my way for my daily trip to the office."

Eddie chuckled and shook his head. "You're starting to give me a run for my money, Stephens. Although I've got you beat."

"You're headed back to class from your throne in the Principal's office, aren't you?" I asked.

Eddie grinned at me, his brown eyes mischievous. "I'll gladly share the comfy seat in there with you, though, sweetheart."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "In your dreams, Munson."

Eddie laughed, "So what did you do this time?"

"Nothing spectacular." I answered him, walking slowly to prolong our conversation. "Just passing notes with Robin."

"And?" Eddie pressed.

"And..." I started. "We got caught. So instead of handing it over to Dear Ol Teach, I shoved it in my mouth."

Eddie laughed darkly. "Damn. Whatever was on that note must have been juicy for you not to have just let him have it. Are you talking about your crush on me?"

I rolled my eyes, "Actually we were talking about how you talk about me."

Eddie's eyes met mine for a moment. A mixture of embarrassment and surprise crossed over his face. He broke into a broad smile. "So the note was about me."

"Whatever." Of course, he didn't deny that he talked about me. I noticed we had missed the office. "Where are we going?"

"To my office." Eddie answered. "I've got a better punishment for you, anyways." Eddie threw me a wink and slung his open arm over my shoulder. "Right this way, princess."

Eddie walked me out the door and passed the football field towards the woods. Led led me to a secluded picnic table and gently sat my stuff down, plopping himself on the bench across from me. Eddie opened his black metal lunchbox and tossed me a cold can of beer and pulled a joint out for both of us.

"It's not even 10am," I laughed.

Eddie shrugged. Tossing me a knife. "Breakfast of champs."

"I bet you I can shotgun this beer faster than you can." I challenged.

Eddie sat on the picnic table and slid over so he was next to me on the edge. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." I tossed the knife over to him. "I'll even give you a head start."

"Bring it on," Eddie grinned wickedly. Eddie got a few second head start, tossing the knife back at me.

I kept up pretty well, but I could tell he had the upper hand. I decided to make the odds favor me a little more. I placed my hand on his leg and began gently tickling at his inner thigh. Eddie tried his hardest to keep it together, but ended up spraying his last gulp with laughter.

Eddie took my hand from his thigh and wrapped it in his. My stomach did a flip as his thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. "That was cheating."

"Who said I was going to play fair?" I answered.

Without letting go of my hand Eddie put the joint between my lips and lit it. There was something about the look in his eye that I hadn't seen before and couldn't place. Eddie's voice was deep and husky when he spoke again, it made the hair on my neck stand up. "I like it when you don't."

I gave him a mischievous wink, removing my hand from his and taking a drag of the joint. I turned away before he could see the shade of pink on my face. I didn't want him to see how that statement had me flustered. I exhaled, leaning my head against his knee and passing the joint up to him.

Eddie rested his hand on my hair, gently rolling the black curls around his fingers. After a moment I heard him let out a half hearted laugh.

"What?" I asked.

"You're fucking trouble, Wyatt. That's what." Eddie answered.

"I thought you liked trouble, Munson." I said teasingly.

Eddie didn't answer right away. I felt his hands snake through my hair and tug my head back gently to look at him. I felt my breath catch in the back of my throat, heat rising through my body at the touch. There was a playfully wicked look in his eyes that was lighting my insides on fire. The sound of me losing my breath for a moment drove him nuts and he wasn't able to disguise it. "I love trouble."

Eddie let my hair go, gently brushing the bangs from my eyes and cupping my cheek before letting go of me all together. I was glad that he gave me a moment to catch up to my surroundings because I felt everything around me spinning.

After a moment Eddie spoke again. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Absolutely nothing." I answered. "Why?"

Eddie scratched at the back of his head nervously. "It's Tuesday and the boys and I have a band. We have a show tonight and... I don't know... I just thought if you weren't busy or anything... maybe you'd want to come see us play?"

I leaned my head back against the table. Eddie was beautiful even upside down. Eddie's eyes caught mine for a moment, his cheeks were red and he looked away nervously.

I kinda half smiled. One moment he was so dominating and confident and then the next he was a nervous wreck. "Edward Munson, are you asking me on a date?"

Eddie fidgeted with the rings on his fingers, clearly nervous to meet my eyes. "I mean... if I was... would you say yes?"

"I don't know." I answered still looking up at him. "That depends on if you're asking."

Eddie rolled his eyes and chewed the skin of his lower lip. "Why do you have to be so... Difficult?"

I laughed a little. "I'd love to come see you guys. Seth will be glad to have me out of his hair for the night."

Eddie glanced over a smile, relief flashed in his eyes and I could see him let go of a breath he was holding in anticipation. "Really? You'll come?" I nodded and he grinned. "Fantastic! I'll pick you up?"

"You better not forget about me, Eddie." The bell rang off in the distance and I stood up to gather my things for the next period.

Eddie helped me throw my bag over my shoulder, his hands running down my arm as he lingered there for a moment. "I could never."