Okay chapter five! There's a small portion of Declan's POV at the very end here, and the next chapter will probably be completely in his POV.

Warning: Mild language.

Enjoy!

After spending the rest of her weekend being her usual productive self, Holly J was bright eyed on Monday morning.

That wasn't to say, exactly, that she was looking forward to seeing Declan and his devious twin sister in the halls.

"Holly J, honey?" Her mother called, peering in her bedroom slightly. "You almost ready? I've got breakfast on the table."

"Yeah, mom!" Holly J called from her bathroom, her voice sounding stressed.

"You okay?" Her mom called, edging toward the closed bathroom door.

"I'm fine!" Holly J called, sounding irritated. "I'll be down in a minute!"

Mrs. Sinclair shrugged, attributing it to teen angst, and heading back downstairs.

In the bathroom, Holly J was struggling with her hair. So limp and ugh! Holly J thought, tugging at it as she looked in the vanity mirror. Whatever, She finally thought with a roll of her eyes, Not like I care anyway.

Lie.

Holly J finally tromped down the stairs and scarfed down her french toast. "Okay mom, I gotta go," She said right after she finished eating, hurriedly grabbing her bag.

"Now?" Mrs. Sinclair looked around for the clock, confused. "But, hon, it's only 6:30..."

"I know," Holly J sighed. "I have to make up a test I missed."

Her mother nodded, smiling ruefully at her Type A daughter. "Right. Okay, bye dear."

Holly J shot her mom one last smile and bolted for the door. She actually had just wanted some time alone before school actually started, and Degrassi was actually quite the sanctuary when empty.

She made the short drive to the school, then slowly trudged up the steps, lost in her own head.

As she went inside, she passed a few people in the hall: Teachers, early risers, and grade grubbers, mostly. She slowly made her way to her locker, and dialed in her combination. Quietly, she began mouthing the things she needed to do before class started. "Physics homework, check. Pre-cal... Not check..." She sighed, grabbing her math book.

"Mornin' HJ," A voice suddenly crooned directly into her ear, hot breath fanning her neck.

She sucked in a breath and whirled, her back coming into contact with the closed locker next to her own. Her eyes immediately met the deep blue-green of Declan's as he almost seemed to stare right into her very soul. "I..." She stuttered out.

"Articulate, HJ." He murmured, teasing her, but his gaze never left her. It was almost as if he was staring her down. Well, two can play that game, Holly J thought angrily, her brow furrowing as she bit her lip and returned his gaze with just as much intensity.

Declan's face flashed a look she couldn't decipher, then lightened considerably. "So what is a pretty lady like yourself doing here so incredibly early?" He finally asked.

Does that mean I won the stare down? Holly J couldn't help but wonder. That was always the problem with unspoken competitions. "Uhm, I could ask you the same question." She said, turning her gaze away from him and safely back to the contents of her locker.

He grinned, coming along beside her to the locker she'd previously had her back against and leaned against it like a freaking model. Goodness knows he certainly looks like one, Holly J thought, then immediately chastised herself for it. "You think I'm pretty?" Declan murmured, breaking her from her thoughts of his gorgeous-ness.

She turned, blushing furiously. What? Is he a mind reader now, too? "What?" She asked, sounding defensive.

"Well I asked what you, a pretty lady, were doing here so early for and you said you could ask me the same thing," He grinned again.

Holly J had to laugh at that, her tension easing away, as she rolled her eyes at him. "So I suppose that also means I think you're a lady?" She teased as she closed her locker, leaning against it facing him.

He looked up in thought, seeming to consider his response, then finally, "Selective hearing. I only hear what I want," He shrugged. "So I think I'll stick with you thinking I'm hot." He smirked, putting emphasis on 'hot.'

"Uh, when did it turn into me thinking you're hot?"

"When you did. Which you do." He smirked, his voice sounding cocky and sure.

"Really? And what makes you so sure?" Holly J challenged.

He leaned into her ear, in a way that was torturously slow to Holly J, and took a couple hot breaths until he finally whispered. "The chemistry between us is... hot, magnetic. I know you're attracted to me, because I'm incredibly," He emphasized, breathing. "Attracted to you."

Holly J exhaled shakily, almost turning her face into his when a flashback of the party hit her like a bullet. Declan. And that blonde skank, whoever she may have been. Declan pulled away, his eyes now a darker shade of green, gazing into hers seriously. Holly J couldn't breathe.

After a beat, she quickly composed herself, breaking into a condescending smile. "You're good," She smirked. "You use that one on all the girls? I bet they fall for it every time. You and your fancy house and your unbelievable charm and incredibly good looks," Holly J said as she gestured at him, exasperated. Shit, She froze, Did I really just say all of that? Too late now.

He started to say something but she cut him off. "I saw you and that blonde girl. Right after you danced with me at your stupid party?"

He froze. "Trish?" He said in surprise.

Holly J laughed. "Okay, sure. Trish." She said, venom in her tone.

"No, HJ—"

"Don't call me that. It's Holly J."

His face was a little crestfallen at that, but he continued. "She came onto me. The only girl I was hot for at that party was you."

I flushed at the word 'hot' and his use of it.

"That's sure not what Fiona had to say. She told me, about your... Shall we say, player-ish tendencies. That's all fine and good, but I won't be part of that, no thank you." She turned on her heel and began to walk away, when he gently grabbed her wrist. A current ran through her at his soft touch.

"Please, HJ," She hated that she actually liked that he called her that. "You gotta believe me. My sister... My sister's a conniving little liar. I know that better than anyone," He sighed, rolling his eyes. "I love her, but you two haven't liked each other since the moment you met. Why would you believe her?"

Holly J's guard dropped a little, guilt replacing it. "I... I don't know," She murmured. She honestly didn't. "Just trust me, Declan, it'll be easier if we just... don't."

"Don't what?" He questioned, his eyes imploring her.

"Start whatever it is you're trying to start with little stunts like the dancing and what you pulled back there," She gestured toward her locker. "It's making it really hard on me."

"Making what hard?"

She shook her head. "Nothing, forget it." Just then students began filling the hallway. A bus had obviously just shown up. She easily got herself hidden in the sudden crowd and made her way to class.

Why did he have to make her feel like no one else did?

Declan's POV

Why was Holly J being so impossible? Declan was wracking his brain to understand what kind of game she was playing.

And what did she mean but it'd be easier if we didn't start anything? The attraction between us... It's like nothing I've ever felt before. I want her more than anything.

He raked his hands through his hair, frustrated, trying to maneuver around the suddenly packed hallway to find his first period.

This was going to be a long day.