Short chapter :) enjoy --Mandy

It didn't matter where Carson went; he was constantly followed by a group of estrogen-radiating young women. Whether it was his looks—wiry electric blond hair above emerald eyes, skin as tan as desert sand, such finely-drawn facial features that any girl within sight's range of him would stop and stare, double-take, or make an approach. And everyone, even the guys, knew about his perfectly-carved body—the chiseled six-pack of abdominals, the shapely figure, the defined pelvic bones—because there wasn't a week out of the summer that he didn't spend at least one day sun-tanning on the caramel-colored beaches of Lake Michigan.

Of course, with every too-handsome man, there's an arrogant, narcissistic, pompous attitude that never hides. Carson knew very well how he affected the ladies, and this power he exploited for his own benefits, from using them to buy him food to talking them into taking off their tops. He was the single most manipulative, self-absorbed man-prostitute who ever left a sperm stain in the Bluestone hotel.

However, Andromeda was probably the only female in that town who wasn't attracted to him in any way, shape, or form.

She stormed through the parlor doors. When Carson wasn't at Lake Michigan allowing the beach inhabitants their viewing pleasure, he was in the smoothie shop effortlessly appealing to the poor, unsuspecting women who were foolish and unfortunate enough to be subdued by his charms.

Sure as June comes after May, there he sat in a booth holding a half-drank lime-cherry blend with one hand while his other arm was coiled around the shoulders of Katey Gale, one of the school's most notorious and sought-after cheerleaders. The shock factor of his choice (not really a shock) was that her stringy hair was unnaturally and near-blindingly blond; it was so blond it was practically white, like a light bulb.

Andromeda crossed the room to the designated table. Arms crossed over her chest, she spoke, "Carson, may I have a word with you?"

At the sight of her, Carson broke into a smirk. Katey gave her a cold look.

"Yeah, you certainly may, Miss Ambrose." He got up, seeming to forget that Katey was even there, and moved to step uncomfortably close to Andromeda, so she could smell his abuse of cologne. "Did you come to finally be mine?"

"No, I'm here because I heard you told Amanda Larson and Brittney Thomer that I hang out with a wolf-boy."

"Whoa, cool it, babe." Carson's voice was sultry and unshaken. "I was only passing on what I heard from Gabe."

Andromeda's mind sparked. She almost couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "Gabriel told you this?!"

"Yeah, but whatever, huh? Let's go to the lake, babe."

She didn't give him the time. She was already out the door.

On her way down the sidewalk, Andromeda literally ran right into Gabriel, knocking him off his skateboard and onto the sidewalk, rear-first.

He opened his eyes to see her deep blue ones. "Oh… hey, Andy. Why're you in a hurry--!"

She gripped the collar of his t-shirt and yanked his face right up to hers. "What's the matter with you?"

"What'd I do?!"

"You told Carson about me going to investigate that trailer?!"

"Yeah, so?"

"So! He's telling every female he comes in contact with! And you know how that'll turn out!" She let go of his shirt but she didn't let him stand. "Why'd you even say anything Gabe? Why would you do that?"

"I-- ugh… I don't know."

"You're not supposed to tell people that! They'll believe anything."

"Wha…?"

"They think I've met the 'wolf-boy'," she said, using her fingers for emphasis. "Now people might go try to bug Ezekiel. That's the last thing he needs!"

"Why are you still going over there anyway? You know who lives there, but you're still not satisfied!"

"It's not your business what I do in my free time. If you can't keep your nosy boyish… nose… out of where it doesn't belong, or keep your mouth shut even when you don't want to, then I'm not telling you things anymore!" She stood, tugged her shirt down in the back, and left him there.