My mom and I live in drafty eighteenth century farmhouse on the outskirts of Coldwater. It's the only house Hawthorne Lane,and the nearest neighbors are almost mile away. The original builder seemed to pick a land that fog planted itself on the grass. I spent the evening planted on a stool in the kitchen in the company of algebra homework and Dorothea , our housekeeper. My mom works for the Hugo Renaldi Auction Company, coordinating estate and antique auctions along the east coast. This week she was in New York. Her job required a lot of travel and she paid Dorothea to cook, clean, but I was pretty sure the fine print on Dorothea's job description was to keep an eye on me.

"How was school?"Dorothea asked with a slight German accent.

"i have a new biology partner."

"This is a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Kendall was my old partner."

"Humph, a bad thing then."

I sighed in agreement.

"Tell me about this new biology partner. This girl, what is she like?"

"He's tall, dark, and annoying." Carlos eyes were black orbs. Taking in everything and giving away nothing. Not that I wanted to know more about Carlos. Since I hadn't like what I seen on the surface, I doubted I'd like know what's lurking deep inside. Only that wasn't exactly true. I 'd liked a lot of what I'd seen. Long lean muscles down his arms, broad but relaxed shoulders, and a smile that was playful, part seductive. I was in an uneasy alliance with myself, trying to ignore what had started to feel irresistible.

At nice o'clock Dorothea finished for the evening and locked here way out. I took inventory of the feeling that were playing inside me. I wasn't hungry. I wasn't tired. I wasn't even that lonely. But I was a bit restless about the biology assignment. I'd told Carlos that I wasn't going call and six hours ago I meant it! But at this rate I was going to fail and I wanted at least to get a B. I went to kitchen and picked up the phone. I looked at the remaining numbers Carlos wrote on my hand. Feeling hopeful I keyed his number.

Carlos answered on the third ring."What's up?"

In a matter of fact tone I said"I'm calling to see if we can meet tonight. I know you said you're busy, but-"

"Logan...I thought you weren't gonna call. Ever."

I hated that I was eating my own words."Well? Can we meet or not?"

"It turns out I can'."

"Can't or won't?"

"I'm in the middle of an important pool game," I heard him smile his voice

"Where are you?" I asked

"Bo's Arcade. It's not your kind of hangout."

"Then lets do the interview over the phone. I've got a list of question right-"

He hung up on me.

I stared at the phone with disbelief. I ripped a clean sheet of notebook paper and scribbled 'Jerk' on the first line. On the line beneath it I added,'Smokes cigars. Will die of lung cancer. Hopefully soon. Excellent physical shape'.

I look at the clock. It was 9:00. Either I fabricated my interview with Carlos, or drove to Bo's Arcade. I found a quarter on the counter.

"Heads I go," I told George Washington profile. "Tails I stay."

Great. I snagged my car keys and paper and backed my Fiat Spider down the driveway. Bo's arcade turned out to be a 30-minute drive. I pulled my Fiat into the parking lot and in flashing letters was 'BO'S ARCADE, MAD PAINTBALL&OZZY'S POOL HALL."

I stood in line waiting to get past the rope.

"Think you deserve a free ride?" hollered a smoke roughened voice

I looked at the tattoo cashier."I'm not here to play. I'm looking for someone."

He grunted."You want past me you have to pay." He pointed at a sign. "Cash only $15.00"

I didn't have cash. And if I had I wouldn't have wasted it on Carlos. I only needed to find Carlos, Question him then get the hell out.

"If I'm not back in 2 minutes I'll pay the 15 dollars." I said. At the this point all I wanted to do was find Carlos.

"HEY!"The cashier followed me

Certain Carlos wasn't upstairs I ran downstairs.

"Carlos!" I called out.

He stared at me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

The cashier clumped my shoulder with his hand"Upstairs now!"

"He's with me,"Carlos said.

It seem it work when he said that cause that cashier left in a flash. I felt something about Carlos. Electricity? Confidence? Unsafe?

"Sorry about the hangup" Carlos said coming behind me."The reception's not great around here."

Yeah right.

With a tilt of his head, Patch motioned the other guys to leave. the first guy bumped a shoulder into me. I took a step back to balance myself and looked in time to see cold glares from the other two guys.

"Eight ball?" I asked him raising my eyebrows and trying to sound completely sure of myself."How high the stakes are?"

His smile widened. This time I was pretty sure he was mocking me."I don't play for money."

"Too bad. I was going to bet everything I have against you." I held up my assignment, two lines already filled."A few quick questions then I'm out of here."

"Jerk?"Carlos read out loud leaning on his pool stick."Lung Cancer? Is that supposed to be prophetic?"

I fanned the assignment through the air"I'm assuming you contribute to the atmosphere. How many cigars a night? One? Two?"

"I don't smoke."He sounded sincere. I didn't buy it.

"Mmm-hmm," Writing on the third line 'Definitively cigars'

"You're messing up the game"He said as I pushes a purple ball to the other side.

"Hopefully not in your favor. Biggest dream?"

"Kiss you."

"That's not funny,"I said holding my eyes, grateful I didn't stutter.

"No,but I made you blush."

"Do you work?"

He smiled."I bus tables at the Borderline. Best Mexican in town."

"Religion?"

"I thought you said you had a few quick questions. You're already at number four."

"Religion?" I asked more firmly.

Carlos dragged a hand to his jawline."Not religion...cult."

"You belong to a cult"I realized I sounded surprise.

"As it turns out, I'm in need of a healthy male sacrifice. I'd planned on luring him into trusting me first,but if you're ready now..."

Any smile left on my face slid away"You're not impressing me."

"I haven't started trying yet."

I edged of the table and stood up to him. He was full head taller."Kendall told you're a senior. How many times have you failed tenth-grade biology? Once? Twice?"

"Kendall isn't my spokesperson."

"Are you denying failing?"

"I'm telling you I didn't go to school last year."His eyes taunted me.

"You were truant?"

Carlos laid his pool stick on the table and inch his finger toward him for me to come closer. I didn't."A secret." He said confidential tones."I've never gone to school before. Another secret? It's not as dull as I expected."

He was lying. Everyone went to school. There were laws. He was lying to get a rise out of me.

"You think I'm lying,"he said around a smile.

"You've never been to school, ever? If that's true-and you're right, I don't think it is-what made you decide to come this year?"

"You"

It took me a moment to find my voice"That's not a real answer."

He must have taken a step closer because suddenly our bodies were separated nothing more than a shallow margin of air."Your eyes, Logan. Those cold, brown eyes are surprisingly irresistible...and that killer curvy mouth."

I took a step back."That's it. I'm out of here."

But as soon as the words were out of my mouth I knew they weren't true."You seem to know a lot about me...more then you should. You seem to know exactly what to say to make me uncomfortable."

"You make it easy."

A spark of anger fired through me,"You admit you're doing this on purpose?"

"This?"

"This-provoking me."

"Say 'provoking' again. Your mouth looks provocative when you do."

"We're done. Finish your pool game." I grabbed his pool stick to him. He didn't take it.

"I don't like sitting next to you,"I said."I don't like being your partner. I don't like your condescending smile."My jaw twitched-something that happened when I lied."I don't like you."

"I'm glad Coach put us together,"he said. This time he took the pool stick.

"I'm working to change that."

Carlos thought thus was soooo funny, his teeth showed through his smile. H reached for me and before I could move away he untangled something from my hair.

"Piece of paper."he explained. I noticed a marking on the inside of his wrist. At first I thought it was a tattoo but then I saw that it was a birthmark.

"That's an unfortunate place for a birthmark," I said, more than a little unnerved that it looked like my scar in the same position.

"You prefer it someplace more private?"

"I wouldn't prefer it anywhere." I tried again."I wouldn't care if you didn't have it at all." I tried the third."I don't care about your birthmark period!"

"Anymore question?"he asked."Comments?"

"No."

"Then I'll see you in bio."

I thought about telling him he'd never see me again. But I wasn't going to eat my words twice in one day.

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