Natalia POV

"I don't care what the assignment is, I want to do it this way!"

That is pretty much all I said to Jeremy while we were working on our project. He wanted to play by the rules, I didn't. Well, technically, I didn't even want to be here; I wanted to go home and spend time with my brother, but he had forced me to come work on this project with my partner, saying that if I failed anything while he was here he'd kick my ass. Figuratively of course. My brothers love me too much to hurt me.

"We have to follow the goddamn guidelines." I can tell Jeremy is getting pissed, so I try something else. I may be the school slut, as I've heard everyone tell me, but I still have feelings and I wanted someone like Jeremy in my life. He seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't want my feelings hurt, and believe it or not, I needed someone like that.

"I'm sorry. I just want to go home and see my brother. He's home from school for the week and I never get to see him since he went off to college." I pulled my best puppy-dog-face and he finally caved.

"Fine. We can work on it in class tomorrow. I'll see you then?" he asked.

"Yeah." I was about to head out to my car when he chased after me. I knew it would work.

"Hey! I almost forgot. I wanted to talk to you about something," he said seriously. "Er…earlier, in class, I mean, you…rolled up your sleeves, and I could have sworn I saw, like, scratch marks on it. It looked like you'd cut yourself. I just want to know what's up, I mean, if anything," he added quickly, "because for all I know they could be from like, your cat…." He trailed off.

"Oh, no those are from when I fell off some rocks at the beach. We were on vacation and I just slipped and fell. But it's embarrassing, so I hide it. And, it also does kind of look like I cut my arm, but why would I want to?" I asked calmly, when on the inside I was screaming, "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Oh, okay. I just thought before I went rushing to conclusions, I would ask you about it."

"Well, thank you for that, because I don't need anyone thinking I'm some sort of cutter," I said jokingly.

"Right," he agreed.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow in school," I said sweetly before driving away.

How do I get this hot kid to like me? Apparently, I act real. Because he doesn't respond to my looks the way normal people do. I thought about this all the way home.

o.O.o

"Hey, Nat, listen," Tyler said in the middle of our conversation about college life. "I'm sorry I never had time for you when I was around. I realize now that I should have been here for you, my little sister. But I got so caught up with school and football and friends that I neglected you, and in my absence, you became a cheerleading bitch, didn't you?" he asked teasingly. We always called cheerleaders bitches, even though I was one and he had dated many.

"Yeah, it's all your fault," I teased back, even though this apology meant more than anything he could have said. "But it's okay, because you're here now, even for a little while."

"Whoa, you're not getting all sentimental on me, are you? Because I don't do feelings well."

"Of course not," I joked.

"Good. Now who was this kid you were totally blowing me off for?"

"Uh, excuse me, but you told me to go work on our project with him, so I can't be blamed for 'blowing you off,'" I said. "And he's Jeremy, this guy that Mrs. Mansew paired me with."

"Oh, Mrs. Mansew? God she is horrible. As a teacher, and a person. She absolutely hated me."

"I think it's rubbing off onto me, because she almost made me work on the project by myself."

"Oh, that's rough. She did that to me once. She said we had an odd number of people in the class—and then there was a group of her three favorite students. I repeat, THREE!"

"That sounds like her," I replied.

"But anyway, this guy, Jeremy?" he asked to get back on track.

"He's just this new guy. Kind of cute, keeps to himself, and doesn't notice me when I'm at my hottest."

"Not all guys want girls because they're hot. Some guys just want friends, some want sex, and some don't want anything. And then some want guys, but that's not important."

"And Jeremy wants a friend?"

"Maybe. I've never met the kid, remember?" Tyler said.

"Hey guys," my dad said as he came in the room. "Your mom's working late tonight, so I thought the three of us could go out for dinner or something."

"How about just pizza?" Tyler asked. "I've got somewhere to go later, so I really can't stay here that long."

"What?" I asked. "Can't you stay here for at least tonight?"

"Sorry, kiddo, I've got places to be. People to screw, etc." He smiled at my dad's disapproving look. "Just kidding, dad, but I really do have to get going soon."

"Well, if you must," my dad said, and I could see the successful smile when Tyler turned his back.