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Their dad on the other hand sits in the ith a beer in his hand, not even trying to hide the fact he’s watching me The front here he always is, except when he’s stoh for the entire neighborhood to hear

Right now, I swear he’s s me run after the stupid bus What an ass Like father, like son, I guess

Cole is as cool as his truck and even better looking And he definitely knows it Revels in it He rules Wolf Ridge High like his shit co-side-of-the-track stank all over him Like the worn out, ripped jeans he practically lives in aren’t covered in grease and gri cars

No, Cole Much elseseen as ot the status of worshipped star quarterback And at Wolf Ridge High, that puts hiod

I eye h the chance of catching a ride with them

Unlike the rest of the kids at Wolf Ridge High, the Muchmores don’t just pretend they don’t see lares, even I met them the day I moved in—went over and introduced awk

They barely answered, looking at me like I had two heads Tay Swift has had friendlier interactions with Kanye than I had with the Muchmores that day

But right now I need a lift to school Even if I walk, I’ll be late formy mom is out If she has to leave work to drive et an earful about how I need to start driving again

Besides, she has way too much on her plate with the new job

Forcingdown the sidewalk to the curb and flag down Cole He slows but doesn’t stop His sister Casey, a sopho bitch-face, rolls down the

Cole leans across her His dark hair is tousled, his full lips twisted in a lopsided s, Pink, miss the bus?”

Pink

He’s referring to the streak of pale pink that cuts through the front of my dark hair of course The nickname and my unfortunate physical reaction to Cole Muchmore’s nearness throws me off for a sec Ride I need a ride

I stand on tiptoes to see into the truck and meet Cole’s eye “Yeah, any chance I could catch a ride?” I curselike a timid mouse

He shrugs his shoulders with a mock-rueful expression “Sorry, Pink I would offer, but there’s no room”

Bullshit There’s clearly plenty of roo a dick I hear his deep chuckle as his sister rolls up her

My face flushes hot as they drive away, and a thick knot for the back of my eyes