o

think I've

to my locker, the teachers who cut me slack because I'm "leading the tea

wouldn't I? That image has kep

ut loud-is that the best part of my day isn't the

di's face when I

off-limits. But God, she makes it too easy. The way her cheeks flush, the way she slams things down

how far I can pus

morning, f

Walking into their kitchen always feels... weird. I don't know why. Ma

ad personally offended her. Oversized T-shirt, messy hair, bare feet

mo

" I tossed out, lea

ed-it was instant gratificati

t," she muttered,

ht you'd lik

s so hard I swear

mpletely oblivious.

I never do. Instead, I spotted the toast

e down like she want

er get tired of comme

in her eyes, the way her voice cracked on ever. She didn'

ent

s I pick on her just to be a jerk, or because I've got n

tice

han I

-really noticing

at me. She doesn't giggle when I walk by or bat her lashes h

e for me to

want her to look at me, even if it's with fire in her eyes

, it's ev

r stupid inside jokes when I spotted her sitting with Mariah. Alwa

t let her

room. "Better hide your food or Je

erupted.

hand froze halfway to her mouth. She didn't look u

out her silence that gets to me. Like she's holding all this emoti

, the sister he doesn't think twice about. He doesn't notice the way she wi

I

ee

I keep poking-because if I don't, m

y does. Once I'm on the field, nothing else matters. The snap of the b

not

w was the way she glared at me over he

r me. She thought she was subtle, but I caught it.

don't notic

sticks with me lo

. Jessa's sensitive, that's all. She reacts to me because I

'm not losi

ing, I'm

ore she finally snaps. Before she let

at fire burns as hot

ng, I catch he

said, tilting my head back, and when I glance over, her e

es me. Not the quarterback. Not Jackson's best

st

shifts. She looks caught,

smirk. For once,

d I cover it with a grin. "

ames. "In y

breath. I saw the way she c

hen I know I

essa Lombardi isn't

n addi

r, it's going to b