Page 4 of Bought For Us

Chapter 2

Cora

Age 15

Standing in front of the full length mirror, I stare at my reflection.

The uniforms aren't as bad as I thought they would be, the colors really aren’t working for me.

“The look on your face makes me think someone is forcing you to wear the ugly dress your grandma picked out and swore it was adorable.” Zack’s voice sounds from my doorway.

My attention jerks over my shoulder as a blush creeps over my cheeks. “Oh, shut up.” I huff out a laugh.

It’s been two months since I moved into this house. Two months since I met Zack. And two months since I’ve developed one of the biggest crushes I’ve ever had on a boy.

But, I’ve been doing my best to push those feelings down deep, hoping they smother and die.

“Seriously, Cor, it doesn’t look bad. Heck, if anything, you pull that uniform off better than most girls in the school.”

“Really?” I ask, his words making me feel slightly better as I look back in the mirror. The uniform consists of a white dress shirt, topped with a navy blazer. We had the option of slacks or skirts but Zack swore none of the girls wore slacks, apart from the band kids.

Thankfully, the skirt isn’t too short, it’s also navy and stops just above the knees. The only perk about this whole outfit is that we can wear whatever we want for shoes.

My eyes search out Zack in the mirror and my belly swoops when I notice him watching me. “What?”

He blinks a few times and shakes his head. “Nothing,” he chuckles. “Come on, daredevil, let’s get your wild self to school.”

“Really?” I sigh heavily. “You're sticking with that nickname?”

“Oh, yeah.” He grins menacingly. “Can’t live that one down with me around.”

From day one, Zack made it clear that he didn’t like my dad. Months later, he still hasn’t changed his mindset. I don’t blame him. The niceness my dad shows him is all fake. He puts on a face when Rose is around, but acts like Zack doesn’t exist every other time.

It doesn’t sit right with me, I don’t like it.

Zack, however, has made it his mission for us to be best friends. At first, I was a ball of nerves every time we hung out. All I did was be mindful about everything I was doing, making sure I didn’t do anything embarrassing.

But it didn’t take long before I forgot about it and just let loose. Zack is funny, and a good guy to be around.

That nickname though, that's something I didn’t expect to get.

Over the summer, Zack took me on a walk, showing me around town and all the things the kids got into when they had nothing better to do with their time.

We ended up going to a party, one I didn’t want to go to because I’m not the most social person. He begged and pleaded, so how was I going to tell him no? At that point I think I would have done anything he asked me to do. So I caved.

It ended up being fun. Zack introducedme to some of his friends and some other students I’d be going to school with in the fall.

When I let it slip that it was my fifteenth birthday, Zack looked like I betrayed him by not telling him beforehand and somehow we ended up drunk.

How the nickname came into place, I guess drunk Cora is Miss Adventure, because I insisted on heading down to the lake. Others came with us and we ended up playing truth or dare.

I got dared to go swimming with my clothes on. Zack told me I didn’t have to but I was overly insistent on doing it. Everyone started chanting my name, sending a thrill through me as I ran towards the water.

It was cold and I regretted it. But Zack had a grin on his face as he chuckled, slinging an arm around me as he told me he didn’t think I had it in me. Then called me Daredevil.

That made it all worth it. Until moments like this when he brings it up.

“You're the worst.” I sigh, not meaning a single word as I grab my bag off the bed.

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