Page 11 of The Fall

When she finally looked at me again, I saw something else in her eyes. She seemed more confident than the girl who had just shied away from me. I stood curious as she approached. She was just about to address me when I saw her stiffen with Reiner’s swaying attention.

“Dallas, give me some sugar!” She half-masked her smile for Reiner as she scolded him, slapping his hands away as he pawed her.

“Get your hands off of me, Reiner! We went out once, and it was a disaster. Stop pawing me in the halls!”

“Awww, Dallas. It was not a disaster,” he reasoned as she fought his busy hands from around her waist.

Her eyes were glued to me for a brief second before she turned to him with malice. “You got drunk and threw up on me, idiot!”

I laughed at their banter, watching her without being noticed. She was completely animated as she put Reiner in his place. I could tell that beneath her menace, she genuinely liked him. They had history. It was easy to tell. She also had a smart mouth on her, that was for sure. I took in her perfectly glossed pink lips and how she held herself with such confidence, and I instantly wanted to know her.

“Dallas, give me another chance,” Reiner begged.

“Nope, it’s a one-shot deal,” she scoffed, shooting him down. She turned her beautiful green gaze back to me, and I felt my heart rate pick up. She scrutinized me with her stare, and I had to stifle a laugh. Who the hell did this girl think she was?

“Who are you?” she asked, demanding an answer.

I lifted my brow and peered down at her with a smirk before giving it to her. “Dean, Dean Martin. I just transferred.”

“Dean Martin,” she said with a snort, “sing us a tune.”

I shook my head with mild irritation. “Yeah, no one has ever used that line on me,” I replied, clearly unimpressed as I ripped my eyes from her to grab my history book from my locker. The truth was, I wanted to look at her, but for some reason it hurt. She was just a kid, not really a young woman yet. She was, however, absolutely beautiful—and she didn’t know it. I loved that fact.

“Sorry,” she said sincerely, her confidence slipping slightly as she weighed my reaction. I felt a tug in my chest for her then. I could tell in that moment that she really wanted me to like her.

“Forgiven, and your name is Dallas. That’s pretty cool,” I said, closing my locker.

Long eyelashes, prominent nose, and perfect lips… Damn, Reiner had it right with this one.

“I guess,” she said, glancing down at my history book before her jade eyes shot up to mine. The shyness was back, and I was getting whiplash from the mixed signals.

“Martin?” She looked at my jet-black hair and olive skin with a question in her eyes.

“My mom is from Spain,” I said with a smirk. This girl was anything but subtle.

“Hmmm,” she mused, scanning my dress skeptically.

I’d always made it a point to dress impeccably, just like my dad. It’s one of the things I’d admired most about him. Dallas seemed to be amused by it. “Are you going to church later? A funeral, maybe?”

“Don’t even think about it, Martin. She’s mine!” Reiner interrupted as he scooped her up over his shoulder and began to walk away as Dallas protested, raising total hell and punching at his back repeatedly. I had no choice but to just laugh and wave.

Dallas the spitfire. God, I loved that.

Later that day, I was talking pretty heatedly with another senior whose name escaped me when I spotted her again. Reiner had briefed us all after track and laid his claim. ‘Dallas Whitaker was a freshman. His freshman.’ Fifteen, and she already had the attention of the most notorious playboy in school—and the confidence of a courtroom prosecutor. I quickly left my conversation with…um—okay, I couldn’t remember her name—to catch up with Dallas. She froze in place as I approached, and I didn’t mask my smile. Reiner may have already lost this battle. I knew it was arrogant of me to think Dallas was so easily swayed, but if I was weighing in on reaction alone, I would have to say she was as drawn to me as I was to her. I had no intention of stepping on his toes, anyway. I just wanted to know her.

“You’re making a rep for yourself already. Especially if you get with Tina Walker. Watch out,” she said dryly, obviously unimpressed with my choice of company.

“I don’t worry about shit like that,” I retorted quickly. “Never have.”

Her grin was unmistakable, and I answered it with my own. “No?” she said breathily, eyeing me. “No plans to run for prom king?” Her smile slowly faltered as I took a step forward. She was standing next to a snack machine and took a step back, cornering herself.

“No,” I said, getting as close as possible without scaring her. “Only two things interest me in this school—you and track.” Her eyes widened as I confessed to her, and I heard her expel a long breath.

“Me?” she squeaked innocently.

“Yeah, you’re going to be my best friend,” I said, taking a step back, only to watch her face fall.

I was an asshole, but now I knew.

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