Page 6 of XO

It wasn’t until the class ended and I made my way back to my locker to change over for next period I had an inkling something was off.

Students who passed me in the corridor giggled to each other, whispering gossip I figured I was the main topic of since they’d glance back and continue their sniggering.

I was standing at my locker, when my best friend, Nessie, approached with eyes wide in horror.

“What?” I’d asked. “What happened to you?”

She shook her head. “Nothing to m-me,” she stammered. “Did you sit in something?”

I push my paint kit to the back of the locker and twist around to look at my skirt. “What the hell,” I exclaimed, tears brimming. My pale pink skirt was covered in black paint, right where I sit. “What does it say?”

Nessie turned me around for a closer inspection. “I think it’s supposed to say ‘Snitch’ but it’s a mirror image, so it’s backward.”

“He called me a snitch?” My blood was boiling as I searched the corridor.

“Yes. Why? And who is he?”

I find his smug face as a horde of students move on to next period. He carefully watches my reaction to his cruel prank, and then he smiles and winks before disappearing into the crowd.

“Because he’s a complete and utter asshole, and Jacob Lynch has just started a war.”

And from then on, he and I have been warring with each other. His pranks have become more sophisticated, and his reasoning behind it? Well, Jacob Lynch doesn’t need a reason. When Rosie Reign is near, he takes his cue. He knows my ticks—he knows how to light the fuse and watch it burn. And then, when the bomb finally explodes, he walks away smiling with a promise that there’s more to come.

“That’s fine by me,” Jacob replies all too willingly pulling me back into the now.

“Rosie?” Ms. Zagwich prompts.

“Yes?”

“Jacob is willing to show commitment, are you willing to do the same?”

Meeting his humored eyes, I barely manage my answer without shin-kicking him. “I can’t think of anything better.”

Jacob again bites his bottom lip to stop his spreading smile.He thinks he’s so fucking clever.

“Well, this is just wonderful. I’m looking forward to next week when we can work on stage blocking.” Ms. Zagwich walks off the stage, leaving me alone with my arch-nemesis.

“Jacob,” I start, hoping I can appeal to his better side, if he actually possesses one. “All our warring aside, this is really important to me. This counts toward my college entry, so I can’t have it mucked up by someone who simply wants to play a prank on me.”

“This isn’t a prank, Posie.”

I grab my bag from the stage and stuff the script inside. I’d normally take more care in doing so. However, my current mood’s giving zero fucks.

Snatching my phone from my hand, he unlocks what I thought would be a complicated pattern password and proceeds to type.

“What the hell are you doing?

“You’re going to need my number, so we can organize rehearsal dates.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask with a genuine curiosity. “You know Coach Carter will pull any strings for you.”

With his trademark charming-yet-cocky smile, Jacob lifts my chin with a finger underneath, the unexpected contact causing my stomach to twist and turn. “Because I’m having fun deciding whether you love or hate me. But I won’t tell you where I’ve placed my bet.”

2

THEN

“Take the garlic bread to the table, Rosie.”

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