Page 569 of Filthy Elites

I don’t even understand why he appeals to me as much as he does. Sure, he’s gorgeous, but I’ve seen gorgeous before. Damian’s much more my type: dark, dangerous, and tattooed.

Chase rolled up his sleeves to show off his muscular, tanned forearms. His head tilts as he writes, and I can see the perfect shape of his strong jaw from the corner of my eye.

I’m so taken aback when his hand shoots out, holding a piece of paper under my desk, close to my lap, that I take it.

I shouldn’t look. I should roll it into a ball in my fist. Unfortunately, I’m terminally curious, so I take a quick peek.

Like what you see?

Dammit. He noticed me stealing a glance or two.

I consider sending a snarky answer, like “Equations? My fav!”but the best way to get under his skin right now is to ignore him, so I fold the sheet in two and place it at the back of my notebook, trying my damnedest to at least pretend to pay attention to the teacher.

I’ve never thought about Ms. Santos’ lessons one way or another. She’s not terrible, but what she’s teaching doesn’t challenge me. It’s an easy class I was always meant to coast through. Then Chase happened.

The bell rings and I pack my stuff as fast as I can.

“Are you going to run from me again, baby doll?”

I make the mistake of glancing at Chase just as he sends me a grin I feel down to my toes and deep in my core.

I intended to do just that, but now I have to pretend otherwise. “I have Spanish at the other end of the building. Not everything revolves around you.” As everything’s in my bag, I stand. “And stop calling me that.”

I have fifteen minutes to get to my next class, which isn’t much when going from the science wing to the art and linguistics side. A good excuse.

“What should I call you?” He rises to his feet, dwarfing me with his height. “Sweetheart? Darling?” His hand lifts to my face, and I step back, but there’s only so far I can go before hitting my desk. Ever so gently, Chase tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. “My heart.”

“Stop it,” I snap. “Whatever you’re doing, stop it. I won’t bite.”

“I might.” Chase smirks. “You’ll like it. Right there.” His hand grazes my earlobe. “A little lower, perhaps.”

His smirk morphs into an all-out grin, almost boyish. I hate what it does to me, whathedoes to me.

So I huff, hold my head up high, and leave the classroom.

Spanish is Spanish, which means utter torture. I’m not entirely dumb; if something is logical, I can make sense of it, but languages have no rules I understand. There are too many exceptions, too much interpretation. We have a test and I don’t doubt I flunk. I consider calling on Mrs. Archer—Lisa—not to mess with Chase as much as because I need the help. At lunch, I head toward a free table. Rose calls my name from where I sat last Friday. She’s with Bella, Oscar, and Sandra. I wave and fake a quick smile, but decide not to head over there today.

Now that I have a specific project in mind for the nerd festival, I suppose I have to remain in the science club, which means playing nice with the likes of that judgmental asshole who takes me for a cheat although he knows nothing about me.

I start on my carbonara, looking out the window, when I tense instinctively. Seconds later, Chase freaking Archer sets a tray down next to me.

I groan, lifting my gaze to the ceiling. “Are you ever going to leave me alone?”

“Nope.” He makes hisppop. “You might as well just give in and go out with me.”

My jaw drops. I’m not only speechless, I’ve also lost the ability to form coherent thoughts. He’s kidding, right? He has to be.

I haven’t managed an answer when his closest friends flop down around me, two in front of us and the third at the end of my table. The four football stars running this stupid school are sitting with me. I can feel the attention of the entire cafeteria on us.

Just great.

I’m a nobody here, but this school is a fighting pit, with all the spoiled assholes fighting over a bone. The bone is the attention of these four, and I’ve garnered it. They’re going to make me pay the second I’m alone.

“No. We’re not doing this. All of you, go away.”

Chase’s friends stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. It’s a little perturbing, having those three ridiculously handsome guys scrutinizing me, but I don’t let it show.

“We’re just eating?” The dark-haired, pale one who’s even taller than Chase, doesn’t sound sure.

---