Page 47 of The Do-Over

Ugh. Work.

I glanced at Nick’s profile, remembered the rules of DONC, and responded accordingly.

I’m not coming in AT ALL today because I don’t feel like it. Thanks, tho, Paulie.

I put my phone away. Instead of taking notes or paying attention, though, I stared at Nick.

But when he glanced over and caught me, instead of looking away like I usually would have, I just rested my chin on my hand and smiled.No consequences. He frowned like he didn’t understand, which made me full-on grin.

He looked back at Bong, and I continued drinking him in. After about five seconds, he muttered—without looking at me—“What are you doing?”

“Just looking.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” He wrote something in his notebook and added, “But why?”

I bit down on my lower lip and thoughtWhat the hellbefore saying, “You are just really, really attractive.”

He still didn’t look at me. “You think so?”

Bong stopped lecturing to glare at us. “Mr. Stark, care to enlighten us as to what’s so important it can’t wait?”

“I can.” I raised my hand and said, “I was telling Nick here that I think he’s attractive and I was hoping he’d maybe want to hang out since I’m single now.”

I knew Nick could be surly, so there was a definite chance he would totally call me out in front of everyone. But it didn’t matter because it was the DONC. He turned his head and looked at me with wide eyes.

Bong stuttered, “This is neither the time nor—nor—”

“Absolutely I would,” Nick said.

I heard a couple of laughs behind us as Nick gave me the smirk that had become very familiar to me.

“Mr. Star—”

“Do you maybe just want to go now?” I was speaking through a laugh because it was impossible not to.

“That’s enough.” Mr. Bong’s face was getting very red as he stared at us. “I don’t know what’s come over you today, Emilie, but I will not allow—”

“Let’s go,” Nick said, grabbing his backpack and standing while hoisting it over his shoulder.

“Sit down, Mr. Stark,” Bong said.

“Perfect.” I was beaming at Nick as I grabbed my bag and we both turned around to leave. The entire class was gaping at us inshock, and I swear to God I felt an actual electrical current shoot through me, starting at my fingertips, when I felt his hand grab mine and he led me out of the room.

“Stop by the principal’s office while you’re at it,” Bong yelled.

As soon as the door closed behind us, Nick looked at me and said, “Want me to drive?”

Y’know, like ditching school in such a public manner was normal—commonplace—and the biggest concern was who was going to be behind the wheel.

I nodded. “Yes, please.”

That made him grin. “Come on.”

He pulled me by my hand, his tightening around mine, quickly heading for the side door. “Let’s get out before Bong has the resource officer hunting us.”

We started jogging down the hall, and I couldn’t hold in the laughter. What an absurd, wild thing to be doing at ten thirty in the morning. I breathed in the fresh air as we burst through the exit doors and a frigid, sunshiny breeze rushed at our faces. Nick continued pulling me along behind him in the direction of his car.

And as we ran over the snow-packed pavement, I felt magically, wonderfully not like myself. I was the manic pixie dream girl in a movie, a character created solely to be uncomplicated, unexpected, and utterly unpredictable.

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