That statement shouldn’t have made me feel so good. Like I’d done something right, like her happiness was a gold star and I’d won first prize. Damn it all, I was pathetic. Falling for a woman I should have detested, having thoughts of domestic bliss and imagining beds big enough for all of us.

I knew better, and yet…apparently, I didn’t. I was screwed like the rest of them.

But then Jess turned on my lap. I slipped out of her, but she still straddled me, chest to chest, her fingers caressing over my lips as she looked into my eyes.

“I don’t hate you either, Lucas,” she said. “Even when you irritate me, or glare at me, or cheat at games…” She kissed me, and it was so much slower and gentler than any kiss I’d ever been given. It made my body melt in a way I really wasn’t used to.

I liked it. More than liked it. Far, far more.

“Well, I’m glad to see you two didn’t kill each other.”

We both glanced up. Manson stood in the doorway, with his paintball gun propped on his shoulder. Vincent’s head popped up behind him, and I glimpsed a flash of blue hair in the hallway.

“I am in fact mortally wounded,” Jess said dramatically, motioning at the splatters of paint on her clothes. I didn’t feel like getting up yet; I needed another couple minutes before my legs would be willing to work.

“It was a bloodbath,” I said, resting my head against the wall as I tightened my hold on her waist.

“Don’t tell me she got you?” Vincent snickered. I finally found the strength to get myself up, helping Jess with me. We adjusted our clothes, and the boys got to see how many bursts of paint I had splattered across my chest.

“Shit, you weren’t kidding.” Jason circled me, nodding his head. “Not bad, princess.”

She beamed, looking proud of herself. When she glanced back at me, I scowled to hide my smile.

“Don’t get used to it,” I said. “You got lucky.” She just lifted her chin, smirking.

“Well, who won then?” Jason said.

Manson raised his hand, grinning. “No one got me.”

But I shook my head. I hated to admit defeat; I really did. But Jess had played fair and I hadn’t. “I only shot Jess after she shot me multiple times. She never got eliminated.”

“We’ll call it a tie, then,” Manson said, slinging the strap of his gun over his shoulder. “Are you all ready to head home? I’m starving.”

“Let’s pick up pizza on the way back,” Vincent said as the five of us left the classroom and made our way out of the school. “Oh, wait, no, hot wings…or maybe burgers…or all three?”