I want to have a good day too.

Then I want to end it with her in my bed.

I sigh. “Welcome to Hell.”

She nods. “Aren’t all High Schools hell?”

“Good point.” I love the way she bites her lower lip before opening her door and getting out. Never have I ever… a game I’ve played several times, seen a girl look so fucking hot in a schoolgirl uniform.

Seriously though.

I quickly lock the car and follow her, my hand on the small of her back as we weave our way through the crowds. Girls are staring, guys are staring, faculty is staring.

We need Captain America’s shield or something.

She ducks her head, and then she leans into me, and I’m letting her because I want to make a point. Nobody messes with what’s mine.

And even though it’s new.

It’s still a thing.

I pull her closer as we open the doors to the main hallway, and it’s like time stops as my friends’ jaws nearly come unhinged.

I haven’t dated anyone since my ex Hailey, it’s been at least a year, if not more, and the minute we pass her, I almost want to salute her with my middle finger; she looks so jealous.

Belle isn’t just gorgeous; she has this purity about her that Hailey lacks—that most girls lack. It’s in the way she laughs, she smiles, and she’s not afraid to be herself, even if that means having a jackass like me next to her or kissing the hell out of her in the shower.

We make it to her locker without anyone saying anything, and then Hailey walks up and gives her a little shove, enough that I feel it and want to fight. “You new, yeah?”

Belle looks over her shoulder. “What gave it away?”

I snort at her sarcasm.

Hailey rolls her eyes. “Look, you can’t just come strolling in here—“

“—Gonna stop you right there.” I intervene. “She’s with me, so if you have an issue with her, then you can talk to me about it. If not, run back to small dick Xander, then come back when he can actually make you orgasm, which will most likely be mmmmm…” I pretend to think about it. “Never, am I right?”

“You’re such a—“

“—back off, Barbie!” Belle shoves Hailey so hard that her books fall to the ground. “He’s mine, not yours, mine, so walk back to your castle and appreciate the fact that I haven’t kicked your soft ass!”

“My ass isn’t soft!”

Belle snorts. “Could have fooled me.”

Hailey lunges.

I pull Belle away laughing.

And then I see my friends on the sidelines getting basically everything on their cameras, smirks firmly in place.

“Gentleman.” I wave.

They all give me a thumbs up as if to say, totally cool you didn’t respond; we get it, we really get it.

The bell rings just when I’m ready to approach my friends, so I grab Belle and make a run for our first class.