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It's been a full two days since my hallway encounter with Jack and the school is blowing up with gossip about the two of us. All the rumors are sprouting from none other than the three cheerleading crew members.

If they want Jack so much, they can have him. AFTER the trial. Just leave us be during the next few weeks, and we can go back to normal. Everything can go back to normal. Hopefully.

I'm currently surfing the hallways on the lookout for Jack. A paper of the two of us, being circulated by Paige, is crushed in my fist.

I know she wants to ruin my reputation, so I'll be shunned out of the spotlight, but telling everyone I hook up with Jack every day? How does that help things with her connection?

I sigh with contempt and round the corner, finally spotting Jack at the end. I walk towards him purposefully and he stands there waiting for me. Almost like he expected it.

I thrust the paper into his chest, and he takes a step back, unfurling the paper against the wall and holding it up to the light. He widens his eyes and blinks incredulously.

I nod. "Exactly."

He shakes his head. "How-Who...Why would people-"

"They think we sleep together."

He purses his lips. "Sleep together? I mean, sure if you're up for-"

I slap his arm and he laughs, backing away and pushing me off of him.

"Okay, all right. Calm down."

I don't calm down. I hit harder, and he eventually stops laughing and grabs my arm, holding me away from him.

"Seriously. Stop that," he says, chewing on gum.

I back off and cross my arms. "I don't want people thinking that! I've applied for some major Ivy League Schools, and if they catch a whiff of this gossip about me...Who knows what will happen?"

Jack softens his gaze. "They won't not accept you for some stupid high school drama. And if you ask me...We have bigger things to worry about than that. I'll clear everything up with some of my football buddies."

I roll my eyes. I almost forgot who he is. A crew member...It's easy to forget things like that when we hang out together by ourselves and he's not Jack Travels. He's just...Jack. Sometimes the Jackass, but to each their own.

I fold my arms in front of my chest. "Are you sure?"

He nods and then breaks out in a grin. "If you ask me, this rumor isn't all that bad compared to some of the ones spreading around since I got here. Did you know people theorize who I used to be?"

I nod. "I've heard snippets of a gang? Ex biking member?"

Jack laughs. "There have been some pretty crazy stories, for sure..."

We both share a look and I fight the urge to laugh. What could be crazier than the shit going on in our lives now?

After a few moments, I tear my gaze away and then gesture to the paper. "So...You'll sort that out, yeah?"

He nods. "Of course. Anything for you."

I feel heat creep up my neck and then make for the exit before he notices it. Nothing is going on between the two of us. We share no chemistry, other than the way our lives have intertwined to form revenge.

There's nothing going on. I don't want anything to go on and neither does he.

...

A few hours later and I'm at home, texting Astrix and watching Amara bother Jack. He's come over today to page through files, and he pulls Amara off his back, setting her down and laughing.

"Stop that. I'll buy you cookies when we get home."

Amara pouts. "I want them now!"

I give her a look. "I just gave you some crackers!"

"They're not the same. They didn't even have any chocolate!"

I roll my eyes. "If you ask me, no chocolate is a good thing. At least for you."

Amara sits herself on the couch with a frown, rolling onto her back and stuffing her face into a pillow. Jack stands up from where he was seated against the wall on the floor and walks towards me.

He sits across from me and flips open the screen on his laptop.

"Come over here for a second...Look what it says...Delilah's been in jail for 11 years, only serving half of her assigned time. And she's trying to be let out early. She'll probably get it if you ask me."

I shake my head. "We can prevent that though, right? With a strong enough case?"

Jack shakes his head. "In any other situation, I would say yes. But this is my Dad we're talking about. He has connections. No matter how strong we play this, he can make it happen with a bribe of any sort. What will we do then?"

"He can't do that!"

Jack brushes back his hair. "I'm afraid we can't stop him if he does."

A gasp catches in my throat, and I hold my head in my hands.

"Then what are we going to do?"

Jack puts a hand over my own and lowers his voice. "We'll think of something."