a.n. – I meant to have this chapter out sooner but I became terrible ill basically overnight. I have stones in my gallbladder and need an operation. Over the course of one week I have lost over fifthteen pounds from the excessive throwing up and lack of being able to keep anything or than soup down… alas my best friend is lending me her laptop for homework and well my writing.

Chapter 2

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Damn.

My eyes studied my reflection against the grocery store window. No wonder my mom had gotten so pissed off at me last night. A large purple and blue bruise rested on my right cheek. Not to mention the variety of other bruises spread across my arms. And of course the flesh wound along my forearm was just icing on the cake.

In other words, I really look like…

“Laken dude… you look like shit.”

Turning around I narrowed my eyes as the source of the voice… that annoying ever-taunting voice… that solely belonged to Conner Ryan. He never ceased to incessantly remind me how I looked. I would be faltered except he only did this when I was sporting a new cut or bruise.

“You really know how to make a girl feel good.” Meeting his onyx eyes I gave him a glare, but he didn’t even seemed fazed… he seemed outright amused. Such a jerk. Juggling the grocery bags in my arms, I quickly turned around and started walking away. I didn’t need this right now.

Boarding past me, Conner stood with one foot on his board right in my direct path. He was up to something… besides his regular teasing that is. I rose an eyebrow and saw him smirk. Skating closer to me he reached out and tucked my bra strap, which had fallen off my shoulder, back under my shirt. My mouth gapped open at his touch, when he suddenly grabbed both the bags from my arms.

Oh so that was it. Playing hero. Typical behavior of the male species. Trying to save the damsel in distress in order to get some head. I clenched my jaw, and snatched the bags back. He meant well I knew that. But still… he knew how I felt about being ‘rescued’.

Conner threw his hands up in mock surrender. I rolled my eyes and continued walking. Glancing over my shoulder I saw he had no intention in letting me be alone since he was slowly trailing along on his board.

Stopping completely I leaned against the brick wall next to me while Conner stopped a few feet from me. That wasn’t surprising. He liked his personal space, just like I did. Not that I would protest if he wanted to step in my personal bubble. Sure Conner teased and annoyed me constantly, but I can’t deny the fact that he’s amazingly good looking. All those tattoos, the hair, those eyes… it was enough to make a girl drool. Not that I would ever tell him that of course.

“What happened?” Conner asked. I leaned my head a bit to the side to look at him. He just seemed nonchalant standing there. That was one of the things that fascinated me about him. How flawlessly he presented himself to be. I envied that.

My eyes wandered to his pink and purple hair. The dye job was starting to fade. He was a natural blond, but he rarely left it that way. It was shame too; he looked cute as a blond.

Sighing, I looked away from him and shrugged my shoulders. “Nothing.” There was no way I was going to tell him what happened. Besides it isn’t like he’s ever going to run into that guy, more importantly I’m not going to see that guy again. So there really is no point in giving away the insignificant details.

“You’re pretty fucked up for it being nothing.” He flipped his fading purple bangs away from his eyes and cocked an eyebrow at me. I knew he wouldn’t buy that but it was still worth a shot.

“Thanks.” I snorted. “I just fell.” That was kind of the truth so it wasn’t a complete lie.

I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to look at him. We both fell into a comfortable silence for a minute and I assumed he had brought my excuse. “You coming to the skate park?”

“Can’t. The rents flipped over the bruises.” That was only half the truth. Mom only freaked. Dad said he’d give me back my board tomorrow.

“Guess I win that smoothie.”

“You wish. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Hope so.” Did he really just say that? Turning around he had his head hanging to the side with one hand in pocket. He looked a little sheepish in that mister cool type of way. When he looked up at me I felt a slight flutter. Something is definitely wrong with me today. Giving me the peace sign he shot me a crooked smile. “Later... rainbow.” Hoping on his board he left.

He called me rainbow...

Rainbow as in the colors that designed my bra strap.

Oh I was so going to kick his scrawny ass for that one.

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How come shortcuts never seem to cut that much time anyway. Jeez. I should have just stuck with going down main street. Now instead I was wandering around in creepy lone streets. No one to look at. Absolutely nothing to see.

If I had my board this trip would have been so much faster…

“Now that’s something you don’t see everyday.” I stopped in my tracks as I stared at the expensive and large vehicle parked at the local repair garage. What the heck was the name of that monster… hmmm… Hummer… yeah I think its one of those stupid Hummers. Seriously no one needs a car that big. What a waste of space.

Not many people owned one of those around here. It seemed familiar though…

“Oh god.” Turning around I spotted a guy coming down the street. A guy with blond hair. A guy who looks like the one from last night. The guy who I kind of smashed his window.

Crap Crap Crap.

My eyes wandered down to his hands which were covered in fingerless gloves. This was not good. I knew I shouldn’t have taken this stupid shortcut. Closing my eyes I took a deep breathe before opening them again. Continuing to walk down the street, I could feel the nerves getting the better of me. I have to stay calm.

Avoid eye contact.

Think positive thoughts.

Maybe he won’t remember me. Maybe he won’t care. Maybe he’ll just ignore me. Maybe he’ll just…

Stopping in my tracks, me eyes shifted from the ground to who stood in front of me. I didn’t even get a chance to blink. His arm shot out and in a hasty movement knocked all the grocery bags out of my arms and onto the floor.

“My food!” Looking from where everything laid spattered up to him I could feel the heat on my cheeks. “What the hell is wrong with you!” Stepping over the food, I placed my hands on both shoulders and gave him a shove. He didn’t even move an inch. Damn it, he didn’t even flinch.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said brushing the hair out of eyes to give me an ‘I’m innocent’ face. Yeah right… innocent my ass. He couldn’t even hide the smirk on his face properly. Dumb ass.

Stepping closer I placed my hands on my hips. I had to stand on my tippy-toes to see eye to eye with him. I hated that. When boys are taller than me and they almost always are. It always makes them think they are somehow intimating, especially pretty boys like him.

“You messed up my food.” My eyes were squinting as I felt the anger pulsate through me. I don’t think a strange has ever made me feel this pissed off. And yet he did it and in record time.

His icy blue looked at the floor then back up at me. “You broke my window.” He shrugged. “I’d say we’re even now.”

“You almost killed me remember.”

“Here we go again.” He let out an annoyed sigh. “Get over it already. You’re still alive aren’t ya.” His finger swayed between us as he smirked. “We’re even.”

Even?

He thought we were even now.

Bending over to the mess on the concrete, I grabbed a yogurt and pealed back the top. Standing back up his eyes locked with mine. He didn’t think I was going to do it. Pretty boy was going to be in for a huge surprise. Raising my arm over his head I turned the container upside down and completely dumped it over his head.

“How’s that for even pretty boy?”

He didn’t say anything and his face remained neutral. Running a hand over his head, he grabbed some of the yogurt off. “Don’t call me that.” The smile on my face was completely gone when I realized what he was going to do. It was too late though. He had already flung the yogurt right at my face.

“Shit.” I cursed as I felt the sticky substance drip off face. Wiping what I could with my arm I opened my eyes and looked at the smirking boy in front of me. “Oh it’s on now pretty boy.” Reaching down I grabbed some eggs from the broke carton. He did not know who he was messing with.

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I don’t how long we went at it with the food but here we are… this blond pretty boy and me… sitting on the sidewalk covered from head to toe in food. Sigh. My mom was definitely going to kill me. There wasn’t a single piece of food left that hadn’t been thrown at one point or another. This was so coming out of my allowance.

“Are we even now?” He asked, wiping away at some ketchup on his cheek. He was sitting next to me, his elbows resting on his knees as he glanced at me. Grabbing the bag of lettuce next to my feet I dumped it over his blond locks.

Looking at him as he picked off the lettuce I smiled and nodded my head. “Now we are.” He shook his head and smirked. Honestly that smirk looks pretty good on him. Oh god what am I thinking! He’s the enemy here, jeez, what is it with me and blonds today!

But really… he isn’t bad to look at… not in the slightest…

He cleared his throat, smirk still in place. “Like what you see.” His icy blue eyes were shining mischievously. Those icy blues giving me a one over. Something tells me this boy has an over inflated ego.

I scrunched up my nose and snorted. “Yeah right.” He quirked a smile. Oh wow he really thought I was checking him out. I rolled me eyes and smiled despite myself. “See ya pretty boy.”

He opened his mouth to say something but I heard faint vibrations and he pulled a cell phone from his pocket. Looking back at me his eyes locked with mine for a second. Hesitation flashed in his icy blues. I gave him a quirky salute and turned away before he could say anything.

There was no reason for him to be hesitating… after all we were just strangers…

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a.n. thank you for all the reviews on that first chapter! i hoped you like this chapter just as much. reviews are literally my life line. after posting this I’m off for my surgery so I wont be checking in until the next day, hopefully there will be some nice reviews in my inbox – please.

…as always reviewers get the sneaky peek into the next chapter. though the preview will probably take me a week to get out because of my surgery.