<p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">He looked down at me, his grin as cocky as ever--but when he spoke, his voice was soft, almost as if he were telling me a secret. "Besides, it's going to take a lot more than a few witty comebacks to work your way into my heart." </span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prick. </span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Before I could give him a piece of my mind, we were interrupted by a shout from the door.</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Dez! Let's go or Coach is gonna have our heads at practice!"</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dez didn't bother to acknowledge his friend. His gaze didn't leave mine as he took that half step closer to me--leaving just inches between us. </span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">I didn't back away, didn't let him get the upper hand by thinking his presence would affect me so easily.</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'll see you at school on Monday, Lyra." He winked--and I hated the traitorous fluttering that suddenly ran through the pit of my stomach. It only made me dislike him more.</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was supposed to be a casual goodbye. After all, people said stuff like that all the time. 'See you around.' 'See you at school.'</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 1)">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But I couldn't help but think it sounded like a promise</span></p><p></p>