Free First and Goal (Moving the Chains #1) by Kata Čuić

and we could just forget all about this.”
    She actually looks worse now than she has all day, but maybe that’s because we’re alone. She doesn’t have to pretend for everyone else now. Her shoulders are slumped, her chin down, and she never stops working at the corner of her notebook with her nimble fingers.
    This is all my stupid fault. If I hadn’t bitched her out yesterday in bio, if I hadn’t come up with that stupid plan to go to her house last night… Yeah, we wouldn’t be making out in here today, but she wouldn’t look like she’s about to cry, either.
    I nudge her shoulder when I’m seated next to her. Now that I know she’s not vehemently against me touching her, I plan to use that to my full advantage. “Well, I took a quick shower instead of grabbing a snack so you wouldn’t have to endure my smell.”
    She doesn’t look at me, just laughs darkly and continues her fidgeting. “Oh, I’m sure the whole school knows exactly what I think of you by now so your body odor is the least of my concerns.”
    It absolutely kills me she would think, for even a second, that I would do that to her.
    “Which part? The part where you hate my guts, or the part where you think I’m a male slut?”
    That earns me a small smirk as intended. But I need more, so I’ve gotta give more.
    “I didn’t say anything. To anyone. I wouldn’t do that to you. I don’t actually make it a habit to gossip about people and contribute to the rumor mill here.”
    Tears well in her eyes. God, why can’t I just say anything that doesn’t upset her?
    “I can’t vouch for your sister though. What’s up with her? You two don’t even seem related.”
    She barks out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, I get that all the time. My mom actually ordered her to apologize to you about yesterday, so don’t be surprised if she comes sniffing around to try and snag a date instead.”
    “Yeah…she made it pretty clear yesterday that she’s only interested in my ego, so I’m gonna have to turn her down. No offense.”
    The laugh she graces me with is more genuine this time, but she’s still staring at the desk, slowly disintegrating the square of paper that she won’t leave alone. “I’m sorry, that’s not funny. I know how hurtful rumors can be. And even though, you know, that ‘big dick’ story probably works well for you, it’s still not funny.”
    “Yeah, it works great for me. Do you have any idea what it’s like for girls to constantly be looking at your package instead of your eyes when they talk to you? It’s embarrassing and weird.”
    She finally turns to meet my eyes as if to prove she’s nothing like those other girls. “What kind of jock are you?”
    “I’ve been trying to tell you.” I nudge her gently again. “Not the kind you think.”
    Her blue eyes change from a tear-filled ocean to an icy glacier. “Just be straight with me. Are you playing me? Am I some kind of dare to you and your teammates like Neveah Winters was last year? You want to see if the rumors about me are true? So what’s your angle? You’re playing the nice guy, hoping I’ll buy the act and fuck your ten-inch dick like all the other whores in this school? Do you think I’m like all those girls who are willing to risk internal injuries in the pursuit of getting to be with the mighty Rob Falls? You think I’ll take a pounding, just to be able to claim that your precious phallus has invaded me? You and your buddies have some kind of bet to prove that I’m loose enough to take a beast like you? Is that what this is? Well, I’ve got news for you, pal. You will never get into my lacy little panties. Ever.”
    Oh, hell no.
    I turn away from her in disgust before all the anger and frustration pours out of me like hot lead. “You know what, Eva? Yes. That’s what this is all about. I’m trying to get to know you in bio. I’m taking time out of my busy schedule to tutor you in calc. I showed up at your house last night with flashcards. All