Ash and I look at each other knowingly.

That’s what he thinks.

Chapter Nine

VICTOR

I drive over to Jet’s house with my truck, ready for the prank that will kick off our senior year. Derek and Jet are waiting for me in Jet’s driveway. We all match each other in black T-shirts and sweatpants.

“We can’t show our faces just in case they have cameras,” Derek says, proudly picking up four knit black hats. He cuts eye holes in them so we can pull them over our faces.

“Where’s Trey?” I ask.

“Yeah, about that.” Jet holds up a hand. “I got a text from him. He’s not coming. Something about working on college applications or something like that.”

Shit.

“Whatever,” Derek says, annoyed. “We can do this without him.”

I don’t want to do this without Trey. I try calling him, but it goes straight to voice mail. I try texting him, but he doesn’t text back.

“What’s wrong with Trey lately?” Derek asks. “He’s so fucking preoccupied.”

Jet jumps into my backseat. “He’s not even fun to hang out with anymore. I swear he was texting on that fucking phone the entire time we hung out yesterday.”

“He’s got a lot goin’ on,” I say, defending my best friend even though I’m pissed at him myself. “Let’s just get this prank over with.”

Driving onto Rolling Meadows High’s property to scout the place out gives me an adrenaline rush. Lucky for us, there isn’t around-the-clock security at the school. Still, to play it safe, we park a block away.

“We look ridiculous,” Jet says, trying to adjust the eye holes on the knit hats. “My eye holes aren’t lined up right,” he complains as we jump out of the truck with the spray paint cans. “I can only see out of one eye.”

The holes are so wide apart he looks like a Cyclops, but there is no time to fix it because the more time we’re here, the riskier it is. I don’t plan on getting caught.

We each take a couple of spray paint cans and head to our rivals’ football field.

“I can’t see with this fucking hat on my face,” Jet complains.

“I did my best,” Derek says. “Deal with it, bro.”

We turn the corner ready to jump the fence when I catch sight of two silhouettes hiding in the shadows. I halt, ready to book it out of here, when the figures come into the light.

No. Way.

“What the hell are you two doin’ here?” I ask, shocked to see Monika and Ashtyn standing in front of the fence. My eyes immediately focus on Monika. She’s wearing a yellow top and skinny jeans that hug her curvy body.

Damn. She looks amazing.

“We want to help you guys,” Monika says.

Jet tries to adjust the knit cap. “Monika? Ashtyn?” he asks, trying to see out of the one eye hole.

“You can’t help,” I tell the girls. “Go home.”

“Yeah, go home,” Derek says, pulling Ash aside. “If you get in trouble, your dad’ll shit bricks.”

“I don’t care,” Ash says stubbornly.

Monika puts her hands on her hips and sticks her jaw out. The gestures make her look sexy instead of intimidating. “We’re helping you guys whether you like it or not. Now you can argue with us and waste time, or you can include us and we can do this fast. Which is it?”

Derek rolls his eyes. “You two are killin’ me.”

Monika peers around me. “Where’s Trey?”

“He ditched us,” I say.

She blinks her beautiful sea green eyes. “Oh.”

“Come on,” Derek says, helping Ash scale the fence after putting his knit cap over her face.

“I’ll be with you guys in a minute,” I say, taking Monika’s arm and urging her aside.

“What?” Monika says, looking at me with such determination and passion it makes me want to kiss her. “I want to do this. You’re not going to stop me.”

I gather my wits and pretend that I’m not mesmerized by her sparkling eyes or her pouty lips. “Go home, Monika,” I tell her. “You’re not cut out for this.”

What I want to say is that I don’t want her here for her own safety. I’d never forgive myself if she got in trouble. Or hurt.

“Not cut out for this? That’s so rude,” she spits out. Pushing me aside, she starts climbing the fence. Her feet are small and she’s too delicate to do what she’s attempting.

“Monika, get down,” I whisper as loud as I can. Damn, if someone hears us they’ll for sure call the cops. That’s the last thing I need.