I shut the book and glare at Tori. “Who wants to study with their teacher? I’d rather he call my mom.”

She gets up and walks over to the computer on her desk. She logs in to her email. “So then ask for a tutor.”

“A tutor? You mean like some brainy math geek?” I picture Lester Abrams teaching me all about tangents and cosines. “No way.”

Tori shrugs. “My brother’s a brainy math geek. I bet he’d tutor you.”

Toby? He is really good in school, and having him for a tutor would mean I’d get to spend more time with him. Although I doubt it would help my math grade. I’d be studying him more than anything else. And what if he thinks I’m a total loser for not understanding this stuff? After the way he looked at me—before Tori interrupted us—I feel like maybe I’m not just his twin sister’s best friend. Maybe I’m someone he could be interested in.

“I don’t know.”

“Why?” She spins her chair around to face me. “You have a problem with my brother?”

Yeah, I’m totally into him. “No.”

“Then ask him.”

“Now?”

“Yeah. I’m not letting my best friend flunk out of math.” Her eyes narrow. “Why are you being so weird about this?”

“I’m not. I just don’t want people to think I’m dumb.”

“It’s just Toby. Who cares what he thinks?”

Me.

“You guys could study over here so no one would even have to know he’s tutoring you.”

Except then Tori would see us. She might catch me drooling over Toby. This is such a bad idea.

“Maybe I’ll ask Lester.”

“Lester Abrams?” She pretends to gag. “Why would you want to be seen with him?”

“I don’t.”

“Then it’s settled.” She gets up and walks out of the room.

“Tori, wait.” I follow her, not sure how to stop her without looking too suspicious.

She knocks on Toby’s door. More like pounds to be heard over his guitar. Yeah, he plays the guitar. Totally sexy.

Toby opens the door, his eyes immediately falling on my black t-shirt. “Much better.”

I smile and quickly turn away before he can see how red my cheeks are turning.

“Look, Becca’s having trouble in trig, and Rollar threatened to call her mom. She needs a tutor. Will you do it?”

“Tutor Becca in trig?” He shrugs. “I think I could do that.” He taps my arm. “How about tomorrow night at seven? My room?”

His room? In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never hung out in his room. I’ve been in there briefly, but that’s all.

“Becca?” Tori elbows me.

“Tomorrow sounds fine. Thanks.”

Toby flashes me that gorgeous smile. Yeah, I’m done for.

Chapter Three

School is brutal. I run into Toby about five times, and every time he has Meredith attached to his arm like a growth. A pretty, perky, blonde growth. I’m still thinking about it in trig when Mr. Rollar calls me up to the board.

“Miss Daniels, could you please work out problems three and four for the class?”

I look at my homework. I didn’t even attempt number three and only got about halfway on number four. “I didn’t get the answers to those.” My voice is barely more than a whisper.

“I’m sorry?” Mr. Rollar cups his ear. He’s actually going to make me repeat that. I’m liking this man less and less each day.

“I said I didn’t get the answers to those.”

“Okay, what about number seven?” He laces his fingers in front of him and leans back on his desk.

I shake my head.

“Nineteen?”

How the hell does he know which ones I didn’t even attempt? “Could you please call on someone else, or is it your mission to make me feel completely inadequate this class period?”

Gasps ring out across the room. I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I’m at my breaking point.

“Miss Daniels, I think you should pack up your books and go see Vice Principal Davidson.”

Fine. I’d rather get detention than sit through this humiliation any longer. I gather my books and walk straight up the aisle and to Mr. Rollar, meeting his eyes. “I got a tutor. Thanks for asking.” I walk out before he can respond.

I turn toward the office and walk right into Toby. He grabs my arms, steadying me, and readjusts the strap of my messenger bag before it falls to the floor. My eyes linger on his hands long after he stops touching me.

“Sorry about that. You okay?” He smiles.

“I’m fine. And I think I ran into you, so I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it. Looks like you’re having a rough day.”

“You have no idea.” My throat tightens as I swallow the tears threatening to pour out.

He leads me to a bench by the office and I sit down. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” I can’t exactly tell him that half my problem is that I’m falling for him—that as much as I don’t want to lose my best friend, I can’t stop thinking about him. Something about the fact that I’ve known him my entire life, watched him grow up, and seen how he managed to become popular without turning into a major dick in the process makes it impossible to shake these feelings I have for him—no matter how much I want to.

“Oh.” He looks hurt. “Do you want me to get Tori?”

“No.” Next to Toby, she’s the last person I want to talk to about this.

“Okay. Then why don’t you tell me where you were going in such a hurry?”

I point over my shoulder to the office.

“No way. You didn’t get in trouble, did you?”

I nod, and a tear trickles down my cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry. It’ll be all right. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding.”

I shake my head. “I asked Mr. Rollar if it was his mission to make me feel inadequate.”

Toby laughs. All out laughs, complete with holding his stomach and doubling over.

“Why is this so funny to you?”

“Because you said what just about every student in this school hasn’t had the guts to say.” He pulls himself together and looks at me. “Becca, you had a bad day. Rollar will get over it.”

“I’m still going to get detention.”

He shrugs a shoulder. “No big deal. Everyone gets detention once in a while.”

“Have you ever gotten one?”

He sighs. “Okay, not everyone. But it’s really not that bad. Or so I’ve heard.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Besides, I bet it’s worth it after the look Rollar must have had on his face when you said that.”

I laugh. “Yeah, maybe.”

“If you want, I’ll talk to him for you. Tell him I’m going to tutor you. That should get him off your back for a little while. For some reason he likes me.”

“Everyone likes you.” I swallow hard, wishing I hadn’t said that out loud.

“Nah. But when you have the highest average in the class, it sort of makes the teachers like you.”

“I did tell him I got a tutor, and I might have thanked him for asking.”

Toby laughs again. “Damn, Daniels. I never knew you had it in you.”

“What can I say? Math brings out my inner demons.”

“Well, then I’m glad I’m the one who’ll be tutoring you.”

My stomach flutters. “You are?”

“Yeah. I’m sort of excited to see what you’re going to do next.” He smiles, and I melt as the office door opens behind us.

“Miss Daniels,” Vice Principal Davidson says, “just the person I’m looking for.”

Rollar must have called down to him. Just great—although I’m more upset that he interrupted my conversation with Toby.

Toby squeezes my hand and mouths, “Good luck.” He walks away, and suddenly, getting detention doesn’t seem so bad.

***

“You did not say that!” Tori’s laughing so hard I’m afraid she’s going to pee herself. Wouldn’t be the first time, either.

“What was I supposed to do? The man is pure evil. He has it out for me.”

“Yeah, well, don’t expect your outburst to make things any better. If anything, you made things a lot worse.”

“Thanks. Aren’t you supposed to be my best friend?”