"You look dead," Xander said, poking me at lunch the next day.

I groaned, "Thanks, X. That's what every girl wants to hear."

"Sorry, but I don't even know what you're wearing."

Quite honestly, I didn't know either. I had slapped on whatever clothes were on the chair in my bedroom which happened to be an oversized sweater and a pair of purple leggings with converse. Talk about freak show.

"Shut up. I couldn't sleep last night," I snapped.

Xander held up his hands in mock surrender. A half eaten sandwich dangled from one of his hands.

"Too busy dreaming about Ryker?" Xander asked sarcastically.

My jaw dropped. Riley, who was sitting next to him, giggled. Xander cringed from the food still in my mouth. He couldn't know how right he actually was.

"More like nightmares," I mumbled.

Last night, I had tossed and turned thinking about Ryker's abnormal thanks last night. He had seemed a little off the entire night which was not like him. He was normally calm and collected, but last night he broke down in front of me.

Today, he was back to his usual self. In fact, this morning I had been walking to class with a stack of folders in my arms and I could barely see the floor in front of me. I naturally tripped and all my papers flew everywhere. I hadn't just tripped on nothing. No, I tripped over someone.

And the culprit had been Ryker. He flashed a devious grin at me and strode of down the hall with his arm around Hannah's waist, practically resting on her ass. I had gagged.

I glanced over at their lunch table and met Finn's eyes. He quickly darted his gaze away from mine. He acted weird around me. Don't get me wrong, he had been very rude when he told me how I had just been a game to him. I would have expected him to still behave in the same jerkish way, but he just avoided me.

My eyes roamed around the table until they landed on Tracey. She glared at me from across the lunchroom. I smirked, remembering what I had said to her in the hallway. Her face turned pink.

I continued to scan the table. Hannah was basically on Ryker's lap with her tongue down his throat. In the lunch room. Classy.

Ryker opened one eye and looked directly at me. He continued to kiss Hannah at the same time. I narrowed my eyes on him and he seemed to smirk. Weird how he was able to do that while sucking Hannah's face.

Fingers snapped in my face and someone said, "Earth to Eve."

I swiveled back around to see Xander's fingers an inch from my nose. He sat back down in his seat from leaning across the table.

"Excuse me for a moment," I said.

"Oh no. Don't you dare. Eve-"

I got out of my seat and was halfway across the cafeteria before he could finish. I tapped on Ryker's shoulder. He broke the kiss with Hannah and she looked at him dreamily. Then she saw me and her expression turned sour.

"I'm trying to eat here, and you two are spoiling my appetite. Do you mind?" I asked gesturing at the both of them to go make out somewhere else.

"Not at all," Ryker said, tangling his fingers back in Hannah's hair and pressing his mouth on hers. And they were back at it again.

"How can you guys eat with them devouring each other right in front of your faces?" I asked the rest of the table, incrudeously.

"You're right. It's disgusting. Let's go somewhere else," Finn said, pushing his tray away. He stood up from the table and walked over to me, tangling his fingers in mine. Familiar green eyes bore into mine.

"What-"

"Come on," he said, dragging me out of the room.

I could feel the whole cafeteria staring at us as we left. We turned a corner and went into the library. Finn gently tugged my arm to a secluded seating area at the back of the spacious library. We chose two spots on the ground next to each other between two computers. I don't know why I let him bring me here.

He still held on to my hand as he said, "Listen, Eve. All that bullshit about you being a challenge for me and how I played you, is all not true. I know you think I'm lying and probably hate me and I deserve that, but I was forced to say those things to you."

"Yeah, you're right, Finn. I have no reason to trust what you say after what you did to me. You think I'm easy and I'll easily forgive you," I slipped my hand out of his grasp, "But you're wrong," I said with finality.

He blew out a breath, "What if I told you that Ryker made me say that to you?"

My initial reaction was to deny it. Even Ryker wouldn't do that. At least I thought he wouldn't. Honestly though, it wasn't beyond him to not do it. On the other hand, why would he make Finn end our "friendly relationship"?

"Did he?"

Finn nodded, "He told me that if I didn't end things with you, he would personally make my life a living hell. I don't understand it. At first I thought he might have been jealous of us, but with the way he treats you and the fact that he has a girlfriend, I ruled that possibility out."

"Oh. Gah, I really hate him now," I growled.

Finn laughed at my outburst.

"The truth is, Eve, I like you. I've tried to stay away from you, but I couldn't take it any longer. I don't care what Ryker does to me as long as I can still be with you. It's okay if you don't forgive me, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

His words made my heart clench.

"Finn..."

His mouth feathered lightly on mine as he pressed a kiss to my lips. He pulled back and said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."

He nervously ran a hand through his sandy hair. I scooted closer to him and closed the distance between us. He was surprised at first, but quickly kissed me back. He kissed me like I was air and he couldn't breath and I kissed him back the same. I hadn't realized how much I had actually liked Finn. But for some reason as I kissed Finn, it wasn't his face that I was seeing. It was Ryker's.

We broke this kiss, breathing heavily. Finn smiled shyly and I blushed. The bell rang and Finn jumped up. Holding out a hand to me, he pulled me up beside me and we left the library to go to class. I had a stupid grin on my face the entire time. He walked me to math class and gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

I could not concentrate for the life of me in class. I knew Finn was telling the truth about how he was forced to play me by Ryker. Ryker is such an ass. Karma's a bitch, Ryker, so you better watch out. Anyway, Finn was nice, funny, sweet, and attractive. Of course I liked him.

"Evangeline, please come up to the board and solve this problem for the class," Ms. Carson requested, waking me up from my daydreams.

I groaned. I hadn't been paying attention this entire time. I had no idea what we were even learning. Standing up, I walked up to the board nonchalantly. Then I remembered my tacky outfit and my cheeks burned. Ugh.

I uncapped the dry erase marker and stared up at the problem on the board. Was this even math? This class was definitely my weakest one. I didn't understand anything more often than not.

I raised the marker to the board and placed the tip of it against the board as if I was about to start it. Yeah right. Ms. Carson went on teaching again so I was soon forgotten.

I started doodling a picture before starting on the equation. My hand had a mind of its own as it scribbled a hasty drawing of the most annoying guy on the planet. Except, my version of him didn't look like the real one.

I drew a pair of horns on top of Ryker's head, a mustache under his nose, a big belly, and short, stubby legs. Then I drew his fist raised in the air and gave him a speech bubble that said, "Don't fall for me, Angel. I'm the devil."

The class started laughing behind my back. I turned around to face them as a flash went off. Dean Atwood quickly pocketed his cell phone after he took a picture of me standing next to the drawing. No doubt he would show Ryker. Great.

Then I looked over at Ms. Carson who stood with a hand on her hip and a disapproving look on her face.

"Evangeline, please tell me why that is on the board, and not a solution to the equation," she said crossly.

I sheepishly capped the marker and put it down. Then I said, "I figured that he," I pointed at my drawing, "Was just as confusing and annoying as the problem so I drew him instead."

The class continued to laugh. Dean had his phone under his desk with his head bent. I knew he was probably sending out mass texts to everyone about what I was saying. Hey, this was actually a good thing. Ryker would be known as a jerk all around the school now if people didn't already know it. I smiled triumphantly.

Ms. Carson shook her head and sighed, "I will see you after school for detention."

The class Ooo'ed and I walked back to my seat. I slumped in the chair, dreading detention. Ms. Carson erased my work of art as the bell rang. I darted out of the class.

And ran smack into a brick wall. My arms pin wheeled as I tried to catch my balance. Arms shot out to stop my fall. When I was steady on my feet, I looked into the burning eyes of Ryker Avery. He thrust a cell phone in my face.

"You think this is funny?" He asked.

A picture of what I had drawn on the board was displayed on the screen. I could just make out the writing in the speech bubble. I nodded. I fisted my mouth so I wouldn't laugh.

"I think," oh god, I'm gonna laugh, "I think it's very funny."

If I had known what was good for me, I wouldn't have said that or burst out laughing. Apparently, I had a death wish because I did both. I laughed right in his face until I was doubling over.

Suddenly, I was plucked off the floor and thrown over a shoulder. I grabbed the leather jacket and tried to push myself up.

"Put me down, Ryker!" I yelled, repeatedly banging my fists against his back. It didn't do anything.

His deep voice resonated through me as he said, "I'm the devil. I don't listen to angels."

"Come on, jerk. Just put me down."

"No."

"Then what are you gonna do to me?" I asked.

"You make it sound like I'll do something dirty to you." I could practically hear the smirk that was undoubtedly on his face.

"Argh! I hate you!"

"Finn told you," he said more of a statement than a question.

"Mhm. Why would you do that?" I accused.

"Because."

"Because why?"

"You make me feel things I've never felt before."