Dedicated to:jenniejohnson2345

No thank you for being my bestie and holding all my weird secrets (don't you dare go around telling them to anyone)

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"Physical attractions are common, but a real mental connection is rare. If you find it, hold onto it"

~Quotesgram

Claire's POV

Clutching my food tray with trembling fingers, I turned away from the food stall. My eyes bashfully scanned the ocean of students flooding in all directions, several of them taking seats with their friends at the dining tables.

I lifted my feet and began walking, trying to look for a spot to sit on, amidst the awfully loud and chattering students who threw disgusted glances in my direction.

Logan was in the library with Breanna, 'helping' her write that essay. I never anticipated that he'd choose the lunch break to do that or I would've never convinced him to go with Breanna. Adriel was nowhere in sight; she was probably hanging out with the cheerleaders.

I was all alone now and everyone was clearly taking advantage of that. Whenever I tried to claim my spot, these teenagers placed a random object there or just scooted to occupy the space, indicating that they weren't interested in seating with me.

I sighed. The surroundings suddenly felt unfamiliar. A notion of trepidation gushed into my heart and pumped down the length of my body. If the people here were to pull a silly prank on me right now, there would be no one to extend a helping hand in my direction.

Boldly, I began strolling further down the room when I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"Hey there, Cookie Jar"

I smiled to myself instantaneously. I whirled around, staring into the bright blue eyes of the person I craved the most at that moment.

Logan flashed a winning smile at me and asked "No seat?"

"Forget about the seat" I smiled back, teasingly "Why are you not with your girl, Breanna?"

His pupils dilated, a hint of amusement lingering in them "My girl? My girl? You've got to be kidding"

An involuntary chuckle left my mouth "Nevermind, you guys are just too cute. So, what happened?"

"It wasn't that complicated of a topic" he rolled his eyes in response "I explained it to her within minutes and by the way, I wouldn't want to leave you wandering around here looking like a helpless loner, would I?"

Was that supposed to make me feel better? I kind of found it offensive.

"Very funny" I spat back "I don't need you to kill my loneliness" I lifted my chin high, turned around and stomped away, immediately spotting a vacant table in the corner.

I occupied the table and Logan slumped besides me, his expression still holding humiliation "Admit it. You need me"

I do, Logan. I really do.

"I don't" I replied, sternly, lifting my vegetable sandwich off my tray.

"You do"

"Nah"

"Oh look" he suddenly spoke up, the tone of his voice changing slightly "The dreamboat is here"

I ceased right before putting the sandwich in my mouth as my body froze. Dylan Summers had occupied the table that was a few feet away from us.

I gulped, taking in his beautiful features, the self-approved attitude and the intense jubilance in the atmosphere around him.

"Claire?" Logan asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

I was immediately drawn back to reality, finding my sandwich squeezed to death between my fingers. I put it away, rubbing my hands together to brush off the bread crumbs, while Logan was glaring at me, horrified.

"You can't be that into him" he spoke as if he had witnessed a rare phenomenon.

"Seems like I am" I replied, staring dreamily at Dylan's chiselled jawline.

A moment of awkward silence later, he spoke up.

"You shouldn't be"

The immense huskiness in his voice forced me to look at him. His expression was firm, as if warning me about something.

At that moment, I saw a different side of my best friend. He seemed melancholic, pissed off, and scared, all at the same time. His gaze then drifted to his food tray and he, unhurriedly, lifted his sandwich.

Logan's POV

I held my sandwich firmly in my fingers, angling it to examine its contents. I could sense Claire's perplexed gaze on me.

"Why not?" she finally asked.

I inhaled a good amount of humid air and exhaled audibly. How was I going to answer that?

"Because he's a bad guy" I replied, without meeting her stare.

"No shit Logan" she chuckled "Everyone knows he's a bad boy, but he's also so damn hot"

"You don't understand" I now looked up, straight into her eyes as she listened to me intently "He's the kind of bad that you'd want to stay away from. He's not the charming and amiable type-"

"But he's hot!" she whispered, cutting me off halfway down my sentence "You just can't help staring at him. Look at him!"

So his hotness was all she admired and not his perverted personality?

Claire was getting on my nerves now. She had no idea how treacherous this guy was. Angrily, I asked her "If you really like him so much, why haven't you asked him out yet?"

I stopped immediately after I said that. Of course, I knew why she hadn't asked him out; it's because everyone perceived us as nerds. Claire was merely glaring at me, expressionless.

I felt tremendously guilty for saying such a thing. Hurting her was the last thing I wanted and what I had just uttered was extremely offensive. I felt an urge to grab the words out of thin air and stuff them back into my mouth.

"Logan, you know I don't do boyfriends"

Her reply filled me with relief. She didn't seem mad at me at all.

"Talking about asking people out..." she continued, chewing on her meal "...why haven't you asked Breanna out yet?"

She seriously needed to stop pairing Breanna with me.

"Cookie Jar" I giggled, shrugging "You wouldn't get into MIT if there's constantly someone clinging onto you and asking you for daily hang outs. You'll waste all your study time on them"

"True that" Claire pointed her index finger at me "But you know, looking at everyone around me, looking at Adriel, I too feel like having a boyfriend. Which I know is impossible"

That was unexpected – Claire Annesley wishing for a boyfriend.

"It's not impossible. You just don't try hard enough"

She simply stared at me with hilarity anointed on her face "Now my best friend's giving me dating advice, how amazing is that?"

We chuckled together.

I don't remember smiling so much before meeting her. When she came, I felt like I had reunited with a sibling. Her personality, her opinions, her aim, they all aligned flawlessly with mine.

After spending so many years in her company, I felt a kind of connection growing within us. We both aspired to get a seat into MIT and none of us were interested in getting into a relationship. Ever.

Until now.

Until now when Claire, my other half, suddenly wished for a boyfriend and that too, she adored that asshole Dylan. The thought of it sent burning shivers down my spine.

She could've chosen anyone, anyone except him.

Dylan mostly ignored Claire. That's because of her nerdy appearance. But little does he know about her personality – it was as deep as an ocean and you would just want to dive in and explore and explore and explore its beautiful secrets.

That's how magnificent of a person she was, but nor did any guy know about that and neither did she.

If God happened to shower a miracle upon us, making Dylan notice her somehow, I was certain he'd fall for her. Hard. And that scared me.

Claire was my best friend and I was stubborn and selfish enough to stop her from getting into a relationship. I didn't want her to give any other guy the kind of attention she gave me. Witnessing her steadily fall for a jerk like Dylan was making my blood boil violently. I didn't want her to make any stupid decisions. I wanted danger to stay far away from her.

Dylan didn't deserve her and she was mine.

My best friend.

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Pardon me for the lack of events happening in this chapter :(

It might take a while for this story to accelerate, please wait until then and I shall present you with numerous cliffhangers, action and secrets!

Please stick with this book till the end! Thank you so much for the amazing support!

Love, K

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