Harper closed her eyes as the sound of the sparking engine roared in her ears.
She hated motorcycles — the way they moved, took curves swiftly and all — she felt she'd fall. She wasn't ready to sit on one now. Also, the devilish smirk on Logan's lips made her know he was up to something bad.
Terrifying.
She faked a cough. "What do you mean, Logan?" Harper murmured, her voice weak.
"Nothing," Logan answered, his tone teasing. "Just reminding, princess."
Her frown tightened.
This guy was up to something. She knew.
Just after knowing him for some days now, she had realized how much he enjoyed getting on her nerves. Teasing her.
She knew he was willing to do anything to make her frown or make her down-spirited.
Logan smirked. It was the actual truth though. He was ready to disturb her anytime he had the slightest opportunity. Who could blame him when he actually enjoyed doing that?
Harper rolled her eyes, although nervousness was taking control. Her palms were sweaty, tendrils of sweat beginning to form on her forehead.
"And feel free to hold me tight, princess," Logan Hayes purred, loud enough to attract the attention of the girls who stared, making them flushed and sultry enough to make Harper tremble slightly — not out of fear, but from something else entirely.
With another revving of the engine, Harper closed her eyes once more.
Then?
Logan began riding the motorcycle.
She felt her pulse quicken, her amber eyes still shut.
Her reaction to the start made him more encouraged to make her never forget this day — ever.
He had decided to use her shyness against her. Since she had mustered the audacity to blackmail him, he was also going to make their fake relationship an unforgettable one for her.
At least he was doing something he actually liked.
Logan increased his speed.
Harper felt her stomach flip, and without a second thought, she just wrapped her arms around his waist tightly and for an unknown reason, they both had an abrupt weird feeling.
One they couldn't comprehend.
Logan's heart missed one slight beat. And it made no sense. It was nothing, right? And he wasn't yet to think far — Harper Reed was nothing.
But Harper?
A subtle shiver ran down her spine. Harper didn't know what it was and why it happened, but she knew it was him. It was the stupid effect of his presence around.
Harper opened one eye, watching sceneries pass swiftly before finally closing it back.
Then—
The motorcycle came to a halt, causing Harper to exhale, her eyes opening in the process.
"We're here, princess," Logan announced, taking off his helmet.
But Harper said nothing in reply, she just took hers off.
Harper then got down and fixed her dress and bag.
Her anger was evident.
"Aww, little princess is angry at her boyfriend," Logan said in a tone as though he wanted to cry.
It made the frown on her face deepen. Flipping her dark hair, which was swept back with cute clips, she folded her arms, her gaze locked with his.
"You are not my boyfriend, Logan Hayes," she spoke, her tone laced with apoplexy.
"Shit, I wish I recorded this so I'd be free from this torture — this forced relationship with you, Harper Reed," Logan spoke, his hands slipping into the pockets of his blue baggy jeans, a smirk forming.
"Who the hell cares, Logan Hayes!" Harper hissed, the wind tousling her dark hair slightly.
"You, Harper Reed. Don't forget your perfect reputation," he reminded, and that was when Harper fell silent.
"We break up in three weeks," she mumbled, her voice soft.
Her gaze?
Away from his that lingered, studying the sudden change of gesture. What was it about reputation that made her care so much?
He went curious.
Logan didn't want to, but then he did.
He didn't know what reputation meant to her father, Harper thought. It was not like he even cared anyway.
"I'm leaving," she muttered.
"Excuse me. Do I always have to remind you of my thank you?" Logan drawled.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
That was when Logan felt bad for speaking of reputation. Yet he didn't want her to see that he cared. He had to be nonchalant. At least he also had his problems on his own.
Huge problems.
"Why don't we enter together, hand in hand, for attention?" he asked.
Harper looked up at him, a blush crawling to her cheeks.
"No!" she yelled suddenly, like someone had pinched her, making Logan chuckle — a captivating sound escaping.
Goosebumps filled her skin. "N—not y—yet."
She looked away, her face turning all red.
"Okay, if you say so, princess." Logan nodded, fighting back a smile.
Quietly, the two walked into campus.
Every eye on campus lingered on them and Harper swallowed — not comfortable under their fully fixated attention.
Then Harper felt her heart jump.
Hazel.
Alexis.
Alexa.
Three of them were staring with scrutiny at Harper and Logan.
Hazel Freeman then began marching towards them.
She flipped the tendril of curly brown hair which tried to get in her eyes.
"I'm daydreaming, right babe?"
Most students awaited another drama.
Then—
"I don't think so, Hazel," Logan spoke, defending their relationship.
Gasps echoed through campus like wildfire.