WRECKED BY YOU

CHAPTER TWO: DENTENTION GAMES

The only thing louder than the ticking clock in Room 3C was the silence between them.

Zara slouched in the back corner, legs crossed, gum popping between her teeth. Her detention slip was crumpled beside her on the desk, completely ignored. The room smelled like chalk, pine-scented floor cleaner, and trouble.

Jace Maddox walked in exactly seven minutes late — like he wanted the whole room to watch him enter.

But there were only two people there.

Him.

And her.

Their eyes met, again.

He didn't say a word. Just dropped into the seat across from her, leaned back, and kicked one boot up on the desk. That same slow, lazy smirk curved his lips — like he was already bored, and she was just part of the game.

Zara rolled her eyes, trying not to let him see her pulse thudding in her neck. "What are you in for?"

He stretched like a jungle cat, all effortless arrogance. "Shoved a guy's head into a locker."

"Charming."

"He deserved it."

"I'm sure."

Jace tilted his head, finally really looking at her. "What about you, Transfer Girl? Caught starting fires already?"

"I slapped a teacher."

His eyebrow lifted. "Hot."

Zara didn't laugh. But her lips twitched.

There was a pause. The kind that filled the air with static.

"You always this cold?" he asked, voice low.

"You always this cocky?"

He smirked. "Only when I want something."

Her gaze flicked down his neck, just for a second — to the chain peeking beneath his collar, to the tattoo ink curling over his collarbone like smoke.

Danger looked good on him.

Maybe too good.

"Let me guess," she said. "You're going to warn me to stay away from you next?"

"No." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "I want you to come closer."

Zara's breath hitched.

A loud bang of the door made them both flinch. Mr. Callahan, the bored-looking Literature teacher in charge of detention, finally showed up — with a coffee mug and zero interest in supervising.

"You two. No talking. Two hours. Don't test me."

Zara and Jace locked eyes.

This wasn't over.

Far from it.

As Mr. Callahan turned his back and started flipping through a novel, Jace passed her a torn piece of paper under the desk.

She unfolded it.

"Tonight. Library roof. Midnight. Come if you're not scared."

Zara bit back a grin.

She wasn't scared.

But she probably should be.