Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

"Why didn't you come home for my birthday? And who's this guy? Are you dating someone at school now?"

Scarlette was totally blindsided, the questions hitting her all at once. She just stood there, stunned.

"How long have you been waiting out here? You're soaked! What if you get sick? Where's the driver?"

Nicholas sniffled, wiping his nose. "I ran here by myself. Ah-choo..."

Scarlette shot an apologetic look at her classmate. "Sorry, can we talk about this tomorrow? Do you mind if I borrow your umbrella? I'm really sorry."

The boy glanced over at Nicholas, feeling a little uneasy. There was something way too possessive about the way the kid clung to Scarlette. And honestly, he got this weird, hostile vibe from him. But Nicholas was her brother, after all. He liked Scarlette, so naturally he wanted to be nice to her little brother too.

"Sure. See you tomorrow," he said.

Scarlette slipped off her jacket and wrapped it around Nicholas, then took his hand.

"How could you just run over here by yourself? Didn't the driver come with you? Never mind, let's get you upstairs to change. You'll have to wear my clothes for now."

Her class was the honors class, so even at this hour, most people were still in the classroom working through practice tests.

She brought Nicholas into her dorm, grabbed some of her clothes, and started helping him change.

But Nicholas clung tightly to his wet shirt, refusing to let go.

couldn't help

fine. Change by

and quickly swapped his

then, Scarlette was so much taller than him—tall, slim, fair-skinned, and just so pretty. That was all Nicholas

For the first time, he felt a weird mix of

ears bright red. She gently cupped his face and pressed

you're burning up. Are you

totally blank. In that moment, he didn't dare think about anything

grabbed his hand, checked in with

the umbrella

whe

to the

Rain drummed on the umbrella, filling the world with that steady patter. To Nicholas it

school gate, the Greenard family driver

looked so relieved to

"Thank goodness. Miss, your

you a

ran off without telling anyone.

door, and got

sat down, she started