Rewind

5

"First of all, they were actually able to hold a normal conversation, unlike you," she retorted, a hint of a smirk on her face. "They didn't need to constantly be the center of attention or rely on their looks to get girls to like them."

"And they were sure good kissers"

He raised an eyebrow, a cocky smirk forming on his face. "Oh, so you're saying I'm not a good kisser? Now that's a challenge I can't resist. You'll have to give me a chance to prove you wrong on that one."

She laughed, enjoying the fact that she was getting to him. "Oh please, I've seen the girls you've been with. They're all the same boring, brainless types who fall for your little act. I'm sure they're not the best judges of kissers either."

He feigned hurt again, clutching his chest dramatically. "Ouch, you wound me. I'll have you know, I've had plenty of practice, and I've heard no complaints so far."

"Because they're head over heels for you"

He leaned forward, a cocky smirk crossing his lips. "And you're not? You seem pretty intrigued by me, even if you won't admit it."

"I'm not and you know it"

He chuckled, leaning closer. "I don't believe you. I can see right through you, sweetheart. You may act all tough and uninterested, but there's a hint of attraction you can't hide."

She rolled her eyes again, trying to maintain her composure. "You're delusional, you know that? You just can't accept the fact that not every girl is going to fall at your feet."

He chuckled, his gaze still fixed on her. "That's where you're wrong. You're the one who's special. You're the one who's immune to my charms. And that makes me want you even more."

She scoffed, trying to brush off his words. "Please. You don't want me, you just like the thrill of the chase. You get off on trying to win me over."

He leaned in closer, their faces inches apart. "That may be true, but there's something else with you. You're different. You challenge me, you push back, you don't let me have my way with you. And that's something I find incredibly attractive."

She stared back at him, her expression a mix of defiance and curiosity. "So what now? You just gonna keep pestering me until I cave in and admit I'm attracted to you?"

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, you'll cave in eventually. I can be very persuasive when I want to be. I can be very persistent. And I'll keep at it until you finally give in to your feelings for me."

She huffed, her stubbornness still evident. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that? You think just because you're some charming, popular jock, you can have any girl you want."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying her irritation. "You're right, I can have almost any girl I want. But with you, I have to work harder. And I find that oddly attractive about you. It's a challenge, and I love a challenge."

She rolled her eyes yet again. "So that's all this is about for you? Just another challenge to overcome? Figures."

He shrugged, leaning in even closer. "You make it sound so shallow, sweetheart. But you know there's something more here. You can deny it all you want, but I see the way you look at me. There's a spark of interest in those pretty eyes of yours."

She held his gaze, her expression stern. "Don't confuse fascination with interest. I'm intrigued, yes. Intrigued by how conceited and full of yourself you are."

"Give me a chance to show you how much of a good kisser I am"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes once again. "You really think you can just charm your way into everything, don't you? You can't just flash me that cocky smirk and expect me to swoon over you."

He laughed at her resistance. "Oh, come on. Where's your sense of adventure? You can't tell me you're not even a little bit curious about what it would feel like to kiss me."

She hesitated, her stubbornness wavering for a moment. But she quickly composed herself, her expression hardening. "I don't need to be curious about that. I can already tell you'd be a terrible kisser."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her defiant stance. "Is that so? And how did you come to that conclusion? Have you been imagining what it would be like to kiss me?"

She stuttered over her words, clearly caught off guard. "Of course not! I w-- I was just using common sense. Based on your arrogance and insufferable attitude, I'm sure you'd be a terrible kisser."

He smirked, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "Oh, you're a terrible liar, you know that? You're thinking about it right now, aren't you? You're wondering what it would feel like to have my lips pressed against yours."

She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just making an educated guess. I have zero interest in finding out for myself."

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, you can deny it all you want, sweetheart. But the way you're blushing right now says otherwise. You're intrigued, if not outright fascinated by the idea."

She scowled, her cheeks reddening even more. "It's just a physiological response! It has nothing to do with you. My body is simply reacting to your proximity and arrogance. It's a defense mechanism."