Cover

Prologue

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

 

If the world handed out awards for indecisiveness, I would be a gold medallist. My friends say I have FOMO. Fear of missing out. It's sad when your life can be described as an acronym. What's sadder is when that acronym is true.

 

So here I stand in front of the mirror deciding if I should have spent the time straightening my hair for my first day and if the the school issued dress would have been the better choice than the school issued skirt. Navy Blue. Blue to match my mood for my first day at a new school for my final year.

 

That final year that determines how the rest of our life will be played out, if I listen to the career guidance counsellors. That final year where we have to focus, put everything on hold and achieve the world so that we can spend the next 4 years of our life studying even more.

 

So now I stand at the precipice of adulthood, my make or break moment, where my best won't be good enough and I fear I am not embarking in style. Points to me.

 

How does one enter a new school and become the ultimate new girl? Pretty sure I missed that issue of vogue. Now I will never know.

 

Here goes nothing.

Chapter 1

You know those movie scenes where the character is standing in a blur of people whilst they have some amazing epiphany or revelation in life. Well, I just had mine. Except my revelation came in the form of a 6'3" dark haired, dark eyed dream. Yes I just saw the dream guy. I didn't even know they allowed them at school. In fairness to him I'm sure it's not his fault he looks 20 when the rest of us look 17.

 

Italian. Definitely Italian.

 

And injured. And taken.

 

Yes, that would be Penny from my P.E class who he just put his arm around. Brilliant. Worst part she is a likeable girl so I can't even hate her. Great now she's seen me.

 

"Hey Anna, this is my boyfriend Nic, isn't he hot!" Wow. I guess people do actually say stuff like that. Perhaps she's likeable but shallow. No crime in that I guess.

 

"Hi Penny, hi Nic, nice to meet you." I say with a bit of wave. So Adonis goes by the name Nic now. "What class have you guys got now?"

 

"I've got Chemistry, but I'm walking Pen to her Design class." Says a voice that makes me swoon on the inside. Of course he would have to be smart as well. "What about you?" He asks.

 

"I've got a free now, but I am heading to the cafeteria to find Robbie to study for Specialist Maths. Joys."

 

"Well I guess I might see you around, nice meeting you." He replies. And walks off leaving me awe struck In his wake.

 

I make my way to the cafeteria and walk over to the "ethnic" side. No I'm not being racist, it actually goes by another name but my Dad would have a fit if he heard it. Times have progressed from when he was a child. Now the Italians and the Greeks rule the school. They actually have their own separated-by-a-door side to the cafeteria and a courtyard to call their own. It's prime real estate. There is even their own side to the canteen, which due to the exclusivity of the side means lines are shorter. It's the "Australians" that are looked down on here. They have to share their side with the rest of school, but they are allowed majority of the oval to play footy on. Lucky them.

 

How did the new girl get onto the exclusive side? Is it my Italian blood? My amazing looks? Nope. Sorry. I had a contact. And as we all know, "it's not what you know, it's who you know." So my Greek best friend introduced me to the group on day one and now I have a pass. Figuratively of course.

 

"Anna!"

 

I look over and see Robbie surrounded by a group of Vietnamese beauties. I should mention that if you're a hot Arab or Asian you can sneak in too. By approval of course.

 

I roll my eyes at him and head over to the table. "Studying hard Robbie?" I ask with a smirk.

 

"Of course, Trung and Oahn were just explaining our last lesson." He says eagerly. Clearly, he will have their number by the end of the free.

 

Oahn turns to me and looks me over. "You sure she's Italian Robbie?"

 

"Well she's a half cast." He replies.

 

Sure guys discuss me like I'm not here!

 

"That makes sense. She is too fair and blue eyed." Says Oahn like she's an expert.

 

Do I go there? Do I explain that actually my Dad who was born in Italy is 6'2", blue eyed and fair? That the concept of what is "Italian" here is actually skewed from the majority of original immigrants being from the south of Italy? That Northern Italians are actually coloured like me? No. I just shut up and look at the next problem. I doubt she would even care. I'm not even sure why I do.

 

I feel two hands cover my eyes.

 

"Give me your lunch or I'll never move my hands!" Says a girls voice.

 

"Well I will resign myself to being blind until eternity." I reply.

 

You didn't bring food again did you!" Says an exasperated Danielle.

 

"Don't you know I'm always hungry?"

 

"That's why you should bring money like me in addition to your packed lunch" I reply to me best friend.

 

"What's the point? You never finish a meal so I can just have your leftovers" she laughs.

 

"This is true, here take my money and get something for me and you can finish it" I suggest."ugh fine" she says as she flounces off.

 

"She's so foxy!" I hear a muttered voice say.

 

"Really Robbie? Why are you saying that here?" I laugh out.

 

"She's perfect. But so unattainable." He replies, whilst getting death glares from the two Vietnamese girls still gracing us with their presence.

 

 

Maybe he won't be getting their numbers after all. Smooth.

 

"Have you even tried?" I ask.

 

"So many times. She's like that Apple on the tree you can reach. Make that a frozen Apple. She turns everyone down. She really doesn't descriminate." he sighed.

 

I was about to tell him she doesn't even realise when my tongue got stuck in my mouth. One of those blur of people moments happened again.

 

The Adonis has arrived.

 

Chapter 2

 Be still my beating heart, be still.

 

He walks through the cafeteria, scanning the few filled tables. Our eyes meet and I quickly look down. Awkward. 

 

"Nico my man! What brings you over here?" Exclaims Robbie before completing some weird guys handshake.

 

"Eh, Chem was killing me. That and Ms Janovich's moustache distracts me." He says as he pulls up a seat across from me.

 

"Ah yes the lady man strikes again!" Chuckles Robbie. "Still, I'm surprised you're here and not the oval."

 

Pretty sure I'm lost here. Not only is he even more devastatingly hot close up, but I'm unsure if the comment is being directed as "you don't come here, or you shouldn't come here." If only new schools came with the social rules in their handbook. 

 

"What is HE doing here?" I hear hissed in my ear. I turn to see my friend Julia next to me.

 

"I'm not sure, chatting to Robbie I think?" I ask back. "Why? Is he not supposed to be?"

 

"Well he is normally with the Australians." She says still whispering.

 

"Right. Aren't we all Australian?" I ask confused. I'm answered with an eye-roll. Right. Note to self: apparently even if we're born here it doesn't count.

 

"Anna!" 

 

I look across to Robbie and Nic looking at me expectantly. I honestly have no idea what they were talking about and I think it shows on my face.

 

"I was just telling Nic how you were dating that new draft for the Swans before you moved here." Robbie fills me in.

 

Whoa. Let's back track here. Me with a boyfriend. I'm still standing here alive so clearly that never happened. My parents would kill me. I am far too young in their eyes.

 

"We were just best friends," I clarify. Best Friends who had that whole undercurrent of attraction going on. Best friends who were inseparable and didn't date anyone else while we were friends. He knew the whole situation with my parents so it was an unspoken agreement. But in the end he left anyway, for the better really.

 

"Right." Replies Robbie with a strange look on his face. "Anyway, Nic is hoping to be drafted this year too." 

 

Great. Another Footy Player. Just what I needed in my life. Now that Robbie has said it though I don't know why I didn't notice it before. It would explain his awesome physique.

 

"How is that going to go with your leg?" I ask. Oops. Looks like that's not his favourite topic by his reaction.

 

"Well, yeah, the Physiotherapist is working on that." He shrugs. "Hey I thought you said you were going to be studying Maths?" He says gesturing to the page I'm working on, conveniently changing the subject.

 

"Well that was the plan, but, Robbie made other plans," I say gesturing to Robbie's harem, "so I thought I better get started on my English paper."

 

"You doing English Studies?" He asks.

 

"Certainly am." I reply. I hope he isn't about to suggest we study together. Who am I kidding. I hope he wants to study with me, but for my own sanity I need him to not ask!

 

"That's great! We should organise to study together some time. Actually Tegan and Max are coming around to my house tonight to work on stuff. You should come." He says eagerly.

 

How do I get out of this? Like my Dad will let me go to some random guys house to study. That and the vibes I'm getting from him are far more friendly than a guy who is taken.

 

"Um, I think I'm busy?" I reply as a question. Great work Anna, way to go sounding convincing.

 

Robbie and Julia roll their eyes. Danielle has just come back and I can see her behind Nic surveying the situation. She narrows her eyes at the back of his head and looks at me.

 

"Yes, Anna you were coming around to my house." She fills in, saving me.

 

"Oh, okay. Well, maybe we can swap numbers and we can catch up another time." He suggests.

 

Danielle is glaring at me. I am sure I missed the "how to avoid giving your number out" course in the Being a Girl 101 course. My mind is blank. I can't even think of a reason not to and I can feel all the eyes on the table watching me.

 

"Sure." I drawl out. As I'm about to tell him, Danielle grabs me and exclaims something about us being late for something. I don't think she even understands her excuse.

 

I scoop my things into my bag and wave a goodbye and get tugged along to the door by an angry Danielle.

 

"Ugh, he is such a player. I can't stand him. He has a girlfriend and he's making moon eyes at you and asking for your number." She starts ranting. "And you just sat there like a bimbo about to give him your number! Lucky you have me!"

 

I don't even know how to reply. She's right. What was I thinking? It's like my defences are down when he is near. I become some stepford wife who can't say no. What will I do when she isn't there to save me from myself?

 

As we reach the cafeteria door I glance back over Danielle's shoulder. He's looking at me. Not predatorially, but almost wistfully, and my stomach drops, time stops and my world crashes. He sees me and that brief bit of eye contact breaks me and any of the weak barriers I had in place.

 

I'm gone.

Chapter 3

 My feet pound the ground like a heartbeat and Kurt Cobain groans away in my ears.

 

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

A denial

 

I guess there is a reason why the song is called Smells Like Teen Spirit. My teen spirit is certainly in denial.

 

Its been a month of trying to avoid him, of making sure I am no where near him or where he would hang out but it seems to be an impossible feat. He added me on Instagram yesterday, not that I've accepted him yet. I'm sure Danielle can't work out if she wants to slap him or me anymore.

 

Home wrecker. 

 

Thats what I keep saying in my mind as I pound the ground. Except it doesnt seem to sink in. How can I like a guy that is already taken? Is something wrong with me? Am I wired wrong?

 

My breathing picks up as I start the hill towards my house. It's like if I can feel the physical pain I can make penance for my stupid heart. Next thing I know I'm on the ground with a grazed knee and a sore ankle.

 

Stupid gum nut.

 

I sit there cursing the gum nut, the slope, the heat and my ankle, unaware that a car has stopped beside me. Great now I'm going to be raped and pillaged too. I pull my headphones out of my ears and look up. And up. And up.

 

Ben and Max.

 

Nic's two best friends. Timing is everything in life and I'm pretty sure that means I have nothing.

 

"Anna, is that you?" Asks Ben as he bends down.

 

Quite clearly it isn't anyone else, but I figure I shouldn't take my frustration out on him.

 

"Certainly is, what are you guys up to?" I reply. I notice that my knee is starting to bleed around the same time Max does. I can feel it starting to trickle down my calf.

 

"Hell, Anna do you need a hand, what happened?" Exclaims Max. He reaches into his pocket for a clean tissue and hands it to me. Who knew teen boys actually carried tissues around. Clean ones at that.

 

"Thanks" I reply as I take the tissue. "I stacked it on a gum nut. I think I've rolled my ankle too."

 

"Do you want a lift home? Are you far from here?" Asks Max

 

"I should be right" I start to reply as I go to stand up but my ankle hurts too much and I limp. I want to cry like a little girl, but I don't know if it's the ankle or just a combination of everything.

 

"Look we are just on our way to Nic's house, why don't we just drop you off on our way. It won't be a problem will it Max?" Butts In Ben.

 

Max doesn't even answer he just scoops me up and puts me into the back seat of his car. I mumble a thanks and look up into his eyes. They are a spectacular green. He's clearly Slavic background, the quiet but strong type, the type that draws you in without realising. He gives me a shy grin and closes the door. I release a breath I didn't even realise I was holding.

 

The two guys get in the front of the car. Max looks at me in the review mirror and asks where I live. As I rattle of the address I have to turn away from staring at him. Part of me is petrified Mum or Dad will be home when I get dropped off and World War III will start. My Dad is so traditional that there is no way his 17 year old daughter could hang out with guys unless I was ready to get married. I love my Dad, I don't always understand him, but I love him.

 

Max pulls up to my house and Ben gets out and helps me to the door. There is that awkward moment where I should really ask them in, but I am too scared on the off chance one of my parents are home. I say thanks again and wave them off.

 

I open the door. No one is home. Of course they aren't. No one is ever home. I mentally kick myself for not being polite and asking the guys in as I make my way to the bathroom. I peel off my running clothes and start to fill the bath. I can't even think about standing in the shower at the moment.

 

While I'm waiting for the bath to fill my phone lights up. A new text message from an unknown number.

 

hey Anna, it's Nic. I got your number from Tegan. The boys just said you had an accident running. Hope you're ok. Nic x

 

A kiss? He signed it off with a kiss? I feel like punching him and jumping for joy at the same time. Do I reply straight away or do I drag it out a bit. Will I look eager? If I wait will I make him worry? Argh. Decisions.

 

I decide to just reply now. 

 

Hey Nic! Yeah a bit bruised and battered. Lucky the boys came by when they did :) Thanks for the message. Anna 

 

I put the phone next to bath and sunk in. My knee stung like hell and I winced. I closed my eyes only to hear the phone vibrate again.

 

wish I had been with them to save you. What you up to now? x

 

Seriously? What is this guy, a serial flirt? I decided I would wait till I finished my bath because somehow I didn't think it would be appropriate telling him where I was.

 

By the time I finished my bath its  time for me to make dinner for everyone. I make dinner, clean up and then eat. No one has come yet so I put it in the oven. I pull out my homework and get started. Before I know it its 10.30pm and I'm exhausted.

 

As I'm brushing my teeth I get two messages. One is from my mum saying she won't be home for dinner. Figured that. The second is Nic. I had actually managed to forget him for a couple of hours. Before I can read it my phone starts to vibrate. Oh great now he's calling.

 

"Hello?" I answer.

 

"Anna, it's Nic. How are you?" He asks

 

I don't even know how to reply. It's that feeling of happiness that I'm talking to him and that sinking feeling of doing something I shouldnt. I decide his ego needs a hit.

 

"Nic...?" I ask

 

"oh um, Nic DeStefani, you know from school." He stammers. Danielle should give me points for that one.

 

"Oh Nic! Sorry I didn't save your number" I reply. Liar. Pretty sure I'll get hit by lightning for that one.

 

"oh that's cool. I just wanted to see how your ankle was going. Max said it was pretty bad and that your knee was bleeding a bit." He says.

 

"My ankle is better thanks. I iced it while I was studying. Hopefully if I strap it I can get running again. How was your night with the boys?" I ask. Seriously this conversation is hard. Mainly, from my making, but still. I'd hang up if I was him.

 

"Yeah good. We just played pool, and watched a movie. Hey, maybe we can go running together some time when my leg has healed up?" He asks nervously. I am actually making him nervous. Glad I'm not the only one suffering here.

 

I'm about to reply when I heard his name being called in the background by a girl. I hear him cover the mouthpiece and say something like "it's just Max Penny." There is my reality check. The line goes dead.

 

Home wrecker. That's my new description. I drop to my pillow with a thud and receive a new message.

 

goodnight x

 

Goodbye sanity.

 

Chapter 4

 I'm sitting in the old part of the library at school. It's on the third floor so it has amazing views of the city so I've switched off to the drone of the teacher and I'm lost in my own mind. It's the girls meeting for the upcoming sports day. The school is divided into 4 teams each with a corresponding colour of blue, red, yellow or green. I've been placed in Blue. 

 

So now I am surrounded by the rest of my blue team mates who seem less than eager for sports day. From the whisperings it seems to be more of a fashion event than a sporting one. My previous school was one of the top athletic schools. We lived and breathed athletics. I was always good, never great, apart from my 8th grade debut. We had to compete to make it to sports day. Here it is all volunteer only.

 

Except no one is volunteering.

 

1500m?

 

That would be me.

 

800m?

 

That would be be.

 

Steeple Chase?

 

That would be me.

 

I hope the other teams have more enthusiasm otherwise I will be running by myself. My old running coach would be having a fit right now. This teacher seems as excited as the students, which isn't saying much.

 

I'm sitting next to Penny and some of her friends that are also in our PE class. The girls are all sharing stories on the intimacies with their boyfriends. Penny is the most outspoken. Really don't want to hear this about her and Nic. 

 

"So Anna, I've heard you were dating that Daniel guy who just got recruited to the Swans! He must have been amazing!" Penny gushes.

 

"Um, we didn't really date." I clarify. Where are people getting this information from?

 

"Oh so it was more friends with benefits then?" She questions. "I'm pretty sure on his profile page it says that he was in a relationship with an Anna who he grew up with."

 

"No! Definitely no benefits. I'm not like that, I haven't even been with a guy! And what profile page you talking about?" I ask.

 

"Oh the guys were looking at the draft pick pages the other night and I heard Ben read out that guys profile." She explains.

 

Oh. My. Goodness. Stop the press. He has said what? I pull out my phone and text him.

 

Dan! What's with this profile I'm hearing about? X

 

While I'm waiting for a reply I hear the girls have moved on in their conversation. Penny is now discussing how much she doesn't like Tegan because Nic is always with her and the girl doesn't have the decency to be her friend or at least friendly. Really? Your issue is with the girl your boyfriend spends more time with and not your boyfriend? And the problem isn't the time they spend together but that she doesn't say hi? I get the feeling her relationship with Nic is about status and not much else.

 

My phone lights up.

 

Babe, how are you? Oh yeah, oops, I just wanted to get the guys off my back and prevent getting swamped by girls. You know I love you though. X

 

That sounds about right. Using a relationship between us as a convenience. I can almost imagine him winking at me when says the last part, which would be followed by me hitting him. I do miss him, but we were going two different paths in life and it was always more of a friendship than anything more.

 

I start to reply back when I realise the meeting is over and Nic is standing behind me.

 

"Say hi to lover boy for me too" he says near my ear. I look down at my message and realise he's read my response saying I miss him. I turn around to him and see he looks really annoyed. Like he has any right to be.

 

"Oh babes you're here!" Penny exclaims "Anna was just telling us how that profile you guys were reading about that Daniel guy was wrong, they're not an item!"

 

I see a flicker of relief cross Nic's face as he shrugs and acts like he doesn't care. Seriously what is the deal with this guy. I can't work him out.

 

I grab my bag and say my goodbyes and head towards the cafeteria. I'm walking down stairs when I hear my name being called out. I turn to see Nic chasing after me.

 

"Anna, wait up!" He calls.

 

I'm already standing still so it wasn't really necessary. I wait for him to get down to me. He flashes this crazy sweet smile at me and starts to walk next to me.

 

"So Matt is having a party this weekend and I know heaps of the Italians and Greeks are going. Danielle probably will be there. Maybe you could come too?" He asks.

 

"I don't only hang out with Europeans you know?" I snap back. I hate people thinking I'm racist because of where I sit.

 

"No I know you're not, it's just Max mentioned how you'd said to him that your parents are strict and I thought maybe you'd be allowed out if some of your people were there too." He tries to clarify.

 

"Seriously? My people? I'm the same as you Nic. I was born here along with the majority of the rest of the school. Pretty sure that makes us all the same." I say frustratedly. I am getting so sick of this cultural divide. 

 

"Whoa, I'm trying here!" He gets defensive. "I just want you to come out with us".

 

Okay so I'm being painful again. It's this inner war I have about the way I feel around him.

 

I sigh. "Okay I'll see if I'm free."

 

"Great! So can we call a truce. Like, can we try and be friends?"

 

"Sure. Friends." I reply as we go our separate ways in the cafeteria.

 

Friends. Thats the safe word.

Chapter 5

 Thump Thump Thump Thump

 

The walls of the house seem to vibrate in front of me. Cars line to street and people are everywhere.

 

High school party. I'm pretty sure I should be more excited about this. Danielle looks over at me and gives me a "told you so" look. She was completely against coming until she got a message from some unknown person. Unknown to me that is. From the amount of time she spends messaging this person I'd say she knows them awfully well.

 

We walk up to the front door, our heels clicking on the paving. Despite not wanting to come, Danielle informed me we have a certain reputation to maintain which means we had to be dressed hot. I feel like I'm a fraud. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion along with the best of them, but it something learned for me. I'm just as happy in my running shorts and tank. For Danielle and the others it's like style flows through their veins and they live and breath fashion. 

 

I adjust the the skirt line on my mid thigh and ring the bell. Not that anyone can hear. I shrug at Danielle and open the door and walk in. 

 

The party is packed. We weave our way through the crowd, toward what I assume is the kitchen. Danielle has been here before so she is leading the way. We make it to the kitchen and it is amazing. It looks over an infinity pool which overlooks the city. While I'm busy gawking at the view I become separated. Next minute I can feel some one nudge into me. I turn around only to be met with a solid chest. Looking up I see chocolate eyes that belong to the one and only Adonis. 

 

He leans in to speak into my ear. I know it's loud and that's the reason but it creates an intimacy. "I'm so glad you came." He murmurs.

 

I look down to the beer he's holding and then back into his eyes and just smile. I turn around to face the view again and I feel him move in next to me. It's like we are both comfortable just being in each others space.

 

"It's so loud in here, want to go out near the pool?" He asks.

 

"Where is Penny?" I ask, reminding him of who he belongs to.

 

"Dancing with the Girls and Jay. She's off her face, I'll scrape her off some guy before I leave." He shrugs.

 

I don't even understand why they are together. We head out towards the pool and I feel his hand on my back as he guides me through. I try to keep and eye out for Danielle but I can't see her. Thanks wingman.

 

He opens the door for me to the outside and I take a deep breath of fresh air. I didn't realise how rank the air was inside until I got out here. It's a lot less packed out here. There are a few groups lounging around and who I assume is some of Matt's relatives, having a smoke and drink.

 

I follow Nic over to some outdoor lounges and I notice there is a few of his mates there. Max looks up as we walk into the group and I see some sort of communication between him and Nic. One of their friends Chris gets up from a double seater and moves onto a floor cushion, making space for the two of us.

 

Awkward. I'm the only girl here. That, and now I have sit somehow so my skirt doesn't make me look tacky. I end up perched on the edge of the couch with Nic's leg pressed into my knee. Max leans across and passes me a beer. Now I feel really awkward. I don't drink from bottles. My mum drummed into me how unladylike it is and now I just can't do it.

 

"You don't know where I can get a glass do you?" I shyly ask Max. 

 

He gives a little laugh that lights up his eyes. "Let me guess? Bad manners for a girl to drink from a bottle?"

 

I laugh back and nod. He sends Ben inside to grab one.

 

"Well boys looks like we have a lady here among us." He announces good natured. 

 

Im pretty sure I'm blushing right now. Why didn't I just stay inside? Luckily one of the other guys, Eddie, I think his name is, brings up some local match from the afternoon and they all get involved.

 

Ben comes back with a glass for me, but instead of passing it to me and gives it to Max and he takes my beer and fills it in. Our fingers brush as he passes it to me and his eyes don't leave mine. Our eye contact is broken when Nic managed to bump me with his leg and I nearly spill the drink. Then there is some strange eye communication happening again between Nic and Max.

 

I sip my beer and let the conversations around me wash over me, until I realise someone is talking to me.

 

"So Anna, what made you move to our school?" Ask Max

 

"Well my dad wanted to expand the business and he preferred the universities here for me so he figured a move now was better than next year." I reply.

 

"Well I'm glad you moved." Says Max as he raises his glass to me.

 

We fall into a group conversation about football, the beach, surfing, travel and then school. Before I know it its been a few hours and I'm ready for bed. I try to stifle a yawn but get busted by Nic.

 

"Do you need a lift home?" He asks

 

"I came with Danielle but I have no idea where she is. I should probably find her." I reply.

 

He stands up and puts his hand out to help me up and says "I'll come with you." 

 

 I wave goodbye to guys and Max gets up to hug me and gives me an air kiss to the cheek. As we walk away I can feel his eyes on me. I feel the goosebumps and the tingles.

 

As we get inside I can see the party has died down a bit, but those that are left are plastered. Not an attractive look for the girls attempting to dance in lounge. Their faces are washed out, they are staggering around in an attempt to seduce, but looking really gross instead. 

 

I Scan the room until I see Danielle in the corner chatting and giggling with a guy. I point her out to Nic, and leave him behind as I walk over to her. Only to find that the guy is actually my cousin Stefan. Small world. No wonder she hadn't told me who the mystery guy was. I see the panic in her eyes but I smile reassuringly, it really doesn't bother me. After the normal hugs and greetings with my cousin I ask her if she is ready to go yet. She looks so torn. I look across to Nic and he is standing with a really inebriated Penny, trying to get her apart from some cousin of Matt's. He catches my eye and the look screams "let's go".

 

I tell Penny I'll get a lift with someone else. Luckily she's too distracted to notice who that someone else is.

 

I head back over to Nic.

 

"Your offer still good to drop me home?" I ask

 

He's given up on Penny who is gyrating around then poor with her girlfriends. "Sure I'll just tell Penny we need to go." He replies.

 

I see him try and get her to come but she pushes him off and starts getting angry with him. In the end he gets annoyed and walks back to me.

 

"Lets go. She said she'll get a lift with Brie." He says quite clearly annoyed.

 

I follow him out to his car. It's some form of muscle car, but I have no idea what. He puts it into gear and drives toward my house, without any directions. 

 

"How do you know where I live?" I ask as we pull up.

 

"I may have driven past before with Max and Ben." He laughs.

 

"Stalker!" I exclaim and hit him playfully on the arm. "Thanks so much for the ride home and sorry about whatever happened there with Penny."

 

I lean across and do the air kiss on the check to say bye, but he moves towards me and it lands on his cheek. I feel him breathe me in and I pull away.

 

As I walk to the door I turn around and see him with his eyes closed and his head against the headrest. He looks over when I reach the door and waves. He doesn't leave until I am inside.

 

I walk up to my room and drop to my bed face down.

 

I'm playing with fire.

 

 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.12.2014

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