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We’ve sat together for the last four months, and we still fight and bicker every chance we get. He criticizes my lyrics, and I bite back, throwing insults the asshole deserves.
“I have not been staring at him that long. I just glanced that way by chance,” I snap, with one last glance at Kevin.
Denton remains silent, which always irks me, and he knows it. It’s his way of calling me on my bullshit. I hate that he knows me as well as he does.
Yes, I am staring because Kevin Bailey is made to be stared at, with his mousy blonde hair, blue eyes, and chiseled jaw. He’s the guy every girl wants, and only one managed to catch his eye. Anika, argh, if I had one wish, I'd wish her away.
Denton snorts.
“Jerk, you should be grateful because Kevin is indirectly the reason we met, you know, and we both know nobody else tolerates you.”
“Oh, I’d have met you, either way, kitten.”
“Duke…”
“What is it?” He lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
“So, there’s this party,” I say, biting my lower lip, leaning on my elbow to stare down at him. He brushes a stray lock of hair out of my eyes and behind my ear, and my breath hitches. I ignore it, frowning at him.
“Some of the girls from Kevin’s class asked me, and I kind of said yes.”
“Oh, good for you, Brianna Kent. You finally made it into thein-crowd.” Denton scowls. I reach out and remove his aviator shades, and he squints at the sunlight.
“I said you’d come too.” My voice is below a whisper, feeling the heat creep up my cheeks.
“Why the fuck would you do that?” He growls. “I don’t go to those parties, Bre.”
“Cause, most of those girls think you’re hot and-”
“And you thought what - that I’d be enticed into going because of that? Argh, you’re so-” He exhales, and covers his eyes. Standing, Denton dusts off his jeans. “I’ll hang around for two hours, and then I’m out.”
I squeal and jump up, wrapping my arms and legs around him. Realizing my mistake, I pull away, his dark eyes searching mine, he looks at my lips, and I untangle myself. He looks down at me and pinches his lips, letting it go with a pop. He does that when he’s angry.
“Thank you,” I grin, stepping away to gather my stuff from the ground. I barely got any studying done during this break.
Denton walks me to the bus the way he always does since we met. He strolls over to his deathtrap of a bike, which I refuse to get onto. He always tells me that riding his motorcycle makes him feel alive, immortal almost.
I didn’t mean to get him into this situation, but I can’t show up at the lion's dens alone. They’ll eat me alive.
I get to see Kevin Bailey tonight, and I have no idea what to wear, not that he’ll notice. I am a freshman, he's in his final year of high school, and a jock. Jocks don’t notice girls like me.
I run indoors, shouting a greeting to my mom, and thud up the stairs to my room. Denton texts me that he hates me. Charming. The girls at Liberty practically drool over him to the point it gets uncomfortable. Hearing the things they’d like to do to him is awkward. But I wonder as I step into the shower why his smile is the only thing I can see.
A few hours later, I’m dressed in a pale pink cocktail dress, my hair’s pinned up on one side, and I slip on a pair of silver pumps. I twirl in front of the mirror. Kevin has to notice me now.
I rush to the door the moment the bell rings. The last thing I want is for my family to meet Denton Duke and get the wrong idea. I wave at my parents in the living room, needing to just get the hell out of the house.
“I’m off,” I shout.
“Not a minute past 11.” My father warns. I hate that he’s always so controlling.
“Yes, Dad,” I say.
I open the door and have to practically shove Denton off the porch before my father starts lecturing us both on the does and don’ts of these sorts of parties. The thought of it sends shivers down my spine.
“Don’t want me to meet the family yet? I’m offended,” he pretends to be stabbed in the heart.
“No,” I tell him. He doesn’t say anything to that. He gets it.
