“Aren’t you a little curious though?”
“Curious about what?”
“About why he keeps seeking you out,” she states in a matter-of-fact tone. “Don’t you want to know what his reasoning is?”
“Seeking me out?” I snort at her. “Who talks like that, Lor? And his reasoning is because he’s flippin’ annoying, just like he was back in middle school.”
“Funny how that didn’t stop you from dating him.”
“I was twelve, for crying out loud!” I huff, folding a pair of pajama shorts. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“Yours, of course,” she says, more-than-likely rolling her eyes, “but don’t you think he’s probably grown out of that…rowdy stage?”
Did she seriously just use the word, rowdy?
“Lora, have you already forgotten everything I’ve told you since I took that blueberry bread over to his house? He hasn’t changed at all! He is exactly the same!”
“Uh, my ‘glow-up of the century’ comment begs to differ.”
“Fine, his looks have changed!” I agree, not wanting to focus on how attractive he is. “His bad habits are still very intact though, trust me.”
“If you say so, Meg. Hey, I gotta go…okay? Otherwise, the ‘rents are going to lecture me for putting off my flute exercises.”
“All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Byeeeee!” she exclaims before hanging up.
I really don’t understand why she’s so convinced that Brayden is different now. What proof does she have? None.
He’s still the same careless, troublesome guy that broke my preteen heart.
Chapter 10: Desperate Measures
My “little talk” with Mom lasted for almost forty-five minutes yesterday, and she spent most of those minutes trying to convince me that I need to look at this Brayden dilemma (my words, not hers, because she obviously thinks he’s just the greatest) with fresh eyes.
I graciously informed her that my eyes are fine. Brayden might have everyone else fooled, but I’m not buying into his whole “new guy/nice guy” crap. I did, however, agree to continue being polite to him…for her sake.
Honestly? I’m just going to try really hard to avoid him at any cost. The less we see each other and/or talk to each other, the better. Which is why I’m currently hiding behind a pillar, waiting for Brayden to finish walking down the hallway so I can go to Mr. Sunshine’s classroom without being spotted. Unfortunately, though, I have the perfect view of his backside. It’s not like I’m trying to stare…but if I don’t watch him, how am I supposed to know whether the coast is clear or not?
He finally turns down the other hallway, and I let out a relieved sigh as I step away from the flyer-covered pillar. I’m sure hiding seems somewhat dramatic, but I really don’t care, desperate times call for desperate measures.
When I walk into the classroom, I realize that hiding out caused me to miss Beth’s absurd routine, and suddenly I have high hopes for today. First, I successfully avoided Brayden, and now this? Are you kidding me? Today might as well be the best day ever.
Like usual, class flies by in a heartbeat—adding to my best day ever feel—and I start to gather my stuff as the bell rings.
“Hey…Megan, right?”
I look up to see Beth standing in front of my desk. What the heck does she want? And why does she know my name? “Uh, yeah?”
“Good,” she says with a nod, “so, quick little question, are you and Brayden Knight like…friends?”
Unbelievable.
“No,” I answer dryly, standing to my feet, “we’re not. I don’t know why you’d think that we are, but we most definitely aren’t.”
“It just seems like the two of you are awfully chummy,” she comments, glancing at her bright red painted nails, “that’s all.”
Chummy? Gag.
“We’re not,” I repeat myself, stepping around her, “in any way.”
Has she been stalking us, or what? Unless, of course, Brayden has been talking smack. Which wouldn’t surprise me…
Ugh! Why can’t the guy just mind his own flippin’ business?
I storm out into the hallway, curse under my breath, and head toward Mrs. Flint’s classroom. I know the plan was to avoid him, but I can’t just let him pass around FALSE information! So, I’m going to address the matter, and then I’ll go back to avoiding him.
Luckily enough (which I normally wouldn’t consider lucky at all), he’s walking up to the classroom door just as I’m about to. Perfect! Now we can get this over with as quickly as possible.
“Brayden,” I address him in a cool voice, ignoring his familiar and intoxicating scent.
He cocks an eyebrow at me, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. “Megan.”
I don’t find him attractive. I don’t find him attractive. I don’t find him attractive.
What the crap was I supposed to be telling him? Oh, right.
“Have you been telling people that we’re friends?” I ask with narrowed eyes. “Because you and I both know that we’re not, and I really don’t appreciate you spreading rumors about me.”
“Not that I did tell anyone,” he drawls, unfazed by my glaring, “but what’s so wrong about us being friends, Meg? Isn’t that what you wanted?”
He did not just go there.
“Stop!” I hiss at him, my nose undoubtedly flaring. “I was twelve when I wrote that. It didn’t mean anything! And besides, you weren’t too worried about us being friends when you acted like I didn’t even exist after I gave you that note…okay? So, don’t start pretending like you want us to be friends now.”
Wow, that was a mouthful.
A muscle in his jaw twitches, causing me to mentally slap myself for thinking that’s hot, and his eyebrows crease. “People change, Meg.”
After everything I just said, and that’s his response?
“Well, you haven’t,”
