Chapter 11: A Natural Reaction
Never again am I making a deal with this brat. Not only did I have to hear cringey Look This Way songs during the entire ride to the mall, but I was also stuck listening to Hailee and Gianna’s off-key singing, and now I’m trailing behind them as they strut by the “boy stores” while gossiping about kids from their school.
Mom and Dad were more-than-happy that I “volunteered” to take Hailee and her friend to the mall, but they made it very clear that I’m responsible for babysitting them the whole time we’re out. And that’s when my dear little sister informed me that I’m not supposed to converse with her, or Gianna, unless it’s absolutely necessary. Why? Well, because I’m embarrassing and irrelevant.
Total. Brat.
“I can’t believe Ricky chose her to be his girlfriend,” Hailee continues to whine about North Ridge Middle School’s current heartthrob and his poor relationship choices. “She’s only into him for the popularity, everyone knows that.”
“Boys can be so stupid.” Gianna tosses some of her long, dark braids over her shoulder. “But ya know, if you were allowed to date, he would’ve definitely picked you.”
“Right?” Hailee lets out a dramatic sigh. “It’s so messed up. I mean, I’m perfect girlfriend material!”
I can’t hold back my loud snort. Is she for real, right now?
“I shouldn’t be able to hear you, Megan Justine Taylor,” Hailee says, without sparing me a glance.
Wow, full name…I’m so scared.
“Actually, I was told that I couldn’t ‘converse’ with either of you,” I correct her, not bothering to hide the smugness in my voice. “You didn’t say anything else besides that.”
“Well, you’re talking to me now!” she hisses, turning just enough to glare at me. “So, quit it!”
Did I say brat? Because she’s acting more like a—
My phone buzzes, and I wiggle it out of my pocket so I can see who texted me.
Lora.
And it seems like she sent an attachment…
I curse under my breath at the image of her holding a history book, with none other than Holt in the background.
Lora: As per our agreement.
She’s killing me.
Another buzz.
Lora: No takebacks.
I want to beg her to reconsider. To show me mercy. But I force myself to send her a smirking emoji paired with a snarky reply instead.
Me: Don’t have too much fun.
When it’s clear that she has no plans to respond anytime soon, I repocket my phone and cross my arms as I continue to follow the twerps’ lead. Are they even planning on buying anything? How long do we have to keep aimlessly walking around? And why do those giant, overpriced soft pretzels smell so dang amazing?
“Trust me, he’s sexy enough to be a character on Cloverdale,” Hailee drawls, distracting me from the delicious pretzel scent. “And I can totally see him being one of the werewolves.”
I almost gag.
Did she really just describe this twelve-year-old twerp as sexy?
And werewolf material?
Just—no. Absolutely not.
“You’re so lucky, Haliee!” Gianna gushes, making a horrid squealing sound. “I wish I lived next door to a gorgeous guy like that, but I’m still stuck with the Jenkels and their annoying three-year-old twins.”
What the crap? They’re not talking about that Ricky kid, they’re talking about—
“Brayden is the perfect neighbor,” Hailee states in a dazed voice. “Sure, he’s a few years older than me…”
Try five years.
“…but there’s no rule saying that I can’t be attracted to him.”
Someone please just come over here and put me out of my misery.
“Ooh!” Hailee exclaims, pointing to some store. “Let’s try out the scent of the day!”
I trudge behind them into the store, which turns out to be a stuffy perfume boutique, and I roll my eyes at some of the ridiculous perfume names.
Total Temptation.
Majestic.
Pink Passion.
Just Me.
Divine.
And so many more that are equally ridiculous.
Hailee and Gianna start chatting it up with a girl that works here, and then they walk over to me, now smelling like a mixture of saltwater and some kind of flower. It’s not a good combo.
At. All.
“I like it a lot,” Gianna comments, taking a whiff of her wrist, “it’s so…exotic.”
“Oh my goshhhhh,” Hailee says with widened eyes, “that’s exactly what I was thinking!”
Thank God it was just a free sample, and they didn’t pay to smell horrible.
We walk out the store, and while I’m trying to inhale as much fume-free air as possible—they’re fangirling about something on Gianna’s phone. For crying out loud, do they ever take a break? I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to put up with this.
“Brayden!”
My gaze leaves the ceiling at Hailee’s sudden gasp, and I mentally curse when Brayden starts coming toward us.
Seriously? First, he invades my street. Then, he invades my school. And now, he invades my mall? Well, coming here isn’t technically part of my usual routine…but still.
Brayden side-eyes me before greeting my overeager sister, and an overeager Gianna. “Hey, girls.”
“Hiiiii, Brayden!” Hailee giggles, twirling a strand of her hair. “This is my best friend, Gianna, and well…you’ve met Megan already.”
“Nice to meet you, Gianna,” Brayden says, pretending to be polite. And then he turns to me, that dreaded lopsided grin intact. “Hey, Megan.”
I hold back a serious eye-roll. “Hi.”
“So, Brayden,” Hailee chirps, gathering his attention, “are you liking Sierra Heights?”
Did she already forget that he used to live here? Or was she just not paying attention when his mom talked about it?
Knowing Hailee, I’m gonna go with the latter option.
“Uh, yeah,” Brayden replies with creased eyebrows, “it’s good to be back and all…I honestly missed living here.”
Hailee’s mouth pops open, and then she lets out a little laugh. “Oh, I didn’t realize you used to live here.”
Shocker.
“Yep, well, until I
