Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“It just so happened we showed up that way. We didn’t plan it. And we’re friendly-friendly since last year when my best friend left me alone with the wolves,” I whispered back. “Play nice.”
“Your wish is my command,” Aiden stated, still baffled but going along with it.
Before the conversation could expand, Cara, the homecoming queen for three years running, came bouncing over to our table. She’d been Aiden’s ultimate crush for the past seven years. She slid onto the bench right beside Aiden and flipped her hair over her shoulders. Then she batted her long eyelashes at my best friend.
“Hi, Aiden,” she sang as if her interaction with him was the most normal thing in the world. It should be noted that Cara, Aiden, and I have been in the same classes since kindergarten, and Cara Simmons had never made it a point to converse with either of us. She was always too good to talk to people outside her friend group—at least that was how it read to me.
Aiden must’ve felt the same oddity from the situation because his eyebrow cocked up high, and his voice stayed low. “Uh, hi?” he said in a questioning tone. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. It’s so good to be back in school, isn’t it? Speaking of school, we missed you last year,” she said.
I’m sorry, we?
We?!
We missed who?
Who is this we you’re speaking of?!
The nerve.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks?” he said, confused.
Carlton and I sat frozen in place, unsure of what we were supposed to do. Did Cara even notice us? Doubtful. We weren’t hot, popular, or rich enough to be on her radar.
“Welcome.” She smiled, and her dimples deepened as she crossed her legs and leaned in closer to Aiden. “So I’m having a party next weekend.”
Aiden nodded. “Cool.”
“You should come,” she said nonchalantly.
“Who, me?” he asked, pointing at himself.
“Yes, silly, of course.” She poked his chest with her finger, and his skin didn’t bounce back a lick. All rock-hard body. I probably stared too long at his chest in amazement.
“Give me your cell phone,” she ordered, holding her hand out toward him. He didn’t because I think he was stunned at the unfolding situation.
“Aiden”—Cara snapped her fingers—“your phone.”
He shook his head, coming back to reality, and grabbed his phone. He placed it in her perfectly manicured hands, and she gladly typed her cell phone number into his contacts.
Then she placed it back in his grip, stood from the table, and gave him her teeth-whitening-commercial perfect smile. “Okay! See you Saturday. Normally, it’s bring your own booze, but don’t worry. I have a VIP section with your name all over it.” She winked at him before bouncing away. No, really. She bounced.
Our table of three stayed quiet.
Our eyes darted back and forth with one another until Carlton said, “So was that a group invite, or…?”
It wasn’t a group invite. Carlton and I weren’t famous enough.
After school, I found Aiden surrounded by people at his locker. He was smiling and talking up a storm, but I saw the slight trembling in his hand as he tapped his pinkie finger against his leg. His invisible golden retriever tail was not wagging. It was between his legs.
I went into full-blown bodyguard mode. I dashed toward him, breaking through the sea of bodies. I wrapped a stern hand around his wrist and pulled him around the corner, yanking him away from the crowd. I slung the janitor closet open and pushed him inside, shutting the door behind us. I pulled the dangling string attached to the light on the ceiling and lit up the space.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Saving you.”
“What?”
“You’re having a panic attack.”
He blinked a few times, looked down at his trembling hands, and nodded. “Oh.”
I knew my best friend inside and out. I knew when he felt overwhelmed by such small changes in his body language. Most people missed his slight transitions, but I could read that man like a book. He was my favorite novel. One I’d repeatedly reread if given the chance.
“You don’t owe these people any part of you, Aiden.”
“They’re being nice.”
“They’re being gremlins who are trying to suck you dry. Stop talking. It doesn’t help. Just breathe.”
He lowered his head, and I took his shaky hand into mine to steady it. We stayed there for ten minutes, not talking. Sometimes words didn’t help a situation. Sometimes you just have to let time pass on by.
“We’re going to miss the bus home,” he mentioned.
“It’s fine. We can walk. Look at me.”
His blue eyes rose, and they didn’t look as overwhelmed anymore. He was coming down from the intensity of being bombarded by people all day long.
“You’re good,” I told him.
“I’m good.” He cleared his throat and brushed his hand against the side of his face. “Can I walk you home now?”
I nodded.
He held the door open for me, and after I stepped out of the closet, he followed.