She drops the attitude right away. “You said you were okay with that. I thought you weren’t mad. Do you still like Josh?” she asks in a super sweet voice.
I dig through my pocketbook searching for my pack of gum. “No, I don’t like Josh.” I mimic her fake voice and shove a piece of strawberry gum in my mouth.
“Oh, gimme a piece.” Tessa reaches her hand back, swerving as she grasps for a piece of my gum. Just like that, everything is dropped and the new focus is on gum.
Once again I vow it’s time for me to change. Only this time instead of just thinking it, I’m actually going to do it. I’m officially ready to make changes.
CHAPTER TWO
Robin
The thunder booms and the sky opens up. Not a promising start to the school year.
I’m standing in my narrow hallway peering out the window, waiting for Kent and Patrick to come out. They run from their house to the car holding notebooks over their heads shielding themselves from the rain. The extra time I spent on my hair this morning was a big waste of time. Oh well. Here I go. I throw my purse over my head and run like crazy across the street to their car. I fling the door open just as Kent is starting it and jump in.
“What are you doing? It’s pouring, I was gonna drive over and pull in your driveway.” Kent swivels in his seat to face me.
“I’m fine, no big deal.” I use my sleeve to wipe the rain from my face. Great. Runny black mascara is now all over my sleeve.
“Yup, nothing ever is,” Kent says under his breath but still loud enough for me to hear.
The strong scent of cologne catches in my nose making me cough. I know it’s Patrick because Kent would never wear cologne, let alone that much. Patrick always dresses in ironed, collared shirts with crisp dark jeans. Ironing he does himself. Kent on the other hand is forever in faded t-shirts and worn out jeans. Clothes he picks up from a crumpled pile he made himself. Patrick never misses a haircut appointment. Kent’s hair is on the longer side, one time he let me trim it. Completely different in almost every way but they get along great…for the most part. I mean, they’re brothers, I’ve seen them argue.
Nothing’s been said about the kiss since it happened and I’m thankful, but at the same time extremely disappointed. I hoped we might kiss again, but no such luck. Whatever moment happened between us has passed. I really want to talk to him about it, but I probably won’t.
The rain beats down on the front window and all three of us are quiet. Pulling out a pen from my purse I begin scribbling my name in my new notebook over and over to look busy. I’m an expert at looking busy to avoid conversation.
First period we have History. Kent and I choose seats in the last row, across from each other. We look around the class to see who else we know. My friend Sarah takes the seat in front of me. She spins around and starts right in asking me about my schedule.
Ashley Simons struts in late to class and takes the seat right in front of Kent. That’s odd.
Kent starts off in the conversation with us but soon ducks out. He starts up a new conversation of his own. I’m trying my best to continue paying attention to Sarah, but at the same time try and hear what Kent and Ashley are discussing.
Weird, for a girl who usually ignores pretty much everyone, she certainly has a lot to chat about with Kent. From the corner of my eye I notice him lean in and whisper, an obnoxious giggle from Ashley follows.
It’s kind of surprising to see Kent talking with a girl like Ashley. Her tan is fake, her nails are fake, her blonde hair is fake and that pretty much matches her personality. Fake.
Ashley tips her head back in another fit of giggles. What is Kent whispering that is so damn funny?
“I wonder what that’s all about.” Sarah nods her head in Kent and Ashley’s direction.
I look over pretending to notice Ashley and Kent for the first time. “I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders acting like I don’t care. I care. Trust me, I care.
The teacher clears her throat and all attention focuses onto the front of the room. Good, about time, I’m ready to have class start, enough with all the chit-chat already.
The next few classes seem endless mainly because Kent isn’t in any of them with me. I can’t help but notice and be just a bit annoyed to see Ashley is in all of Kent’s classes so far. A few times I see them walking together in the hallway. I can’t understand. Why is Ashley being so friendly with him all of the sudden? And why is he being so friendly back?
I spend fourth period staring at the clock counting down the minutes to lunch when I’ll get to see Kent again. Not only will I get to spend the whole lunch period with him, but the rest of the afternoon all of our classes are together. When the bell finally rings I speed down the hallway to get to the cafeteria.
Ashley
The first day of school and I did not wear something “hot in a shade of purple” like I was instructed by my so-called best friends. I didn’t call them the night before school to see if we were going to wear our hair up or down. The biggest snub, I didn’t like, nor comment on Tessa’s latest online post.
The new me doesn’t give a flying shit about any of that stuff anymore.
I’m wearing red today to match my new very expensive purse. The one Tessa and I were both on the waiting list for but I know for fact I was called and she wasn’t. I may not care about her shit, but she’s certainly gonna care about mine. Wait till she sees me sporting this new bag. She’s gonna die.
My search for new friends begins right away. Instead of sitting next to Holly in first period, I choose to sit in front of Kent Daniels. I jump right into a conversation with him and do my best to ignore Holly’s gaping stare. Kent has on another superhero t-shirt. I’m glad I know a thing or two about superheroes. With a geeky guy like Kent, there really isn’t much else to talk about. He makes nerdy, lame comments to me and I laugh like he’s saying some of the funniest lines I’ve ever heard. I’m so good at faking interest.
Kent winds up being in all of my classes the rest of the morning. He’s fun to talk to. Well, he’s different to talk to. Different is good.
He asks me in third period if I want to sit with him at lunch. At first I think, no thanks, but if I’m serious about change, this could be a good start. The losers tend to stay out of trouble. They get the “good” label. I want to be labeled good. So losers - get ready to meet your new best friend.
Tessa waves me over in the cafeteria. She’s already eyeing my new bag as I walk over. The chair next to her is empty and I know she saved it for me.
“You got called.” Her hands reach for my bag, opening it to make sure it’s legit. It’s the real deal. She’s pissed.
“Oh my God, you didn’t?” I gasp pretending I’m shocked. It’s hard not to laugh.
“Maybe I did, my phone’s been acting weird.”
Yeah, I’m sure. By the time she actually gets the call, this bag will be old news. Wait till she hears what I’m gonna say next.
“I’m gonna sit over there today.” I point over to Kent’s table.
Tessa looks over and bursts into laughter. “Oh yeah me too,” she says mocking me.
“I’m serious Tessa. I already told Kent I would.”
Tessa looks over at the table again, trading her smile for a nasty frown. “If you’re serious, good luck with that, because once you sit over there don’t think you’re going to come back and be able to sit over here again.”
Unbelievable, who does Tessa think she is? With my new purse positioned on my wrist I use vigorous hand gestures to inform her of a few things she needs to get straight. “I can sit wherever I want to sit. I can sit with them today and tomorrow I can walk right back over here and sit next to Josh if I feel like it.”
I see Tessa’s eyes widen at the mention of Josh’s name. She snaps her head away and points her nose in the air ignoring me. She understood the message. I knew she would.
Sliding my purse up to my shoulder I walk confidently across the cafeteria to a new table. I sit d
own in the seat next to Kent, glancing around at the other faces sitting around us. It’s awkward when I realize these are all people I’ve ignored over the last few years. Beyond awkward. I don’t even know some of their names and it’s senior year.
“Everyone here knows Ashley,” Kent says to his group of friends. A few surprised “Hi’s” are muttered. They seem a bit leery of my presence. Two girls look in my direction and whisper to each other. Incredibly, I’m the odd one at the table. I have to try and be nice to get them to warm up to me.
“Great shirt,” I point to one of the whispering girls. It’s a total lie. The shirt is hideous.
The girl perks right up. “Thank you.”
Fake compliments always work like a charm.
I dish out a few more comments about ugly clothes, dated purses and messed up nails. Only I use words like awesome, hot and sweet. It doesn’t take long before I start to feel welcomed by the new crowd.
Conversations are a bit unlike the ones I’m used to having. There’s a little more depth to them. These people discuss topics other than themselves and putting down others. Everyone seems a whole lot nicer than what I’m used to.
Yay, I give a silent cheer. It looks like this might actually be the start of the change I’m looking for.
I’m in the middle of a conversation with a girl whose name I just learned is Megan, when Robin arrives late dropping her bag onto an empty chair at the end of the table. Her face turns white when she looks over and sees me.
“Robin, look who’s going to start sitting with us.” Megan motions towards me. I smile, stick my hand up and wave. “Isn’t that so great?” Megan asks.
Robin shrugs, she looks horror stricken. “Mmhm,” she finally squeezes out through tight lips.
The carwash, yuck, I need to fix that. “Robin, you have fantastic boobs,” I yell down the table to her. I feel bad so I actually give her a real compliment.
All eyes dart onto Robin’s chest then up to her face. Robin’s face goes from white to purple. She grabs her bag, covers her chest with it and clunks down in her seat.
“Was that wrong?” I whisper to Kent, confused by her reaction. “I wasn’t lying, I swear. I really do think they’re fantastic.”
“They are. She’s shy, doesn’t do well with attention,” he whispers back.
Whatever, Robin’s obviously a complete freak. I’m just about to return to my conversation with Megan when Kent taps me on the shoulder.
“What?” I turn in my seat to look at him.
“Talk to me,” he says.
“About what?” This is strange. Kent’s been talking with his friends and I’m in the middle of my own conversation. Why does he suddenly want to talk to me again? We’ve been talking all day.
“You never told me; do you have any brothers or sisters?” he asks all interested, swiping back a few strands of long hair from his face.
“No,” I say. “I wish, but it’s just me.”
“I have two brothers, one is only six. His name is Matthew.”
“Really, and one’s only six? Awww, you are so lucky, little kids are so much fun,” I gush. I am completely jealous of people who have siblings. One day I’m gonna have a billion kids, or at least six.
Kent keeps yapping to me right until the end of lunch. Every time he seems to wind down he thinks of something new to talk about. He’s really nice, but seriously…shut up. Now we’re talking about our classes. So boring. I tell him how much I hate math and how much I suck at it. The whole time I’m trying not to yawn. I start giving imaginary make-overs to the girls at the table. Robin might actually be hot if she put some effort into her appearance.
“I can help you,” he says.
“With what?” This conversation is so boring I don’t even remember what we were just talking about.
“Math. You just said you sucked at it. I can help you.”
“Oh, yeah, thanks.” Actually that’s awesome, because I need all the help I can get in math.
I take out my cell and type Kent’s number into it. Everyone at the table is staring at us. Almost everyone. Robin has her nose buried in a book and I would bet money she isn’t actually reading it. She hates me. Why? The car wash? Because I told her she has nice boobs? Get over it Robin.
“Are you sure you don’t mind helping me? I don’t want to bother you,” I say knowing I plan on taking him up on his offer.
“Nope, no bother at all. In a way I think you’ll be helping me.” Kent’s eyes land on Robin.
Suddenly I get the feeling there’s something I’m missing. But everyone at this table is a little different than what I’m used too, so it’s probably nothing. I just need to familiarize myself with this new pack of weirdoes.
Tessa catches up with me on our way out of the cafeteria. “Why didn’t you just tell me you were with Kent? I mean it’s not like you’re with Josh anymore or anything.”
“I’m not with Kent.” I keep walking, I haven’t forgotten about our lovely words before lunch.
“Oh, well you should go for him, he’s cute,” she says timidly with the same fake smile I often use.
I roll my eyes. Fake compliments only work on people who don’t give fake compliments. I don’t believe for one second Tessa thinks Kent is cute, because truthfully he isn’t.
“Bye, Tessa.” I wave my hand dismissively and walk off in the opposite direction.
Robin
This isn’t normal for me, but I’m livid.
I’m mad at Kent. I’m mad at Ashley. I am furious with Patrick. If he hadn’t stopped me in the hall to ask me a dumb question I wouldn’t have been late to lunch and it would have been me sitting next to Kent, not Ashley.
On the way home from school Kent sits next to me in the backseat. Patrick’s driving and the friend he’s driving home called shotgun as we were walking to the car. I’m dying to know, but don’t dare ask Kent about the whole Ashley thing.
Most of my day has been spent angry and confused, especially after lunch. If I was a different type of person, I probably would have spent the day thinking about what a man-stealing bitch Ashley Simons is. But I don’t think like that I remind myself…again.
Really, the way I’m feeling, this isn’t like me at all.
Patrick’s friend, Sean, turns and faces us from the front seat. “I heard you and Ashley Simons are like a thing now. How lucky are you man?”
Kent smirks at Sean but doesn’t say anything. Does that mean they are a thing? What is going on? Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask, I repeat over and over in my head.
“Are you guys a thing?” Patrick asks.
I see Patrick’s curious face waiting in the mirror for Kent to reply. I could just kiss Patrick for asking, this makes up for making me late to lunch.
“No.” Kent looks out his window and shakes his head. “I just want to help her out, help her meet some new friends. I’m going to start helping her with math.”
“Math?” Patrick thunders and we all look at him. “How are you going to help her with math? I have to help you all the time. You’re not good at math.”
“Oh, I get it,” Sean chimes in. “I know what ‘math’ is code for.”
“It’s not code for anything. I’m going to help her with actual math. I’m telling you we are not together,” Kent says again. He’s looking at me this time when he says it.
I can’t stop myself. “Yeah, that would be weird, you going for the whole blonde, blue-eyed, popular girl,” I blurt out.
Kent runs his hand through his hair. “Her eyes are actually brown.”
A lump forms in my throat. I give Kent a quick smile and turn my head away. Last week we were kissing and today he’s in love with Ashley Simons? A small surge of anger spreads through my body. I take a deep, cleansing breath desperate to calm down, but it doesn’t work. My next cleansing breath comes out rather noisy. Kent looks over at me…and laughs.
The rest of the car ride is silent and for some reason everyone, not just me, seems tense. I get the wei
rd feeling I’m not the only one angered by the day’s events.
At home I slam my books down on the kitchen table. I’m cranky and on the verge of tears. This is not the way I normally act. Normally, I’m patient, calm, collected, but right now I’m so ticked off.
Kent sends me a text a few hours later asking when I’m coming over. Pfft, I wasn’t. Take that jerk. What the hell is wrong with me? If I’m this upset I should just say something to him.
But of course I don’t.
CHAPTER THREE
Ashley
“Alright I need you to help me.” I toss a piece of paper down on the table in front of Kent. “They want me to show my work. I keep trying, but none of this makes sense.”
Kent puts his slice of pizza down. He picks up the paper giving it a blank stare.
“Do you see what I did wrong?” I ask.
“Um, yeah.” Kent hands me back the paper.
“Okay, can you show me?”
“Not right now. It would take a long time and it’s very complicated. Why don’t you come over later and I’ll help you work on it.”
“Go to your house?” I figured he would help me at lunch or over the phone.
“Yeah, practice started up again so I won’t be home until after four, you can come over around four thirty.”
I twist a piece of hair watching Kent chomp away on his pizza. He really isn’t that cute. For one, he is too skinny. Plus the long hair in his face is super annoying. He does have good skin. Teeth are straight. Still though, he’s not cute. And he’s definitely not hot. The funny thing is - he would make a great boyfriend.
“What are you thinking about?” Kent asks me wiping away sauce from his chin.
“Nothing.”
I can’t tell him what I’m thinking, because right now I’m thinking of ways to make him my boyfriend.
“So you want to come over?”
“Yeah.” I pick up a pretzel and bite the salt off it still studying his un-cute features.
“Great.” Kent raises his voice. “See you at my house today at four thirty.”
Fast (The Fast Series) Page 3
