by Sherry Soule
“Let’s go out back where it isn’t so loud,” he suggests.
“Definitely,” I reply.
Hayden takes my free hand and a shivery jolt goes through my entire body. His fingers feel warm and slightly rough, his grip confident and firm. He leads us through the crowded room and into the kitchen, then out the backdoor. Every girl with a pulse eyes me with envy. I have no idea what I’m doing or where this is going to go. All I know is that this night is going to be epic.
We sit in two lounge chairs on the deck overlooking the water, lit by a single bulb flickering in and out of life. A strong breeze lifts my hair, making it swirl wildly around my head, like Medusa. I smooth the flyaway strands down and get comfortable. The sky is an amazing purplish black set against the dark blue of the sea, and I can’t believe views like this actually exist in the Bay Area.
“This is much better.” He leans back, seeming relaxed and happy. “We can hear each other now.”
I gaze at the ocean, casting sidelong glances at Hayden as he stares at my profile. I barely stifle a laugh at the absurdity of it all: Alien Boy and me. At a party. Like it’s completely normal. I almost pinch myself. I’m really here. With Hayden.
Turning my head, I catch his burning stare. His eyes never leave mine. No one has ever looked at me in quite that way before. Like he’s trying to commit every inch of my face to his photographic memory. Guys usually only gawk at my chestal region. They don’t typically seem that interested in slightly overweight, fashion-forward me.
Behind us, the music cranks up so loud on a bass heavy Black Eyed Peas song that a slight vibration glides over my spine. I bob my head along with the hip-hop tune.
“Why did you want to come tonight?” I cast a glance at his face and manage not to blush.
He gazes at me, his expression warm. “Are you already questioning my judgment?”
“Maybe.”
“Do you want a drink?” he asks.
“No thanks.” I already feel out of control, and I don’t need liquor to make it worse. No telling what stupid stuff I’ll do or blurt out.
A streak of light moves rapidly across the sky, and then fades out suddenly.
“Did you see that?” I ask, excitedly. “It was a shooting star. We should make a wish.”
Hayden smiles and says in a low tone, “You do realize a shooting star is actually just a meteoroid. No more than a tiny fragment that’s the left over dust from a comet. It’s those pieces that can travel at great speeds—”
“Hayden, seriously? An astronomy lesson? Why can’t you just see how beautiful and amazing the stars are? Maybe it’s a sign.”
“A sign of what?”
I turn away, but I can’t hide the red glow that warms my face. “You know, like fate or something.”
“I suppose…” he pauses, staring up into the darkness. “Is there some rhyme we need to say or something to make sure our wish comes true?”
A slow grin spreads across my face. Hayden’s actually indulging me, and not getting all Mr. Mature Mega-Brainiac for a change.
“No. Just make a wish.”
“Should we do it at the same time?” he asks.
My smile widens. “Sure.”
He closes his eyes, with an amused grin playing across his sexy features. I close mine, too and make a wish.
“So, how does this work? Do we tell each other what we wished for? Or won’t it come true?” he asks.
I open my eyes and look at him. “Hush! I’m wishing and I can’t concentrate with you asking so many questions.”
“I’ll wait.” He whistles a soft tune, then laces his fingers together and tucks them behind his head.
“You’re impossible!” I laugh and playfully swat at him.
“Share time?” His eyes twinkle. “Is it safe now?”
“We both saw the shooting star, so I think it’s all right to share our wishes,” I say. “What was yours?”
His gaze rests on my mouth, and his tongue darts out, wetting his lips. “I’d rather you went first.”
My cheeks heat. “It’s kind of embarrassing…”
“You can tell me anything.” He looks up at the twinkling starlight and sighs deeply. A long pause glides between us, then without looking at me, he whispers, “I will never make fun of you. I promise. Your friendship means a lot to me...”
My breath hitches, and I have to remind myself to breathe. Hayden is so damn gorgeous and romantic and sweet.
“Your wish?” he asks.
“For more moments like this,” I say softly. “And you?”
“You know what?” His eyes burn into mine. “You drive me totally crazy...but in a really good way.”
My toes curl in my platform Mary Janes. Warm tingles spread over my skin. “You, um, didn’t tell me your wish.”
“No. I didn’t.”
He leans close, bringing our mouths within kissing distance. Restlessness unfurls inside me, spreading through my veins and spiking my pulse. He pushes a few strands of purple hair out of my eyes and tucks them behind my ear. All these forbidden, unfamiliar emotions surface and go berserk in my body. Despite the fact that I still don’t know much about this guy aside from the fact that every girl at this party wants him, he’s technologically savvy, has superpowers, and that he’s part alien, I’m beyond thrilled to be here with him. Nothing matters other than the tingle of my fingers, thighs, and lips. It feels as though Hayden is reaching out to me on a cellular level, drawing me to press every single inch of myself against his muscled bod. Never in my life have I felt an attraction this strong. With a crooked smile, he leans back on the lounge chair.
Wow. Such a romantic movie moment.
I clear my throat. “So what’ve you been up to since we, you know, talked?”
Hayden shrugs. “Building my spaceship.”
“What?” I straighten and one hand flies upward to clutch my throat. “I thought—”
“Sloane! I’m kidding! Had you going, though.” Smiling, he shakes his head. “The usual. Some computer programming, resting, and getting medical treatments from my uncle. But mostly annoying the hell out of my parents. What about you?”
“Thinking. About you. A lot.”
His mouth lifts into a hangdog smile that I’m starting to adore. “I’m glad you agreed to come tonight.”
My heart flutters around on feathery glitter wings. “Me, too.” I mentally roll my eyes. Do I sound as lame to him as I do to myself?
Silence stretches between us, and while it isn’t awkward, I suddenly want to learn everything I can about Hayden Lancaster…and get him to divulge his wish.
I run my bottom lip between my teeth. “Did you read the last article I wrote?”
“Yeah, about those cheesy flashlight clichés used in scary movies? Funny stuff. But why do you use the pen name, Zombie Queen?”
“It’s cute and I used to want some anonymity.” I happily ramble on about scary movies and my “Fright Night Babble” column before I shut myself up. “Sorry, I’m just really passionate about the horror genre. Once I get started, you can’t shut me up.” I shrug. “I must be boring you to death.”
“Nah. I like listening to you talk.” He takes my hand for a moment and squeezes it. “Every bit of you is fascinating to me.”
Gulp. I’m about to turn into mushy girl-goo at his feet. How I don’t melt into a puddle is beyond the laws of physics.
He gazes up at the stars. “When I was younger, my mom used to make up stories about the Zetas’ unique alien society. She has a terrific imagination.”
A boy who loves his mother. Cute.
“She sounds great,” I say. “Tell me one of the stories.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.” I settle in and listen to one of Hayden’s wicked cool childhood tales. His melodic voice is mesmerizing and I soon find myself drifting into the imaginary world he creates. Hayden is not only the hottest nonhuman on the island, but he’s also smart. Funny. Creative. And sexy as hell.
&n
bsp; When he finishes, he gets real quiet. I look over at him and my stomach twists with nerves and expectation. His long stare becomes intense, like a warm caress. That heated gaze fries every brain cell I possess and I swallow hard.
“What are you thinking about?” I whisper.
“Your smile. Those glossy lips.” He scoots closer to me. His gaze drops to my mouth. “I’m thinking about kissing you...”
Major tingles everywhere. And I mean, major. My body trembles. Yes! This is it! I want to kiss him. So badly.
He inches his face closer to mine. His minty breath fans my cheek. His hand lifts my chin, tilting my head toward his, and I hold very still. My stomach hollows out and my eyelids flutter closed. Any second his mouth will lock onto mine. His tongue will—
The back door crashes open. Emma and Kaitlyn tumble out, arms around each other and giggling. Hayden and I freeze, and then move apart. Instantly, the crashing waves, laughter, and music come rushing in on my senses. It’s like waking up from a deep sleep only to enter sensory overload.
“Let’s go back inside. But just know that I plan to continue this at a later date,” he says in a rough, sexy voice.
I can’t help but smile in response. I definitely want to hang out with him again.
The moment we walk inside, the crowd parts and a girl pushes through the throng and into the open. Flaxen curls frame the girl’s exquisite face, her slim frame is willowy in a halter-top and jeans, and her movements extraordinarily graceful.
“I’ve seen her before at school,” I say. “But she doesn’t go to Haven High.”
When the girl’s big brown eyes catch sight of Hayden, she lights up like a Fourth of July sparkler, and smiles really big.
“There you are, babe! Now get your cute butt over here and give your girlfriend a proper hello.”
Turning, I glance at Hayden. The corners of his mouth droop and the lines crisscrossing his forehead deepen. The girl comes skipping across the room, her curls bouncing like a shampoo commercial. She launches herself into his arms and plants her red lips to his mouth like a suction cup in a sickening display of adoration.
Suddenly it feels as if I’m in a romance movie, but I’ve been bumped from the starring role. The sight of them lip-locking makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon. I’m so surprised that I actually stumble back. My stomach drops down somewhere around my ankles.
I did not see this one coming. Not happening. This is not happening.
Hayden has a freakin’ girlfriend.
SEVENTEEN
My chest constricts at the mental images of that beautiful girl hugging and kissing Hayden. My Hayden. About ten seconds after that gross display of affection, I flee the party—catching a ride with this boy from my Bio class—and go straight home.
I stamp inside my house and practically slam the door. I fling off my coat, missing the hook on the rack and it lands on the floor. I don’t even bother picking it up. Teeth grinding, I dash up both sets of stairs to my room.
Yanking off my clothes, I change into PJs and crawl into bed, but sleep seems impossible. So my night turned out to be epic, all right. An epic fail.
Images of Hayden and that skinny girl induce my upchuck reflex. I squeeze my eyes shut and bury my face into my pillow, but it doesn’t erase the flashes of those long, thin legs wrapped around Hayden. A single tear escapes, but I resolve not to cry. After tossing and turning for hours, I finally manage to drift off into a restless slumber.
In the morning, I wake up with a moan, my heart aching and the sheets twisted into ropes around my legs. I listen for a moment to determine whether anyone in the house is up yet, but it’s quiet. No early risers in the Masterson household. The stillness helps me to go over the horrible events of last night because I have a lot of stuff to think about.
Mostly Hayden, Hayden, Hayden.
The same tormenting thoughts keep repeating in my mind. Like…
Hayden ditching me for some beautiful, skinny blonde. The gross way she was rubbing up on him with her perfect body and her perky boobs. Doesn’t he realize that’s all foam and underwire? The major shock. And feeling stupid for trusting him. Then an odd sense of betrayal.
My crushing romantic expectations feel heavy like corpses on my shoulders. What was I thinking, anyway? Why would a guy like Hayden really want someone like me? I’m a mere subhuman and he’s like a Greek god. And there’s no way I’m messing around with a guy who has a girlfriend. Painful lesson learned about guys like him—who don’t usually go for overweight girls like me. From now on, I need to protect my heart.
Dammit. And I bought into the whole poor alien thing! I roll over and punch the crap out of my pillow.
So I don’t drive myself completely insane thinking about it, I throw back the blankets and get up. I shuffle downstairs and into the bathroom to shower. The warm water is soothing, and I try to get a grip on my rambling emotions. One minute I want to cry, and seconds later, I want to rip him apart. Pouring a dollop of lavender-scented shampoo into my palm, I let the hot spray pour down my back and scrub at my hair. Purple dye runs down the drain along with my hopes of a real relationship with that Two-Timing-Alien-Boy.
Tears swim in my eyes and I give myself a much needed pep talk.
“Stop all this self-pitying crap. He’s not worth it. Time to pull up your big girl panties.”
I refuse to be one of those silly girls whose entire world stops spinning over some half-human who’s supposed to follow the rules of alien supremacy. I will not waste another second of my day with thoughts of Hayden.
Getting out of the shower, I put on my bathrobe and march upstairs to my room.
I go over to my iPod, resting on my desk, and choose “Titanium,” a song by Sia, then crank the volume. This amazing tune seems to fit my mood, present state of mind, and my current life.
Instead of getting dressed, I peel away the robe, as if separating myself of the barrier between hope and reality. Hope that Hayden had liked me for me, and the reality that guys as hot as him, rarely give the time of day to a plump girl like myself.
Humming to the song, I stare at myself in the full-length mirror. No wonder I’m a target. All of Zach’s jabs about my weight are buzzing through my brain like a bad disco song. Add Devin’s lusty staring and that skinny bitch kissing Hayden, and I want to smash every mirror in the house, starting with this one. What cretin invented full-length mirrors, anyway? But I take a good hard look at myself naked, now that I’m utterly vulnerable and exposed. I turn this way and that.
Great. I resemble a naked Gummy Bear.
My body appears soft and curvaceous, but I wish my jumbo boobs were smaller. My stomach has a roll that I’d like to work off, but nothing too grotesque. Tucking in my bottom lip, I decide I have “Marilyn Monroe” curves. I’m a Renaissance woman and I should be proud of my body. I’ve spent most of my life dealing with self-esteem issues and I’m done. My dad’s always saying that the way you see yourself is much more important than the way other people perceive you and he’s right.
I’m not a skinny girl trying to get out of a fat chick’s body. I’m just me—chubby Sloane Masterson—and I am totally okay with that. I may not be super thin like Viola or all legs like that girl from the party, but I like my figure. It’s time to stop being so self-conscious and live with what I got. To hell with Zach and his fat-shaming commentary.
With that newfound determination, I also decide that I’m not going to sit home and mope all day. After I eat breakfast, I’ll go hang out at the graveyard and chat with Grandma about anything, except Hayden Lancaster.
From the closet, I grab a cute top with a skull decal and exposed shoulders, a pair of black leggings, and my awesome lace-up wedge boots. Once I’m dressed, I start to brush out my hair.
Clink.
I freeze. Out of the corner of my eye, a small rock strikes one of the windows again. My stomach leaps into my throat. Who the hell is throwing pebbles at my window?
“Someone with a death w
ish,” I mutter, stomping closer and tugging the drapes open.
I yank up the pane to peer down at the lawn. Someone steps into view—my stalker?—scaring the breath out of me.
“Hey!” Hayden calls up to me with wrinkled brows.
In the movies, it’s considered romantic to throw rocks at a girl’s window. Well, in real life it would be under different circumstances.
My stomach clenches into knots so tight a Boy Scout would earn a special merit badge trying to unravel them. The walls I’ve been carefully constructing around my heart all morning start to crumble when I see Hayden. And I can’t help worrying about what weird thing my tangled hair is doing—
Stop right there! I don’t care. Because he has a girlfriend.
“Ever heard of a doorbell?” Leaning out the window, my pulse spikes at the sight of him. “What do you want?”
“I had to see you, Sloane.” He runs a hand through his tousled hair. “You left so quick last night that I didn’t have a chance to explain.”
“That’s because your mouth was busy.”
“I figured Tama caused your hasty exit,” he says with a frown.
“Gee, Hayden. You’re even smarter than I thought.”
“Can you please come down here, so we can talk?” He jiggles the pebbles still clutched in his hand and sighs before looking back up at me. “I’m not leaving until you do.”
I hesitate, unsure I want to hear anything he has to say, but if I don’t go, he’ll probably wake up my family.
“I’m not budging.” Hayden folds his arms over his chest, obviously making himself comfortable.
For a minute, I bite the inside of my cheek and ponder going down there. Oh, god. He has that look. The one that says he’ll literally break into my house and drag me out by the hair. And I’m not sure if the thought of him—storming the castle, so to speak—scares me or thrills me more.
