by Y. A. Love
Fenton would stare at me, and if I ever (unfortunately) noticed it, he would flip me off, or give me dirty looks. That is, when he wasn’t sending me gifts and poems and trying to get back together with me.
Both made me uncomfortable—the glares, and the wooing.
I’d broken up with him because I just wasn’t feeling it. His roller-coaster craziness wasn’t really changing my mind.
It just made me wonder why I got together with him in the first place.
Though, he had everyone against me. He was the school’s golden boy. I was just the wench that broke his heart.
So, fun.
Not.
While I was standing in the lunch-line one of our cheerleaders made an announcement over the school’s intercom. (They do that.) (It’s their job or something.)
I wasn’t really listening as she was chirping away about a pep-rally or dance fund-raiser or something, but then she went on to say, “I have a message from our football hero, Fenton Myers.”
Hearing that, I freeze.
I’m not sure why.
But a chill goes through me.
Maybe because she sounds … bitter.
She goes on, still sounding that way.
“This is what Fenton wrote and wanted me to announce,” she says. Then she reads his words: “As you all know, my girlfriend, Lexi, isn’t my girlfriend anymore. She broke my heart and broke up with me. She’s made me so crazy and so sad that I am now spending time at Shady-Brooks—that’s a mental hospital, by the way. So, I’m not going to be playing football anytime soon, or able to lead our team to the championship. You can thank Lexi for that. Thanks, Lexi. Thanks a lot.”
A chill goes down my spine.
Shivering, I look around the crowded lunchroom, a shudder going through me. This isn’t my normal lunch hour. All my friends have lunch “A.” Which I usually have, but my schedule got messed up due to midterms—so here I am, carrying my tray of food without a friend in sight.
I’m actually shaking.
Because a lot of people are glaring at me.
Football players, and cheerleaders, and … well, it seems like the whole freakin’ lunchroom.
I’d like to ditch my tray and run.
But I’m trembling and having trouble walking. No way can I run.
Instead, I shakily carry my tray of food around the crowded cafeteria, anxious to just find a place to sit—anywhere. That is, anywhere that people won’t glare at me or whisper about me…. Unfortunately, that’s starting to look like nowhere.
Desperately trudging around the narrow isles, none of my semi “friends” are inviting me to sit with them. Whenever I catch their eye, they look away from me as though hoping I will pass them by. So, I do. Since I’m suddenly a leper, so I can’t blame them. Too much. Though the more it happens, the more my eyes begin to water with threatening tears.
As I trail around, my cheeks burn as though they’re on fire. I scold myself, Just find a place and sit! But it’s not really that easy. I don’t want it to look conspicuous that I’m alone. Actually, I don’t want to be alone. Plus, there’s just not that many empty seats. At least not any that I can find as I wonder around, close to tears.
Oh, perfect. Awesome. From across the cafeteria, I see Jenna and her friends watching me. They have evil smirks on their faces. (Jenna is Fenton’s ex-girlfriend. He dumped her to go out with me. So, of course she is loving this—me getting glares and shade.)
Laughing, Jenna calls out loudly, “What’s the matter, Fenton-stealer? You don’t have any friends? What a shock!—no one wants to eat with Fenton’s heart-stomping, back-stabber.”
“Yeah,” her best friend Abbey snarls. “Back-stabber!”
Her friends all start chanting it, “Back-stabber! Back-stabber!”
My hands are shaking so bad I’m about to drop my tray, but suddenly, from out of nowhere, Ryan is beside me. He takes the tray from me and tenderly puts his warm hand on my elbow, gently leading me towards the nearest table.
“Lexi, smile,” he whispers softly in my ear, his warm breath heating up my chilled neck. “Otherwise, they’re going to think they can get to you—don’t let them.”
I have no idea why he’s being nice to me.
But my mind is a blur. I just let him gently lead me to safety.
He has me sit at a table beside him. Really, really close. For comfort.
… and it is comforting.
He whispers in my ear, “Eat Lexi.”
I shake my head, so close to tears. “I can’t.”
It’s just as much from him—from him saving me as anything else. It’s making me too emotional, and reminding me of that day he found me puking in the toilet. The day he’d gently held my hair back and did all of my chores. He was always taking care of me.
Always coming to my rescue.
“Why are you doing this?” I whisper huskily.
“Doing what?” he asks.
“Being nice to me.”
“You know why Lexi,” he says gently.
I tilt my head at him. “Why?”
“Because I love you.”
He softly strokes my hair. “I’ve always loved you. Since I was a little boy.”
I suck in my breath.
When I can get my lungs to work—you know, breathe—I whisper to him, “I love you too, Ryan.”
He grins tenderly, “I know, Lexi.”
Then he adds, gently pressing his forehead to mine, “—but thank you for finally figuring it out.”
Note from the author, Melanie Marks:
I hope you enjoyed the stories.
If you would like to contact me, or receive email notifications of my newest books, email me at:
[email protected]
My website is:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Check often for updates as I’m always writing new books.
***
Summary of
Melanie Marks’ newest novel:
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
Okay, I’m just going to start by saying I did NOT mean to make-out with my total enemy’s (smokin’ hot) boyfriend. I swear! I mean, I know it sounds like the perfect revenge, since my total enemy became my total enemy by making out with my boyfriend (who, you know, became my ex boyfriend after that). Still, even so—I did NOT make out with my enemy’s (hot) boyfriend on purpose. Really!! TRULY!!! Not gonna lie, though—Mmmm. Oh man! That kiss … I can’t get it out of my head. Or dreams. Smokin’ hot Sutter Sinclair, that boy can kiss!
http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8
Summary of:
FALL FOR ME
By Melanie Marks
(Right now this book only costs a dollar)
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-For-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B005GYEF4M
When Zoey Jones’ long-time boyfriend, Finn, cheats on her—kissing a girl he “just can’t resist”—he gives Zoey a “free pass,” telling her she can kiss any guy she wants. Finn is so cocky and sure of their relationship that the arrangement seems perfect. He’s not worried Zoey will fall for another guy, and he’s itching to get rid of his feelings of guilt. But the thing is, Zoey knows exactly who she wants to kiss—longs to kiss—Finn’s best friend, Riley. But, she wants the kiss too much. She knows that. So, she resists the “Free Pass.” Still, she’s pushed into it when Finn loses a bet to Riley, and Riley wants his payment—a kiss from Zoey.
Excerpt from the book, FALL FOR ME:
“Don’t worry Riley,” I growled, “I’ll stay out of your way. I wouldn’t dream of getting between you and Ava.”
Riley blinked, then tilted his head, like he was trying to figure out what I was saying. “Get between us?” He blocked my way as I tried to storm past him to the door. “Jones, I broke up with Ava.”
“Oh.” My heart started doing a strange flutter thing. “You did? Oh. Well, that’s good.” I breathed—tried to breathe. I choked out, “I mean, the way y
ou two were—it seemed like it would be hard to …”
Riley raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to go on. But I didn’t wanna.
Still, he waited, watching me.
“—I mean, in case someone else, better for you …”
He tilted his head. “What?—you mean if my true love ever comes along?” His lips quirked. “She did, Jones. Just unfortunately, my best friend saw her first.”
Summary of
Melanie Marks’ novel:
LOUDER THAN WORDS
When seventeen year old Summer Baker is stalked by her obsessed ex-boyfriend she’s forced to ask for help from her secret weapon—her “bad-boy” ex-friend, Mason … but that’s a lot of ex’s. Also, Summer’s not sure her heart can take re-connecting with Mason. Mason who had once—no matter how brief of time—been her “stepbrother.” Mason with his smokin’ hotness and lingering stare.
Still, Summer is forced to call on him, and he comes to her rescue. Just like she knew he would. But the problem is: Summer has always had a secret crush on Mason. But—whoa!—suddenly he’s looking at her all hungry and longing-like. And he says all the right words to get her heart spazzing. It almost has her thinking he craves her too. Almost. But let’s face it, actions speak louder than words and Mason has put out zero action … unless you’re talking about action with other girls. He’s put out plenty of that. Grrr! He breaks girls’ hearts at lightening speed and has made-out with every hot girl at their school … that is, every hot girl except Summer. Because in Mason’s mind, Summer is off-limits. But that bites.
Louder Than Words is available now
http://www.amazon.com/Louder-Than-Words-Fall-Me-ebook/dp/B00I3OX6IS
Books by Melanie Marks that are only a dollar right now:
His Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/His-Kiss-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B00631JXEO
Fall For Me
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-For-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B005GYEF4M
Slumber Party Wars
http://www.amazon.com/Slumber-Party-Wars-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B005FCVU02
Even When I Sleep
https://www.amazon.com/Even-When-Sleep-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01KLW5K1U
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8
For a full list of Melanie’s books visit her website:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Check often for updates as she’s always writing new books.
To contact Melanie or if you would like to receive email notifications of her newest books email her at:
[email protected]
Melanie Marks’ newest book is:
EVEN WHEN I SLEEP
Summary:
I stood fixated, watching her play the drums—the drums I taught her to play.
I stepped back, feeling like I was falling. Falling right back in love with her, like I never left. I didn’t want that. I needed to keep my distance from her. I had to.
But I didn’t want to. ***Darius
CAMMY: my best friend, Darius, stopped talking to me four years ago. No explanation. No goodbye. He just changed schools and never talked to me again. But suddenly the beautiful boy is back in my life. Can I trust him with my heart? Four years ago he broke it. Now I have the perfect boyfriend, and I’ve heard all the rumors about Darius’s many, MANY girlfriends. Only secretly I’ve always loved Darius. Even now. Even in my sleep.
https://www.amazon.com/Even-When-Sleep-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01KLW5K1U
Author Bio:
Melanie Marks was born and raised in California. She is married to a naval nuclear submarine officer and blessed with three amazingly terrific kids.
Melanie has had over sixty stories published in magazines such as Highlights and Teen Magazine as well as in various anthologies, many being Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s had nine children’s books published and fourteen teen novels, THE DATING DEAL; Ex-BOYFRIEND; I REMEMBER YOU; THE PLAYER; HIGH SCHOOL BOYS; DEAREST (HOT) ENEMY; THE STRANGER INSIDE; WHEN KYLE CAME BACK; HIS KISS; HER KISS; GRIFFIN; GRIFFIN #2; FALL FOR ME; FALL FOREVER; FINN’S FALL; LOUDER THAN WORDS; LITTLE DANCER and A DEMON’S KISS. More teen novels are forthcoming this spring, 2016.
Melanie enjoys reading in the bathtub, writing in bed, and living in a house longer than two years. Visit her website at http://www.byMelanieMarks.com or email her: [email protected]
