Right Kiss Wrong Guy

by Natalie Decker

She smiles. “Me too. So as long as your friend doesn’t send me any candy grams or whatever in this class we should be fine.”

  I nod. “Should be.” There is a loud beep that interrupts me for a moment. I glance at my screen and finally, the freaking thing is on the homepage. “These things take forever.”

  “I know. They don’t care though. The new computers are coming next year,” she says.

  Her computer loads up in time for Mrs. Hawk to tell us we need to type a resume.

  “This is going to be a pain,” I say.

  “Why? You don’t seem like the type who is lacking in any life skills.”

  I snort. “Well, I really am. Football takes up most of my life. What can I do about that? Yes; I can maneuver out of tackles quite successfully.”

  I can see her out of the corner of my eye shifting toward me. “I wouldn’t really know. I’ve been to a total of two football games.”

  “You should come to more.”

  “I’d rather not.” She clicks her mouse a few times then says, “You go to parties on the weekends. I mean, at least, I’ve seen you at the one I attended.”

  I pretend to look around then lean in close to her. “Don’t repeat this, but I’m not as popular as everyone makes me out to be.”

  She draws back and says, “What do you mean?”

  I return to my position. “I’ve been to a total of four. Not that I don’t want to go to more. I can’t.” Why the hell am I telling her this? This is not going to score me any points. I do not want her feeling sorry for me. Just shut up. Shut the hell up now.

  She shifts back to her computer. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. So, about those love-grams. If you got one why would you be mad?”

  “I already told you I hate them. I hate what they represent. It’s some sick way for people to play Cupid. The fact that almost all of the Junior Elites thought that having a fundraiser revolve around the dumbest holiday of the year is sad. It makes every girl in here look like a bunch of sappy lunatics. ‘Oh, he got me a rose he totes hearts me forever.’” She pretends to barf. “They sound as ridiculous and pathetic as my mom’s clients.”

  “But you used to believe in love,” I mutter.

  “Says who?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Juliet

  All day Jared’s mumblings circulated through my head. You used to believe in love. Arggggh why can’t I just get his voice and words out of my system? Why do I even care so much about what he says anyway?

  Chase and I are rooted to the gaming chairs in my room, and I am tapping on my controller wishing the X button was Jared’s face. Each strike of my thumb is like a resounding “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” but his tone and that look on his face haunts me to the point I toss my controller aside.

  Chase pauses the game and slaps my knee. “What’s up with you?”

  “Do you think I’ve changed for the worse?”

  Chase gives me a pointed look. “Changed? You’re not exactly terrible, but you could lay off killing me in the game,” he chuckles.

  “I’m being serious.”

  His lips droop at the corners. “Really? I mean you really want to know?”

  “Yes. No.” I grumble at the ceiling. “I don’t know. Jared Black said I used to believe in love. And it’s been bothering me all day.”

  “Jared said this? Okay. Since when the heck do you care what Jared says?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just … maybe he’s right? I mean I used to love Valentine’s Day, didn’t I? I used to be nicer to people.”

  “Yeah. Well, people heal differently. I guess. You used to like the Smurfs, but you grew out of that too.”

  I scowl at him. This is what I get for asking a guy about something like this. “Forget it. Let’s just play.”

  “In all seriousness; if it bothers you so much, make a change. I’ll be your friend either way?” He stands up and walks over to my window seat.

  “Even if I start acting like a total witch?”

  He glances back and smiles. “I won’t like you as much but yeah. I’ll just tell you-you’re starting to suck as a person.”

  “Chase, I hate caring so much.”

  He stares out my window. “I know. Look maybe you don’t hate or dislike the idea of love. You probably still hope that someone comes along and sweeps you off your feet. You’re not ready for it though.”

  I smile. “Chase, you really are too smart for your own good.”

  “Glad one of us thinks so.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  I inch closer to him and notice his expression. “I think I waited too long. That’s all.”

  “You mean with Addy?”

  He nods.

  “I’m sure all you have to do is tell her.”

  He sighs and takes a seat by the window. “Why can’t telling someone how you feel be easy?”

  I shrug. “You’re asking the wrong person.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jared

  I wake up at five in the morning, shower, dress, and head into the kitchen where my dad is drinking coffee and my mom is making breakfast. Last night after my dad’s grueling lecture, I stayed up thinking about my next move with Juliet. Everything else has gone to total shit, and I’m not about to give up on the one thing that could possibly make me happy.

  My dad peers at me. “You’re up early.”

  “Yeah. Can I get into the weight room and lift?” I have no intention of lifting until after school.

  He nods. “That’s the kind of dedication I like to see. Let me go get the things you’ll need to get in. You can take your mom’s car today but you gotta pick up Justin after school. I’ll give you a pass on staying for training. You gotta run the drills and write down the times.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He gets off his stool and grabs the things I need to enter the school. I pass on breakfast even though it really smells amazing. It’s a test though. Rule number one, do not eat before heavy lifting. I grab my backpack and the keys to my mom’s silver Cobalt, and take off.

  After a quick stop at the twenty-four-hour Walgreens, I roll up to school with plenty of time to spare. First period starts at eight on the dot. It’s only six-thirty. I told myself I wasn’t going to lift, but I’m worried my dad might check the room and notice I hadn’t been in there. I grab my backpack filled with supplies, a change of clothes, and the crap I need for classes. I made my way to Juliet’s locker. I grin at the black heart on the outside of it. I drop my bag beside me and pull out the tape and supplies.

  I snatch the bag of individually wrapped-heart-shaped chocolates with romantic phrases on them. I begin taping them on the outside of the red metal-framed door. The finishing touches are a dog stuffed animal and a card that says, “P.S. This is not from Mark. I’m taller. Your, S. A.”

  Hopefully, this works. I step away from her locker and head to the weight room. After forty minutes of lifting and sweating, I take a quick shower. I change and wait by my locker. Other students pour in through the doors. Some giggling girls stroll by; one waves at me. I give her a head nod and a small wave. This only makes her blush and giggle harder. Sometimes, I wish Juliet would act this way around me.

  Where is Juliet? I feel like everyone in the entire freaking school has passed by already. I can’t wait to see her reaction when she gets to her locker. But now that I watch other students point, read the note, and then giggle, I’m thinking this is a bad idea. I’m half-tempted to go tear it all down but then Juliet and Adaline stride past. Selena and Mark are not too far from the display. I watch him pause. Adaline steers Juliet over to the lockers.

  I can’t see Juliet’s face from this angle. I don’t hear any screams. I don’t see anything being chucked. I’m about to do a little happy jig when Austin throws open his locker blocking Juliet from my view. “What are you looking at a new freshman transfer?”

  “Shut up, man.” I peer around him but instantly jerk back. “Shit,” I mutter.

  “What�
��s going … Oh wow. You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen her pissed off before,” Austin says. He cocks his head in Juliet’s direction and shakes it. “Oh boy, Mark looks like he’s about to get it.”

  “You okay, man? Please tell me you didn’t eat some bad food on the way here.”

  I shake my head. “I’m good.” I’m anything but good. She hates it.

  “All right, man. I’ll catch you later. I gotta go talk to your dad about something.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  We head our separate ways, and I move toward Juliet. She looks like she’s about to say something to Mark but doesn’t. She’s carrying the card I taped in her hand. Her eyes are glued to it.

  “Juliet, I’m telling you right now I had nothing to do with this,” I hear Mark say.

  “I know. I can read.”

  Mark spots me, narrows his eyes, and moves down the hall with Selena.

  “Hey Addy and Juliet. Wow, that’s some display,” I say.

  Juliet shoots a glare in my direction. “I hate it. The dog is cute, but I hate everything else. Whoever keeps doing this really needs to quit.”

  Adaline rubs her friend’s back and says, “Hey Jared. Do you think you can do us a little favor and get us a small trash bag? Maybe the office has one.”

  “Sure. Be right back.”

  “Thanks, Jared,” Juliet says.

  I’m almost to the office when Tyler steps into my path. “Bro, why didn’t you tell me you didn’t need a ride? I could’ve had time to stop and get me and Layla donuts. But we were running late thinking we had to pick your sorry ass up. Here you weren’t even there.”

  “Sorry about that. I … um did some lifting this morning.” I shrug at him and smile at Layla. She eyes me up like she knows something is wrong with my story.

  “Whoa. You feeling okay? Or is this another one of your dad’s busting your ass type moves?” Tyler asks.

  I shake my head. “Nah. I lifted.” That’s the only story I’m sticking to for now. “I gotta go to the office then to class.”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Talk to you later.” Tyler waves me off but Layla is watching me.

  After I grab the trash bag, I run it back to Juliet and ask if they need help. Technically, it is my mess. I feel responsible for cleaning it up.

  “It’s fine. See you in first. Thanks,” Juliet says.

  I slip into first period and rush over to my assigned table. I feel stupid. Like really, really stupid. Tyler is right. I should just man up and tell her face to face not using candy as a ploy to tell her how I feel.

  She enters class just before the tardy bell sounds. Juliet still has the stuffed dog, but I don’t see a bag full of candy. “You’re keeping the dog?” I ask.

  Juliet sets him on the desk and shrugs. “It’s cute, and I’m a sucker for dogs.”

  “What happened to the rest of it?”

  “Trash.”

  Right. Then my stomach growls.

  “Wow, do you have a bear in there?” she asks.

  “I wish.”

  She cocks her head to the side. “Oh, all right some of it is in the trash. Do not tell a soul about this but these are my favorite and I couldn’t throw them out.” She pulls out some chocolates and slides them to me.

  “Thanks.” Our teacher enters the room and starts writing down the project we will be working on. Juliet sets off to gather the ingredients while I work on the two pages of calculations. Then map out the theories of what reaction we expect to have at each stage versus what actually happens.

  “How do you think the combination of sodium and chlorine and a drop of water will react?” I ask.

  “I don’t know just put down whatever.”

  “No.”

  She looks up at me and says, “Why not?”

  “Because lately you’ve been going along with whatever, but I know you. What do you think?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Fine. I think it will change the solid to a liquid when we add the water.”

  “Cool. I think it will burn bright and turn into a gas. Get to pouring and let’s see who’s right.”

  She smiles. It’s her genuine one, the same smile that’s been absent since she and Mark broke up. I grin back, and she tips the contents into the small pot that’s on the Bunsen burner.

  Three minutes pass, and she open the lid to reveal its empty. She scowls and pours the next compound into the pot then places the lid back on. “Are you going to gloat?” she asks.

  “Why would I do that? We can’t always be right all the time. It would make life pretty boring, don’t you think?”

  She rolls her eyes. “I guess. Can I ask you something?”

  “Yeah.” I write down the conclusion that happened trying hard not to show her I’m excited that she’s talking to me.

  “Why don’t you let people know you’re smart?”

  “I don’t care what people say about me. I know I’m smart. I also know that football won’t be my whole life.”

  She nods. “That’s good. To have a fallback plan.”

  I shake my head. “It’s not a fallback plan. I don’t love football.” Her mouth hangs open. “Why do you look so shocked?”

  “Because you seem to love it.”

  “No. My dad loves it. You wouldn’t understand.”

  She shrugs. “I guess. Chase loves playing.”

  “What’s the deal with you two?”

  Juliet scrunches up her face. “What do you mean?”

  I shrug. “I mean you two are just friends, right?”

  “Why does everyone ask me this? Chase is my best friend. He’s practically my brother. I don’t have feelings like that toward him.”

  I hold up my hands. “All right. Damn. It was a simple and purely curious question.” I do feel better hearing it from her that she and Chase are strictly friends.

  “I’m sorry. I just hate that question. It’s like a girl can’t even have a guy friend anymore. Mark always said crap like Chase only hung out with me because he wanted down my pants.”

  I clench my jaw. I feel like a jerk for thinking something similar. “It’s rare. That’s all.”

  Our conversation continued from here, mostly we talked about random things, but I did get her to laugh once before the bell rang. If only I could tell her how I felt as easily. How would she react then?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Juliet

  Aside from the manifest of love pasted all over my locker classes have been weird. Jared is the main cause of this. A few days ago, I was boiling with the annoyance he causes, then next … I’m left wanting to know more. What is going on with me?

  Jared is frustrating and confusing. I shouldn’t want to know anything about him. I shouldn’t even like talking to him. I need to quit looking over at his lunch table.

  “What has you in a daze?” Addy asks pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Nothing.” I shake my head and glance down at my turkey and avocado sandwich.

  “Right. Uh huh.”

  I shrink in my seat and glare at the ceiling. “Fine. I admit it. I liked talking to him today.”

  “Interesting. Who, pray tell, are you referring to?” She asks knowing full-well who.

  I give her the side eyes. “You know who.”

  She rubs her chin. “Let me think on this for a moment.”

  I laugh. “Quit it.”

  She smiles. “I’m messing with you. Serious though, it’s okay to like Jared.”

  “I didn’t say that. I said I liked talking to him.” I peer over at his table again. An odd feeling takes ahold of me as I spot Kimber Sanders sitting next to him. This is nuts. I shouldn’t care.

  “You okay?” Chase asks as he plops down between Addy and me.

  I throw down my sandwich. “I gotta go get some napkins,” I say and take off for the lunch line.

  I need to snap out of it. I CANNOT fall for Jared Black. He will ruin me, and I never want to feel that type of pain ever again.

  I hurry over to the lunch line an
d grab napkins from the dispenser. As I’m heading back to my table I can’t help but weave near his table. I could have easily bypassed it like I did before. As I near his table I hear Jared laugh. It sounds fake.

  It bothers me. Why? I’m not sure.

  I reach my lunch table with my thoughts more jumbled than ever. It all has to do with a tall muscled boy that’s got my head spinning.

  I sit down in my chair and look over at Jared again. Kimber keeps throwing her head back and laughing then she touches him. I really wish she’d keep her hands to herself. I force myself to turn away.

  Chase mutters something to Addy as I pick up a grape. Addy has her glare set in my direction. “What?” I ask.

  “Not you. Him. I want to knock him flat on his butt.”

  I shift in my seat and spot Austin talking to a group of cheerleaders. “What did Austin do to you?” I ask.

  “I have to do this group assignment for History with that jerk. The whole time him and twiddle dumb said, ‘You’re like super smart why don’t you do all the hard stuff that we would totes suck at.’ Then I had to remind Rachel that just because I’m smart doesn’t mean I can do it all by myself.”

  “Didn’t you get to pick who you get to work with?” Chase asks.

  Addy snorts. “No. Mrs. Dinger said something about this is a life experience because sometimes you have to work with people you can’t stand. I want to tell her that’s all well and good, but couldn’t we wait until I don’t know, when we get a job and deal with it then?”

  I frown. “Maybe you should talk to Austin. Tell him to straighten up or you’re going to not do the project and you’ll all fail.”

  She sighs. “I would but it is worth a good chunk of our end of the year grade. So, if I decide not to do it I’ll end up with a B- at the end of term.”

  Chase cracks his knuckles. “I’ll talk to him for you.”

  She smiles. “No, that’s okay. I’ll figure it out.”

  He nods mutters something about the library then takes off. Addy looks over at me with quirked brows. “Has he been acting weird to you?” she asks.