by Mia Belle
“I’m listening.”
My eyes focus on hers for several seconds, watching them go from anger and pain to curiosity and annoyance.
“Well?” she says.
“Tell me why you hate guys.”
Her lips press into a tight line. Her expression shifts from curious to irritated within seconds. “Really? That’s the condition? Have I hurt your male ego?”
I hold up my hands. “Look, if you’re into girls, that’s totally okay. I just don’t like my new neighbor and babysitter hating me.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not into girls. I theoretically like guys.”
I laugh. “Theoretically?”
She reaches for the pull cord. “I’m done with this. I’ll just go to another window.” With that, she tugs the cord and the shade shuts in my face.
“See you tomorrow,” I call. “Bright and early.”
Her response is a slam of her door.
I tilt my head toward the night sky. Lia’s not the only one who enjoys looking outside. Truth is, I didn’t want to do it alone tonight.
But I did it again, didn’t I? I pushed her away.
Chapter Five
Lia
Dad and I ride together to school every morning. At the start of last year, I was mortified to come to school with the principal. I wanted to be someone other than the principal’s kid. So I had him drop me off three blocks away from the building. I knew it hurt his feelings, but I cared more about my social status than I did about his feelings.
But two months into school, I realized it didn’t matter what some high school kids thought about me. Driving to school was something I shared with my dad ever since I entered kindergarten. It brought him so much joy to spend some quality time with me. And I was going to throw that away because of a social life that will mean nothing to me in ten years?
Now, as Dad and I head to school, I wish I could be anywhere else. Ever since my mother died, I kind of want to escape. Not only from him. From everyone. Dr. Wang told me I need to let people in, to not shut myself off all the time. But it’s hard. This is a small town where everyone knows what I had for dinner last night. I hate the pity looks they give me.
The guys are new and don’t know me or what I’ve been through, but they’ll learn soon enough. And it won’t be long before they give me those pity looks, too.
Dad places his hand on mine that rests on my lap. He doesn’t have to say anything. I know what he’s thinking. He and I are the only ones left. All we have is each other. I don’t know what I’d do if something were to happen to him.
We reach the school building and Dad parks in his space. I grab my backpack and climb out of the car. Swinging it over my shoulder, I scan around. This is an ordinary day, with guys and girls making out in front of the building, a few kids tossing a ball around in the field. I spy a few kids chatting under the bleachers.
“Hey.” Dad hurries over to the kids making out. “Break it up and get to class.”
I can’t hide my chuckle. When he’s not taking care of other principal duties, he’s breaking up hormonal teens. Good thing I’ve sworn off guys. I can’t imagine him chasing after me like that.
“Hey,” a voice says from behind me. Flipping around, I take in the Armstrong boys standing there. Aidan’s wearing a light blue jacket over his T-shirt and baggy jeans. Caleb’s long blond hair is pulled into a ponytail down his back. His backpack sits at his feet. Zane’s got humor in his eyes as he flashes me a grin. His backpack is thrown on his back like he only brought it because it’s a requirement.
“Hi,” I say.
Caleb picks his backpack off the ground and pushes his arms through the straps. “We’re ready for the tour.” He scans the building. “Kind of a tiny school.”
“That happens when the town’s population is less than five thousand. Let’s go inside.”
Caleb sprints to catch up to me while the other two dawdle behind. Zane’s head whips around as he sizes up the kids. Aidan watches them, too, though his is with interest, unlike his brother.
“You guys have a lab room? A computer class?” Caleb asks. “What about a cafeteria? I heard some schools force you to eat in the classrooms.”
“Oh, there’s a cafeteria all right. And a computer and lab room. We might be a small school, but we have basically all the facilities.”
“What about a gym?” Aidan asks. “You have sport teams?”
The other two exchange a look before pinning their eyes on Aidan. He turns away from them.
“We have a football team,” I tell him. “It’s the only good thing about this school.”
His eyes light up. “You like football?”
Images flash in my head. A guy in a football jersey scoring the winning touchdown, then gathering me in his arms and squeezing me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. No matter how many times I asked him to let go, he just squeezed harder.
Swallowing, I shove that memory away. “I used to.”
“What happened?” Aidan asks. Caleb appears just as curious, but it’s Zane who catches my attention. He’s not only looking at me, it’s like he’s trying to glimpse into my soul.
I force a smile as I lead them up the stairs. “After I show you around, you guys need to go to the office to get a few things. Like your locker combinations and schedules.”
We have about fifteen minutes before the first bell rings, and I spend that time showing the guys around. They listen intently to everything I say, like gold spurts from my mouth. After they’re done with the office and we stroll down the halls, a few girls stop dead in their tracks as they take the guys in. One of those girls is my best friend.
Sophie dashes over, flinging her arms around me. “Morning, Lia.” She draws back and smiles at me. Then she turns to the guys and yanks each one into a hug. “Did you guys sleep well? You nervous for your first day?”
“Nah,” Zane says.
I slightly narrow my eyes at him. Yesterday he claimed he was nervous. I knew he was lying. His response is that lazy smile.
“Right, you shouldn’t be,” Sophie reassures them. “We’re all nice. And we’ve been with each other since, like, first grade. It’s actually nice to see some new faces.” She smiles again. I bet she’s trying to figure out which one she’ll kiss first. And she’s not the only one. Half of the female population has stopped what they’re doing and are gawking at the three new guys.
None of the guys seem to notice, or if they do, they pay no attention.
“What classes do you have?” Sophie asks. “Maybe we’ve got some together.”
Aidan pulls out his schedule. “Algebra first period.”
Sophie leaps to his side, sliding her arm around his. “I’ll lead the way. You’re going to love…” Her voice trails off as they round the corner.
Caleb checks his schedule. “Looks like I have algebra, too. What about you, man?”
Zane hardly looks at him. His green eyes are on me. “Don’t really care.”
Caleb frowns before snatching his cousin’s schedule. “You also have algebra.”
“So do I,” I say.
Caleb sweeps his hand. “After you.”
I glance around and notice every single girl’s gaze fastened on the two guys standing next to me. Many of them also have this class and I figure the boys would rather have them escort them than me. If I lower my guard, I’ll be breaking my promise to protect myself and my heart from getting trampled on again.
“Actually, I have to go to the office for a second,” I tell them. “Need to talk to my dad. You know where the classroom is, right?”
I race down the hall, feeling their confused eyes on me. I can also feel one of their gazes boring a hole in the back of my head, and I don’t need to guess who those eyes belong to.
Dad’s secretary, Nancy, smiles at me as I enter the office. “Lia, good morning. Can I help you with anything?” She glances at the clock on the wall. “Class is about to start.”
“No, thanks.”
She gives me an odd look. “Everything okay? Do you want me to call your dad?”
“No. I wanted to ask him something, but it can wait ‘til after school,” I lie. Straining my eyes, I spot Zane and Caleb where I left them, except, as expected, they’re surrounded by girls. Even from twenty feet away I can see and hear them pouncing, wanting to know every detail. I can’t see the expressions on the boys’ faces because their backs face me.
Not that I care what they think.
The bell rings and a few girls tug the guys down the hall. Caleb’s head whips around as though he’s looking for something. Zane’s shoulders seem tense, and I wonder what his face reads.
“Lia?” Dad says from my left.
I jump. Right. I forgot I’m still in his office.
“Sorry, sweetie. Is something wrong?” I know that look on his face. Alarm bells are going off in his head and he’s forming all these different theories. Most about me wanting to hurt myself. Or maybe cut class. I did that two weeks after my mother died, and Dad found me in the next town, sitting on a cliff with my legs pressed to my chest. Of course I didn’t want to jump off that cliff—I don’t want to end my life. I just wanted to look at the water. Of course Dad made a huge deal about it.
I force a fake smile. “Everything’s okay, Dad. I’m going to class now.”
Luckily, the teacher isn’t there yet. The last thing I need right now is detention. Sophie waves me over, where she’s sitting with the guys at the back of the room. A few other girls are there. Girls Sophie’s been trying to desperately befriend since ninth grade. I still don’t understand why it can’t just be the two of us like it’s always been. Did she forget how those girls used to tease her when her dad lost his job and they had to move in with her grandmother? Thankfully, things are good for them now and my best friend is happy.
“Lia,” she calls. “Why are you standing there like that?”
All three guys’ heads shift in my direction. Aidan’s eyes are filled with kindness and care, and a little sympathy. He probably sees me as the poor girl who lost her mother. Caleb smiles a sweet smile that would melt any other girl’s heart. Yes, his blue eyes are beautiful and I like the long hair…but so what? And Zane? He’s still delving into my soul.
I don’t want to sit next to them, but it’s obvious Sophie is trying to catch their attention, and as her best friend, it’s my duty to help her. So I drag myself to the back of the room and plop down across from her, behind Aidan.
He turns around. “Hey. You doing okay?”
I want to tell him that it’s none of his business how I’m doing. That he should stop looking me at me like that. But I can’t, because he doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just trying to be nice. As far as I can tell, my new neighbors are kind. Maybe not Zane, though. I still don’t know what that guy wants from me. And we seriously need to do something about the bedroom arrangement.
“Lia’s strong,” Sophie tells him. “She can get through anything.” She beams at me. “And I’ve been at her side through it all.”
“You’ve been talking about me?” I ask, my gaze flicking from my best friend to my neighbor.
Sophie shrugs. “We were wondering where you ran off to.” She gives me a look only a best friend can. “Stop making a big deal about it,” she hisses. “And please don’t ruin this for me.”
I roll my eyes at her.
She bends close to Aidan. “So where did you move from?”
“New York City.”
“Cool. And your dad got a new job, right? What’s he do?”
The other guys’ heads spring up and their gazes connect with Aidan’s. He shoves whatever that look is away. “He used to be a lawyer.”
“Used to?”
Caleb shifts in his seat. “What’s this teacher like?”
Sophie’s eyebrows scrunch. “Why are you changing the subject? Is your dad in some sort of trouble?”
“Sophie,” I hiss. “Stop.” Whatever’s going on, it has to do with their secret. As curious as I am, it’s really none of my business.
Sophie’s mouth opens and shuts. “Oh. Sorry.”
Someone saunters over to us. Alexis Mitchell. She beams, flashing white teeth that I’m sure she spent hundreds of dollars on. “Hi. I’m Alexis, but you probably already know that. I’m having a party this weekend. Parents are going out of town.” She winks. “And I want you guys to come.”
Sophie gets that look in her eyes, as though begging Alexis to be invited as well. Alexis nods to her, clearly granting her wish. Her eyes skim over me, and she probably assumes I won’t go because I never do. They stop when they land on Zane. Then they lower to his chest, where once again his T-shirt strains against those muscles. “Hi. I’m Alexis.”
“You said that.”
She’s thrown off by his cold attitude, but recovers quickly. She laughs, her hand going to her dyed golden blonde hair. “What’s your name?”
He crosses his arms over his chest, holding her gaze, his green eyes hard. She lets out an awkward smile, shifting from one foot to the other.
“He’s Zane,” Caleb says. “I’m Caleb and that’s Aidan. I’m sorry, but we can’t come to your party.”
“You’re kidding,” Sophie gasps. “Guys, I know you’re new, but you can’t refuse a party by Alexis Mitchell.” Her panicked eyes meet Alexis’s.
Zane’s arms tighten on his chest. “We can refuse whatever we want.”
Alexis rolls her eyes. “Fine. You don’t have to come.” She winks at Aidan. “What about you?”
His gaze meets his brother and cousin’s, who shake their heads, that strange look crawling into their eyes.
He tears his eyes away. “I’ll be there.”
Sophie’s lips break into a smile and Alexis sweeps her finger down his arm. “Cool. See you there.” She walks off.
“Dude,” Caleb whispers to Aidan. “What are you doing?”
“Not now.”
They don’t have a chance to discuss it further because the teacher enters the room and begins the lesson.
Chapter Six
Lia
“What do you think that was?” Sophie asks as she lies on my bed, her nose buried in a magazine. I have no idea how that thing got in my house. I don’t subscribe to teen magazines. Sophie’s eating up the words, though.
“What was what?” I ask from my desk, where I’m trying to get my essay done. Sophie and I are supposed to work on it together, but as usual, she dumped it on me. She thinks I’ll get us an A, but she must have forgotten that school doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. I only do it because I don’t want my dad breathing down my neck 24/7.
Sophie sits up, tossing the magazine to the floor. “It was weird, wasn’t it? The whole party thing. Why don’t the guys want to go?”
I give her a look. “Not everyone wants to go to parties.”
She returns the look. “When guys look like that, believe me they want to go to as many parties as they can. Plus they’re new. Wouldn’t they want to get with as many girls as they can?”
I don’t know why the thought of them getting with other girls bothers me.
“And anyway,” she continues, “you used to go to parties. I know your mom’s death—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
She throws her hands up. “You never do! I’m trying to be a good friend here, but all you do is hide in your room. And then you’re pissed at me for wanting to hang out with Alexis and her crew?”
“Did you forget how she treated you?”
“That was last year.”
I shake my head in disbelief.
“You’re not even here anymore,” she says, her voice low. “I mean, physically you are, but your head isn’t. I know you lost your mom and that sucks, but why should I have to lose my best friend?”
I focus on my essay.
“And whenever I bring it up, you act like I’m not even in the room.”
I shut my eyes and count to ten to regulate m
y breathing. “I’m sorry. You know I don’t like talking about it.”
“But why? I know it hurts, but we used to tell each other everything. I don’t want to lose what we have.”
“Me, either. But I can’t be the Lia I used to be.”
She doesn’t say anything as her finger traces the design on my bedspread.
“I’m sorry,” I say after a few minutes. “Maybe I’ll get over this. Maybe I won’t. But I don’t want to lose our friendship, either.”
She scoots off the bed and takes my hands. “We don’t have to. And we don’t have to talk about your mom if you don’t want to. Just don’t hold everything in, okay? I’m your best friend and you can tell me anything.” She wraps her arms around me. Then she returns to the bed and lies down, staring at the ceiling.
“This is going to annoy you, but I can’t stop thinking about the guys.”
I stop whacking away at the keyboard. “Why?”
“Because they’re hot and new.” She twists her nose. “We’ve grown up with all the guys in town and one is more annoying than the next. They’re like my brothers, you know?” Her eyes gleam. “Do you think Aidan likes me?”
I’m about to answer, when I hear a sound from next door, like someone’s cracking open a window. And then I remember that the walls have ears. Literally.
Gripping my best friend’s arm, I yank her out of my room and into the hallway. I shut my door.
Sophie looks at me like I fell from another planet. “What?” she demands.
I press my finger to my mouth. “He’ll hear you.”
“Who?”
“Zane.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes widen. “Are you saying Zane’s in the room across from yours?” She bounces on her feet. “Like, right across?”
“Maybe I can convince my dad to switch rooms with me?” But ugh, the master bedroom. Is it right for me to ask him to give me the special place he shared with his wife?
Sophie grabs my arms. “Are you crazy?! You have a hot, hot, hot guy living next door. You can look into his room whenever you want. Like when he’s changing his shirt or working out. Zane’s got a nice chest, believe me.”
