by J. Preston
I go to the bar and down two shots of tequila. I hate that stuff, but it makes me relax pretty quickly, so it’s my poison of choice.
“Hey stranger.” Someone runs their finger down my arm. I turn around to see the blonde bob chick. The ‘she-devil’, as Jenny calls her. I smile, thinking of Jenny. The she-devil smiles back at me. Crap, she probably thought I was smiling at her…
“Hey yourself,” I say, trying to remember her name.
“Forgot my name again?” She arches her brow at me.
I sheepishly run my hand through my hair. “Busted.”
“Should I be offended?” She laughs.
“I’m sorry…” I scrunch my face apologetically.
“It’s Chloe.” She rolls her eyes and puts her highly manicured hand on my arm. Her long red nails look like talons covered in crimson blood. I shudder from under her touch. “I’ll tell you what, if you buy me a shot I’ll forget all about it.” She smiles at me. What the hell, I might as well…
I buy a couple shots and two rounds of drinks. We down the shots, then the Mojito’s.
“Why don’t you get another round?” Chloe slurs a bit. The girl can’t hold her drink for shit. “And I’ll run to the ladies’ room.”
“Sure,” I say, then turn to the bartender, ordering a drink for her. With a nice buzz already, I’m done drinking for tonight. It’s good enough to keep me entertained, but not strong enough to be hungover tomorrow. I turn to the dance floor, and all my cheerful buzz disappears when I see Kitten, dressed in a gold sparkly dress—which is way too short even for her slight frame—and gold heels. She looks out of this world as she strolls towards me, her hands on her hips. She turns the heads of pretty much every single guy in the club, some girls too… She’s fuming, her cheeks are red and she’s breathing through her nose like she’s ready to charge me. I love how I can still bring up emotion in her, even if it’s anger. Passion often follows anger, I think hopefully.
“I thought you said that you don’t hang out with Chloe!” she throws at me accusingly, and I revel in the fact that she’s close to me, talking to me. If I can keep her here, shouting at me, at least I can be near her.
“Since you didn’t want to talk to me, I had to find someone else to keep me company.” I smirk. Jenny is getting more and more aggravated.
“And you chose her?” she spits out.
“I didn’t. I was by myself, minding my own business, when Chloe joined me. It seems some people like talking to me,” I reply with a bite. If this was a cartoon, steam would be puffing out of her ears right about now. She looks furious. I bite my lip, trying to stop myself from smiling.
“You find this funny?” Jenny asks, exasperated. She drops her hands to her side and looks up at me in disbelief. I’m trying hard not to be obvious about how her striking beauty affects me. Her gold, sparkly dress shimmers in the dim lighting of the club, reminding me of a mid-day sun reflecting in the dark of the ocean.
“No, kitten,” I say, the alcohol in my veins urging the words to come out. “You look iridescent tonight. You’re like a vision. No other fish would ever compare…”
“Did you just call me a fish?” Jenny asks, scrunching her face, perplexed.
I’m about to reply, but I get interrupted.
“Grasshopper, fancy seeing you here! What are you up to?”
“Just catching up with this guy.” Jenny nods in my direction.
“Hanging out with VonSchmuck?” Carter asks. I guess the nickname has spread. Great.
“Uh-huh. Asking him when he sold his soul to the devil.” Jenny shakes her head.
“Kitten, she’s just a friend,” I try to appease her.
“Is that so?” Jenny narrows her eyes and takes a step closer to Carter, distancing herself from me. I feel her absence straight away. “Funny. You see, Carter is also just a friend,” she says, smiling up at him, and the bastard snakes his arm around her waist, nodding. “He’s a very good friend. In fact, say Carter, how about we drop off Hayley at her dorm and go to your place?” she asks innocently.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Carter looks down at her, his eyes searching hers. I have a bad feeling about this.
“How do you feel about BJ?” she asks, looking at him through her lashes. My heart stops. What. The. Fuck.
“You know I’d love to,” Carter replies, holding her tighter and licking his lips. My hands are shaking. No, my whole body is shaking. Did I really just hear what I think I heard? “Later, Aiden,” Carter throws over his shoulder as they turn to leave. It takes all the self-control I can muster not to jump at him and shred him to pieces. She’s not mine. I had my chance, and I blew it. Fuck.
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
“Have fun with your ‘friend’,” Jenny says as they walk away.
My world spins out of control. Round and round it goes like a carousel, only faster and with no protection to break my fall. And I fall. Fuck, do I fall. Right onto my egotistical arse.
“Two more tequilas,” I shout at the barman, who nods and slides the shots towards me. I down one after another.
“Aiden, are you crying?” Chloe asks drunkenly when she gets back. I touch my face and notice the wetness around my eyes. Holy shit! What the fuck? Am I actually crying? No, it’s probably the tequila. Some lime must have gotten into my eyes when I rubbed them after the shots. I don’t fucking cry. Ever.
“No,” I say steadily, not looking at Chloe.
“Sure,” she drawls. “Smells like girl trouble to me.” She touches my arm again, and I fight with myself not to cringe away. “C’mon, Jason, you can tell me.”
“Aiden,” I correct her.
“Hmmm?”
“My name is Aiden.”
“I know that, silly.” She giggles drunkenly, downing her drink. I want to just walk away and leave her there, but the gentleman in me needs to make sure that she gets home safe. She reaches for her second drink and gulps it down. Soon, she’ll become a liability. “Jason, I’m…” She starts.
“Aiden,” I growl.
Chloe hiccups.
“C’mon, I’ll take you home,” I say, puffing the air out of my chest. So much for trying to forget about Jenny tonight. Images of her and Carter swirl around my head like locusts. What have I done? Chloe nods and gets up, unsteadily, to her feet with a triumphant smile. Hiccuping. Fan-fucking-tastic. She’s clinging onto me as I guide us outside of the club and grab the first cab I see, pushing her gently inside. I walk around and slide in next to her. Chloe is leaning against the window snoring. Just my luck. I shake her gently. “Chloe, where do you live?”
“Home,” she answers sleepily. I shake her again.
“Where is home?”
“Home!” she answers, irritated through her sleep.
“Where to?” the taxi driver asks impatiently. I sigh and give him my address. I can’t just drop her off in front of the school, hoping that she’ll find her way. Starwood can get shady at night, especially with drunken frat guys roaming the streets.
When we get to the house, Chloe is full on sleeping, so I pick her up and carry her inside. The house is empty and I’m half glad, half disappointed. Does that mean that Jenny is still with Carter doing god knows what? Chloe is so out of it that when I drop her on my bed and cover her with a blanket, she doesn’t stir. I take a couple of pillows and settle down on the floor.
“Jason…” Chloe mumbles through her sleep. Shit. This is not good.
I try to make myself comfortable, but the floor is hard and my mind can’t settle. Jenny’s face looking up seductively at Carter appears every single time I close my eyes. After an hour, I give up and go to the kitchen to get some water. Chloe and I are still the only people here. If Jason gets lucky tonight, he most likely will stay at the girl’s house since he doesn’t like bringing them here. He says they get too attached, even the ones who swear they understand it’s only a one-time thing.
I grab a glass and fill it to the brim with fresh water. Holding the cool
glass against my face, I look around the moonlit kitchen. My gaze falls on a piece of paper attached to the fridge. I walk over to see it better; it’s a shopping list, written in Jenny’s handwriting. I scan through the items. Eggs, milk, orange juice, bread… My eyes stop at the bottom. Rocky Roadish BJ. What the hell is that? Some secret code to blow Kennedy? I wince. She wouldn’t put that on the shopping list. Would she?
I pull my phone out of my pocket and google it. Relief at images of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream makes me sit down on one of the stools. I take a deep breath of relief, a massive weight lifting off of my shoulders. I still have a chance with her. Walking back to my room, I decide to fix things tomorrow. Jason will just have to get over the fact that I’m in love with his sister. I will not mess up again. I slide back onto the floor and smile.
14 Horrible Kisser
When we were fourteen, Jason said onions are the only food that makes you cry. I threw a coconut in his face.
- Aiden
Jenny
After a satisfying session of Ben & Jerry’s finest—also known as ‘suck it diamonds, ice cream is the real girl’s best friend’—Carter drove me back home. It’s funny how that boy has proven over and over that he’s got the biggest heart when all I used to think about him was that… Well, that he’s a massive player. What I realize now is that beneath all that player persona and the incessant innuendos, he is truly a fantastic friend, one that I want to keep forever.
I toss and turn all night, unable to forget the image of Aiden and Chloe being cozy with each other. Chloe had her talons on Aiden’s shoulder whenever I looked their way. She’s like a harpy, that one. Once the harpy left him alone for a minute, I decided it was the time to confront him about hanging out with the spawn of Satan. I stalked towards him, ready to scream at him until his head fell off, but one look at his gorgeous green eyes and I had all but forgotten why I was in front of him in the first place. Until my gaze fell on his lips, and I saw that stupid smirk on his face. Then it was a free-for-all, and thank heavens that Carter showed up in time to make my exit that much more punchy.
It’s the morning, and I feel a bit shitty about letting Aiden think that Carter and I are anything more than friends. Then again, he deserved it for hanging out with Hell’s finest. Plus, he was the one who insisted that the kiss we shared was a mistake and not to be repeated. That kiss…
While washing my hair, I decide to do some squats. Girl’s gotta work out, ya know? Turns out, that wasn’t the brightest idea. I slip in the shower and bang my elbow on the floor. Will I ever learn? Not likely.
Once dressed, I head towards the kitchen, drooling at the thought of breakfast. I’m starving and can’t wait to have some avo toast. Speaking of toast, I’m also quite curious to check up on Edward. Both Hayley and I bet on a couple of dates for The Day, and things are getting competitive. Maybe I could pierce the bag and let the air in? Nah, that’d be stooping too low.
The shower is on, and I figure Jason must be in it. The door to his room is closed, but Aiden’s is ajar. My heart stops in its tracks, and I hesitate for a second but then decide it’s probably a good idea to call a truce with the annoying Brit. She-devil aside, I want to talk about that kiss. That kiss…
Maybe I can persuade him to kiss me again? Just a little. No need for a big hoohaa about it. Teeny-tiny kiss. Like a goodbye one. That’s all I’m asking. Who am I kidding? I’d never stop at just one if I had my way… Sigh.
I reach his door and softly knock. “Aiden?” His bedsheets rustle, followed by a sound of soft footsteps. I must have woken him up. I brace myself for what must be a glorious view of his body… Didn’t he say he sleeps naked? Oh, please let him be naked. I’ll go to church every Sunday if he is, I swear! I lick my lips as the door opens and my jaw hits the floor.
In a stunned silence, I watch Oompa-Lumpa lean against the door jamb and sleepily look me up and down, appraising. She’s wearing an oversized t-shirt, which I recognize immediately as one of Aiden’s. It’s got a dancing hula girl on it. Her hair is all over the place, messy and matted, her makeup smudged just a little. The word ‘sex-hair’ pops into my head. She narrows her puffy eyes at me when I reach them in my appraisal. Fuck my life.
“What are you doing here? Are you following me?” she growls.
“I live here.” My voice sounds distant compared to the deafening sound of my breaking heart.
“Really?” She looks up at me quizzically.
“Yeah…” I slowly turn to walk back to my room.
“Aiden is in the shower.” My head whips back at the sound of his name. Chloe is standing with her arms crossed and a triumphant smile on her face. “Now scoot little minion,” she says as my shoulders sag. “We don’t need the interruption. I’m hoping for round two when he gets back.”
Shit. The. Bed.
I turn and storm into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. No way in hell am I giving the two of them the satisfaction of seeing me upset about this. They both deserve each other—little conniving turds! I have not been this pissed since some asshole doctor pulled me out of my mother’s vagina. Seriously.
Grabbing my car keys, I stalk to my window, anger rippling down my body in waves. I tear the window open and jump in one swift motion out of my room, landing on both of my feet like a seasoned traceuse. Parkour, baby. Channeling my inner caveman, I inhale deeply through my nostrils then spring up and stalk to Kitt, crouching down underneath Aiden’s window. I must look like a feral child right now, but honestly, I don’t give two little, scrawny Aidens. Oh yes, I decided just now to officially swap in my dictionary the word ‘shit’ for the word ‘Aiden’. It works. Trust me.
Either way, I would not walk past that room again in case I heard something that would turn me into a murderer. I’m too pretty to go to prison. I stalk toward Kitt and jump over the door inside, glad that I left the top down, making my escape that much easier. As I jam the keys into the ignition, I briefly consider the fact that I have become quite awesome at jumping out of and into things. I should put that ‘Aiden’ on my resume: ‘Excellent at graceful jumps over hurdles; can land without injury’. I’d get a job as a stunt woman in a jiffy.
I plug my phone in and select the song that best depicts my current mood. Doesn’t get better than STUPID by Ashnikko. I turn the volume to the max, press play, and rev the engine, pulling out like I’m a street race driver, screaming the lyrics along to the song.
‘Stupid boy think that I need him.’
I inhale deeply, trying to calm my shaking hands. The song starts for the third time when I find myself outside of Carter’s apartment, still heaving with anger. I walk up to his door and ring the bell. He opens straight away, like he was waiting on the other side all this time, and smiles at me.
“Well hello, grasshopper. Miss me already?”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Carter looks at me questioningly, drawing his eyebrows together. “Grasshopper?” He looks behind me and his eyes go huge. He probably noticed Kitt parked haphazardly on his lawn. I might have destroyed some of the greenery. There may be one bush overturned, but it was like that when I arrived! I swear! Adrenaline leaves my body at the same time that my legs decide to stop working. He catches me as I slide down to the ground. “Jenny! What’s wrong?” He’s panicking. I can see the fear in his eyes. Who wouldn’t be afraid if a crazy woman arrived at their door, acted like a freaking goldfish gasping for water, and then decided to take a little nap on their doorstep? I open my mouth again and what comes out sounds a lot like a pterodactyl on drugs.
“Jenny, please talk to me.” Carter takes both of my hands into his. We’re sitting side by side on the steps. I turn towards him; blink twice; take a big, shaky breath; then open my mouth.
“He’s the biggest asshole in the universe. He’s worse than fucking Voldemort and Darth Vader combined,” I state, managing to keep my voice steady.
“Okay, let’s rewind. Last night you didn’t want to talk about what got you angry, except for he-
who-must-not-be-named, that is. Is today’s crazy behavior also connected to him?”
I nod.
“Right…” Carter drops my hands. “I need details.”
I breathe in deeply, then exhale. My hands are shaking without Carter holding them steady.
“Last night,” I start, focusing my gaze on a leaf stuck to one of the steps below us. “Aiden was fraternizing with the enemy.” I close my eyes. “It seems he’s been fraternizing throughout the night and also this morning…in his bed.” I clench my jaw. Carter puts his arm around me and pulls me into his chest. “I’m not heartbroken,” I say in defence, opening my eyes and pushing him away. “I’m pissed off that out of all the girls he could choose to sleep with, he chose the one he knew is a bitch to me.”
“Jenny.” Carter’s voice is soft.
“I don’t need your pity. I just need someone who I can get angry with.” My voice is robotic.
“Who’s the enemy? Should we go TP her house?” He sighs.
My lips lift in a half smile.
“Her name is Chloe Price,” I say, lifting my gaze to Carter’s face. He looks shocked.
“Chloe Price? Are you sure?”
I cock my head to the side. “Yes, why? Do you know her?”
“I guess you can say that…”
I narrow my eyes. “Not in the mood for that. Spill.”
“I think you’ll be better off asking Jason for the full story,” Carter starts, but, seeing my expression, rolls his eyes and continues. “I suppose I can tell you the bulk of it.” I nod, curious. “Last year, Jason dated Chloe for about a month. She got obsessed and started stalking him when he dumped her. She’d place herself in situations where she knew he’d be; she’d barge in on him in the morning if he stayed over with another girl going all crazy-bitch, screaming and throwing things at him. Once, she even told Jason she had slept with me just to make him jealous. Needless to say, that never happened.” She did what?!
