by Sara Daniell
BY SIXTH PERIOD, I was beat. Keeping up with everything I needed to turn in and all the projects I needed to start on because I was behind was overwhelming. Jane was right. My fourth period teacher was a bitch. I laid my head on my desk and closed my eyes. If I could just relax for two seconds, that’d be great.
CLUNK!
I bolted upright at the sound and frowned when I saw a book next to my feet.
“That’s my bad,” a sandy-blond haired cutie said with a cocky grin. His hair fell just above his ears and was disturbingly perfect. He used his foot to bring the book back to his desk, where he must have meant to drop the book.
“No problem. I needed to wake up anyway.” I opened my notebook to a clean sheet of paper and wrote the date at the top.
Nice-haired cutie leaned over my shoulder to look at my paper. “You take notes in study hall?”
I laughed and turned to look at him, noticing freckles on his nose, because he was that close. I turned back around in my seat. “No. This isn’t—” I stopped when I looked at my schedule. “Oooh, it is study hall. Oops.” I laughed at myself.
“I’m Finn Kerr. You are?”
His name sounded a little like the name of our town? Weird.
“Elena Johnson.”
“Ah, the newbie. How do you like it here so far?”
“It’s fine. Everyone is really nice.” I leaned forward a bit because he was invading my personal space. I only let Channing in this close. I peeked over my shoulder and saw his eyes were on my binder. I had pictures of my friends and Channing under the clear film.
“Boyfriend?” He asked pointing at the picture of Channing and me.
I nodded.
“He looks like an asshole. Come on, Elena, you could do better than that.”
I became defensive. Quickly. “Well, he’s not, and you need to get out of my personal life,” I stated firmly.
Asshole? Ha! Who the hell did Finn Kerr think he was to make a comment about someone he didn’t know? Jerk.
He chuckled and sat back. “Where ya from, Ellie?”
“Fredericksburg,” I snapped.
Gasps filled the room. Apparently, everyone was listening to our conversation, even the teacher.
“That’s terrible,” Finn gasped.
“Sorry you think that.” I frowned and looked around the room. A few students moved their desks farther from me like I was the walking, talking plague. I rolled my eyes. I didn’t care. I didn’t need these people to like me. I had my friends back in my hometown.
I used the rest of the study period to work on homework and filling in my calendar with upcoming assignments.
I COULDN’T WAIT TO SEE Channing. I drove to the parking lot that used to belong to a Walmart before it burned down. It was where our group of friends liked to meet and hang out on the weekends. Although it was a Monday, everyone still wanted to meet up and let me fill them in on my first day.
Before I went to the parking lot, I sort of contemplated driving to my mom’s work and demanding that she talk to me, but I thought better of it. I didn’t feel like dealing with the rejection. I was finally learning to be happy, despite my parents.
I squealed at the sight of the greatest boyfriend in the entire universe. I hopped out of my car, launched myself into Channing’s arms, and planted a trillion kisses down his neck.
He chuckled against my hair and whispered, “I missed you, too.” My whole body melted against his.
“I survived my first day.” I smiled and bounced on my feet.
Before Channing could say anything, I was being ripped from his hold and shoved into a group hug. Katie, Alyssa, and I giggled.
“I didn’t think it’d be so bad, since I knew I’d still see you, but dammit Ellie, classes just aren’t the same without you! Even the teachers noticed the difference!” Katie hugged me again.
I laughed.
“Yeah, they noticed. They didn’t have to keep telling us all to shut up!” Alyssa teased.
Channing put his arm around me after Alyssa and Katie let me out of their embrace. I started talking to our large group of friends with Channing close by. He couldn’t keep his hands off me. I kept moving his hand when it’d slip below my waistline. After the seventh time he did it while I was trying to talk to people, I raised a brow at him.
“Channing,” I giggled. “Stop.”
“Can we go somewhere? I just want you to myself.” He was pouting majorly.
“Just give me a second to tell everyone bye.”
I hurried over to Dillon and gave him a huge hug. He picked me up and spun me around. Dillon and I used to be inseparable. When I started dating Channing this past summer, that changed. All of my time was consumed by Channing, but Dillon understood.
“Ew, you reek of Tivy Antlers!” Dillon pinched his nose and waved his hand in the air.
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up. I’ll always bleed blue and white.”
He hugged me one more time and then looked past me. “I think Channing wants you back.”
I looked over my shoulder and smiled at Channing. I looked at Dillon again.
“He’s being stingy.”
“Isn’t he always?”
I laughed and nodded. “I’ll see you later, Dillon!”
After telling everyone bye, I walked with Channing to his truck. We got in, and he started driving around town. We couldn’t keep our hands off one another. The way he was swerving all over the road, if he didn’t pull over soon, he was going to have a wreck.
“The lake,” I whispered against his ear; then my lips found their way back to his neck.
We made it to the lake and parked in the grass thicket. I put my back to the passenger door and crooked my finger at him. He smiled and turned off his truck. He came over, pulling my legs gently until they were wrapped around his waist and I was lying back in the seat. His hands inched their way up my shirt, and his lips moved perfectly against mine.
My mind was racing. Would tonight be the night I let him go all the way? I had made a pact with myself. I was going to be the girl that waited for marriage. It wasn’t a religious decision or one that my parents embedded in me, but one I made on my own. Of course I wanted to believe that I’d marry Channing, but what if that didn’t happen? I never wanted to explain to the man I married that he wasn’t my first. It was something I wanted to save for whomever that may be.
I felt Channing’s fingers working on the button of my jeans. My body wanted him so badly that I almost didn’t stop him. Almost. I moved my hand off the back of his neck and to his hand that had just successfully unbuttoned my jeans.
“Channing,” I whispered and stopped kissing him.
He looked at me oddly.
I shook my head at him. “You know I want to wait.”
He ran his fingers through his dark, disheveled hair and sat back in his seat. He let out a heavy sigh and looked at me while I sat up and buttoned my jeans.
“I’m sorry, Channing.”
“No, I’m sorry. I know we’ve talked about this, but sometimes I just get carried away. I love you, Ellie, and it’s hard to stop with you.”
I crawled across the seat until I was straddling his lap and kissed his nose. “I love you, Channing. Thank you for respecting me.”
He laughed. “I don’t know how much longer I can, especially, when you sit on me like this.” I started to move, but he stopped me. “I didn’t say I wanted you off.”
I giggled and put my forehead to his. “Marry me, and I’m all yours, Channing Morris.”
“I just might do that one day.”
“If I say yes,” I teased.
He raised both brows. “You’d say yes.”
I shrugged, and he burst into laughter—one of my favorite sounds in the entire world.
I WOKE UP AND immediately started panicking. I was in Channing’s bed. I went to his house to help him with some math homework, and we must have both fallen asleep.
Shit, shit, shit!
I looked at the clock and
groaned. It was 5:00 am, and I was supposed to be home by 11:00 pm! Dad was probably freaking out. I leaned over the side of the bed and found my purse in the floor. I got my cellphone and started looking for missed calls or texts. To my surprise, there were none. Not a single one. I found it extremely odd but decided to promptly text Dad to let him know I was fine.
Me: Dad, omg I’m so sorry! I fell asleep at Channing’s and completely spaced. Sorry!! I’m going to wake him up and have him take me to my car. I’ll be home soon!
I reached over and shook Channing. He groaned a little and then rolled over. When his eyes opened, he gave me a sleepy smile. I shoved his shoulder.
“Seriously? Wake up! I need you to take me to my car! I can’t believe we fell asleep. Oh God, my dad is going to think we had sex. Kill me now,” I mumbled as I got out of bed and started scrambling to find my shoes.
Channing kept laughing and slowly got out of bed. “Well, I can assure him that sure as hell didn’t happen.”
The way he said it irritated me. “What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped. I finally found my shoes under a pile of his dirty clothes and slid them on.
“Whoa, chill out! I didn’t mean it like you obviously took it. I’m just saying—hell, never mind.”
I leaned against his door and waited for him to get his shoes on. My phone dinged, and I saw a text from Dad.
Dad: I figured if something was wrong you’d let me know. I trust you, Elena. Be safe on your way home.
We went out to his truck, and I was thanking my lucky stars that his parents weren’t home last night. I’d be so embarrassed if they had caught us asleep in his bed.
Channing was super quiet on our drive to my car. I didn’t mean to make him mad, and maybe I didn’t. Maybe he was just tired, and it was too early for him to talk. I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.
He rubbed my arm, and I felt the truck stop. “We’re here, baby. You sure you can drive home?”
I yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Mmmhmmm. I think so.”
He furrowed his brows. “That’s not convincing. How about I take you home and just pick you up after school? I can bring you to your car then.”
“No, it’s fine. Really. I mean, it’s already 5:30. By the time I get home, it’ll be 6:00, and I normally wake up by 6:30 to start getting ready for school. I’m fine, Channing. I promise.”
“Okay.” He leaned over and kissed me softly. “Text me after school.”
“I will.” I got out of his truck and dug deep in my purse to get my keys.
I got in my car, and when I cranked it, Channing pulled his truck up behind me. I was so confused about what he was doing. I drove through the parking lot and pulled onto the road. Channing followed right behind me. I laughed when I took my left turn at the light, and he followed me instead of going right. I called him.
“I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened. I’ll follow you to make sure you get home safe; then I’ll head back home.”
I laughed. “Channing, you’re perfect.”
He laughed. “You make me this way.”
I hung up and smiled at my rearview mirror. I brought my eyes back to the road and turned up the radio. Finn Kerr was an idiot. How could he think Channing was an asshole? Channing Morris was the best guy in the entire universe. Why did I even care what that Finn guy said? I didn’t know him, and he sure as hell didn’t know me.
Idiot.
I DIDN’T EXPECT SCHOOL TO be as bad today, but it was worse. I was majorly tired; the teachers were all in bad moods, and everyone except Jane ignored me. I got it. I was the new girl from the town they hated, my fate here at Kerrville High was inevitable. However, being a loner here might actually be a good thing. I’d be able to really focus on school and work on being a straight-A student, and for once, my social life and academics would be completely separate, and I could focus on upping my GPA to get into Stanford.
I sat down in sixth period in the same spot as yesterday. Finn made his way to his same seat as well. I wondered why he even bothered to sit right behind me again when he could’ve chosen any seat in the entire room. By the look on his face, he was probably doing it on purpose. I kind of wanted to punch the smug grin off his face.
Why did he have to be so adorable, though? His vibrant blue eyes were annoyingly addicting to look at. Why was I even looking at them? Or him? Oh God, I was paying too much attention to this guy. I looked away from his perfect smile and back to the book I was reading. The bell rang, and the few that were late getting to class staggered in.
I felt a light tap on my shoulder and looked over at Finn who was holding a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me. “What’s this for?” I whispered.
I took my blue and white plaid shirt off the back of my chair and put it on over my Rolling Stone’s t-shirt.
“Read it.”
I turned back around, placed my bookmark in my book, and closed it. I unfolded the letter and read:
There’s a party Friday night after the game. Everyone is invited. Maybe you could come and prove that you aren’t the bad luck charm.
P.S. That blue and white shirt is very disturbing. Get some red and black.
Finn
Bad luck charm? Is that what I am? Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll be with the “asshole.”
Ellie
I folded the paper up and handed it back to him. Several seconds later, tap, tap, tap. I reached behind my back and felt the paper in my hand. I unfolded it.
I figured but thought I’d offer. It’d be a good chance for you to make friends here.
I looked at the teacher who was texting on her phone, not paying any attention to the class. She didn’t seem to care if we talked, as long as we were quiet. I turned in my seat and faced Finn. He smiled, and I hated him for being so damn adorable.
“What if I don’t want to make friends here?” I whispered.
“Then I’d say you were an asshole like your boyfriend.”
“You have an odd obsession with that word.”
He laughed. “No, I just think it’s a fitting term to use for guys like your boyfriend.”
“What is your deal with Channing? You don’t even know him! He’s a great guy. And in just two days you have only made yourself appear to be an ‘asshole’. What’s your problem?”
He laughed some more and gripped his chest. “Me?” he said in mock shock. “Little ol’ me?”
I rolled my eyes and turned back around in my seat. I didn’t have time for people like Finn. He was a jerk and was probably just jealous that he couldn’t get a girlfriend because he was such an asshat.
When the bell rang, I gathered my things and walked out of the room. I was still reeling over Finn’s words. A complete stranger was making horrible accusations about someone he didn’t even know. I felt the need to march right up to him and defend Channing even more.
I had that uneasy feeling that someone was following me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Finn walking behind me. He smiled, and I frowned. I slowed my pace until he was beside me. Now was my chance to lay into him.
“You know, what you said about my boyfriend was a real dick move. You can’t just say things about people that you don’t even know!”
He chuckled. “If you know it’s not true, then what makes you feel like you need to keep telling me that he’s not? It was just an observation. I’ve got this sixth sense or something. I can point out an asshole easy, and I’m usually right.”
I held the binder that had the pictures of Channing and me to my chest. I pulled it away so I could look at it. Before I could say anything, Finn took the binder from me and stopped in the hall. I tried to grab it back, but he moved.
He pointed at Channing in one of my favorite pictures of us. “Look. Right here,” he said putting his index finger on Channing’s arm around me. “He looks uninterested and bored. When a guy has a girl like you in their arms, he should never appear uninterested.”
“Excuse me? He doesn’t look u
ninterested. And how would you even know when he does look interested? You have never met him!” I snatched my binder back.
Finn laughed and adjusted his backpack on his shoulders. “It was just an observation. Just trying to help you out.”
“I don’t need your help!” I said that louder than I had meant to. Students walking through the hall stopped momentarily to stare at Finn and me before proceeding to continue down the hall.
“Welcome to Kerrville, Elena. I hope your stay here is just as kind as you are.” He laughed, shook his head, and walked past me.
My blood boiled as I watched him walk into a classroom. I stomped toward my locker and was thankful to see Jane there. When she saw me, she scrunched her nose.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Finn Kerr. That’s what!”
She smiled, and her concerned expression relaxed some. “Finn? What did that goof do? He’s harmless.”
“Harmless? He’s an asshole, Jane!”
Jane filled me in on who Finn Kerr was after I told her what happened. She swore he was anything but an asshat. Not most days, anyway. As a matter of fact, this guy was a chick magnet. Girls at this school adored him. Not because he was some big jock or star of the football team. He was just a good, down-to-earth, and funny guy. Not to mention, fine as hell. Jane also told me that he dated almost every girl in our entire grade but wasn’t the heartbreaker type or the guy that slept around; he just dated a lot. I was kind of angry. I was hoping she’d confirm that he was a complete douche canoe.
“Just forget it. I’m sure he’s just being his silly self and messing with you. Trust me, he probably means nothing by it. He’s a big flirt too. Just ignore him,” Jane said as we got stuff out of our lockers.
“Yeah, I just don’t get why he pokes and prods, though. I didn’t say anything to him to make him think his comments were welcome. He just did it.” I shut my locker and groaned when I saw him walking by. Wasn’t he already in his class? He didn’t see me, or maybe he did and just pretended not to. I watched him walk toward the bathroom.