Rand slowly bends down and places his books on the floor. He raises back up and gets right into my face. I can feel his breath. I swear if he doesn’t kiss me soon, I’m going to faint. Is this what it feels like to fall in love? I feel like I just can’t get enough of him. I want to savor every touch, every kiss, every moment. He places his palms against the side of my face.
“Aspen, I’m not going to lie. I used to think you were the most exquisite creature on the face of the earth.”
Used to? I don’t think I want to hear the rest of this. I can’t stop the fat, salty tears from streaming down my cheeks.
“But your looks weren’t what made me fall in love with you. I loved that you convinced Molly Davis she would never get a date to eighth-grade graduation if she didn’t stop wearing white socks with black shoes. I loved that you spent an entire class period convincing Big Luann that Diet Pepsi tastes just as good as regular, helping her lose twenty pounds. I loved that you could spend all hour in calculus painting your nails, then the minute you get called on, you could rattle off the answer like you’ve actually been paying attention. I loved that every time I saw you eat applesauce, you put salt in it. I could go on for days. But none of that matters now. I want someone who reciprocates my feelings. I want someone who notices little things about me. I just can’t love you anymore, Aspen.” He wipes my now free-flowing tears, kisses my cheek, picks up his books, and walks right out of my life.
* * * *
My makeup was completely ruined from crying and there was no way I could stay at school in that condition. I haven’t stopped crying since Rand walked away. I feel like a huge hole resides where my heart used to be. Is this what it feels like to pine for someone? Has Rand been feeling this way about me all these years?
I’m just about to dig into Dad’s Karamel Sutra since I already ate all my Chubby Hubby when Mom busts through the front door, her arms full of shopping bags. Again, we nearly give each other a heart attack. She looks exquisite in a burgundy DKNY pantsuit. I swear it seems like she never repeats an outfit.
“Aspen, aren’t you going to get in trouble for skipping school again?” She asks, sounding nervous. She’s probably worried I’m not keeping my grades up.
“No. My principal is totally cool. She even offered to drive … Oh, crap.” I told Miss Hott I had terrible cramps and she was so cool about me leaving. I swear, she’s the most understanding principal ever.
“What’s wrong?” Mom asks.
“She wanted to drive me home because I was so upset. She went to get her car and I walked to my locker and totally forgot. I just got into Cookie and drove away.” Classic! I stood up my principal.
“I’m sure she’ll understand, sweetie.”
“Could anything else go wrong today?” I sob, dropping my head on the kitchen island. Mom drops her bags and rushes to me. She throws her arms around me and begins stroking my hair.
“You can just call her and tell her you forgot. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“It’s not that. Rand’s a hottie now and he hates me.” I sob, wiping my nose on her shoulder.
“Oh, honey, I’m sure he doesn’t hate you. You just need to convince him that you had feelings for him before he got handsome. What about the note you told me about this morning?”
“I can’t find it. And even if I could, he’d never believe that I wrote it before I saw him. What am I going to do? And why do I care so much about him after only spending like two days with him?” I wail into her shoulder.
“That’s how love is. It might take a lifetime to find you but once it does, you get hooked fast. He’ll come around. Let’s go shopping and get you a new outfit he won’t be able to resist.”
“I don’t want to go shopping! Are you even listening to me?” I scream. “He said he can’t love me anymore.” I sob.
She takes one look at my face and says, “Oh, dear. You’ve got it bad.”
* * * *
Mom and I are sitting at the dining-room table brainstorming about how I can win Rand back.
“He knew all this cool stuff about me. He’s been watching me for years. Not in a creepy stalker kind of way, but in a lovesick puppy way. He even knows I put salt in my applesauce.”
“You do? Gross,” Mom says, turning her nose up.
“I don’t know anything about him. I’m just not that observant,” I whine.
“Aspen, please. You can spot a fake Fendi from a mile away. Surely you can think of a few things about him.”
Exhausted, I bury my head in the folds of my arms resting on the table. My brain is fried. The only thing I can remember about Rand right now is how delectable his lips are and how I may never get to kiss them again. I groan in physical pain at the thought. Wait …
“He cares about the environment,” I blurt out, startling Mom.
“Okay, that’s a start,” she says, looking unconvinced.
“I could sell Cookie and get one of those awful-looking cars that get a hundred miles a gallon.”
Mom puts her hands up. “Whoa, let’s not get in a big hurry. You need to start out slow.” She taps her finger against her temple as if willing a good idea to surface. “I’ve got it. You could start riding Dad’s bike to school.”
My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. “Seriously?”
“How bad do you want this guy?”
A few seconds later, I call Dad at work and beg him to air up the tires when he gets home. He agrees, but not before asking me if I’m feeling all right.
The only other things I can remember about Rand is that he likes chocolate and he is annoyingly involved in school activities.
“Are there any games tonight or anything going on?” Mom asks.
“They are building floats for the homecoming parade.”
“Aspen, you have to be there. Let him see you getting involved. Show him a different side of yourself. Oh, and make sure you look hot.”
I hurry upstairs to get ready. I actually decide to go against Mom’s advice about looking hot. I’m going to go more casual to show Rand that I’m not all about looks all the time. I pull on a glittery pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and a pair of frayed jeans. I pull my hair into a simple ponytail. I take a less-is-more approach with my makeup. I slide my phone in one pocket and my inhaler in the other, slip into my Nikes and I’m ready to go. I catch my reflection in the mirror. I look adorable. It’s impossible to doll myself down.
Mom holds up crossed fingers as I open the front door. Dad has his bike propped up in the front yard. I hop on and take off down the road. The temperature went from freezing at the bonfire to a sunny seventy-five degrees today. It’s perfect weather for building a float. Not that I’ve ever built one, but how hard can it be?
Thankfully, my house is only a few blocks from the school so it doesn’t take me long to get there. I ride through the parking lot at the perfect time. Rand is climbing out of a black Jaguar and spots me immediately. It seems Hot Rand ditched the FryDaddy on wheels. The look on his face when he sees me is priceless. If I were keeping score, I definitely just got a two-pointer, or a touchdown, or whatever it is they use to keep score in sports. I’m ecstatic that my plan is working so well until I see Amy jump out of the Jag’s passenger side.
“Nice wheels, Brooks,” she smarts off.
I have to fight the urge to make tire tracks on her face with my bike. Instead, I wave pleasantly to both of them and head toward the bike rack.
Rand and Amy start walking behind the bus garage. I follow them, making sure to keep a good distance. Four flatbed trailers, one for each class, are set up behind the bus garage. I continue following Rand and Amy to the senior float. Tobi and Pippi are sitting on the trailer with their legs dangling off. When Tobi sees me she jumps off the trailer and bolts to my side.
“Aspen, are you okay? I was really worried when you left early today.”
I put my hands on my hips and look her up and down. “Yeah, you look pretty broken up about it.”
“Come on, Aspen.
I don’t want to fight with you.”
As hard as it is to be mad at Tobi, I’m still not convinced she isn’t behind some of these horrible things that keep happening to me.
“Tobi, come over here,” Pippi says, patting the spot next to her. Jealous much, Pippi? Whatever, I don’t even care. If Tobi wants to be b/f/f with Pippi, she can go for it.
Tobi gets big tears in her eyes and says, “Aspen, I have room in my heart for more than one person.” I don’t respond and eventually she turns and goes back to her new b/f/f.
Rand and Amy have huddled in a corner with Blake and Jimmy. I scan the remaining seniors to see who I can hang with since I would rather die than share Tobi with Pippi. I spot Melinda Paxton and head her way.
Miss Hott waddles up with float supplies and dumps them on our trailer. She’s flushed and out of breath. After catching her breath, she says, “It’s so exciting to have such a good turnout. I see some new after-school faces.” She looks my direction and winks. “Okay, we need floats that will blow Maroon High out of the water. I’m giving you full creative reign. Just keep it clean, and have fun.”
“Hi, Melinda. Is it okay if I work with you?” I ask.
Melinda turns and looks at me and for a moment I’m afraid she might be having a stroke. I touch her shoulder and ask, “Are you all right?”
“Fine, just a little shocked. I didn’t know you even knew my name.”
“Of course I do. We’re in the same English lit class.”
“Right? But you’ve never actually talked to me before.”
She’s right, I haven’t. I’ve never been a mean girl, but I have been indifferent, which I’m starting to realize might just be worse.
“I’m sorry, Melinda. I’ll just go over here.” I start to walk away and she touches my arm.
“No, stay. I want you to.” We grin at each other and get busy.
After examining our “supplies” and watching Amy fawn over Rand, I’m feeling like I could hurl.
“You’re really into him, huh?” Melinda asks, grabbing a can of spray paint.
“It’s that obvious?”
“Only to those with the gift of sight.” She laughs. “Plus, I saw the paper today. That picture was hot. You’ve got to get him away from the Evil Princess though,” she says, gesturing toward Amy with the paint can. I’d love to hold Amy down and spray paint her face green. I wonder if Melinda would help me?
“Believe me, I’m trying.”
“Damn, girl, you’re the great Aspen Brooks. You can get any guy you want. Let me see you work it,” she says, snapping her fingers. Who knew Melinda Paxton was such a crack-up? I’ve really been missing out by closing my world off to so many people, but not anymore.
Melinda’s right. I need to quit sitting here like a victim and start working it. I laugh loudly and toss my ponytail around. I can see Rand watching me out of the corner of his eye. There is no way I’m letting him fall out of love with me.
I help Melinda collect our supplies, which consist of chicken wire, a bag of sand, tissue paper, and ten cans of spray paint.
“Omigod, is she serious? Who does she think we are, MacGyver?”
Melinda starts snorting with laughter getting Rand’s attention again. Amy is getting frantic because she knows she’s losing him. I see her turn sideways and undo another button on her shirt. Pretty much everything but her actual nipple is visible now. I can’t blame Rand when I see him staring at her chest. A blind man would be gawking at that fake rack. Amy’s fighting dirty.
I turn back to Melinda, who is miraculously forming a seagull out of chicken wire.
“OMG, that looks awesome. What can I do to help?”
“Why don’t you start pulling tissue paper through the holes. Just leave a little bit sticking out then we’ll spray paint it gray.”
I gladly start following her orders. Surprisingly, this whole float building thing is kind of fun. Maybe there is something to these extracurricular activities after all. It helps that Melinda is such good company. I’m still periodically sneaking glances at Rand. I’ve caught him looking at me too. If Tobi and Pippi were any closer, they’d be Siamese twins. Before long they’ll have matching tramp stamps. One will say “best” and the other “friends.” Losers.
“Stop eyeballing Rand and help me,” Melinda jokes.
“Hey, I wasn’t even looking at him. I was just checking out my traitor ex-b/f/f over there.”
“Aspen, I don’t think Pippi is trying to compete with you for Tobi’s friendship.”
“You’re right. She’s already won.”
“Um, well, I don’t want to tell you your business, but maybe you should just talk to Tobi about it.” She hands me a roll of chicken wire and starts to unroll it. A jagged edge of metal catches the skin on my index finger and rips it open.
“Oh, shit,” I yell, dropping the wire. Miss Hott glimpses the blood spilling over my fingertip. She screams for no one to move or touch me while she rushes into the school to get the biohazard kit. The exchange of bodily fluids amongst students is highly frowned upon these days. She’s not even to the door yet, at this rate I’ll bleed to death.
“I’m so sorry, Aspen.” Melinda says.
“It’s not your fault … ” I trail off as I spot Rand walking toward me. Never in my life would I have thought that a guy dressed in blue jeans, a wife-beater, and flip-flops would reduce me to a quivering mass of Jell-O. As a rule, open-toed sandals make me gag. But Rand has the cutest little toes. His second toes are so long that they curl over the third ones. He grabs my hand and puts my bloody finger in his mouth. He starts to suck on my finger. I start getting light-headed and it’s not from losing blood. He is gazing seductively at me and the pressure of his tongue against my finger feels so disturbingly intense. If Rand were a vampire, I’d have no problem letting him suck me dry. Everyone around us is guiltily watching, but it feels like we are in our own parallel universe. I wonder if I would get expelled for doing Rand on the senior float behind the bus garage?
“Oh, my,” An out-of-breath Miss Hott interrupts. Rand immediately releases my finger from his mouth and gently drops my arm. I smile at him, but his eyes go cold.
“Don’t go reading anything into this, Aspen,” he says, walking away.
Yeah, right. You don’t just go around sucking somebody’s blood unless you are seriously into them. He still wants me. He just doesn’t want me to know it.
Miss Hott hands me a bandage, then busies herself looking for any traces of blood-borne pathogens she might need to sanitize. Satisfied there are none, she waddles away.
I’m still trying to catch my breath when Melinda whispers, “Holy shit. That was so hot! I’m going to have to wring out my panties when I get home.” We both start giggling and try to get back to decorating. My mind keeps floating away to Rand wearing nothing but his crown. When I finally come back around Melinda has managed to create a fantastic float displaying giant seagulls mauling a bulldog.
Everyone starts heading home. To my horror, Rand and Amy leave together. He doesn’t open her door for her though, which is a good sign. Tobi climbs into Pippi’s Hulk-green Camaro and waves good-bye to me. I raise my hand in a very unenthusiastic wave. I tell Melinda good night and head toward the bike rack. It’s pitch black out now and I’m glad I don’t have too far to go. Especially now that I realize someone has stolen Dad’s bike. I’m too exhausted to even be pissed. I could call Mom to come and get me, but it’s only a few blocks. Besides, it will give me time to fantasize some more about Rand.
As I cross the street in front of the school, Miss Hott pulls her car up beside me and rolls the window down.
“How about that ride now, Aspen?” she says, throwing a turquoise pom-pom into the backseat.
“Hey, sorry about earlier. I was all messed up.” I’m about to open her passenger door when a red Mini Cooper pulls up behind her and honks. It’s my new friend, Melinda.
“Thanks, Miss Hott, but Melinda will take me home.” She gives me a smil
e, then peels away like Danica Patrick.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next morning I’m busy picking out another scorching ensemble when my cell rings. I bet it’s Rand; he’s finally come to his senses and he’s calling to say he can’t live another minute without me. Nope. The screen displays a local number I don’t recognize. Maybe he’s calling to say he still loves me from a pay phone.
“Hello,” I answer, using my best sex-kitten voice.
“Hi, Aspen. It’s Miss Hott. I was wondering if you could meet with me before school this morning? I have something that I want to discuss with you. Privately.”
Why do I have the distinct feeling it’s going to be a lecture on teenage sexuality? After the show Rand and I put on yesterday I guess I can’t really blame her. But this isn’t the time to be rushing my appearance. I’ve got to make sure I’m a masterpiece everyday if I’m going to win Rand back.
“I really don’t have time this morning, Miss Hott,” I answer, switching back to my normal tone.
“I really hate to tell you this over the phone, but it’s about being homecoming queen. It’s tragic about Angel, but with the parade and game being today, we need a queen. You only lost to Angel by a few votes so I want to give you the tiara.”
Holy tiara! I’m the homecoming queen! Rand is my king! This couldn’t be more perfect if I’d orchestrated it myself. Now he’ll realize that we are meant to be. It will probably only be a few hours until I get to kiss those sweet lips again. Yum!
“Where do you want to meet?” I ask, excitedly.
“How about that little diner outside of town. I’m jonesing for some bacon and eggs.”
Yuck! How can she think about food at a time like this? My stomach is churning just thinking about having that tiara placed atop my head and taking my rightful place next to Rand as his queen. A salty taste fills my mouth and I drop my cell and rush to the bathroom to hurl.
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen Page 9