by Shane Morgan
Sydney has gotten under my skin, and best believe I have every intention of returning the favor. I want this girl. The one who isn’t fazed. The one who fights my existence instead of swoons over it. The one who wants absolutely nothing from me.
At the end of practice Sunday night, I tell Nunez while we’re returning our gear, “Send word to everyone in Riley’s AP English: Sydney Bell sits beside me in class. Anyone else takes the spot on my left will have problems.”
“Sheesh,” he jokes. “What’s with you and this girl? It doesn’t seem like she’s interested.”
I shoot him a death glare, wiping the smirk off his face.
He lifts his hands in peace. “Fine. You got it, dude. I’ll send a mass text.”
“Thanks.”
Davidson wrinkles his forehead. “So, what is it about Sydney Bell?”
I shrug. “Not sure. But best believe I’m gonna find out.”
Coleman knows Coach could declare a drug test at any moment during the season. So it’s baffling he’s smoking weed at the party at his parents’ vacant rental property.
The rest of us shy away from blunts when they’re offered and stick to beer. I’m keeping it light, drinking impeccably slow.
We’re goofing off on the deck when Aubrey comes outside. She’s at every damn party. I just can’t evade the girl. Ignoring my friends, she positions herself in between Davidson and me, forcing him to move.
“Why are you chasing a girl who doesn’t want you?” she asks aloud, touching my arm. “I’m right here.”
“Don’t you get it? I would rather chase her than settle for something easy.”
My friends chortle under their breaths. I don’t mean to embarrass her, but I’m sick of this.
Aubrey tightens her jaw. “Sydney Bell is a nobody, Parker. She doesn’t fit in our world. From what I’ve heard, her aunt took pity on her and offered to send her to Spencer. She’s a charity case.”
The air around us turns intense. Everyone falls quiet, staring at me. Anger rises to the surface. The kind I’ve only felt after a conversation with my dad.
I grip her arm and say harshly, “You’re pathetic. That stunt you pulled at the beach shows the kind of person you are. Stay away from Sydney. Stay away from me.”
Aubrey blinks in surprise. “Parker, I was just joking around.”
“I don’t care,” I grunt. “Keep your fake ass away from me. Find some other guy to annoy.”
Davidson coughs out, “I’m available.”
She gasps, swivels on her heels, and pushes him out of the way to march back inside.
“Damn, Prescott,” Coleman snorts.
“Whatever. Aubrey needs to get it through her thick skull that I don’t want her.” I finish my beer.
Davidson bumps my arm. “So you can score Sydney Bell?”
“She’s not a score,” I argue, then compose myself and look down at the ground. “She’s… I don’t know. I’m intrigued.”
“Hm.” Nunez chuckles. “She always looks annoyed with you. I really wanna see how this plays out.”
I peer up at him and nod slowly. “Me too.”
7
I’ve hit the snooze button too many times. Now I’m rushing to reach English class before the final bell.
I make it right behind Mr. Riley. But as I enter the room, I notice my seat from last week’s classes is taken. The only one available is next to Parker.
He flashes a smirk, gratified. This is his doing.
“Ms. Bell, quickly now,” Mr. Riley says, gesturing for me to sit so he can start the class.
Eyes follow me to the desk by the window. I sink down and take my textbook and notepad from my bag.
“Morning, Sydney,” Parker mutters. “Saved you a seat.”
“I’m sure you did.”
He chortles. “Figured we could be study partners.”
I suck my teeth and retort, “You have your friends. I’m good.”
Mr. Riley begins taking attendance.
Parker rests his arm at the back of my chair, brushing against my shoulder.
The closeness between us gives me a whiff of his enticing cologne and causes a bizarre surge of heat in my body.
“Um, you mind?” I mutter, motioning to his arm at my back. “You’re all up in my space.”
This results in a perceptive wink. “I plan on doing a lot more of that.” I shudder as he moves his hand from my chair and touches my arm. My damn heart starts to race as he leans into me and whispers, “You’re breathing pretty fast. Am I making you nervous, Sydney?”
“As if.” Snapping out of it, I lightly elbow Parker at his side for him to move.
He finally concedes and straightens in his chair just as Mr. Riley ticks off his name in the register.
I try to stay calm and concentrate on the lesson as it proceeds, but Parker asks, “Feeling better?”
His question stirs the shame from breaking down in front of him the day before.
Ignoring him, I open the textbook and flip to the announced chapter.
Parker walks up to me in the hallway after class. “So, what happened yesterday?”
“It’s nothing,” I reply, dodging his invading eyes. “I overreacted. It has nothing to do with you.”
He touches my elbow gently, causing me to shiver.
“Sorry I snapped at you.” The sincerity in his tone makes me stop walking.
“It’s fine.” I let out an exasperated sigh then turn to face him. “I did it first.”
Chewing at the corner of his bottom lip, he constricts his gaze while observing me. “So, you’re okay?”
“Yes.” I motion to leave. “Anyway, I have class.”
“Hang out with me later,” he says, not as a request.
“Parker—”
“I meant what I said,” he interjects. “I’m gonna make you change your mind about me, Sydney.”
“You can’t make me do anything. I have to want it.”
Parker edges closer, ignoring all the curious stares as he whispers, “Oh, I know you want it.” I gulp as he lowers to my mouth briefly and looks into my eyes again, a confident smile curling his lips. “I’ll see you in the lot at six.”
“No, you won’t,” I say, but it doesn’t come out firm.
He smirks and walks away, rejoining his friends.
Davidson peers back at me, blue eyes squinting. He mutters something. Parker punches his arm in a playful manner.
I twitch my mouth in annoyance. Are these guys running a bet after all?
Knowing Parker will keep bugging me, and secretly powerless to my curiosity, I walk to the lot that evening. I slow and marvel at his Mercedes Benz G-class. It’s crazy how his dad bought him such an expensive SUV, let alone allows him to drive it.
Aunt Jackie and Uncle Terrance are still deliberating whether Nia should even drive until she’s eighteen. They keep saying she’ll get a car soon, but Nia’s not holding her breath.
I continue toward Parker. He looks up from his phone and delays on my face a second before gliding over my attire.
I’m wearing a chiffon blouse, jeans, and flats. But somehow, this guy makes me feel more elegant.
“You look cute,” he says, smiling.
He’s cute too out of uniform; laidback in a Saint Laurent t-shirt and jeans. Of course, I don’t say that.
“This isn’t a date,” I reply instead.
Parker slopes his head. “Isn’t it, though?”
“You wish.” I roll my eyes. “What were you laughing about with your friends today? Were they talking about me?”
He licks his lip. “They think you’re hot, which you are. I reminded them you’re off-limits.”
“Is that so?” I rest my hands on my hips. “Am I a fire hydrant you need to piss all over and mark your territory?”
My statement draws a burst of laughter. It’s deep. Irresistibly sexy. I can’t stop myself from liking the sounds.
“That logic is a bit much,” Parker says, composing himself. “But
yeah, I don’t want them going after you.”
“Shouldn’t it be my choice?” I ask astutely.
“Think we both know you’ve already chosen.”
He winks and slants to open the door for me.
“Hm.” I get in the passenger side and wait for him to come around.
“So, where are you taking me?” I ask when he starts the car.
“Out to eat. A movie after.” He chuckles. “You know, the basic format for a date.”
“It’s not,” I argue, picking at my jeans.
Parker looks at me, a cocky smile on his face. “So what is it, Sydney? Why did you meet me?”
I gulp and peer down at my lap. “I can be friends. That’s it.”
“We’ll see.”
He takes off from school and drives to a casual seaside restaurant in Laguna Beach. Parker pulls out the chair for me, slightly grazing my arm as I sit.
I’m not used to being treated like this. Then again, I’ve never been on a date. Never had a boyfriend.
He’s such a gentleman.
“Am I charming you?” he teases after sitting across from me.
“Barely,” I quip, when in reality, I’m being bombarded by misbehaving butterflies.
We order when the server comes over with lemon water, and Parker proceeds to stare at me, unabashed.
I shift on the chair as warm sensations dance down my back. It’s as if this guy wants to seal himself inside my body and never leave.
“I notice you ordered from the vegetarian options. Not a meat-eater?”
“I’m an animal lover,” I reply and drink my water.
“Noted.” He pauses a moment, then suggests, “How ‘bout we tell each other one thing to start. Anything. You first.”
A part of me is still fighting to keep him out. Another side says it’s all right. Be friends.
“Okay.” I twirl my drink and consider it. “Well, I like avocado toast.”
He snorts. “Really?”
“Hey, you said anything.” I drink more of the lemon water and set my glass down.
“I meant something deep,” he clarifies, bracing forward.
“We are not at that level.”
“Yet,” he rasps.
I turn my head slowly. “So confident.”
Parker shrugs and bites his lip while staring at my mouth. “I’m captivated, Sydney Bell. I like how hard I have to work.”
“Hm. It doesn’t matter. You won’t gain anything aside from a light friendship.” I drop my eyes to the utensils, toying with my fork.
“Right. Says the girl who can barely hold my gaze without turning nervous.”
I draw air through my teeth and look up to prove him wrong. But it’s hard. Parker’s like a magnet pulling me into his existence. He’s starting to strip away my armor layer by layer.
The food comes out, saving me from the effects of his unraveling gaze.
He glances down at last.
“Did you have a best friend in Seattle?” he asks after we’ve taken our first bites.
“Friends. But no best friend. I guess Nia is like that for me.”
“So, you’re both an only child,” he deciphers. “Did you move to Cali at the beginning of summer? Did you do anything fun?”
“I came in the middle of July. We went to a music festival.” I reach for my drink, and it suddenly hits me. “Wait, when did this turn into a Q&A session for me?”
Parker smiles. “But, it feels natural, right?”
I roll my eyes at the accuracy. It does feel effortless.
Relaxing.
He resumes eating. Lowering my guard, a little, I decide to keep the conversation going. “Are you an only child?”
“Nope. I have an older brother.”
I push around my food, asking with my eyes down, “Are you closer to Cory Davidson out of your three friends?”
“Yeah. We’ve known each other longer.” Sincerity laces his tone. It sounds like he cherishes his friendship. “How’d you guess?”
“It’s obvious.” I keep going. “Favorite place in Orange County?”
His head flies up, a sneaky half-smile on his face as he replies, “I’ll show it to you soon.”
My throat suddenly feels parched. I drink my lemon water to cool down.
Finished eating, Parker watches me over the brim as he drinks. Then he asks, “Does it feel like a date now?”
I blink away from his riveting stare and pick up my napkin. “No.” But it does.
Parker chortles softly and leans back. “All set?”
“Yeah.”
He signals to the server to bring over the check, taking out his shiny platinum credit card.
“I’ll cover my part,” I say, opening my clutch.
“Don’t you dare,” he refuses. “I got it.” He hands his card to the server before I protest further.
We leave after, and he drives to a park.
“Why are we here?” I ask, wrinkling my forehead.
“You’ll see.”
Getting out of the car, he walks around to open my door. “Come on.”
We stroll along the footpaths until emerging at a spacious area with people speckled everywhere on the grass, watching a movie on a large screen.
“Oh.” My eyes brighten. “An outdoor showing? This is old school.”
“Yeah. The movies aren’t new releases, but it’s better than the cinema. We’ve only missed the first few minutes of this one.” He lowers to a spot on the grass and eyes the area beside him.
I sink down, keeping distance between us. “If I’d known, I would have brought a towel. Grass stains.”
Parker chortles lowly. “Just watch the movie Sydney.”
“How many girls have you brought here?” seeps out of nowhere.
“One.” He glances at me. “Just you.”
I stare ahead, but I can’t help observing him out of the corner of my eye. Perhaps he isn’t so bad. Maybe I’m too harsh. But what if he is a player and this is all a game?
Clearing away my thoughts, I try to watch the film, but my focus drifts to Parker every so often. Why can’t I stop myself? Why am I becoming charmed?
It’s because he won’t leave me alone.
When the movie ends, we make our way back to the lot at a slow pace.
Parker mutters, “Let’s go on another date on Saturday.”
“We’re not going on dates,” I say on an exhale.
“Yes, we are.” He shifts closer and brushes my arm.
Heat soars instantly. There’s an invisible pull between us that causes me to gasp.
I shudder and move over. “If we can’t be friends, it’s best if you leave me alone.”
“I don’t wanna be just friends, and I won’t leave you alone because you don’t want me to.” Parker grasps my hand, stopping me from walking. His voice is intense as he speaks again. “Sydney, like this morning, I’m gonna keep occupying your space until you warm up to me.”
A fuzzy sensation sprouts from the pit of my belly and reaches my chest. Suppressing it, I lie evenly, “Don’t waste your time. That won’t happen.”
Parker shakes his head. “Remember what I said about challenges? I. Always. Win.”
The longer he stares at me, the more my heart races. I pull my hand away and march ahead, opening the door for myself once Parker remotely unlocks the car.
He asks more questions during the drive, but I dodge them, giving one-word answers and acting disinterested.
My fear won’t let me trust him.
When we arrive at school, Parker asks me to wait.
“What is it?” I suddenly feel anxious, being so alone with him.
“Let’s go back to the park on Saturday.”
“Told you before, we’re not going on dates.”
“I saw your face tonight, Sydney. You enjoyed yourself.”
“So?” I pick at the fabric of my jeans.
Parker sputters a quick laugh and says with certainty, “I’ll be here waiting at six on Sat
urday.”
I look up at him. Strangely, I don’t wanna leave the car now.
My heartbeat accelerates as he leans over a bit. Hurried breaths ooze out.
“Warming up yet?” he mutters, raspy voice stirring an odd feeling below the waist. A grin follows. “Why so nervous?”
“I’m not,” I reply, softer than expected.
I tremble as Parker brazenly lifts his hand to trace my lips with his thumb. God, his touch feels…really good.
Parker trails from my mouth to my chin and jawline. I’m breathing deeply, becoming hot all over.
Returning his thumb to my lips, he speaks to me in a sexy way. “If I’m triggering these emotions without even kissing you, I wonder what kissing will do. Wanna give it a go?”
A moan answers him. He smirks in triumph.
What the hell? Why am I allowing him to do this?
“Ugh.” My defenses return. I slap his hand away. “Goodnight, Parker.” I quicken out of the car and slam the door shut behind me.
8
The smile won’t leave my face while I’m thinking about touching Sydney’s lips. She wanted me to kiss her, I could tell. Her body reeked of desire. But she’s fighting me.
Someone knocks and enters without an invitation. My smile falls. It’s the headmaster. He’s decked out as usual in a formal pantsuit.
“Dad, what’s up?” I say after a swallow, nervous about what he’s here to criticize now. His comments from the game still anger me days later.
“Just checking in.” He scans my room and nods with approval. I’ve always been organized, thanks to his constant monitoring.
I finish putting on my tie, make it neat, and begin stacking my books into the bag.
“I heard there were a few parties last week. I trust you’re keeping on course.”
My stomach tightens. I look at him. “I didn’t go overboard with drinking if that’s what you’re asking.”
Dad focuses on me. I always wondered if it was a good thing we didn’t resemble much.
“I’m just making sure you remember who you are and who I am. I won’t tolerate another disgrace. Not after the mess I had to clean up.”
He’ll never let me forget he stepped in and paid off authorities to make sure no one at the academy or otherwise heard about the wreck.