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Authors: Sara Dailey, Staci Weber
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me, even if his super-nice sister thought it was a possibility. There were lines of girls waiting to steal his heart, and each of them was hotter, richer, and way less dysfunctional than me.
I again reminded myself that it was wrong to like someone like him; he wasn’t the type I’d ever dreamed of. Aiden was part of a crowd that made others feel less than human, as if his clique was better than the rest of us. He’d fallen right into that crowd even though he was new to the school. That right there showed what kind of person he was. At least Alli had tried to keep her distance from them at first. Now it seemed we’d lost her to the pod people as well.
No, a little voice in my head promised, I didn’t want to be with someone like him. But even as I heard the words, I knew I was lying to myself.
*****
The next morning I found myself carefully applying just the right amount of makeup, fixing my hair, and picking out one of my favorite outfits. No matter what excuse I gave, the truth was that I wanted to look good. I wanted Aiden to notice me. I’d have been kidding myself to think otherwise.
Luckily, Dad was passed out on the couch. I didn’t want to wake up Sleeping Boozy, so I carefully stepped over the empty beer bottles on my way to the door. I made it safely without notice, but when I stealthily turned the knob, the door screeched. I went out cursing and praying he wouldn’t wake up. With the door closed and locked, I hurried to the car for my grand escape. Too bad if I was leaving Dad without transportation. He deserved it. He’d just have to find another way to get to work.
I reached school a short time later. Walking into the commons, I looked around for someone—anyone—to talk to, not wanting to stand alone like a leper, especially not all fancied up. I especially didn’t want to be alone if Aiden happened to pass by.
Just as I was about to casually meander over to a group of girls from my French class, Alli appeared. “Hey, Teagan. Don’t you look amazing! Any reason in particular?” She gave me a knowing look.
With an awkward grin I glanced down at my outfit. “What? I don’t look this amazing every day?”
Before Alli could grill me any further, he appeared as if from nowhere: Aiden. My pulse quickened, and I silently reminded myself not to fidget. I reminded myself of every reason why he and I were wrong for each other.
“Hey, Teagan. What’s up?” He walked over and propped his elbow on Alli’s shoulder. She gave him a glance that said she was humoring him.
Every synapse in my brain was firing off warnings for me to stay away from him, and Aiden’s smug smirk made me want to turn and run the opposite direction. But my body was tingling with his nearness. Instead of taking off, I ignored my fears and said, “Not much. Oh, and thanks again for the ride.”
Then there was silence. Aiden, Alli and I all just stood there. It was extremely awkward.
Aiden’s eyes left mine and drifted to the floor. His smug look had vanished. “So…uh, I was wondering if—”
Before he could finish, a familiar voice rang out. “Hey, Aiden!”
I cringed inside, knowing Becca, the next in line for queen of the beautiful people, was headed our way. She sauntered up and hooked her arm through Aiden’s as if claiming a prize. Just the sight of her made me want to gouge my eyes out.
Completely ignoring the rest of us, Becca announced, “So, Aiden. I was thinking I’d let you take me to the movies this weekend.” Aiden just stood there, so she proceeded to paw all over him while waiting for a response. Finally she asked, “Well, what do you think?”
That stupid little voice in my head answered first. It screamed, “Forget him, Teagan. He’s out of your league. Forget he even exists!”
Well, there was no way in Hades I was going to stand there and watch Aiden hook up with that hooch. I waved at Alli and made my escape.
17.
Aiden
No, no, no, no, no.
Why did this keep happening? There was
I again reminded myself that it was wrong to like someone like him; he wasn’t the type I’d ever dreamed of. Aiden was part of a crowd that made others feel less than human, as if his clique was better than the rest of us. He’d fallen right into that crowd even though he was new to the school. That right there showed what kind of person he was. At least Alli had tried to keep her distance from them at first. Now it seemed we’d lost her to the pod people as well.
No, a little voice in my head promised, I didn’t want to be with someone like him. But even as I heard the words, I knew I was lying to myself.
*****
The next morning I found myself carefully applying just the right amount of makeup, fixing my hair, and picking out one of my favorite outfits. No matter what excuse I gave, the truth was that I wanted to look good. I wanted Aiden to notice me. I’d have been kidding myself to think otherwise.
Luckily, Dad was passed out on the couch. I didn’t want to wake up Sleeping Boozy, so I carefully stepped over the empty beer bottles on my way to the door. I made it safely without notice, but when I stealthily turned the knob, the door screeched. I went out cursing and praying he wouldn’t wake up. With the door closed and locked, I hurried to the car for my grand escape. Too bad if I was leaving Dad without transportation. He deserved it. He’d just have to find another way to get to work.
I reached school a short time later. Walking into the commons, I looked around for someone—anyone—to talk to, not wanting to stand alone like a leper, especially not all fancied up. I especially didn’t want to be alone if Aiden happened to pass by.
Just as I was about to casually meander over to a group of girls from my French class, Alli appeared. “Hey, Teagan. Don’t you look amazing! Any reason in particular?” She gave me a knowing look.
With an awkward grin I glanced down at my outfit. “What? I don’t look this amazing every day?”
Before Alli could grill me any further, he appeared as if from nowhere: Aiden. My pulse quickened, and I silently reminded myself not to fidget. I reminded myself of every reason why he and I were wrong for each other.
“Hey, Teagan. What’s up?” He walked over and propped his elbow on Alli’s shoulder. She gave him a glance that said she was humoring him.
Every synapse in my brain was firing off warnings for me to stay away from him, and Aiden’s smug smirk made me want to turn and run the opposite direction. But my body was tingling with his nearness. Instead of taking off, I ignored my fears and said, “Not much. Oh, and thanks again for the ride.”
Then there was silence. Aiden, Alli and I all just stood there. It was extremely awkward.
Aiden’s eyes left mine and drifted to the floor. His smug look had vanished. “So…uh, I was wondering if—”
Before he could finish, a familiar voice rang out. “Hey, Aiden!”
I cringed inside, knowing Becca, the next in line for queen of the beautiful people, was headed our way. She sauntered up and hooked her arm through Aiden’s as if claiming a prize. Just the sight of her made me want to gouge my eyes out.
Completely ignoring the rest of us, Becca announced, “So, Aiden. I was thinking I’d let you take me to the movies this weekend.” Aiden just stood there, so she proceeded to paw all over him while waiting for a response. Finally she asked, “Well, what do you think?”
That stupid little voice in my head answered first. It screamed, “Forget him, Teagan. He’s out of your league. Forget he even exists!”
Well, there was no way in Hades I was going to stand there and watch Aiden hook up with that hooch. I waved at Alli and made my escape.
17.
Aiden
No, no, no, no, no.
Why did this keep happening? There was
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