that he was drop-dead
gorgeous. However, after meeting all of the guys at the party and kissing Dylan
tonight, I knew our attraction/connection was different somehow.
“So… Sam?” he asked again,
determined to make me explain.
“Okay, okay,” I began, “It’s
really nothing. I have this weird dislike for nicknames, always have. I don’t
mind calling other people nicknames if that’s what they prefer, but I’ve never
liked to be called something other than my name.”
“Why?” Ash interrupted.
“I’m not sure really, I guess
because I feel like they are overused and undervalued.”
He cocked his head at me as if he
wanted me to continue.
“For example, look at the five of
us in this house right now. Your full name is Ashton but the majority of people
call you Ash. Evie is actually Evelyn, Jess is truly
Jessica, and I’m assuming Meg is a Megan.
“The most common nicknames for
people are a shortened version of their full name, like with the four of you.
My name shortened is Scar,” I wrinkled my nose. “When most people hear Scar
they either think of a physical marking associated with a bad memory and lots
of pain or Simba’s evil uncle that had Moufassa killed so he could be the Lion King. Neither of
those are really the image I’m going for.”
For the first time I heard Ash
laugh a sincere, whole-hearted laugh, and it was a sweet, sweet sound in my
ears that warmed my entire body.
“Other types of nicknames include
those that are terms of endearment and those that are used to make fun of
someone. It’s obvious why I don’t like the latter of the two, I’m not a hateful
person and don’t want to make others feel bad about themselves. And as for all
of the beautifuls , honeys, sugar pies, sweeties…
believe me, I could go on for hours… I just hear it so much I feel like they’ve
lost their meaning, ya know? People just call each
other those names to have a nickname to call each other. I don’t know; I just
don’t get it.
“So anyways, one day in junior high, Evie and I had
this exact discussion that we are having now, and she made it her mission to
find a nickname I would like. For over a week, she tried out different names on
me… it must’ve been a thousand. When finally one day she was at my house
looking at some school forms I had left on the table, and my initials S.A.M.,
Scarlett Alexandria MacGregor , were written across
the top. By this point my resolve was weakening and I felt bad rejecting her
suggestions day after day. So I agreed to Sam, with the one caveat being that
she’s the only person that gets to call me that. And thus Sam, my evil alter
ego was born,” I said as I finished the story.
“Well, I’m sorry… I mean, I’m glad
I asked,” he said teasingly.
“Oh shut up… I warned you it was
long and boring!” I retorted. Then without thinking I leaned over and brushed
back a strand of his hair that had fallen in front of his eyes. He caught my
hand as I tried to pull it back and pressed my fingertips to his lips.
“Come to my bed with me,
Scarlett?” his eyes pleaded with mine.
“Excuse me? Are you crazy?” I
blurted out. Did I hear him correctly? Was he really asking me to have sex with
him? And why was I actually considering it?
“No, no… not like that. I promise
it won’t be like that,” he said running his fingers through his thick wavy hair
in frustration. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”
He looked at me and said
earnestly, “I’m going to be blunt with you, Scarlett. I’m not sure what it is
about you, but from the moment I saw you in the living room earlier tonight, I can’t
get you out of my head.” He paused as he searched for what he wanted to say. “I
don’t even know how to explain it; I’m pretty sure you feel something between
us too, at least I hope you do. I just want to talk to you, get to know you.
Look, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to touch you, to hold you close to
me, but I’m not going to take
gorgeous. However, after meeting all of the guys at the party and kissing Dylan
tonight, I knew our attraction/connection was different somehow.
“So… Sam?” he asked again,
determined to make me explain.
“Okay, okay,” I began, “It’s
really nothing. I have this weird dislike for nicknames, always have. I don’t
mind calling other people nicknames if that’s what they prefer, but I’ve never
liked to be called something other than my name.”
“Why?” Ash interrupted.
“I’m not sure really, I guess
because I feel like they are overused and undervalued.”
He cocked his head at me as if he
wanted me to continue.
“For example, look at the five of
us in this house right now. Your full name is Ashton but the majority of people
call you Ash. Evie is actually Evelyn, Jess is truly
Jessica, and I’m assuming Meg is a Megan.
“The most common nicknames for
people are a shortened version of their full name, like with the four of you.
My name shortened is Scar,” I wrinkled my nose. “When most people hear Scar
they either think of a physical marking associated with a bad memory and lots
of pain or Simba’s evil uncle that had Moufassa killed so he could be the Lion King. Neither of
those are really the image I’m going for.”
For the first time I heard Ash
laugh a sincere, whole-hearted laugh, and it was a sweet, sweet sound in my
ears that warmed my entire body.
“Other types of nicknames include
those that are terms of endearment and those that are used to make fun of
someone. It’s obvious why I don’t like the latter of the two, I’m not a hateful
person and don’t want to make others feel bad about themselves. And as for all
of the beautifuls , honeys, sugar pies, sweeties…
believe me, I could go on for hours… I just hear it so much I feel like they’ve
lost their meaning, ya know? People just call each
other those names to have a nickname to call each other. I don’t know; I just
don’t get it.
“So anyways, one day in junior high, Evie and I had
this exact discussion that we are having now, and she made it her mission to
find a nickname I would like. For over a week, she tried out different names on
me… it must’ve been a thousand. When finally one day she was at my house
looking at some school forms I had left on the table, and my initials S.A.M.,
Scarlett Alexandria MacGregor , were written across
the top. By this point my resolve was weakening and I felt bad rejecting her
suggestions day after day. So I agreed to Sam, with the one caveat being that
she’s the only person that gets to call me that. And thus Sam, my evil alter
ego was born,” I said as I finished the story.
“Well, I’m sorry… I mean, I’m glad
I asked,” he said teasingly.
“Oh shut up… I warned you it was
long and boring!” I retorted. Then without thinking I leaned over and brushed
back a strand of his hair that had fallen in front of his eyes. He caught my
hand as I tried to pull it back and pressed my fingertips to his lips.
“Come to my bed with me,
Scarlett?” his eyes pleaded with mine.
“Excuse me? Are you crazy?” I
blurted out. Did I hear him correctly? Was he really asking me to have sex with
him? And why was I actually considering it?
“No, no… not like that. I promise
it won’t be like that,” he said running his fingers through his thick wavy hair
in frustration. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”
He looked at me and said
earnestly, “I’m going to be blunt with you, Scarlett. I’m not sure what it is
about you, but from the moment I saw you in the living room earlier tonight, I can’t
get you out of my head.” He paused as he searched for what he wanted to say. “I
don’t even know how to explain it; I’m pretty sure you feel something between
us too, at least I hope you do. I just want to talk to you, get to know you.
Look, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to touch you, to hold you close to
me, but I’m not going to take
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