Come to think of it, his felt slightly warm too. It was probably just the heat from the oven.
She pointed the spatula at Jenna. “So, how long have you been into all that gloom and doom stuff? Do your parents mind? My mom would crap a brick if I wore all black and did my makeup like that.”
Jenna nearly dropped the bag of flour she was returning to the cupboard. She opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out. Bewildered, she thrust the bag into its proper place then glanced at Ryan. Her eyes seemed to beg him to speak up in her defense. He smothered a grin. She was on her own in this argument because he didn’t understand her fascination with it either.
Chloe’s eyes grew wide and she quickly amended what she said. “I mean, it’s not that you look bad or anything! It really works for you , I love it. It’s just that, well you know, it’s different. I don’t see anyone else at school dressed like that. And please don’t take this wrong, but there were a few Goth kids at my old school. They were kind of creepy.”
Jenna laughed good-naturedly then examined the fresh coat o f black polish on her nails. “It suits me.”
“Your parents don’t mind?”
Ryan ducked his head to hide the smile twitching at his lips. Frank and Trudy had harped on her for as long as he’d been there to change her ways. They’d even asked him to help. Thus far, the mediation had done no good.
“Yes and no. They wish I would dress like you do, but that’s not going to happen. I do my thing, they do theirs.” Jenna shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal.
Chloe stared at Jenna for a few seconds as though a bug had just crawled out of her ear. “What’s your natural hair color?”
“Boring brown,” Jenna answered as she and Chloe spooned the last of the dough onto a cookie sheet.
“It’s like you want to stand out,” Chloe murmured. “I just want to fit in and be accepted. You don’t care about that?”
“Not really. Take you for example. ” There was a playful twinkle in Jenna’s blue eyes. “You’re a cookie cutter image of every girl at school.”
“So?” Chloe shrugged, but didn’t seem the least bit ruffled.
Ryan wanted to argue that she was not like them. There was something different about Chloe, but he didn’t know what. She was much prettier and smarter than the other girls, especially Amy and Kelly. She was definitely more outgoing once she got wound up.
“No one accepts you.” Jenna wiped her hands on a dishtowel then tossed it onto the end of the table. “No matter what you do or say to fit in, you’re still alienated. You’re an outsider and always will be.”
Chloe’s cheeks were tinted pink . “I’m beginning to believe it. I’ve never worked so hard to get people to like me. It used to come so naturally.”
The first hint of discomfort showed on Chloe’s face. Ryan shifted in his seat and gave his cousin a w arning glance. She ignored him.
“I prefer individuality as opposed to fitting in. I’m okay with who and what I am.” Jenna shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal.
She could talk big to this girl all she wanted, but Ryan knew the truth. The words others used to describe her cut deep. He’d spent countless hours providing a shoulder for her to cry on.
“I just wondered. I’ve heard some interesting rumors,” Chloe said as she licked the cookie dough from a spoon. She shut her eyes and groaned with pleasure.
Ryan watched as Chloe’s pink lips curved into a content smile. His stomach suddenly seemed like it was full of giant butterflies.
Jenna stared at him. If possible, her pale face seemed even whiter. Had she guessed he was thinking about kissing Chloe? He scrubbed a hand across his face then looked away. If he were smart, he’d leave the kitchen. Better yet, he would leave the house entirely. The truth was, he liked the way he felt around Chloe. Something about her drew him like a magnet.
Then Jenna blurted, “I dabble in
She pointed the spatula at Jenna. “So, how long have you been into all that gloom and doom stuff? Do your parents mind? My mom would crap a brick if I wore all black and did my makeup like that.”
Jenna nearly dropped the bag of flour she was returning to the cupboard. She opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out. Bewildered, she thrust the bag into its proper place then glanced at Ryan. Her eyes seemed to beg him to speak up in her defense. He smothered a grin. She was on her own in this argument because he didn’t understand her fascination with it either.
Chloe’s eyes grew wide and she quickly amended what she said. “I mean, it’s not that you look bad or anything! It really works for you , I love it. It’s just that, well you know, it’s different. I don’t see anyone else at school dressed like that. And please don’t take this wrong, but there were a few Goth kids at my old school. They were kind of creepy.”
Jenna laughed good-naturedly then examined the fresh coat o f black polish on her nails. “It suits me.”
“Your parents don’t mind?”
Ryan ducked his head to hide the smile twitching at his lips. Frank and Trudy had harped on her for as long as he’d been there to change her ways. They’d even asked him to help. Thus far, the mediation had done no good.
“Yes and no. They wish I would dress like you do, but that’s not going to happen. I do my thing, they do theirs.” Jenna shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal.
Chloe stared at Jenna for a few seconds as though a bug had just crawled out of her ear. “What’s your natural hair color?”
“Boring brown,” Jenna answered as she and Chloe spooned the last of the dough onto a cookie sheet.
“It’s like you want to stand out,” Chloe murmured. “I just want to fit in and be accepted. You don’t care about that?”
“Not really. Take you for example. ” There was a playful twinkle in Jenna’s blue eyes. “You’re a cookie cutter image of every girl at school.”
“So?” Chloe shrugged, but didn’t seem the least bit ruffled.
Ryan wanted to argue that she was not like them. There was something different about Chloe, but he didn’t know what. She was much prettier and smarter than the other girls, especially Amy and Kelly. She was definitely more outgoing once she got wound up.
“No one accepts you.” Jenna wiped her hands on a dishtowel then tossed it onto the end of the table. “No matter what you do or say to fit in, you’re still alienated. You’re an outsider and always will be.”
Chloe’s cheeks were tinted pink . “I’m beginning to believe it. I’ve never worked so hard to get people to like me. It used to come so naturally.”
The first hint of discomfort showed on Chloe’s face. Ryan shifted in his seat and gave his cousin a w arning glance. She ignored him.
“I prefer individuality as opposed to fitting in. I’m okay with who and what I am.” Jenna shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal.
She could talk big to this girl all she wanted, but Ryan knew the truth. The words others used to describe her cut deep. He’d spent countless hours providing a shoulder for her to cry on.
“I just wondered. I’ve heard some interesting rumors,” Chloe said as she licked the cookie dough from a spoon. She shut her eyes and groaned with pleasure.
Ryan watched as Chloe’s pink lips curved into a content smile. His stomach suddenly seemed like it was full of giant butterflies.
Jenna stared at him. If possible, her pale face seemed even whiter. Had she guessed he was thinking about kissing Chloe? He scrubbed a hand across his face then looked away. If he were smart, he’d leave the kitchen. Better yet, he would leave the house entirely. The truth was, he liked the way he felt around Chloe. Something about her drew him like a magnet.
Then Jenna blurted, “I dabble in
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