Blaire.
“House party Friday night. Are you going?” April asked me Tuesday afternoon. I had a free period, and we were hanging out in the open grounds in front of the main building.
“Whose party is it?”
“Drake, my cousin.”
“I’m not invited, and I don’t know him.”
“You’re coming with me, silly,” she said. “Unless you have plans, of course.”
I wasn’t sure. Last Friday was one of the most incredible Fridays of my life. And I had a date with my brother. Nothing less than brotherly happened, of course, except for the fact that we sort of admitted to each other that we’re still attracted to each other. But in the end, we knew we were both fighting that attraction. That night, I slept in his bed in the mezzanine floor, and he slept on the couch downstairs. He took me home afterward, and I hadn’t heard from or seen him ever since. And I had to admit, I missed him so much.
Just then, he appeared at the top of the steps of the main building. He was wearing a pair of jeans, white shirt, and a blue button-down long-sleeved shirt. As he descended the steps, he turned to my direction. He stared at me intensely with those dazzling blue eyes of his. As he reached the last step, he winked at me, and his lips curved into a crooked smile. Then he looked away and disappeared into the corner of the building. I was looking at his direction, like I spaced out, forgetting that April was with me, carefully watching me.
When I turned to her, she has an amused expression on her face.
“What?”
She shook her head. “You guys are cute.”
“Why?”
“You know you’re blushing, right?”
My hand went to my cheek. I could feel its warmth beneath my skin.
“Are you sure he’s your brother?”
“Not our choice,” I murmured.
“Too bad. You would be cute together.”
“You’re crazy,” I said.
Just then, a group of girls passed in front of us.
“I’m gonna be Z’s plus one to Drake Jones’s party!” I heard somebody say. This was followed by gasps and oohs from the other girls.
I looked up to see Stephanie Bell talking to her girlfriends. She looked so excited. It took all I could not to run toward her and pull all her pretty red hair off her head.
“We watched a movie last night. We fooled around. He drove me home. Late! Mom almost caught us.” She laughed.
I knew that Zach didn’t come home last night.
“You are so lucky, bitch!” one of the girls said.
“I thought he was dating that freshman girl.”
“No, he isn’t. She’s too virginal! He got bored with her. When we hooked the other night, I could tell he was really frustrated. The bitch is a cock tease. Gets him high but not able to get him off. Well, I gave him all the attention he deserved. And he’s coming back for more.”
I shut my book closed and stood up from the bench. I couldn’t listen to her anymore. I walked toward the direction of the library, with April trailing behind me.
“There’ll be booze at the party?” I asked.
“Tons. Lots of boys too,” she said.
“Okay, I’m in!” My voice was just a little bit too forceful.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in the library. My phone beeped. My heart pounded in my chest when I saw Zach’s number on the screen.
Zach: Friday night, wanna hang out?
I wanted to say yes, but then I remembered Stephanie Bell telling everybody the cheesy details of how she hooked up with him. My blood boiled.
I typed my response on the screen.
Me: Sorry, I have a date.
I waited for him to respond. Instead of a text message, my phone rang. He was calling. I rejected the call. I knew I didn’t have any right to be angry at him. But he did not have the right to tell me he wanted me and then hook up with that slut Stephanie Bell! I knew he’s my brother and nothing should happen between us and I should be the one encouraging him to move on from the girl he met at the concert, but I couldn’t help it. The thought of having his lips all over that slut’s body made me want to puke.
He called me a few times more before he finally got the message that I wasn’t picking up.
On the way home, I didn’t find my driver up front. Instead, I found Zach leaning on his Aston Martin. I knew any minute now, I could see Stephanie Bell walk down the steps, run to him, and suck his tongue out!
Shit! Where’s my ride when I needed it?
I dialed my father’s driver’s number. He didn’t pick up. I tried again.
Suddenly, I heard Zach say behind me, “He’s not coming.” The hairs in my body rose as I spun around to stare up at him.
The look on his face was serious. His eyebrow was raised, and he didn’t look so happy.
“What?”
“I sent your driver away.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m driving you home.”
“No, you’re not!” I muttered. “You can’t decide these things for me!”
“Come on, baby girl. I hardly have any patience today. Get in the car, or I will haul you to it. I don’t care who’s watching.”
“What’s with you? You disappear for days and then you show up acting like you have authority over me? Why don’t you make your little girlfriend’s life a hell instead! Leave me the fuck alone!” I was angry. Okay, maybe a little bit too angry, but I couldn’t help the emotions I was feeling.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.
In fairness to the jerk, he really looked dumbfounded, like he really didn’t know what I was talking about.
I glared at him. He raised a quizzical brow at me. I shook my head and headed the other direction. I didn’t know how I would get home, but I was sure it’s not with him.
“Okay, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I heard him say.
All of a sudden, I felt his arms around my thighs, the ground disappearing from my feet. He carried me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
“Fuck! Zachary Reed, put me down!” I shouted. “This is embarrassing! People are looking!”
They were. It seemed like everybody around us stopped whatever it was they were doing to watch me being manhandled by my brother.
“I told you I don’t care, baby girl!” he said.
“I do! This is embarrassing! Put me down!” I protested.
He didn’t say anything. He walked over to his car with me over his shoulder.
“Zachary!” I shouted.
“Zach!” he said. “Call me Zach, baby girl!”
“Zachary!” I said defiantly.
He opened his car door and settled me on my feet. He stepped in front of me, blocking my way so I could not escape him.
“Zach!” he said firmly.
I glared at him.
“Glaring at me doesn’t help, baby girl. I already decided you’re beautiful no matter what mood you’re in. And now, I just discovered, you’re sexiest when you’re angry,” he said. “Now, get in.”
“No!” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I have less subtle ways of keeping you, baby girl. And like I said, I don’t care who’s watching.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Try me,” he said calmly. He took a step forward, and I took a step back, hitting the cold metal of his car.