The Unexpected Way of Falling in Love

  “Yeah, I don’t think you’d be my type. You’re too bossy.”

  She gives me a teasing, dirty look. “You know, I think my bitchiness is starting to wear off on you.”

  “Did you just admit you’re a bitch?” I ask, knowing she won’t get mad since she totally admits this all the time.

  “Who’s a bitch?” Carter asks, appearing seemingly from out of nowhere.

  My comfort level that had been hovering at a solid eight all day plummets to a negative five thousand as he stands beside us in all his six-foot-four, lean muscles, glorious form.

  Elodie offers him a sugary sweet smile. “You are. Or, didn’t you get the memo?”

  Carter narrows his eyes at her. “You’re such a riot. Tell me, did you get that comeback off a jokes of the day website?”

  “Ba dum dum tss.” Elodie pretends to air drum, then rolls her eyes. “Is that the best you got, pretty boy?”

  He gives that grin, that fucking grin that I’m really starting to fucking hate. Or, well, wishing I could fucking hate.

  Seriously, I’m so pathetic.

  “Pretty boy?” Carter questions. “You must be going soft on me, El, if that’s the best you can come up with.”

  “Are you implying that pretty boy isn’t an insult?” She crooks her brow.

  Carter shrugs, but he looks a little irritated. “I don’t think there’s too much insulting about being called pretty.”

  Elodie smirks, her gaze flicking to me.

  I frown and mouth, “Don’t drag me into this again.”

  When her grin only broadens, I know I’m in trouble.

  “Hey, Ens, tell me again what pretty boy stands for.” She throws a quick smirk at her brother.

  Carter looks at me for the first time since he walked up to us, as if he just noticed I’m standing there. Which is okay. I prefer that he not notice me too much, which he does occasionally, just like he did minutes ago.

  “Come on; help me out here, Ens,” Elodie begs, motioning for me to get a move on.

  I shoot her a nasty look, but play along because, when it all comes down to it, I’ll always take her side.

  I tilt my chin up to meet Carter’s eyes, which is weird for two reasons. 1). I normally don’t look him directly in the eye. And 2). I’m five-foot-ten and usually don’t have to tip my head up to look at anyone.

  “Some people consider the term”—I make air quotes—“ ‘pretty boy’ as an insult, not a compliment. It all just depends on if you mind being called pretty. Which, by definition, means you’re good-looking in a delicate, cute, dainty sort of way.” I shrug. “Some guys like being dainty, though, and that’s okay.” I’m being kind of mean, and I’m not a fan of my behavior. But, like I said, I’ll always have Elodie’s back, just like she’s always had mine.

  Carter stares at me, his green eyes unreadable. Then his gaze bounces back and forth between Elodie and me. “So, definitely something you aren’t.”

  Elodie kicks him in the shin, and no, I’m not kidding. “You’re such an asshole.”

  Carter winces, bending over to rub his shin. “And you’re such a brat. Seriously, who kicks people in the shins?”

  “I only kick people in the shins when they deserve it. And you definitely deserve it, you asshole,” she snaps. “You need to stop treating people you think are beneath you like shit.”

  “I’m not saying this stuff because you’re beneath me,” he says. “I’m saying it because you’re my sister and you’re acting like a bitch to me, like you always do.”

  “Yeah, so? I treat you like you deserve to be treated.” She glares at him as she snags ahold of my hand. “And Ens isn’t your sister, so you have no excuse with her.”

  Before Carter can get another word in, she storms down the hallway away from him, dragging me along with her.

  Crap. I love her to death, and I appreciate her defending my honor or whatever, but I wish she wouldn’t have brought me into that—put the attention on me.

  I dare a glance over my shoulder as I jog to keep up with her. Carter is watching us walk away with his brows knit. He looks confused. I wonder why. Does he feel bad?

  Ha, yeah right.

  If I’ve learned anything about Carter over the years, it’s that he rarely feels bad.

  “God, he’s such a bastard,” Elodie says as she yanks me around the corner of the hallway and Carter disappears out of my sight. “Seriously, sometimes I wonder if he was switched at birth or something.”

  I don’t bother pointing out that Carter and her look too similar for that to be a possibility.

  We remain quiet as she tugs me outside and around to the back of the school. Once she’s checked the area for any teachers lurking nearby, she retrieves a pack of cigarettes from her bag and lights up.

  “One day, I’m going to get back at him,” she mutters as she paces in front of a dumpster. “One day, I’m going to make him feel what it’s like to get hurt. Not physically, but emotionally.”

  She’s made this threat a few times, after Carter has done something worse than telling her she doesn’t look pretty. Usually, she doesn’t get this upset over his verbal insults, unless her mom has treated her like shit, too. So, maybe something happened this morning that I don’t know about.

  “You don’t normally get this upset over the dumb shit Carter says,” I state, leaning against the brick wall. “Is everything okay?”

  She takes a drag off her cigarette, her gaze wandering toward me. “I think I should be asking you if you’re okay.”

  My brows dip. “Why?”

  “Because of your you-think-you-look-like-a-guy issues.” She exhales a cloud of smoke. “An issue that was caused by my dumbass brother.”

  So, that’s what this is about?

  “I’m fine.” And I am. Over the years, I’ve been able to deal with ridicule better; gotten thicker skin or whatever.

  She stops pacing and faces me with her cigarette in hand. “You know you’re pretty, right?”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m not, and I don’t need to be. I just need to accept who I am, which I have.”

  “But you are,” she insists, stepping toward me. “You just can’t see it.”

  Yeah, me and the rest of Fareland High. Thank God today is the last day I have to go to school here, since tomorrow is graduation. To say that I’m excited to move on from this phase in my life is an understatement. I just wish I could afford to go to college far, far away from here. But on the bright side, at least I’ll be with Elodie. Unfortunately, I think Carter and a lot of his friends chose to go to a local college, too. Damn Farefield for having a good college nearby.

  “Look, El, I love you to death for saying that. I really do.” I push away from the wall and stand up straight. “But I learned a long time ago that it’s better not to worry about those things.”

  She eyes me over with doubt, but thankfully drops the subject. “I meant what I said. One day, I’m going to figure out a way to make Carter experience all the heartache he’s caused.” She drops the cigarette to the ground and stomps it out with the heel of her boot. “And you’re going to help me.”

  “Okay,” I agree, knowing she’ll probably never follow through with the threat. Even if she did, it wouldn’t matter.

  I may have a crush on Carter, but deep down, I know he’s pretty much heartless. And you can’t break someone’s heart if they don’t have one.

  Three

  Ensley

  Two hours later, school has ended and Elodie and I are strolling across the packed parking lot toward her fancy schmancy car. The sun is glistening in the clear blue sky, a gentle breeze kisses the air, and the atmosphere is laced with chatter about the last day of school, for seniors, anyway.

  “I’m so glad high school is officially over,” Elodie singsongs, rummaging her keys out of the pocket of her black skinny jeans. “I swear to God, this place was getting shittier by the second.”

  “Yeah, it was,” I agree, adjusting the handle of my backpack higher o
nto my shoulder.

  God, I can’t believe I’m no longer a high school student. Holy crap! Happy dances!

  “No more pep rallies. No more stupid games. No more watching my dumbass brother and his friends trip the mascot.” She presses the key fob and the lights of her Porsche flash as the doors unlock. “You’d think after three years of doing the same prank, they could come up with a new one. Then again, originality probably requires too my brainwork for them.”

  I nod in agreement. “I just wish Principal Mattersien would have done something about it. It’s like he was completely blind when it came to your brother and his friends.”

  “I know, which is why we need to do something about it.” She grins as we reach her car. “And I think I have an idea.”

  I sigh heavily. She usually drops her whole revenge-against-Carter plot after she’s had a cigarette. But all during last period, she whispered ideas to me of how we could crush Carter’s heart and pay him back for all the years of his douchebaggery, which has been a lot of years.

  Unfortunately, Elodie, while sassy and outspoken, doesn’t excel at creating revenge schemes. Don’t believe me? Well, how about this: She actually suggested that we hire a prostitute to have sex with Carter, and then break his heart by telling him he isn’t good in bed. That might wound the ego of a normal guy, but Carter isn’t a normal guy. He’s a guy who’s had a lot of sex—at least, according to rumors around school—and has never had any complaints. In fact, girls frequently go back for seconds, some even begging. It’s pathetic. Then again, I’m not any better.

  But, being a good best friend, I need to at least listen to Elodie’s plan. Then, like I did with her other ten suggestions, I’ll point out the flaws.

  “Oh, yeah? What is it?” I ask as I pull open the passenger door.

  She puts a finger to her lips. “Not out here in the open. There’s too many Carter fan club ears around.”

  “Excellent point.” I duck my head and slide onto the leather seat.

  She hops in, too, starts the engine, and then rolls down all four windows.

  “Are you coming to my place or going home?” she asks as she maneuvers her car out of the parking space.

  When a decked-out, lifted truck gets in her way, she slams on the brakes and lays on her horn.

  “Get the hell out of my way, Holden!” she shouts out the window at the driver, who just happens to be one of Carter’s closest friends.

  Instead of moving out of the way, Holden stops his truck and rolls down his window. “Elodie, glad to see that the warm weather hasn’t melted that icy heart of yours.”

  She smirks. “Nice tan, Holden. Tell me, when you went into the tanning salon, did you hand them a photo of an oompa loompa and say that’s the color you wanted?”

  His eyes glint mischievously. “Actually, I showed them a photo of you.”

  She flips her hair off her shoulder and smirks. “My tan is au naturel.”

  His lips spread into a cocky grin. “Sure it is.”

  “Whatever. Like I give a shit what you think.” Then she slams her foot down on the gas, spinning tires as the car zooms toward the side of Holden’s truck.

  He panics and drives forward quickly, yelling out his window, “You’re so damn crazy!”

  Elodie laughs wickedly. “He says that like it’s an insult.”

  “To most people, it is,” I point out as I fasten my seatbelt.

  “I’m not most people, though.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re way better.”

  She sticks out her fist. “Hell yeah, I am.”

  I tap my knuckles against hers and laugh.

  “You are, too,” she says, returning her hand to the steering wheel. She steers her car toward the exit, driving slowly due to the other fifty or so students trying to escape high school hell. “Which is why I’m going to need your help with my Revenge Against Carter and His Douchey Friends Scheme that I fully plan to put into motion all through the summer.”

  “And what exactly does your plan—”

  “Get me away from her!” A guy dives through the opened back window and lands in the backseat with a grunt.

  I don’t react, already knowing who the intruder is. The same guy who’s been diving into Elodie’s car ever since she got her driver’s license.

  I twist around in the seat, laughing as Gaige, who sometimes hangs out with Elodie and I, flattens his back against the seat. “Who are you hiding from this time?”

  He nudges his backpack onto the floor then looks at me. “Laura Flaterisord.” He rakes his fingers through his dark hair. “I don’t know what’s wrong with girls. I tell her upfront that I’m not looking for a relationship, and she says she isn’t, too. Then we hook up, and now she won’t leave me alone.” He huffs in frustration. “This happens every single time.”

  “I might know a solution to your problem.” Elodie glances at him in the rearview mirror. “Stop being a dirty, little manwhore and stop hooking up with anything that has breasts and a vagina.”

  “I don’t hook up with everyone who has breasts and a vagina.” He rolls onto his stomach and props up on his elbows, peeking out the window. “I haven’t hooked up with you or Ensley.”

  “Yeah, but only ’cause I’d never hook up with you,” Elodie says. “And Ensley never hooks up with anyone.”

  “Hey,” I protest. Then I stop myself because she’s right and I shouldn’t care.

  She reaches over and pats my leg. “It’s okay. We’re going to change that very soon.”

  Gaige glances at me with his brow arched. “Really?”

  I shake my head. “Don’t listen to her. Didn’t you hear? She’s crazy.”

  “I am crazy,” she agrees, pulling out onto the road. “But you both are going to listen to me because I have some very awesome things to say. Just you wait.”

  I glance at Gaige, who shrugs, equally as confused as me.

  “What’re we listening to you about?” I ask, reaching for her stereo.

  She smacks my hand away. “Well, for starters, you’re finally going to listen to me when I tell you to stop touching my damn radio.”

  I smile sweetly at her, then reach for the knob again and turn to the rock station.

  She narrows her eyes and flips it to the heavy metal station.

  I flip her the bird and turn on some classic rock.

  “You guys are so weird,” Gaige remarks, sitting up as we leave the school far, far behind. “Every time I ride with you, you do the same thing. The stupid thing is, you both listen to the same kinds of music.”

  “Yeah, so what?” Elodie changes the channel again. “It doesn’t mean we’re just going to let the other one pick the song.”

  “Picking the song is very important.” I twist the knob of the stereo again.

  Elodie returns her hand to the steering wheel. “You know what? I’m going to let you win this one, but only because I’m in a really good mood.”

  “Uh-oh,” Gaige says from the backseat. “She’s got that crazed, wild Banshee look in her eyes again.”

  “Yes, I do, Gaige.” Elodie lets out an evil villain laugh. “And it’s the look that only comes out when I’ve come up with a brilliant idea.”

  Okay, now she’s making me a little nervous.

  “What’s your brilliant idea?”

  She grins. “Not yet.”

  She leaves us hanging in anticipation and a bit of fear. But I’m not surprised.

  Elodie love drama.

  Four

  Ensley

  Typically, I spend a few hours at Elodie’s house after school, since it’s the last house my mom cleans for the day. Then I catch a ride home with her. Today is no exception, except that Gaige decides to tag along with us, too. He normally doesn’t come over. Well, unless he’s really bored. So I’m guessing he’s suffering from good, old boredom.

  “Your room has some serious rotten banana stench going on,” Gaige notes as we enter Elodie’s room that’s probably bigger than the entire two-
bedroom apartment my mom and I have lived in for the past five years

  “Why are you here again?” Elodie asks as she shucks off her leather jacket.

  “Because I’m hiding out.” Gaige takes no offense to Elodie’s snarkiness, something a lot of people can’t handle. “And it’s officially the start of summer, so where else would I be?”

  “Who are you hiding from this time?” Elodie bends over to pick up a banana peel off the floor, the source of the rotten banana stench.

  “Just people I don’t like,” Gaige says, which more than likely means his dad.

  When we became friends with Gaige at the end of our sophomore year, after he dove through the back window of Elodie’s car to escape a, as he put it, “Girl who wants my nuts a little too much,” we quickly caught on that he didn’t get along with his dad very well. He rarely talks about him, though, unless he’s drunk or stoned.

  “Still doesn’t explain why you’re here with us.” Elodie crooks her brow at him.

  Gaige flops down on her bed. “Aw, El, if you want me to admit I like you, you can always just say so.”

  Elodie rolls her eyes. “Aw, Gaige, if you want me to kick you in the nuts, you can always just say so.”

  Gaige chuckles, but his hands do drift toward his manly goodies.

  I eyeball the two of them, wondering when they’re going to hook up. Because they will. I can sense it in the way they eye-fuck each other every time they’re in the same room together. And don’t even get me started on the sexual banter that goes on when they get trashed.

  I keep that little assessment to myself, knowing Elodie will freak the hell out.

  “So, are you going to tell us your brilliant plan?” I ask, interrupting their little argument before it turns into a full-on insult-fest.

  “Oh, yes, my plan.” Elodie tears her eyes off Gaige and turns toward me, rubbing her hands together. “Before I tell you, you have to promise to hear me out and at least consider my proposal. No interrupting, and no shooting me down right from the start.”

  “That sounds dangerous.” I slip my backpack off and set it on the floor.