Letting out a heavy sigh, I sit up and curl into a ball. "It's not just his looks though. He's hard to explain. It's like he acts all tough and badass, but he's soft."
She snorts. "Don't let him hear you say that."
My thoughts get lost in everything Zayn, which is probably the worst thing for me right now, but I can't help it. While everyone thinks of him as this dangerous, intimidating semi-delinquent, I know that's not really who he is. When we were younger, he used to be the only one of Easton's friends who told him to stop picking on me. The only one who waited for me when everyone ran ahead. Or my personal favorite, the only one who would hold me when I was scared.
Thunder booms loudly outside, shaking the whole house. I sink further into the blanket and try to mask my fear, but Easton already knows. He looks over at me while playing video games with his friends and snickers.
“Look at Mila,” he points out to both Zayn and Knox. “Do you really think that blanket is going to protect you from the storm? Lightning would set it on fire.”
“Leave me alone, jerk.”
That only makes him laugh more. The three of them are taking turns playing some stupid video game. Usually when there’s a storm, Mommy lets me cuddle in her bed and distracts me by reading poetry, but tonight, our parents aren’t home. They’re next-door at the Patterson’s for cocktails, and told Easton to watch me.
I tried telling them I didn’t need a babysitter. I mean, I’m nine years old. I’m almost a teenager. And besides, what is my ten-year-old brother going to do that I can’t? Well, other than be brave about a thunderstorm.
Knox glances at me like I’m some kind of freak. “What nine-year-old is still afraid of thunder?”
Easton chuckles and shakes his head. “She’s always been a big scaredy-cat.”
Zayn sighs, handing the controller over to Knox and getting up to come sit next to me. My eyes widen as he smiles at me, and somehow, it makes everything just a little better.
“I used to be afraid too, you know,” he says. “One time, I watched lightning hit a tree in my backyard, and the whole thing split in half.”
A small giggle bubbles out. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
His grin widens. “No, but it made you laugh.”
I start to feel myself relax, until a bolt of lightning hits so close that it lights up the whole inside of the house. Even the boys jump, but I curl up into a ball. Zayn exhales with a kind smile and opens his arms. If I wasn’t so scared, I’d probably say no thank you, but with my parents not home, he’s the only one willing to comfort me.
Knox looks over just as Zayn wraps his arms around me. “Aw, are you holding the little baby?”
I don’t want to embarrass him in front of his friends, so I go to move away when he tightens his grasp. He narrows his eyes on Knox.
“She’s the little baby?” he asks teasingly. “You’re the one who screamed like a girl and almost peed himself when he saw a spider crawling up his pants.”
Easton nudges him. “Oh, burn!”
“Shut up.” Knox pouts and turns back to face the TV.
Another rumble of thunder has me flinching in Zayn’s arms, and he snickers. He rubs up and down my arm and whispers soothing phrases in my ear.
“Don’t worry.”
“You’re safe.”
“I’ve got you.”
"How am I supposed to just go on like he didn't totally shoot me down when he's constantly showing up, reminding me that no matter how much I want him, it'll never happen?"
Kennedy gets up and comes over to my bed, wrapping her arms around me. "It sucks, I know. Let's just take it one day at a time and focus on other things, like how cheerleading practice starts tomorrow."
My head falls back as I groan. "They're going to whip our asses into shape, and after the summer I had, I'm so not ready for that."
She cringes. "Then we should probably enjoy the last night of freedom we have."
It's probably a bad idea, especially being as I have class tomorrow morning at eight. But neither of us say anything about that as we get up and head out the door, with an unknown destination and the whole world at our feet.
CHRISSY YELLS COMMANDS FOR the hundredth time, and I'm convinced I'm dying. If I try to do one more burpee, my arms are going to fall off. They weren't kidding when they said we should keep up our training over summer vacation, because I'm really regretting not listening to that advice right now.
Thankfully, I'm not alone. Not only is Kennedy struggling just as much, it seems like the only people who aren't are the upperclassmen. I guess they learned from experience: always stay on top of it.
"Okay, that's enough for the day," Chrissy, the captain, announces.
Kennedy and I collapse onto the floor, our breathing ragged. As I go to take a sip of my water bottle, I accidentally spill it all over my face and I'm not even mad about it. Just as I sit up, I see Chrissy and a few of the other girls coming our way.
Fuck.
"Amelia, right?" she asks, and I nod. "Your brother is Easton Donovan?"
Oh. "Yeah."
Smiling, she glances over at her friends then back to me. "Maybe you could introduce me sometime."
Kennedy's jaw ticks next to me. It's no secret she has a small crush on my brother, ever since the party where she pulled him away so I could be alone with he-who-shall-not-be-named. Chrissy has the ability to all but shun me from the team, but I'm a big believer in putting your friendships first. I glance over at Kennedy, and when she notices I'm not agreeing to it, she smiles.
"I think he's seeing someone," I tell Chrissy.
Her bottom lip juts out. "Oh, that's too bad. He's cute for a sophomore."
The four of them walk off and out of the gym. I pretend to gag, mocking disgust. Kennedy laughs and lightly kicks me.
"See? I'm not the only one who thinks your brother is hot," she teases.
I roll my eyes playfully. "That's because none of you have seen him pre-puberty. He once went through a phase where he insisted on wearing baggy jeans with a chain hanging practically to the floor."
Kennedy chuckles but still looks endeared by the concept. "Sorry, babe. He's still hot."
So gross.
I'M SITTING AT MY desk, studying for a quiz we have tomorrow, when Kennedy bursts through the door, looking like she has the answers to all the world's greatest problems. She pulls a flyer out of her purse and slams it onto my book, blocking my view.
"I've got it!"
My brows furrow. "Got what, exactly?"
She taps on the flyer to make me read it. "How we can afford to live our best lives, duh."
I take the paper and my eyes scan over it. It's essentially a help wanted flyer, just jazzed up to catch the eye. It's for a club downtown that’s looking to hire female bartenders, no experience necessary. While it's a decent idea, I still think she's out of her mind.
"You want us to be bartenders?"
She nods. "It's the greatest idea ever. We can spend every night in the club and meet really cute guys."