“So…?”
“So, you should sing.”
“No way, West. I don’t like singing in front of people, let alone singing in front of the wholevillage.”
“Oh, come on! I’ll sing with you, so it’s less frightening.”
“In what world is my being next to you considered not frightening?” I rhetorically ask, and he rolls his eyes.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t want to be turned into stone…“ I walk faster, and he catches up. “Brown, we can sing any song you want.”
“Any song?” He does know how to get my attention.
“Yep.”
“Okay, I will try to do it if we sing… I don’t know yet, but I’ll tell you.”
“Let me know when you figure it out, and I’ll start practicing.”
He is so excited that it seems endearing. I suppress a laugh, and he smiles. We’re staring at each other until someone starts to talk to him.
“Jakey! Didn’t know you were in town!”
Amanda Devadhikar. That spoiled rich girl. She owns the only mansion in town. Wondered why she hasn’t put her claws in Jake yet. But wait!What is this?She has another boy attached to her hip. I turn to Jake and see that he is so confused and definitely looks hurt. I don’t know if I’m sorry for him or if I’m happy for him.
He finally finds his voice.
“Yeah, I came early to spend time with grandma. Who is this?” He asks casually as though he doesn’t care, but I know he cares. A lot. The two of them have dated every summer since they were thirteen. You can’t forget someone like that, even though he dates many,manygirls throughout the school years.
“This is my umm… Callen.” The boy smiles, but Jake’s not finding this funny.
“West, come on, my dad needs help with the lawn.” I say, and he takes the hint.
“Goodbye, skan- I mean,Amanda.” I send her a fake smile, and she pretends not to have listened to what I just said. I grab Jake’s hand and lead him through the street until we reach my house.
“I can’t believe you, Brown.” He says, smiling. “You were going to call her askank, weren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I roll my eyes innocently.
“You didn’t have to, you know.” He is looking at me. “She didn’t even do anything wrong, I mean, we are not together, but I just expected-”
“Don’t get me wrong, both of you are skanks, I just stated a fact.” I cut in, explaining that it wasn’t like I suddenly liked him.
“I’m not a skank.”
“Skank, slut, whore, whatever helps you sleep.” I dryly say. “Because it just can’t be normal, the amount of different girls at school that put their tongues down your throat,every single day.”
“Seems like you have been counting, watching me much?” He winks. I snort and stick my tongue out in a disgusted way.
“It’s a little hard not to, since half the time you choose the locker next to mine for your makeout sessions.” His face drops, and I glow inside. I remember what we were talking about and finish the conversation.
“Besides, our parents are best friends, in some weird, unspoken clause, I felt like I had to.”
“Acquaintances.” He states proudly, smiling smugly, and Ideny.
“No, no, just forced proximity.”
“You know that’s how every great love story starts.”
