"Dean is not trying to sleep with me," I say, rolling my eyes. "He knows about Chad. We talked about him tonight. Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, Dean wouldn't be interested in me. I'm not even close to being his type. He's a football player. He goes out with cheerleaders. And he's hot. Girls are lining up to be with him. He doesn't need me."
"Boys like him like a challenge. And you're a challenge. He'd have to put in effort to get you, which it sounds like he's already doing. And once he gets you and uses you, he'll move on, leaving you feeling hurt. I'm not letting that happen. Stay away from him, Brook. I mean it." She walks off.
"Seriously?" I follow her to her room. "You really think I'd let some guy talk me into doing something I don't want to do? And cheat on my boyfriend? You really think I'd do that?"
She whips back to face me. "No, but I didn't think your father would betray me the way he did and yet it happened. People don't always think straight when emotions are involved. They get caught up in the moment. They make mistakes."
"I am NOT Dad! I can't believe you'd even compare us like that!" I storm out of her room. "I can't talk to you right now."
"Honey, calm down." She catches up to me in the hall. "I never said you're like your father. I was just trying to tell you to be careful. Sometimes what starts as a friendship becomes something more. And I don't want you getting hurt."
"I don't want to talk about it," I say, going in my room. "I just want to go to bed."
She looks like she wants to say more, but instead she tells me goodnight and goes in her room.
Why was she getting so angry about Dean? She's never even met the guy. And why would she think I'd sleep with him? She knows I've only been with Chad. I'm not someone who has sex with random guys. I'm a relationship girl. Even if I wasn't dating Chad, I wouldn't have sex with a guy unless we were in a relationship, and Dean doesn't do relationships.
Maybe my mom was just in a bad mood. Or maybe she was too tired to think straight. If she met Dean, she'd know she has nothing to worry about.
* * *
At school the next morning,Dean shows up late to class. And when he sits down, he doesn't even glance my way.
When class ends, I go up to him. "You okay?"
He grunts an answer that sounds a little like 'yeah' as he stands up.
"Why were you late?"
He looks at me. "You ever consider just minding your own business?"
I rear back. "What's going on with you today? Why are you being a jerk?"
"I don't like being told what to do. If I want to be late, I'll be late. I don't have to explain myself." He walks off, leaving me completely confused.
We had a great time last night. We talked and connected. I felt like we were becoming friends. Did something happen between last night and this morning to make him hate me again?
When I get to my locker, he's not there. Is he trying to avoid me?
Eve appears, chomping on her gum. "Morning."
"Hi." I turn to her. "Have you seen Dean today?"
"I walked by him in the hall."
"I mean, have you talked to him?"
"No. Why?"
"He's acting really strange."
She leans against the lockers. "Hey, weren't you at his house last night?"
"Yeah, and we talked. For hours. I thought that meant he would stop being an ass but today he's back to his old self."
She shrugs. "Can't change people. They are who they are. So are you going to see your man this weekend?"
"Probably not. It's too far away and I don't have money for a rideshare. Even if I went, he'd just ignore me."
