Stalk Me

But Riley quickly changes the subject. “So where’s the party tonight?”

Bryce shifts his eyes, making sure no one is around. “Keatyn, if there’s one thing your new friend can do, it’s party. He can drink Dawes under the table, and that’s saying something.” He turns to Riley and whispers, “Heritage 26B and 38B is the backup. Just you two, kay?”

Riley nods his head.

The boys take their trays and head over to their usual table.

Riley grins at me. “Told ya. I’ve got this place wired.”

“Yeah, you did,” I grin back. “And thanks for what you said. I mean, that was really cool of you.”

“And that surprised you?”

“Yeah actually, it did. I sorta thought you would be the kind of guy who would be bragging about it.”

“Well, normally, I am the kind of guy who will brag, but trust me, I don’t ever have to lie about it. I’m also feeling this strange need to protect you.”

I grasp the locket around my neck and pray to God he never needs to.

I bat my eyes at him. “I like that.”

“Ready to go to this lame ass mixer thing?”

Died and gone to hottie heaven.

7pm

We walk next door to where the mixer is being held, but when we get to the room, we see a note on the door that reads, Another Mixer?? How Lame!!!! Surprise, NEW STUDENTS!! Come to the carnival at the lacrosse fields.

“Did you know about this?” I ask Mr. Know It All.

“Actually, yeah, I did. But it’s like a surprise every year, and I wanted you to be surprised. Come on, let’s go have some fun.”

He grabs my hand and drags me as fast as my wedges will allow down to the far end of campus, which has been turned into a full-out carnival. There’s all sorts of food booths and games, a Ferris wheel, and even a dunking tank where you get to dunk the teachers.

Can I say I love it here?

I mean, sort of. Like, so far, for a high school, it seems like a pretty cool place. If I have to be sequestered somewhere, at least maybe it won’t be that bad.

Because a Ferris wheel?

“Hey, there’s Dallas.”

Dallas has a huge blob of pink cotton candy on a stick.

“Cotton candy is my favorite!” I shrill, sounding unexpectedly girly.

Dallas pulls some cotton candy off the stick and holds it up to my mouth. I open up, and he shoves the fluff all in at once.

I’m laughing with pink fluff hanging out of my mouth. No way it’d all fit. I bite off a piece and put the other half in my hand. Riley grabs my hand and puts it up to his mouth.

“Hey, that’s mine. I’m not sharing.”

Riley grins at me, puts my fingers into his mouth, and starts sucking the candy off them.

“Your sexy stud act won’t work on me,” I tell him.

He laughs and says, “Oh, it will. It’s also why I’ve never actually had a girl friend.”

“You mean a girl that’s just a friend?”

“Yeah, it’s not my fault they end up sleeping with me. Can’t resist my charm.”

“Riley, I will try my hardest not to sleep with you so that we can be friends.”

He laughs again. “Hardest is probably not the best choice of words, baby.”

I roll my eyes at him. He’s still sucking the melted candy off my fingers, and I completely understand why he doesn’t have any girl friends. The way he’s sucking my fingers feels so overtly sexual that it makes me blush.

I actually have to turn and look away.

And who chooses this exact moment to be in my line of vision? Who’s standing there watching Riley suck cotton candy off each one of my fingers?

The God of all Hotties himself.

I give him a Save me look.

And I’m not sure why. I don't really want to be saved from Riley. He’s kinda turning me on. But I think even though I’m not at all interested in the god, for some reason, I don’t want him to think I’m here with Riley, or that I like what Riley is doing to me. Even though I do.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I really freaking do.

Aiden says, “Hey, Boots, come here. My sister was just looking for you.”

Dallas says, “Boots?”

“He calls me Boots because of the boots the other day.”

“Oh, gotcha.”

Aiden is not very patient when he says, “Hurry up.”

I look at Riley with an I guess I have to go with him look and take off with Aiden.

“What does your sister want?”

Aiden smiles. “Nothing. I lied. It was either that or kick the crap out of that Riley dude for sucking on your fingers.”

I scoff at him. “Why would you do that? He was just stealing my cotton candy.”

“Looked like a little more than that, and I heard you were making out with Dallas last night after I left.”

“We were high. It was just a little friendly kissing.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t.”

He’s kinda weird. How could anyone be against kissing? I know I’m definitely pro Kissing. Maybe that could be my student council platform, if I do decide to run for office.

“So, now what?”

“You look pretty. I like your hair like that,” he says.

I was totally unprepared for a compliment and, for some reason, all of a sudden, I can barely speak.

“Uh, thanks,” I sputter out.

I swear, I’m a very literate and well-spoken young lady. I can talk to anyone. Heads of state, blockbuster movie stars, rock stars, professional athletes. But this boy has me tongue tied. And then I stare at his mouth and think I’d like to know more about his tongue.

Okay. That’s it.

I need a time out.

Like my little sisters get.

Go sit in a corner by myself.

Seriously.

I think I’m on new boy overload.

“So, did the four-leaf clover bring you luck?”

“I don’t know yet. I think we find out sometime tonight who made it. And, you know, the odds aren’t good. I’m sure I didn’t make it.”

“My sister said you did very well. You also did very well at soccer tryouts. Kicked ass, really. You’ll definitely make varsity.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, I do. Hey,” he gets an adorable little boy grin, “wa

“I’d love to.”

He takes my hand.

And, once again.

Same reaction.

His touch makes me feel slightly dizzy.

No way I can kiss this boy. I’d probably pass out.

And that would probably not be a good thing.

I never had a reaction like this to any boy. What is wrong with me?

It must be my emotions. Everyone said they were amazed I was handling things so well.

That must be it.

I’m traumatized.

I’m thinking so hard, I barely realize we’re now sitting on the Ferris wheel together. He’s sitting close to me, and he casually puts his arm around my shoulder.

I can’t help it.

My body leans into him, and I rest my head on his shoulder.

I feel like I’ve died and gone to hottie heaven.

Please, God, or hottie gods, whoever, don’t let this ride end.

Pretty soon we are stuck at the very top of the Ferris wheel, looking down at the pretty lights.

He says, “Boots.”

I raise my head up, and that’s when he kisses me.

A slow, perfect, time-stood-still, fireworks-in-my-eyes kind of kiss.

And it was just a little kiss. No open mouths, no tongues; just a kiss.

A little teeny kiss.

Holy shit.

I’m in love with him.

The kiss has stopped, but I’m stupidly still sitting here with my eyes closed.

I realize this and open them.

“That was amazing,” he tells me.

I can’t form a sentence, so I nod breathlessly.

He kisses me again.

And I don’t change my mind with the second kiss.

But, I ca

After a kiss like that, he should know I’m the one.

He should be down on his knees begging me to marry him and have his little Hottie babies.