Hate Me

Me:  No, I get to admire you in it. 

Hottie God:  I seriously had the best day ever. And your driving impressed the shit out of me. 

Me:  Well, thank you. And I’m glad :)

Hottie God:  The jeans impressed the shit out of me too. 

Me:  Is that why you kept touching my butt?

Hottie God:  I couldn’t help it. 

Me:  I still owe you 18 birthday dances.

Hottie God:  We’ll do those at your loft this weekend. I can’t wait. 

Me:  I can’t wait for the dance competition to be over. I probably won’t see you until then anyway. You sister is making us practice until ten every night this week. 

Hottie God:  We have that French oral exam on Wednesday, and I have an away game Tuesday night. I’m going to fail. 

Me:  We’ll find some time to practice.

Hottie God:  I’m loving our conversation but I just dropped my phone on my face because I fell asleep.

Me:  LOL. Night, Aiden. <3 Happy birthday!!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH

The feel of fur.

6am

I’m up long before the ass crack of dawn. Peyton has decided that, since our dance routine is not yet perfect, we are basically going to be practicing every free moment until we get it right.

After we warm up and go through it as a group, she says, “Maggie, Keatyn, a moment.”

She pulls us into the locker room.

“Did we do something wrong?” Maggie asks her.

“No, you’re about the only ones who have the routine down. What would you think about breaking into small groups? We’ll each take a third of the team and work on a portion of the routine.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” I tell her.

“If we get them to do it well, does that mean we won’t have to practice tonight?” Maggie asks, her hands folded in prayer.

“Do you have a magic wand I don’t know about?” Peyton asks, teasing Maggie.

 I have the magic wand my little sister gave me, I think, but I’m definitely not wasting a wish on a dance competition.

“All right, let’s get to it,” Peyton says.

At seven-fifteen, she finally lets us go. I get ready quickly so I can meet Aiden for breakfast.

In the café, he and Riley are the only ones sitting at our table. I can see they’re having an intense conversation.

I’m pretty sure I know what it’s about.

I grab some breakfast and join them.

“So, Riley,” I say, “based on the grin that’s plastered on your face, I’m assuming last night went well?”

His grin gets even bigger. “I want to shout it from the rooftops.”

“You go

“So you asked her to Winter Formal, and she said yes?”

“She definitely said yes. And the next thing I know, she’s naked on the furry rug. Talk about a sight to behold. And the feel of the fur against your skin.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Heaven. Seriously.”

“Soooo?”

“Are you trying to get me to spill the details of my sex life?”

“No, I’m just wondering if you have a sex life?”

Aiden and I both laugh.

“Yes, I have a sex life now. A very hot one.”

Aiden slaps him on the back, like a proud father.

“So, what about you two?” Riley shakes his finger at me and Aiden.

Aiden and I share a glance, then he says, “We want it to be special.”

“I’d highly recommend you visit the furry rug.”

“I already have something pla

I look at him, surprised. “You do?”

He gives my hand a squeeze. “Yeah, I do.”

“Hmm, on that note, I’m go

“Do you actually have something pla

“I actually have something pla

“Winter Formal?” I guess.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

He grins at me. “Yeah. And I’m not saying anything else. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“How do you even know I want to?” I tease.

He smirks at me, ru

Damn his godly powers.

“Oh, it does, does it? What’s it telling you now?” I lean away from him.

He follows me, putting his lips on my neck. “That when my lips touch your neck it makes you wet.”

“It does not!” I lean farther away from his lips.

I think I’m fairly convincing in my lie, until his eyes catch me in their tractor beams.

I know without a doubt that he can read the desire in them.

The bell rings, saving me from further conversation about the current state of my lady parts.

Or not.

When we’re outside my history class, he gives me the kind of kiss that makes me want to do him right here in the hall.

He doesn’t say anything when he lets me go.

He doesn’t have to.

I’ll hide behind you. 

English

I’m starting to think Cupid is shooting his arrows a little early. When I sit down in English, Dallas looks at me with hearts in his eyes and mutters a single word.

“Kassidy.”

“The cheerleader?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “More like the hottest newly-single cheerleader. And the best part about her breakup is she’s not weepy and sad. She’s pissed.”

“Have you hung out with her?”

“Yeah, last night after curfew. While Riley and Ariela were getting it on at Stockton’s, we were getting it on. Guess where.” He breaks out laughing.

“Ohmigawd! You didn’t!?”

He laughs again. “Oh, but I did.”

“Riley’s going to be horrified.”

Our teacher starts talking but Dallas whispers, “You better not tell him.”

“I won’t have to. You won’t be able to keep your mouth shut about it.”

“Ha. I’ll spring it on him at the right time. I’ll hide behind you when I do, though. I don’t wa

“Chicken shit.” I laugh.

“So, I’m going to ask her to Winter Formal. How should I do it?”

“Ha! Maybe you should buy her a furry rug.”

Dallas’ eyes get huge. “You, my friend, are fucking brilliant.”

“I wasn’t being serious.”

“I am. I think she’d love it! She kept talking about how soft it was. Plus, only we would know what it means. She’s got a good sense of humor. I think she’d get a kick out of it.”

“And if you give it to her in front of Riley, you’re go

Flowers, and romance. 

Ceramics

Aiden walks me to ceramics class.

“Is your bowl finished?”

“Yes, but you can’t see it.”

“Why?”

“I decided to give it to you.”

His face brightens. “Really?”

I nod. “I have to touch it up today. I wanted to have it in time for your birthday but I missed class because of all the French stuff.”

He corners me at the end of the hall, his chest pressing against mine.

“That bowl is special,” he says.

“That’s why I want you to have it. Something to remember me by.”

Shit.

I didn’t mean to say that.

“Remember you by?”

“Uh, remember us.”

“There’s no way I’ll ever forget you.”

I want to say, I hope not. I want to tell him all about the stuff that went down with Vincent—how scared I was standing up to him. I want to tell him that he’s a big part of why I’m doing it. “I hope not.”