4,836A/N: Sorry for the wait! Plz review!
All Along
Chapter 3
By: KNE
Damn.
I groaned as I dragged myself out of the car. School again. It never seemed to end. I slowly leaned back on the black Honda Accord and closed my eyes. Who ever invented school deserved to die….a very painful death (figures that the person was already dead).
"Neels, close your mouth before I see something I don't wanna see…." I heard my brother say as he slammed the door of his car and hurried around to my side. I opened one eye and glared at him.
"Shut up."
Chris only shrugged and walked to my side with his bag around his arm. "You look like shit…." He muttered with an amused grin. I opened my other eye and rolled my eyes.
"I feel like shit."
"Maybe cuz you are shit?" That comment earned my brother a double blow to the back of his head. He scampered away towards the school before I really woke up. I was NOT feeling good at all. Severe headaches, yucky breath, tired eyes…..nasty feeling in the gut….I somehow wished I had stayed home. I was beyond tired, probably due to the fact that my mother had made me stay up all night waiting for Chris to get home. I would have killed him on the spot if he wasn't already drunk. I figured the hangover would be his punishment.
The school halls were once again filled with the 'wonderful' students of Clemington High. It wasn't like I had never seen gossip, but EVERYONE gossiped at Clemington. And one thing I hated about school halls was that they were seemingly narrow….especially the most convenient halls. So here I was, pushing through the crowds of people who were chatting away before homeroom started.
I wanted to kill someone.
Finally, after what felt like crossing the Sahara. I reached what was called my 'locker'. I had never felt so….relieved. But of course, when I opened it, surprisingly there stood a perfectly single red rose, taped to the back of my locker. I cursed silently and quickly spun around. If there was a rose in my locker, then there was probably someone watching me…watching for some kind of reaction?
After a minute of glancing from side to side, I let my guard down and stared back at the rose. I couldn't help but smile….if someone was watching me; they would probably see me too. I slowly reached forward and grabbed the white little card dangling off the rose that probably read the words that I dreaded.
"Neely!" The sudden voice pierced through the hallway and I immediately dropped the card and spun around to face Devon's approaching figure. Damn that boy!
"What?!" I spat, glaring at him. Devon only gave me an annoying smirk and stopped in front of me.
"Well good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty." I wanted to scratch his eyes out.
"What do you want?" Devon's smirk disappeared and then he raised an eyebrow at me.
"You look like shit…."
Maybe he and Chris and some kind of connection thingy that even I as a twin didn't have with that oaf…. Or maybe I really did look like shit.
"Thanks for noticing…." I hissed between my clenched teeth. Devon only shrugged.
"Any time." I rolled my eyes and turned back to my locker, only to give a full front view of the rose for Devon to see. To my luck, the boy instantly pushed me away and stepped closer.
"What is that?!" He pointed into my locker and then glanced at me accusingly like it was drugs instead of something from a floral shop. I rubbed my sore arm and pushed him away.
"What does it look like?! A rose dimwit!" I reached down and snatched the card that had fallen deeper inside my locker. Devon only stared at it intensely before leaning closer to me to read. I snorted and snapped my head to face him.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading…."he replied quietly. I sighed and then shrugged. It was no use….once Devon knew, Chris would know. And there was no such thing as 'secrets' anymore, which was probably why I didn't tell Chris EVERYTHING about me…. I flipped open the card:
Dear Neely,
You're beautiful. Go to the winter ball with me, please?
Love always,
Derek Whitmer
I blinked…..how typical. Derek Whitmerasked me to every dance…..it would explain the early rose…. I smiled to myself, the rose was nice though. Unfortunately for me, I never went to school dances. The card was quickly snatched out of my hands and into Devon's. He stared hard at the card and then turned to me.
"Why are you smiling?" He asked in a serious tone, but I couldn't help but laugh. I suddenly felt giddy.
"No reason. Give it back Dev!" I shouted as I reached for the card in his hand. He only jerked it away quickly.
He asked again. Funny how he didn't start teasing me like he and Chris would always. "Who's Derek Whitmer? Are you going with him?"
"Give it back Devon, people are looking!" I hissed, my smile completely gone now. I hated attracting attention. It was already enough work with Chris Donovan as my brother, but now Devon Matthews was hanging around my locker….stealing personal things! People would gossip as quickly as they could. "Devon!"
"Why are you smiling?" He finally asked again. I rolled my eyes and placed a hand on my waist.
"Why are you asking?"
That did it. He seemed to shut up right away and closed his mouth. I even saw the boy swallow. Devon was just so weird. I always wondered why girls found him so 'cool'. To me he was just typical jock that….
"No reason," he muttered, tossing the card back at my face. I caught it instantly (thanks to volleyball skills!) and glared at him.
"What do you want Matthews?" I asked, tossing the card back in my locker along with some textbooks. Devon licked his lips and looked around sheepishly as if he looked embarrassed. I raised an eyebrow and stared at him. What was up with this boy? He seemed so edgy lately. First at subway and now this?
"Uh…I just wanted to know where Chris went," he quietly asked, sliding his hands into his pockets. I noticed that he was dressed in a nice red sweatshirt and faded baggy jeans. The boy never combed his shaggy hair, but it always did look right. I quickly grabbed my Calculus notes and slammed my locker.
"Probably eating." Devon smirked.
"Are you sick?" He suddenly asked, leaning into my face. I backed away, pushing his face back with my hand.
"Yeah, and I can get you sick too, ya know!" I faked a deadly cough and stared up at him. "You'll get so sick that you won't be able to go around and kiss any more girls. Poor you…." I quickly pretended to cry and pat his arm like he had just lost a parent. Devon glared down at me and shrugged my hand away.
"You make me sound like a playboy, Donovan." I straightened up. Whenever he got mad at me or Chris, he would call us by our last name, which was something the boy was doing now. But….me being me, I cracked another playful grin and playfully punched his shoulder.
"Lighten up Matthews…." I said, closing my eyes and leaning against my locker. "You need to smile more…not smirk." Devon only snorted in return. I ignored him and began rubbing my temples…. "Try the cafeteria, Chris might be there…" I mumbled, turning to face him. I was not in the mood to put up with Devon's mood swings. He always acted like this when some big event (like the winter dance) was approaching. It was like his male form of PMS. Instead of once a month, it was every time a dance was coming around.
"Bitch…" I heard him mutter before he turned around and stalk down the hall. I snorted. Devon was only making my headache worst.
Chris glanced up from the cafeteria table as Devon stalked in angrily.
"Yo…?" Chris asked as his friend sat down roughly in the empty seat next to him, causing the empty paper cup to fall over.
"Your sister is such a bitch Donovan!" Chris winced. Devon was mad. Thanks to Neely once again.
"What did she do this time?" Chris asked, turning to back to face his apple pie. Devon only seethed as he leaned back in the chair. The cafeteria was filled with a bunch of girls doing their homework or reading.
"I don't know," he muttered. Chris raised an eyebrow and leaned back as well.
"Well….give her a break for today. She's not feeling too well." The Donovan twin pointed out as he yawned and stretched, accidentally hitting someone in the head with his hand. Quickly pulling his hand away he spun around to face violet orbs. The red haired girl only angrily glared at him and whipped her head back down to her book, scooting her chair away. "Bitch…." He muttered quietly to himself, before gently caressing his hand as if he had touched fire. Chris WAS shallow after all… Devon raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Neely's sick?" Chris shrugged.
"I think so. She was complaining about a headache and her throat feeling dry. Don't know why the brat decided to come to school though…." He trailed off, suddenly feeling the urge to stretch again. Devon only gazed at the stain on the cafeteria table.
"Didn't know that…."
Chris shrugged again and closed his Economics books.
"Oh well. ANYWAYS…..party at the Stanford's tomorrow night. You coming?"
I frowned as I took my seat in Mr. Swisher's class. I quickly popped a cough drop in my mouth and rested my head on my desk. My head was just killing me! I should have taken ten more Tylenol pills.
"You know…you told me that you weren't, but from what I keep seeing….he does look like your boyfriend." What the….? I opened both my eyes to find two hazel eyes staring back at me. Steven Carmichael. In my homeroom? Since when? I really needed to start remembering the people in my classes. Starting with Aiden McAdams which was supposedly in my Physics class….
"Huh?" I squeaked out, sitting up to face him. Steven wore an amused grin and he leaned back in his desk, stretching. Today he wore a dark green shirt, and khakis. He really did look like someone from a drama TV show. I couldn't help but stare at his face.
"You and lover boy," he commented. I frowned….I was NOT in the mood to THINK today.
"Why don't you just spit it out?" I hissed, setting my head back down. Steven only smiled.
"Not feeling very well?" He asked, leaning in. I groaned in reply and closed my eyes. I heard the boy laugh and leaned in closer. "I'm talking about you and the school 'hottie'." He improvised as he smirked and sat back. I opened my eyes again.
"What?"
He only shrugged and pulled out a fresh piece of notebook paper." You know who I'm talking about."
I sat up again, suddenly regretting that I did. I moaned and grabbed my head." No I don't. I'm not a telepathic freak…"
He smiled. "Today's my first day…." He muttered. I raised an eyebrow. He really WAS new! I had thought he meant new this year.
"Oh? How come I saw you yesterday then?" I bit the bottom of my lip, staring back at the boy.
Steven bit his lip and shrugged. "I like soccer. I played at my old school." My face faltered and I yawned. Steven tapped his fingers on his desk playfully. If he didn't stop, I would just have to tackle him. Why was I getting a migraine now? "Anyways….the first people I met this morning pointed out the school 'elites' to me." I glanced at him confusingly. What exactly was he trying to tell me?
"Your point?"
"Your lover boy's one of them. Actually, if I recall right….he is THE one." I frowned again.
"And who exactly is my lover boy?"
"Devon Matthews." I froze….and then burst out laughing, ignoring the sharp pains running through my body. Steven only stared at me like my head was the size of a pin.
"Devon? DEVON? My lover boy? Are you….CRAZY?!" I hugged my body and closed my eyes. Devon…my lover boy? What the hell was going on with the world lately? I couldn't help but laugh.
"Well….yeah. He was hanging around your locker this morning." He spoke as if he had some kind of proof.
I snorted.
"He was BOTHERING me."
"You were smiling."
"Well, I've known Dev for ever. He's my brother's…." Before I could finish, Mr. Swisher made his big entrance by waddling in. I closed my mouth and caught Steven's eyes. He only shrugged and turned away from me.
I had a feeling this day was not going to go well at all.
I frowned when I reached fourth period. One more hour before lunch. One more hour! I rubbed my temples again and stared at Mrs. White go through the fundamentals of life again. I could barely keep my eyes open. Screw school. Screw every freaking piece of school that I knew!
"Neely….try to stay with us please," Mrs. White's annoying screech interrupted my thoughts. I sighed and nodded.
"Just go to the nurse!" I heard Steven hiss from behind me. He had been in three of my classes so far.
"No!" I hissed back, sending him a glare. Steven only shrugged and turned to face the front again. If I was feeling just a bit better….I would have probably been nicer to him. He was pretty cool and had sat next to me the whole day. Five seconds later Steven's hand shot up in the air. The whole class turned to look at the new boy as he spoke.
"Mrs. White, Neely's not feeling well. I think she should go to the nurse….." he quickly said, looking towards my direction. My jaw dropped and I spun around to face him. That little traitor….
"Is that true Miss. Donovan?" Mrs. White asked, walking over to my side. I didn't answer….I couldn't answer. I was too angry at Steven for making me look like a sissy. Mrs. White's hand was suddenly up against my forehead. "You're burning up, Miss. Donovan!" She turned to Steven in surprise.
"She should go to the nurse," Steven repeated again almost looking like he was concerned. Mrs. White nodded quickly and pointed at him.
"Mr. Carmichael, can you please escort Miss. Donovan to the nurse's office?" I bit my bottom lip as Steven stood up and grabbed my upper arm.
"Sure will…." He chirped and proceeded to drag me out the door. Once we were completely down the hall, I pushed the boy off and turned to face him.
"I don't have to go the nurse!" I yelled, getting a few glances from students walking by. Steven stared down at me and ran a hand through his hair.
"You don't look okay."
"Looks can be deceiving!" I yelled back, rubbing my temples. He grinned and brought his hand to my forehead. I flushed at his contact with my skin. I barely knew the boy and he was acting like my best friend!
"Well….you ARE burning up….Don't deny it Donovan," he mumbled. I swallowed and gently removed his hand, feeling all my energy draining each second. What the hell was wrong with me? "You okay?" He asked, leaning in.
"Yeah…" I mumbled. I was just dizzy….that's all. The next thing I knew… I felt my head become light, and met with darkness.
"SHIT!" Chris shouted as he stabbed himself with his mechanical pencil. All heads suddenly snapped up to face him….including the teacher. Mr. Swisher narrowed his eyes at the boy and then took a step forward.
"Mr. Donovan, is there a reason why you're shouting incoherent words in my class?" He asked. Chris smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Just got a bad feeling…." He muttered. "I stabbed myself by 't contain myself!" The class chuckled silently as Mr. Swisher glared back at the boy who grinned back at him.
"Make sure it never happens again or its two detentions. Consider this a warning!" Mr. Swisher spun on his heels and waddled to the board again. Chris only rolled his eyes and muttered a few profane words. He hated Mr. Swisher. The fact that everything he did always ended up in shoving something up the old man's ass, pissed him off badly. Swisher was the worst. Chris turned a lazy head to Devon, who was continuing to scribble hard in his notebook. The boy had to be one of the smarter ones out of all his friends.
"Psst! Dev, you got a pencil?" He whispered loudly. Devon raised his head slightly but didn't make eye contact. A quick shake of the head gave Chris his answer. He sighed angrily and stared back down at the worksheet in front of him. He needed a pencil. Screw the damn mechanical shit….
He sat up slowly and reached over to tap the girl in front of him. "Hey, do you have a pencil I can borrow?" He whispered quietly. He almost fell off his seat when the girl whipped around and glared at him. She narrowed her violet eyes at him, almost sending chills down his back. He recognized her instantly from the cafeteria incident. The bitch!
"No." She spun around again to face the front. What the hell….? Chris only blinked back in surprise.
"Mr. Donovan, is there a reason why you and Miss. Potter are disrupting the class?" Mr. Swisher's annoying voice piped up again. Chris's head snapped up again to face the ass.
"I was asking for a pencil," he retorted. "But Miss. Potter didn't have one." He eyed the girl dangerously again. Mr. Swisher's eyes traveled to the girl in front of him with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that true Gabrielle?" Chris mentally snorted and continued to glare. So her name was Gabrielle Potter? Her curly red hair bobbed up and down and she nodded her head in reply. Was she a freaking mute now? She didn't seem so quiet when she had almost bit his head off. Mr. Swisher's beady eyes landed back at the shaggy hair boy once again. "Mr. Donovan, if you plan to come to my class; I would advise you to come prepared. That's two warnings now, detention after school!" Chris growled and sat up in frustration.
Damn that girl. Damn her! He heard a small chuckle from Devon who was shaking visibly in his seat. He sent another deadly glare towards his best friend and pouted to himself. He didn't care much about detentions. He got them ALL the time; but he feared how Neely would act if he had to make her wait any longer after school.
"I hate him. I hope he fucking dies…." Chris muttered as he pushed through the cafeteria doors. Devon only shrugged as they took their seats at their usual table. "…And what the hell was up with that girl?!" Chris made a fist while he seethed.
"You mean Gabrielle Potter?" Devon asked, pulling out a coke.
Chris licked his lips and shrugged angrily.
"Yeah….whatever her name is. All I asked for was a pencil; she didn't have to go all Nazi on me. Damn loser…." He muttered again.
"You don't even know her name, ass…" Devon laughed as a few girls had taken their seats next to them.
"Devon!" A sudden voice screeched through the cafeteria. Chris couldn't help but smile as Casey Craig approached them. He could just feel Devon shy away instantly. Torture! The girl was on him like a freaking leech.
"Hey Casey…" Devon managed out as a magazine was thrust into his face. He blinked a few times before he realized he was staring at a bunch of girls in big dresses.
"I found the PERFECT dress for the winter ball!" She smiled and she took her seat….in Devon's lap. Chris only laughed again and sat up straighter.
"Hey Donovan, how's your sister doing?" One of Casey's friends asked as she took her seat. Chris stared back at her and then shrugged.
"How should I know? Go ask her," he replied, concentrating on his sandwich. He wasn't the nicest guy around and why the hell were so many people asking him about his sister lately. The girl shrugged innocently and leaned forward to face her friends to continue their conversation.
"….but it was so cute though! When she collapsed, he caught her and picked her up bridal style!" Chris nearly choked at her words and he suddenly grabbed her shoulder.
"What?" He demanded as the girl's eyes widened. She brought a small tan hand to her lips.
"You didn't hear? Your sister fainted last hour in the middle of the hallway."
"She what?" Devon's head suddenly whipped away from the magazine to look at the girl. The girl only gasped.
"Well, I guess she wasn't feeling good and she fainted. But don't worry… some guy was there to catch her." A new girl suddenly popped into view, happy that she had both Chris Donovan and Devon Matthew's attention.
"I saw it. He picked her up and carried her to the nurse." Chris was immediately on his feet, knocking over a few chairs, while a few people in the cafeteria turned to look at him.
"Who was it?" Casey asked, turning to look at the girl.
"I think he's new. Pretty cute….it looked like something straight from a movie…." Casey yelped as she was suddenly thrown to her feet. Devon was up as well.
There was only one thing that could describe the pounding in my head. Shitty….very shitty. I moaned and managed to open one eye…..only to find the familiar hazel eyes looking down at me. Where the hell was I?
"Steven?" I choked out; making sure that it wasn't some stalker that had kidnapped me.
"Yup?" He asked, leaning forward. My eye caught his curly hair and I blinked.
"Where am I?" I asked, opening my second eye. Everything seemed blurry.
"Nurse's. You were out cold, girl…." He said, sitting back in his seat. His words hit me like cold water. I fainted. I….Neely Donovan, the girl who swore never to faint in front of public….actually fainted.
"Shit…" I muttered, turning to my side to face Steven. "What's wrong with me?" I asked. Steven raised an eyebrow and swallowed.
"Well….not enough sleep AND dehydrated," he said. "….And I thought you LOOKED healthy when I met you." I snorted and then grinned lazily.
"It was an over night thing. I am NOT dehydrated Carmichael," I replied. "I eat and drink all the time…." Steven cringed and then reached for his back.
"I can tell…" he said playfully. "You almost took my arms off!" My smile disappeared and I knew my eyes were slits. I sat up quickly, shutting him up.
"Are you calling me fat?" Steven licked his lips and leaned forward with a playful grin.
"What if I am? What are you gonna do?" A couldn't help but smirk back at him.
"I'll tackle you." I challenged.
"You shouldn't," he said, sitting back in his seat. "You owe me. If I hadn't caught you, your head would be hurting even more….and maybe twice the size that it already is…." I blinked. The last thing I remembered was yelling at him and then all of a sudden everything went black.
"Wait….you carried me here?" I asked, cocking my head slightly. Steven nodded sadly.
"I know. It was killer. Literally." He burst out laughing again, leaving me flushed. He carried me? I suddenly wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Not only did I faint….but someone had to carry me!
"Thank you," I managed, turning my face away in embarrassment. Steven shrugged and then narrowed his eyes.
"You gotta pay me back though," he said, staring intensely at me. I laughed and nodded.
"…And what would you want me to do? Nothing perverted kay?" I said, bringing my knees to my chest. Steven swallowed and then let out a slow chuckle.
"There's a party tomorrow night. Go with me." My eyes snapped up to meet his hazel ones. What? "…..as my date." My jaw literally dropped. He was asking me out? I barely knew the kid…. I never went out….well on actual DATES. I bit my lip. My situation was screwed… he DID carry me after I had fainted. It was the least I could do…it wasn't like I was actually going to be his girlfriend. And hopefully Chris won't make a big deal if he ever found out. I closed my mouth and managed a small smile.
"Fine."
"NEELY!" My brother's sudden voice erupted through the room as he ran in panting. I raised a hand and waved.
"Hey…"
"NEELY!" I mentally groaned as Devon was next to come through the door. It wasn't like I had just died! I just….fainted! Chris was suddenly next to me with his hand up against my forehead.
"What the hell happened?" He demanded. I shrugged.
"I think I passed out."
"YOU THINK?!" Chris roughly grabbed my arm. "Did you fall hard?" He asked, checking for any injuries. I sighed and tried to pry his fingers off.
"I'm fine, stop being so weird!" I shouted as Chris stumbled back.
"I can't believe you!" Chris shouted pointing an accusing finger at me. "You fainted! Neely!" And now the ass was rubbing it in.
"God Neely, why didn't you just go home?" Devon asked. I rolled my eyes. The two were literally taking turns lecturing me.
"You were feeling good last night!" Chris shouted.
"Maybe if you hadn't thrown up all over me!" I yelled back. Devon sighed and hauled my brother back.
"Chris, calm down."
"And why the hell am I always the last one to find out? Some stupid ditz had to tell me. What the fuck is wrong with this fucking school!"
"Chris!" Both Devon and I shouted. Chris shut up immediately. He overreacted ALL the time.
"I'm fine." I said, standing up just to prove it to them. I stumbled lightly, falling into Devon's chest. He grunted and grabbed my arms.
"Don't stand…" he whispered. I glared up at him.
"I'm. Fine." I gently pushed off him and walked over to my gawking brother. "You see…I was just a bit dizzy. I'm okay now." Chris stared at me hard as if I was lying. And then his eyes narrowed even more.
"Fine. But who's the ass who groped you?" My jaw dropped.
"What?!" I screamed, ready to leash out at my brother. Devon caught me by the arm and pulled me back.
"I heard some guy supposedly…."
"That would be me," I heard Steven's voice interject through our conversation. All eyes turned to the stranger in the corner of the room. I swallowed…. Devon's eyes narrowed.
"And who the hell are you?" I wanted to smack the both of them….so bad. Steven smiled playfully and took a step forward.
"A friend of Neely's…." Chris took an angry step forward. I groaned. They were so irritating, and rude….the boy had helped me for God's sake! Not rape me!
"Neely doesn't have friends that are guys…"
"Shut up!" I screamed, startling the three guys. They all turned to face me. Chris was all red, angrily panting, while Devon's cold eyes glared at me. Why were they like this?
"What do you want Neels?" Chris asked, forgetting the fact that he was about to punch someone for helping me. I rolled my eyes.
"Steven, this is my brother Chris, and his friend Devon," I said quickly, pointing to the two idiots. Steven only widened his eyes.
"Brother?" Steven questioned taking a step closer. "You're related?"
"Yeah," I answered, managing a smile. How could he not tell….we WERE twins after all. "Twins…" I finished, taking a step up to my brother.
"Wow…." Steven said, backing away. "Well hi Neely's brother…." He said, cracking a smile. I felt Chris's tense body sag slightly. Chris swallowed and leaned in closer towards me. Chris usually never started fights like this….why the hell was he being so mean? I glanced at Steven. But Steven's taunting was just asking for it. He seemed amused at the fact that Devon and my brother were so riled up over nothing. Unfortunately for us, Nurse Wilmer walked in. All heads turned to face the large woman waddle in. Her eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed.
"And what are you two doing here?" She screeched, pointing at Chris and Devon. Chris sighed and glanced up at her.
"Checking up on Neely…." He muttered. Nurse Wilmer's hands were on her waist in and instant.
"Do you have a pass?" I saw my brother and Devon swallow before Nurse Wilmer pointed towards the door angrily. "Back to your classes…NOW!" She bellowed.
I couldn't help but giggle as the two were forced out. I glanced back at Steven who was smiling as well. It was settled. I was going to a party with Steven Carmichael…as his date.
"Get in the car…." I raised an eyebrow at Devon who had gotten into the driver side of his car. I licked my lips and leaned into the window.
"….And why is that it's you taking me home again and not Chris?" Devon's blue eyes flickered up towards mine.
"He's got detention." Figures. Chris ALWAYS had detention. I groaned and tossed my bag into his car. Devon smirked and watched as I slowly opened the door and climbed in.
"I can't believe you passed out Neely…." I glared at him and slammed the door.
"I told you I was sick, didn't I?" I turned to put my seatbelt on.
"Don't ever do it again…." He muttered quietly as he backed out of the parking lot. I licked my lips and glanced at him, lazily.
"Don't ever tell you that I'm sick again?" He shook his head but kept his eyes ahead.
"Don't ever faint again. You nearly gave me and Chris a heart attack. Don't you eat anything? You don't have to wait up for Chris you know…."
"I don't want to wait up for him but how do I know the two of you aren't killed in some drunk driving accident, eh?" I asked, resting my head against the window. "I mean someone has to look out for you blockheads. And how can I trust you when you guys come home puking like babies."
Devon snorted. "We don't puke…"
"Chris does."
"That's cuz Chris drinks a hell lot more than the rest of us." I rolled my eyes, already imagining my retarded brother doing dances on a coffee table at some party. Devon smirked and gently reached over to pat my thigh. "No more fainting at school."
"No more fainting. Period." I retorted.
"….and stop calling me a player." That came out of no where. I smiled to myself and laughed.
"I'll keep calling a player until you ask your mystery girl." I hugged my sweatshirt and turned to look at him. Devon's mouth was set in a thin line. He was so cute when he was serious.
"Why do you keep bringing her up now?" He asked, blushing slightly. I shrugged.
"It's an interesting topic. It's senior year Matthews. If you want to do something, do it before it's too late…." I said quietly….lifting my head up. Devon swallowed again, nervously.
"Are you telling me that, or yourself?"
"Both…."
"Well what do you wanna do then?" His question was unbelievably hard. What did I want to do? It was senior year….and I had been putting off a whole bunch of things since high school started. For one thing….dating. Boyfriends…parties….relaxing. Maybe it was time I tried to do some of those. I grinned to myself. Even if I was Chris Donovan's sister, I would never actually be like him. We were the complete opposite anyways. And tomorrow…..all I would be doing is going to some party with Steven Carmichael. A cute new boy from who knows where….
"I asked you first." I turned my head to stare at Devon's ice blue eyes.
"I asked you second." I grinned and sighed. What would Devon say if I told him what I wanted was a good ol' boyfriend? He would probably laugh at my face and say, 'no one could ever like you.'
"I want….." I started, staring out the window like usual. Devon stayed quiet for me to answer. "I want to fall in love…."
I stopped and waited for his reaction, while he drove. Nothing. I turned and faced him to find him staring out in front once again with the same serious expression. I tilted my head back, "What do you want?" Devon's eyes narrowed and he cracked a small smile.
"For the girl I like to finally decide to give guys a chance," was his answer. I raised an eyebrow. What a strange wish….
"You think it'll happen?" I saw the smile on Devon's face widen.
"I hope so."
"Hoping won't work all the time, Dev. You gotta be aggressive." I made a small fist with my hand and jabbed it into his arm. "You gotta tell her…or you'll regret it. Senior year may be the last time you see her." His smile slackened and he glanced at me.
"It's harder than you think, Stupid." I rolled my eyes and shook my head, as he pulled into my driveway (we don't live too far away). I sighed and turned to face him.
"Tell me what you're going to say to her when you do decide to tell her," I said, clapping my hands together like a giddy little girl. I saw Devon blush again and laughed. "C'mon Dev. You gotta practice….cuz it has be special. Talking to yourself in the mirror isn't going to work. Practice with a person…." I crossed my legs together and faced him completely. Devon stared back at me hard.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you don't have many friends to practice with. Using Chris as an example, if you ever practiced with that kid; he'll burst out laughing every five seconds." I grinned and winked at him. Devon's mouth slightly opened.
"Are you asking me to practice telling the girl how I feel about her?" I nodded my head quickly. "With you?" Once again I nodded my head.
"Well….why not? All I want to know is what you're gonna say to her. We can practice right now." I grabbed his face and turned it towards me. "Now say it."
"No!" Devon replied gruffly, turning his head away.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Cuz you're going to laugh! And I don't need to practice, I've had enough already…" My eyes widened again at what he had just said.
"Perfect. Now just tell me once. Once Devon! Please!" I grabbed onto his sleeve, while he tried shrugging me off.
"Fine!" He finally shouted after what felt like hours of begging. By now he was as red as a tomato, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't laugh at me!"
"I won't!" Devon slowly turned to face me….his expression was the most serious I had ever seen it. I almost cracked up. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it. The boy was hesitating. I sighed and punched his arm. "What's wrong now?!" He rubbed the back of his neck slowly and looked down at the leather seats.
"I'm supposed to say her name first….." I rolled my eyes. He was so hard to work with!
"Then just fill that part in with any name! C'mon Dev!" I leaned forward to catch his eyes.
"Fine," he muttered, looking back at my face. I smiled and nodded my head. It took another minute for him to actually open his mouth again. "Neely…." He started. I pursed my lips together…of course he just HAD to use mine. Devon's blue eyes softened almost immediately and he leaned forward to take my hand from my lap. I stared hard back at him. He even had the physical touching planned? "I….I've got something to tell you…." He said nervously, gripping my hand softly. I bit my tongue. Was I supposed to answer?
"What is it?" I piped in, leaning closer. Devon nervously pulled back and dropped my hand.
"I've always wanted to tell you that I've loved you from the moment I met you….." he trailed off, staring down hard at me. "Since the day you opened the door for me, I've always wanted to run my hands through your long hair, and I've always wanted to touch those lips…." I raised an eyebrow. Opened the door? He swallowed again. "…..You're different from all those other girls that I know. You….you're your own person, and you don't care what other people think about you. That's what makes you special. You don't even have to try, yet you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met. You make me laugh; you make me mad….and you make me jealous every time a guy turns his head to look at you. And sometimes it hurts that I can't tell you how I feel. I always dreaded that one day you'll wake up and realize that you want someone to love….and it wouldn't be me next to you, but some other guy who doesn't even know the real you. I've loved you since the day I met you five years ago….and there hasn't been a girl since then that has made my heart beat like crazy. Neely….I love you." He stopped and looked down at me hard, as if he was trying to tell me something with his eyes. Of course…..I was speechless. He tilted his head and smiled. And then slowly he opened his mouth to speak. "What do you think?" He asked, swallowing. I only looked back at him, suddenly feeling hot. I squirmed in my seat and then managed a smile.
"That's it?" I quietly asked. He shrugged.
"I think after I say I love you, I'll kiss her before she rejects me. That way I would at least get something out of it." I forced a laugh and turned to face the window again. "So what do you think?" He asked. I swallowed again….
"It was good. Breath taking actually. If I was that girl, even I would fall head over heels after a speech like that." His face lit up immediately.
"Really?" I nodded my head, still watching his face.
"You aren't just saying that are you?"
"Why would I?"
"Cuz your opinion really counts…." He trailed off. I bit my lip and brought a hand to my temple, nervously.
"Well it's good." I turned to push open the door quickly, but Devon's hand reached out to grab my wrist.
"Neels, why are you all flushed?" He asked.
"It's hot," I replied quickly, pulling my wrist away from him. I needed air to breath now. Devon raised an eyebrow and watched as I climbed out of the car. I turned around and slammed the door.
"Neely," Devon called out as I headed towards the door. I turned quickly and managed a smile.
"Yeah?" I called out.
"You think what you want will happen this year?" He asked, innocently, leaning against the hood of his car with his hands in his faded baggy jeans. Why was he asking me this now? I shrugged and took a step back.
"Maybe…." I slowly answered. "Falling in love isn't something that just happens over night, Dev…." I said, blushing at my words. "It takes time."
"It took me five seconds to realize I was in love with her…."Devon suddenly retorted, taking a step forward. I smiled weakly and turned around to face the door.
"That's you, Dev. It takes more to impress me," I muttered, and then stepped onto the porch slowly.
It should take more to make my heart beat like crazy. It should take much more than a minute speech from a boy I've known for five years to make my heart do a thousand flip flops. It should have taken much more than that.
So why couldn't my heart stop racing?
A/N: I leave it at that. Sorry about the long long wait. I've been writing for my stories for So….hehe who do you guys like more? Devon or Steven?
Okay another question! Out of all the guys…..which one do you guys like the most? (not who you think Neely should end up with).
Devon
Chris
Steven
Aiden
Jason
LoL. I like Chris's character because he's so laid back. But that's me. I'm so sorry it took long to update. There's also a lot of dialogue in this chapter. Forgive me if you didn't like it.
Let me know what you guys think!
Plz review!