Chapter 10: Oh, Shit!

ADDY

The last two weeks have flown by. Every morning, I’ve been running with Asher. Even though it’s part of the deal to keep him quiet about my secrets, I’ve actually been enjoying it.

I’ve discovered we have a lot in common and he’s not the bad boy everyone at school makes him out to be.

~You wouldn’t have cared either way!~

We haven’t really talked about the main thing I’m supposed to be doing for him, and I’m relieved. I have no idea how to pretend to look for the person (a.k.a. me).

Why is he so desperate to find out anyway? He’s joked about it being me, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually believe that. Why is he so eager to find another girl when he has me?

Even if we are the same person. But Asher doesn’t know that.

“Buttercup.”

I look up to see Asher already ahead of me. “What?” I pant, exhausted from our long run.

“What’s on your mind? You seem deep in thought.”

I meet his gaze, debating whether to ask him or not.

~Will he tell me?~

~He didn’t tell you the night he asked for your help!~

“Why do you want to find out who kissed you?”

I swallow hard, looking down at my hands before looking up again.

His smile has disappeared and his eyes have lost their sparkle from before I asked him the question.

“None of your business,” he snaps, before storming off.

But I’m not ready to drop the subject. I want to know the truth.

“I don’t understand!” I shout, rushing to keep up with him.

“You don’t need to understand!” he hisses, not sounding winded after running for twenty minutes straight. Meanwhile, I’m gasping for breath.

“Why are you so obsessed with finding out who kissed you at Trevor’s dumb party?”

No answer.

“It was just a kiss!” I try again. He stops suddenly, spins around and glares down at me. I swallow hard.

“Just a kiss?” he whispers.

I nod hesitantly.

“JUST A KISS?”

I flinch. He steps closer, his tall frame looming over me. Forehead to forehead, nose to nose, disappointingly ~not~ mouth to mouth. I slowly lick my lips.

He looks down, swallows, then steps back slightly.

“Just a kiss,” I confirm. His fiery eyes meet mine again.

“No, it was not just a kiss! Maybe for her, but not for me!”

“Why not?” I push.

“BECAUSE SHE STOLE MY FIRST KISS?”

I gasp loudly, stepping back.

His fingers slowly trace his lips before he snaps out of it, turns around, and storms off.

This time I don’t bother following him. I’m in shock.

~I accidentally stole the bad boy’s first kiss~.

***

Five days. It’s been five days since Asher just left me without another word.

He didn’t even bother to open the door, let alone come running with me the next day or any day after that. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.

Yes, I was shocked when I found out the truth, but it’s not like I was going to judge him. I was actually happy. I was his first kiss and he was mine.

How cheesy is that?

“Addy?” Kaylee snaps me out of my thoughts. I give her a small smile before continuing to stare at the apple in my hand.

“Babe, what’s wrong? You were so happy last week. Why the sudden change?”

I take a big bite of the red, juicy apple, then huff.

“Asher.”

“I thought things were going well between you two?” She raises her eyebrows at me and I just shake my head at her. Kaylee gives me a questioning look and I sigh.

“You can’t tell anyone,” I mutter.

“When have I ever?”

I chuckle.

“I found out that I was Asher’s first kiss.”

I look up to see Kaylee with her mouth wide open. I would have laughed if I wasn’t feeling so down.

“WHAT?” She jumps up from her seat. The entire cafeteria turns to look at us and I slap my hand over her mouth, hissing at her. People turn back to their own business.

“You’re kidding! Asher King was a lip virgin?”

I giggle at her choice of words.

“Was. I took his lip virginity, remember?”

She bursts out laughing. “How could I forget?”

I raise my eyebrows at her.

“But isn’t that good news? Why do you look so down?”

I roll my eyes.

“I’m not down. He just won’t acknowledge me, ever since the day he told me. It’s like he’s embarrassed or something.” I bite my lip, annoyed.

“Shit, are you serious?”

I look at her only to see that she’s stopped mid-sentence, staring at something behind me.

“Xander!” I spin around in my seat. My eyes widen at the guy standing in front of me. Kaylee jumps up and throws her arm around the guy, and he chuckles, hugging her tightly before letting her go.

“You?” I ask, shocked.

“Hey, gorgeous. I believe you owe me a dance. You ran off without a word last time.” He smirks at me.

“Wait, you two know each other?” Kaylee asks, her eyebrows furrowed.

I shake my head no at the same time as he nods. He sits down next to me.

“Addy?”

My eyes widen at my best friend’s questioning look.

“I only met him once, at Trevor’s party.”

“What, you’re the guy she danced with? How long have you been here?”

“Yeah. Four weeks.” He gives her a casual shrug, then sneaks a quick look at me.

~Who is this guy, and how on earth does my best friend know him?~

“Four weeks? You’ve been here that long and you didn’t think to tell me?” She playfully smacks his arm, and I can’t help but laugh.

Xander’s gaze meets mine, and I quickly look away.

“Kay, are you going to tell me who he is?” I complain when they both seem to forget to introduce him.

“I’ve mentioned Xander before! Don’t you remember? It was when I stayed at Cade’s place during the summer break three years ago.”

Suddenly, it clicks and I nod in his direction.

“You’re Kaylee’s brother’s best friend’s little brother, right?”

“That’s me.” He grins, shooting me a playful wink. I can feel my cheeks getting warm.

“And he’s also Trevor’s second cousin,” Kay adds.

“Oh, that makes sense. That’s why you were at his party.” I shake my head. ~What a tangled web.~

“Hold on, so you’re also related to that bitch?” I groan a moment later.

Kaylee bursts into laughter and Xander looks at me, puzzled, until he figures out what I mean.

“Hey! That’s my baby cousin you’re talking about. She’s an angel.”

I give him a flat look. “More like the devil,” I retort.

Xander laughs too, reaching out to play with a strand of my hair. I’m surprised, but I don’t stop him.

Kaylee smirks at me, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively. I stick my tongue out at her in response.

He’s about to say something else when he suddenly stiffens, his free hand clenching into a fist on the table.

I follow his gaze and find myself looking into two very familiar brown eyes. They don’t look happy at all.