Page 1 of Accidental Attraction

Chapter One

Jenna

You know that feeling you get when you embarrass yourself in front of someone, and you know you have to face them the next day? That dread and nervousness wrapping itself around you like a cocoon? Just the idea of having to face that person again so soon and just wishing you could crawl into a hole and die? Well, I was certainly feeling that way right now. The fact that I had to see Liam today after what happened last night was not appealing in the slightest. I just wanted to crawl back into bed and stay there all day. I hadn’t slept again last night, and I was beyond tired. I had gotten so used to not doing anything and sleeping all day that my body was no longer used to being up for hours at a time.

I was currently sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV while some kid’s show was playing. I was still in my PJs, waiting for Lennon to come over and help me get dressed for my engagement pictures, which were being taken in just a few hours. I couldn’t lie and say last night wasn’t great. Seeing Liam being all cute and sweet with Sky made made me question how I felt about him. But I knew there was no way I could start liking Liam. I had only known him almost a month, and the whole time he had ignored me and been rude to me.

I was just worried about seeing him later today. Would he bring up what happened? In a way I didn’t want him to, and it would just be better if he didn’t. I mean, we hadn’t even kissed. It was just in the heat of the moment. If Candy hadn’t knocked on the door, I didn’t know if we would have kissed or if Liam would have stopped it. A part of me had really wanted to kiss him. I mean, who wouldn’t? He was gorgeous. On top of me not really wanting to see Liam, we had to take our engagement photos today. I knew his family would be there. Liam and I would have to act all lovey-dovey. It seemed my life had turned into one big soap opera. Just act normal around him. If he has forgotten about the almost-kiss, then you need to as well. I could do this. I could take photos with my fake future husband while his family was there and then later take manners classes with Lennon. I sighed and leaned my head on the couch. I was really starting to hate my life.

So here I sat, in my PJs, watching TV but not really paying attention. I had strict orders from Lennon because she wanted to be in charge of everything so the photos would look amazing. Not that I really minded, since I sucked at doing makeup. I had already showered early this morning, so at least that was done. Since I hadn’t slept much last night, I got up soon after Liam left, not wanting to face him. It was now eleven, and Lennon should be here any second. Our appointment with the photographer was at one. Apparently that was the perfect time to take pictures outside. I honestly didn’t even know where we were taking them, or anything about today, really. All I knew was that we would be taking quite a few pictures, and most of them would be outside. Things were going to go great today. Note the sarcasm. The bride-to-be didn’t even know what was going on.

There was a knock on the front door before it swung open, revealing Lennon with her arms filled with all different kinds of bags.

“I am here, so let’s get this bitch started!” she yelled, slamming the door behind her. I shook my head but chuckled softly under my breath. I turned the television off and stood up, trailing behind her as she walked to my room. I had only known Lennon a few days, but I had already discovered she had a big personality and didn’t care what others thought of her. I loved the way she held herself; it was slowly becoming one of my favorite things about her. I noticed, as I followed after her, that she was wearing a cute white summer dress that had birds on it. It fit her slender body perfectly and highlighted her naturally tan skin.

“Okay, we have a lot to do!” she exclaimed, setting stuff on my bed and the vanity off in the corner of my room.

“How much is a lot?” I asked. As she turned toward me, her eyes widened.

“A lot! Look at the bags under your eyes! Did you even sleep last night?”

“Thanks, that makes me feel amazing,” I said sarcastically, taking a seat in front of the mirror.

“You know these photos are going to be seen by hundreds of people, right? We have to make you look amazing.” I hadn’t really thought about people seeing the photos, and now that she mentioned it, I felt a little more nervous. “Don’t worry. I’ll work my magic. So first, let’s do makeup, then hair, then let’s get you dressed.” Taking my long blonde hair, she put it in a messy bun at the top of my head before turning me around and starting on my face.

About fifteen minutes later, she let me look in the mirror, and I found a different Jenna staring back at me. The bags under my eyes were gone, my skin looked flawless and glowing, my green eyes stood out against my dark eyelashes and eye shadow, and my lips were a pale pink. I wouldn’t go as far to say I looked like a whole different person, but I did look different. The makeup was natural. I didn’t look or feel like I had gallons of it caked on my face, thankfully.

“Okay, now your hair,” Lennon said, taking my hair out of its bun. My hair was honestly the thing I liked most about myself. It was long and thick, with just a little bit of curl at the ends. “I love your hair.”

“Thanks, I grow it myself,” I said. Both of us let out a laugh, shaking our heads. “So, you haven’t told me what happened last night after I left. Did Liam come home and get mad?” Lennon asked, brushing my hair and looking at me in the mirror’s reflection. It was a foreign feeling, having someone brush my hair for me. When my mom left, it was up to me to take care of myself.

“He was already home when I walked in.”

“He was? What happened?” I gave her the whole rundown, from when I walked in until when Candy arrived, but I left out the part about Liam and me almost kissing. I wanted that to stay private because I didn’t even know how I felt about it yet. “Wow. He is great with kids though, isn’t he?” she said.

“You don’t sound surprised that he is,” I said, looking at her.

“He always has been good with kids. His cousins, Blake’s younger sister. There’s just something about him that kids like.” And women, I added silently.

“He had Sky wrapped around his finger. It was cute,” I said after staring into the mirror.

“Jenna, he is a good guy. Just give him some time to open up.” I nodded, wanting to believe it. I didn’t know if Liam would ever become comfortable enough around me to let me in.

“Do you know what we are doing for our engagement photos?” I asked.

“Well, Liam hired the best photographer out there, so it kind of is up to him on what he wants you guys to do. I do know it is going to be something simple, cute yet elegant. I mean, the entire city is going to see it in a few days, so it has to look amazing. Both Liam and you will be wearing something a little formal, but still casual. Don’t worry, Jenna, it is going to be fine.”

“Who’s all going to be there, anyways?”

“Let’s see. Me, Blake, Liam’s parents, Julie, maybe a friend of his parents’, but that should be it,” she explained. Okay, not too many. I could deal with that. But I was not sure why they all needed to be there with us. “Your hair is done. Now clothes.” Lennon had just curled my hair into soft waves that cascaded down my back, and there were a few pieces framing my face. “I brought a few dresses, since we seem to be close to the same size. If we don’t like any of these, we can do something else.” She went over to the bag on my bed and unzipped it, pulling out three dresses.

“Okay, so all three are simple yet cute. Here’s a white one, a pale peach, and a blue.” The white one and peach one were both lace, and the white one had little triangle cuts in the middle. Grabbing that one first, I went to the bathroom and slipped off my PJs and into the dress. Thankfully it had a zipper up the back so I wouldn’t ruin my hair. The moment I put it on, I immediately said no. My boobs felt squished in the top, and the bottom was a little too short for something like this. Opening the door a crack, I put my hand out and asked for the peach one and handed Lennon back the white one.

The second I slipped it on, I wanted to wear it. The pale peach color made my arms and legs look tanner than they actually were. It had quarter-length lace sleeves, a lace neckline, and the body was a solid peach color with thin lace over the top, and a thin black belt. It came to my fingertips, making it kind of short, but not slutty short. I managed to zip the back up the entire way and smooth it out, staring in the mirror. My blonde curls looked perfect, as did my makeup. I looked amazing. When I stepped out of the room, Lennon grinned widely at me as I did a twirl for her.

“Perfect, absolutely perfect. That dress was made for you. Here, put these on.” She handed me a pair of nude heels to go with the dress. Once I had them on, I felt like the entire outfit came together. “Liam is not going to be able to take his hands off of you today,” Lennon said smugly. I rolled my eyes, not bothering to answer. Going over to the vanity, I grabbed my favorite necklace and put it on. The moon-shaped jewel rested right in the middle of my chest, the light blue stone in the middle of the moon shining from the light. This was the only thing my mother had ever given me. I realized that ever since I came to live here, I hadn’t worn it. I hadn’t even thought about it, actually. I used to wear it every day and night. It always made me feel closer to my mom, like I would always have a piece of her with me. I looked in the mirror and nodded, feeling complete and ready.

“I love that necklace,” Lennon said from behind me.

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