Page 11 of Stuck with You

“So, what do you think of my advice?” Seth asked.

“I think I need to find a new best friend.”

Seth rolled his eyes. “Aside from that, are you going to do what I suggested and be yourself around her?”

“Because that worked out so well the last time,” I grunted.

“Dude, that was forever ago.”

“For you maybe.” It didn’t feel like forever ago to me, and I really wished I hadn’t brought it up. I usually liked to pretend my failed attempt at asking Clary out hadn’t happened. It had been on my mind since the moment she set foot in my house though.

It wasn’t just the rejection I hated remembering; it was my whole reaction too. It was the first time I’d been anything less than kind to her, and I’d been riding that train ever since. I hadn’t stopped liking her though. Not for one second.

“You’ve both changed a lot since then,” Seth continued. “I think you’d be surprised by how much Clary would like the guy you are these days.”

I focused on the basketball in Seth’s hands as I tried to find the words to explain how I felt. The thought of being myself around Clary scared me. Flirting with her and teasing her was like a protective coat of armor I needed whenever she was close. It hadn’t been in place the last time I’d asked her out, and I was devastated when she said no. I wasn’t sure I could open myself up like that only to get rejected again—which would almost certainly happen.

I shrugged as I looked back up at Seth. “It’s going to be a little hard to win Clary over by being myself when she hates me.”

“Well, maybe she wouldn’t hate you if you didn’t constantly irritate her.”

“But we wouldn’t beClary and Aidenif I wasn’t irritating her. It’s our thing.” And, I liked that we had a thing, even if it meant she hated me. What would I even say to her if I weren’t trying to get under her skin? What did I say to most girls? I couldn’t even think of the conversations I had with them because girls didn’t really date me because they wanted to talk.

“You need help,” Seth replied.

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled. “So, any other bright ideas?”

“I mean, you could try to do something nice for her,” he suggested.

“I’m listening…”

“Well, actions always speak louder than words, and girls love it when you make an effort. Maybe that will thaw her out a little?”

I went quiet as I considered his suggestion. “I mean, it’s not your worst advice.”

“It’s not my best advice either,” he said. “My best advice is to be yourself, but since you won’t do that, I’m left with shitty second-rate advice.”

“I think I prefer the shitty advice, to be honest.” At worst, I’d do something nice for Clary, and she’d treat me the same as always, but if everything went well, it might just give me a chance to win her over. I slowly started to smile. This plan wasn’t sounding so bad.

“So, what should I do that she’d like?”

Seth scratched the side of his face, and his eyes grew distant as he considered my question. “I don’t know, man. It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture or anything. She’s a guest in your house. Maybe do something to make her feel more welcome? I’m sure you can come up with something.”

“Okay, leave it with me.” Zero ideas were coming to my mind, but Clary would be staying with me for a few days at least, so I was sure I could think of something in that time.

Seth slowly shook his head at me. “What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in your place during lockdown.”

I laughed. “There probably won’t be all that much to see unless you want to watch me crash and burn.”

“That’s exactly what I want to do.” He grinned.

We were interrupted as Seth’s mom came out onto their front porch. She scowled at me from the doorway. “Does your mom know you’re here, Aiden?”

Mrs. Travers normally loved me, but given the stern look in her eyes, she wasn’t about to give me her usual welcoming hug—and not just because that was against the rules.

“Sorry, Mrs. T, I was only dropping by.”

“You know the rules, Aiden. You’re not allowed to drop by anymore,” she replied, lifting one eyebrow.

---