Page 65 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
“It’s that girl, isn’t it? That girl from the band.”
I tear at my hair. “I told you she’s just a friend.”
“But thereissomeone else.”
My mouth opens and closes to refute, but I can’t get the words out. And I can’t stop myself from peering toward the house next door.
“I’m really sorry, Charlotte,” I say. “I thought this was what I wanted, but it’s not. And I’m very sorry to hurt you like this.”
She sighs, her shoulders sagging. “No, I’m sorry for getting mad at you. I mean, you’re all the way there and I’m here. Chances are we wouldn’t have worked out, anyway.”
“Can we still be friends?”
“Sure. Good luck with your game on Friday.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
She disconnects the call and I stare at the spot before me. I can’t believe I don’t feel anything other than friendship for Charlotte. I actually refused her after wanting to get back together for so long.
And why can’t my eyes stop springing toward next door?
Chapter Twenty-One
Phoenix
As Katie and I make our way into the school building Tuesday morning, I feelhiseyes on me. Nope, nope, nope. Iwon’tlook his way. Because he doesn’t exist. I managed to ignore him all day yesterday and I’ll continue doing it until it enters that thick skull of his that Idon’twant to talk to him. It’ll be a little tricky going to The Rock E’s gigs because he’ll be there, but as long as I keep telling myself he’s wallpaper, I should be okay.
Before Sunday happened, I thought about watching them practice because it’s been a while since I did that. But no way. Not while he’s there. It sucks because his brother and Cody are good people and I want to support them and Katie. But nope.
“You’re in your head a lot,” Katie says as she pulls her locker open. “Still thinking about Ethan?”
“Ethan who?”
Katie’s eyes move further down the hall, where I’m pretty sure Jerkface is surrounded by his adoring fans. Seriously, I thought I was past the whole Jerkface thing. I guess he and I will always be enemies. I can’t wait until I’m out of here so I’ll never have to see him again. But ugh, that’s like two years away.
“He keeps looking at you,” Katie tells me.
I open my locker and fish out the books I’ll need for first period. “Whatever.”
“I think he feels bad.”
I slam my locker shut. “I don’t give a crap howhefeels. Does he even have a right to feel bad? I mean, he frickin’ tricked me. Played me like a fool. Idon’twant to talk about him.”
“Okay. Let’s talk about…”
I’m hardly listening to her. I know, I’m sucking as a bestie right now, but my eyes are caught on a certain jerk. He’s, as expected, in a pool of girls, but he’s not even looking at them. Nope, because his eyes are on mine. Gosh, why are they so darn beautiful? They pull me in, make me forget that I’m supposed to hate him.
I spin around, mentally scolding myself for staring at him. But my eyes seem to be in control now because they dart his way again. He’s still looking at me.
He has no right to look at me!
The girls pull and tug at him, but he doesn’t break his gaze from me. Giving him a hard glare, I whirl around to go to class, when I remember I need to pass him to reach history. Ugh, I share that class with him. I managed to skip yesterday, but I can’t do that again. But whatever, he doesn’t exist, so I should be okay.
Katie calls after me that she’ll catch me later. I wave to her.
Approaching the mass near my classroom isn’t easy. Breaking through it is impossible. The bell hasn’t rung yet, so there’s no excuse for them to get lost. And I can’t use that bug trick again. Not because it’s not right, but because it won’t work a second time. I’ll just have to push through.
Ugh. They’re as strong as a house. I use each and every part of my body to try to shove them away, but they won’t budge. Seriously. It’s been over a month and they’re still obsessed with him? Why? He sucks.
