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PHASE FOUR
Astounded. Astonished. Surprised. Shocked. Flabbergasted.
Each word is circling through my head as I try to figure out which one best explains how I’m feeling in this situation right now. All of them seem appropriate in their own way, but none really explain the odd feeling in my stomach, or the constant pounding of my heart, or my heavy breathing. Maybe excitement would better explain my feelings, but why should I be excited? I mean, it’s Weston Brooks for goodness sakes.
Unless, I really do believe. Deep down maybe I do believe that Weston Brooks, high school womanizer, does love me. And I don’t know if it’s love yet, but maybe I feel the same way back. But again, these are all tentative thoughts.
And even though they are, I find myself biting my bottom lip in anticipation as I utter the one word that falls out faster than I can catch it in my mouth. “Yes,”
Weston squints his eyes and I just figure he didn’t really hear me.
“Yes, I would believe it.” I repeat with a little more confidence.
Just like that, the whole air in the room changes. Weston’s aura changes from arrogant and reassured to passionate and vulnerable. I liked that side. But before I get the chance to familiarize myself with it, it’s gone. Just like that. Shock flashes through his eyes, before he leans away from me, causing the air to go back to the way it was before, and his aura to regain his arrogance. The change was so swift, my mind wants to doubt that the whole situation even happened. But I know it did, I just don’t know what changed it.
I see pain flitter across his face, but that leaves too, being replaced by his infamous smirk, though it lacks its usual luster. “Addelyn, you didn’t think I was being serious, did you?”
Please tell me he was not playing a mind game just then. I allowed myself to get all sensitive and he wasn’t even being serious. He was probably just waiting to see my reaction, like he did with the shirt earlier. How stupid for me to think it was real!
“No, of course not.” I retract.
“Because you know I was just joking.”
“Yeah, of course I did.”
“I mean, I do love you, but like a goldfish or a wet wipe.” Did he seriously just compare me to a fish and a butt rag? I decide not to even dignify that with a response, hoping he’ll end it there, but he doesn’t. “I just wanted to make sure, because you looked like you were getting a little into it. I was starting to think you were falling for me.”
“Fall for you?” I scoff, ignoring the horrible feeling that’s welling up inside me. “As if. I’d much rather saw off each of my fingers and gnaw on the fingernails. You’re an idiot for even considering that.”
“Well, I don’t know. You were the one who was sitting over there blushing and breathing like an asthmatic cat.”
“At least I didn’t get goo-goo eyed like a freaking owl. If anyone looked like they were falling, it would be you. Heck, you posed the question in the first place.” I sneer at him.
YOU ARE READING
Strictly Business
Teen Fiction"It's so simple," I say. "All we have to do is pretend we're in love with each other. You know, hold hands, share Eskimo kisses and all that crap. And at the same time, we'll destroy Jackson and Kristina's relationship. Make them think that thei...
