One of the Boys

Chapter One

I sat stiffly in my desk chair, staring at my computer screen. I'm sure if I concentrate hard enough, something will come to me. I've been trying desperately to finish this writing assignment, and it's just not working. I took my headphones out, pausing my iPod. Sighing, I walked over to my window.

It was a nice spring night. As it gets closer to summer, I find myself happier opening my window. It's a Friday night and unfortunately I had to stay in. My mom was not happy with me from last week's party. So, I did what I could do, I texted my group chat.

Everclear82:

You guys wanna come over? Movie night at my place.

BossFight:

Yeah, sounds cool. Mom not there?

BossFight is my best friend, Nate. I don't understand the username either.

Ben24:

Ev's mom is there, I can see the car from my house.

Dusty42:

Dumbass, we're all neighbors. We can all see Ev's mom's car.

That's Ben and Dustin, the other guys from our group. We're a clique at school called the Rat Pack. It's been around as long as I can remember and they only invite one person to join every year, a freshman. Last year, they chose me. Everly Thames. The only girl to ever be admitted to the Rat Pack. It was strange, but I belonged. Probably because I'd lived next to the other members my whole life. Anyway.

Everclear82:

Yea she's home. She said I couldn't go out, never said I couldn't have anyone ever. Guys in?

Soon after, the guys came over one by one. "Mom," I yelled, "the guys are here!" I'm not sure if she heard me, but she didn't protest.

"Hey," Nate smiled.

"Hey yourself," I said, "ready to graduate next week?"

Nate was a senior, which meant he was leaving the pack. But he was taking a year off of school so I didn't have to worry about missing him just yet.

"About as ready as you are to be a Junior Rat," he laughed.

Ben and Dustin came soon after. "SO!" Ben yelled, "what're we watching?"

"Shhhh!" Dustin stage whispered. I laughed, those boys were one strange pair.

"I'm thinking Doctor Strange, yeah?" I asked.

"No, what about Edge of Seventeen?" Ben asked.

"That feel-good Juno remake? No thanks." Dustin shook his head.

"We're going to watch The Breakfast Club. No questions," Nate said quietly. Nate had an aura of power around him, I'm not sure how. When he talks, you just never want to argue with him. So we all obviously agreed.

"Yes SIR!" Ben did a fake salute. We all got comfy on my overly large couch, and started the movie. This was my favorite movie of all time, I can quote it. I think it's Nate's favorite too, because he always suggests it.

Not too long after, Ben and Dustin were sleeping soundly. I giggled. "Do you think they'll ever watch this movie all the way through?"

"Probably not, but I have a question," Nate said, catching me off guard.

"Y-yeah?" I asked, unsure of why I was nervous. He sounded serious, Nate was never serious.

"Do you, you know, have feelings for anyone?" He asked, staring in my eyes.

Oh. My. God. Does he know?

"Uh-uhm, why do you ask?" I responded. He just stared. "Do you, uh, know about my crush on....." I trailed off.

He gestured with his hand for me to go on, "....Luke?" I asked. Luke was this very handsome boy in the grade above me. He was friends with my brother, Andre.

"Yeah, I figured," he laughed, all seriousness gone. "I wondered when you were going to tell me." I didn't know how to respond so I just turned my attention back to the screen... That was weird, even for Nate.

---

Monday came way faster than I wanted, or needed. I groggily got out of my bed. I walked to my personal bathroom and got ready for a shower. I lathered the generic brand 3-in-1 hair stuff I had into my brown hair. It doesn't matter what I do, though. My hair always looks frizzy. Not that I care, honestly.

After my shower, I went back to my room in a towel to find something to wear. I quickly did the sniff test on some random jeans and an overly large t-shirt. They smelled fine. I laced up my converse and put my hair up, I hated it down. I ran downstairs to find Andre at the kitchen table eating cereal.

"You know," he smiled, "you're almost sixteen. You could put a little more effort into how you look."

"Meh," was my only response as I found the Pop Tarts. I surveyed my brother. Not for the first time, I saw how much effort he put into his look. His hair was styled with some type of gel. He was wearing a button down and well fitted jeans. "You know," I said," maybe you could put a little less effort. You spend more time in the bathroom than Lainey."

Laniey was our sister in college, she would be returning soon for the summer. I honestly missed her so much, but I can't help feeling she'd be disappointed in how little effort I put into how I look. She was a Goddess of self care, I swear.

"Come on, little tiger," he laughed, "time for school."

"Don't call me that," I grumbled as I climbed into his insanely large pick-up truck.

When we got into the parking lot I was cornered by both Ben and Dustin.

"Is it true? You like Luke Helmes?" Dustin asked almost immediately. I looked around, alarmed, hoping no one heard. Luckily Andre just put his earbuds in and was walking away.

"If you," I said, jabbing Dustin's chest, "said one word about that, ever again, I will murder you in your sleep." Ben giggled. "And you, Benton Williams, are not to say another word either. Got it?"

They both stared at me. "You're telling him. Today," Ben said, simply.

"What?! I am not!" I said.

"Yes you are. He's right there," Dustin pointed blatantly at Luke, who noticed. He looked at his friends and back to us. Dustin waved him over. "What?! NO!" I quietly yelled at Dustin.

Luke looked back at his friends, a little unsure. Then jogged over.

"Hey, guys," he smiled, "you want me or something?"

"Yes, Everly has something to say," Ben said.

Luke turned his attention to me, "Yeah, man?" he asked. I simply stared for the longest possible time.

"She likes you," Dustin and Ben chorused. I whipped around so fast I'm sure I should have broken my neck. I stared at them, wide-eyed. How could they do that?! I slowly turned to Luke, silently hopeful.

"Uh," he began uncomfortably, "Listen, Ev, I, uh..." He didn't seem to know what to say.

"I'm really not into.. You, know, the masculine... Type? Yeah, that's what I mean." He looked away.

"Listen, Luke, the boys are delusional," I smiled warmly. He looked even more uncomfortable. "Because, honestly, there's no way in hell I'd like someone who spends more time looking at his reflection than me." And with that, I walked away. Silently uncomfortable in my baggy clothes, willing them to shrink. I'd made it the girl's room before the tears started flowing.

I'd only ever liked Luke since... Forever. Hell, maybe I loved him. I don't know. All I know is that he just ripped this heart out of my chest and stomped on it.

Looking in the mirror, I came to a horrible realization. I looked exactly like a guy. I hadn't really cared before, but I hadn't realized just how bad I looked.

Ouch.

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Hello!!~~ My name is Adri, pleased to meet you. This is my first ever, ahem, published story. Sorry the beginning is kind of rocky. And short. It'll get better as time progresses, I promise. Thank you so much for reading. See you, hopefully, next time! (;