If Only

•01•

"Well," he says emphasizing all the letters in the word. "Don't let him fool you. He talks a big game but if you know who painted the Mona Lisa then I promise you'll pass this class."

She shakes her head, eyes dancing. "Who doesn't know who painted the Mona Lisa?"

He smiled. "First rule in high school: Never overestimate anyone's ability to do anything."

"Okay, I'll make note of that." She said and they both laugh. Watching her felt all too surreal. He had never seen or met someone this high on life before. Amelia Hughes, lived, breathed, and ate from the tree of life. She carried herself like nothing ever bad happened in the world around her. A part of him couldn't help but hate her, at least a little. But none of those things really mattered since he wasn't engaging in a conversation with this girl because she came across as approachable.

At the moment, they may have been discussing the same topic but there differences, in his eyes, were insurmountable. So, there was absolutely no chance in Hell it would get pass Kyle that his younger sister was crushing on someone like him.

"A few of us are going down by the lake tonight. If you're into that type of thing, maybe you could come with me." He suggested.

Amelia could feel all the blood in her body rush to her face and she leaned against a desk for support. If she closed her eyes now would she wake up in bed? Was she dreaming or did she dare believe that Aiden Woods had just asked her out on a date?

"Amelia," his deep, cheerful voice interjected her thoughts before they could run wild.

Oh my God. He knows my name. She thought.

"Yes," she said. "I'd love to go."

After she agreed, they exchanged numbers and parted ways outside the classroom. He told her he would be late for his next class but in reality he didn't want to be seen next to her At least not so soon anyway. But on the other end of the hall, Amelia leaned against her locker studying the muscles of his back as he walked away. Completely and verifiably oblivious to what had really just occurred only moments before. All in all, it was the start of something neither one of them could forget.

There is nothing more nauseating than the smell of cheap, tasteless perfume when it consumed the air around you. Evidently, whatever broad Kyle was currently dealing with wanted to make it pretty damn clear she had been with him.

Amelia followed the trail of contaminated air back to Kyle's car where she would wait for another fifteen minutes or so for him to arrive. But according to what he mentioned yesterday, basketball practice was canceled. So, whatever was keeping him likely was sporting a nice bra and panties to match.

Whatever the case may be, she was far from being in a rush. She took a couple of sips from her Diet Pepsi and glared down at her phone. It was no secret, that she was waiting for him to text her. She silently prayed he was occupied with something because if she had to text him first, it would be a train wreck. He might even go as far as to delete her number from his phone.

Amelia had god-awful communication skills. Both inside and outside her phone screen. She could already feel herself pulsating with nervousness just thinking about their conversation. Amelia wondered if he even noticed her half-assed attempt at small talk? But how could he not when beads of sweat made a home on her forehead, the closer he got to her body? Or when she felt her IQ dropping with every word she tripped over.