"NOW LOOK WHO'S being overdramatic."
"Overdramatic? If you don't agree with me then there must be something wrong with you."
"They're not even that bad."
"Coming from the guy who despises tomatoes."
"That's a whole different story. There is a popular divide between people who love and hate tomatoes."
"Well," I said as we continued walking. "I guess people are too distracted with tomatoes to realize how atrocious zucchinis are."
We stopped in front of my locker. I opened it and put my morning textbooks inside, replacing them with my afternoon textbooks.
James looked at my locker with distaste. "Why are you so messy?"
"Who cares? In a few months, this locker won't even be mine anymore."
He snatched a book out of my locker and flipped through it. "One of my favourite plays," he muttered, skimming through the Macbeth book I was assigned for English class.
I smirked at the irony. "Crazy man likes a play about a crazy man? Not surprised."
James rolled his eyes. "Macbeth wasn't crazy. His ambition and greed consumed him whole and drove him to a state of insanity."
"So he was crazy," I concluded.
He shook his head at me. "Has your mom asked about the window?"
"She didn't buy the bird excuse, but she was too tired to argue so she's getting it fixed," I said.
"Why didn't you use any of my excuses?" he asked, looking offended.
"They were too complicated," I said with a wave of my hand.
"Or maybe you're too stupid to comprehend," he said with a sly smile.
I tried to smack James' arm with my textbook, but he caught my wrist before I could. I was about to say something, but someone beat me to the punch.
"What's going on here?" I involuntarily gulped when I recognized the voice. My suspicions were confirmed when I turned around and saw Brenton and his friends. His eyes flickered from James to me.
"Hey," I said in a shaky voice.
"What the hell are you doing with him?" Brenton demanded.
"Obviously we're talking," James scoffed.
Brenton glared up at him, though he didn't look too intimidating considering James was at least a couple inches taller. "If you know what's good for you, you'll shut up and walk away."
James laughed and he pulled up his sleeves. "I kicked your ass once, I won't hesitate to do it again."
I elbowed him in the rib before focusing my attention on Brenton. "I don't think a fight is something you're looking for this close to finals."
He stepped forward and grabbed my arm, pulling me away from James. "I thought I told you not to speak to him again."
"You can't treat me like I'm a kid, Brent. I can make my own decisions."
"If you don't want me fighting him then you're banned from seeing that piece of shit ever again."
"Don't call him that."
He looked at me with disbelief. "You're standing up for him after what he did to me?"
I shook my head at him. "For the record that was both of your faults."
"You're not seeing him again," Brenton warned. "I mean it."
I pulled my arm out of his grasp. "I'll do what I want." Without looking back at his reaction I walked to James.
~*~
"For the last fifteen minutes of class I will let you all work in your pairs for your project," Mr. Ridgeway announced.
Holden came over and plopped down on the seat beside mine. "Today was interesting."
"Don't remind me."
"You should listen to Brenton. I heard that guy is bad news."
I let out a sigh. "That's the thing. You all keep hearing he's bad but none of you actually experienced that firsthand."
"I mean he did beat up your brother," he justified.
I gave him a wry smile. "Brent beat him up too. So aren't they the same then?"
"Dani, you know Brent's a good guy," he dismissed.
I shrugged my shoulders at his response. Both Holden and my brother were too damn stubborn to realize they were being hypocrites. "Just because you don't know James doesn't mean he isn't a good guy."
"Onto more lighthearted topics." Holden glanced at the assignment rubric. "Want to meet up tonight to work on this?"
I shot him a questioning look. "Aren't you grounded?"
He grinned in reply. "My dad likes you, he'll let me come."
I nodded. "See you tonight then."
~*~
I parked my car on the driveway. James didn't say a word as he got out, not that I expected him to. Brenton was standing on our porch when I got out of my car. Long story short, he did not look pleased.
"Did I piss you off?" Brenton asked. "Are you doing this to spite me or something?"
I walked past him and opened the door. "No offense, but you aren't exactly significant enough for me to want to spite." I was about to go upstairs but I was called back down.
"Daniella, come to the living room," Mom said.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked. It wasn't usual for Mom to be home before seven o'clock on a weeknight.
"I came home to pick up some paperwork but I need to have a chat with you." Confusion was etched on my face as I followed her to the living room. Mom sat down on the couch and I sat beside her. "Your brother told me some interesting news," she began. "It appears that you have made a new friend."
I had no idea where this was going. "Yeah, and?"
Mom folded her freshly manicured hands and placed them on her lap. "It has come to my attention that this new boy you've befriended is a troublemaker. Brenton tells me he gets into fights with students and he is involved with drugs."
"Mom, that's not—"
"If word got out you were associating with someone like that, it could cost me the election, Daniella," she said sternly.
"You're not listening to me."
"No," she said firmly. "You're not listening to me. From this moment forward, you are prohibited from seeing that boy ever again."
"But Mom!"
"There will be no further arguments. This is the end of this discussion. If you fail to comply there will be serious repercussions."
"Unbelievable." I stood up and marched to my bedroom. Brenton was standing at the foot of the staircase, an apologetic look on his face. "Don't talk to me again," I spat.
~*~
"So I was thinking we could maybe reenact a scene?" Holden suggested. "Unless you wanted to do a slideshow or something?"
"Sure, sounds great."
He glanced up from his laptop. "Are you okay?"
I remained laying down on my bed and didn't bother to look at him. "I'm great."
He closed his laptop and sat at the edge of my bed. "You can talk to me if something's wrong."
"I'd rather not share my problems with Brenton's number one pipeline for information."
Holden winced from the harshness of my words, and I felt kind of guilty, but not guilty enough to apologize.
"I'm here for you too."
I sat up, pulling my knees to my chest. Holden moved up so he was sitting across from me. "You can tell me anything, Dani."
I meant it when I said I didn't want to tell Holden anything. For all I knew Brenton put him up to this, so my safer bet was to focus on this stupid assignment instead. "So which scene are we reenacting?"
He took the book out of my hands and put it down on the bed. "Screw Shakespeare. Want to go out and do something fun?"
I raised my eyebrows. "And risk getting you in trouble?"
"I can handle myself."
I squinted past him at my door. "Oh, hey, Mr. Rollins!"
Holden jumped at least five feet in the air and I couldn't help but laugh. Upon hearing me laugh Holden smiled. He suddenly extended his arm and tucked a few stray hairs behind my ear. He dropped his hand, letting it rest on my knee. "You're so beautiful when you laugh."
"Thanks." I had no idea what the hell you were even supposed to say when the guy you had known since you were in diapers randomly decided to compliment you. I wanted nothing more at this moment than to bolt out of my room and run for the hills.
"I have something to confess," he continued.
Okay, now I really wanted to bolt out of my room.
"Ever since we were kids I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, but I was too scared to tell you. I was scared you'd reject me so I kept my feelings to myself. Then Cade came along, but now there are no obstacles. Something tells me the moment is right." He paused. "Dani Parker, I'm in love with you."
From the start of the conversation I knew this was coming, yet I couldn't brace myself for the reality of the situation. I was absolutely speechless. Holden was like a fourth brother to me, there was no way he could've been in love with me. He was clearly very mistaken.
"Holden." I internally groaned. He had such a hopeful look on his face and it pained me to let him down like this. "You're one of my best friends and I love you, you know I do."
He was grinning from ear to ear and it killed me.
"But I don't love you the way you love me."
His grin dropped.
"You're like a brother to me. You mean so much to me and I don't want to ruin what we have."
"Right." I could hear the sadness in his voice. "You're completely right. I'm so sorry for dropping this on you like that. I should get going."
"Holden, wait."
"I'm going to be late for dinner." He got off my bed, took his belongings, and left.
Once Holden was gone I let out an aggravated groan. Today was not supposed to go like this. Out of people to talk to I scooped my phone off of my nightstand and punched in a number.
"Hey," I said when the person on the other end picked up. "Can you come over?"
~*~
I stood up from the porch and ran towards the familiar car.
"I brought chocolates," he said as he got out.
I jumped up and flung my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I've missed you."
"Want to go for a ride?"
"Please." We sat inside and he began to drive.
"Any destination in specific?"
"As far away from here as possible."
Niko chuckled. "You got it."
I took the wrapper off one of the chocolate bars and shoved the chocolate in my mouth. "Holden told me he likes me."
Niko slammed the brakes on the car and looked at me bewilderedly. "What?"
"Jeez, I nearly broke my goddamn neck!"
"Well now you know to put on your seatbelt." I rolled my eyes and buckled myself in as Niko continued driving. "What did you say?"
"I let him down nicely, what else was I going to say?" I spat, my mouth still filled with chocolate.
"I feel for the guy."
"Well that's life," I said with a wave of my hand.
He arched an eyebrow. "When did you get so pessimistic?"
I ripped open another chocolate bar. "I'd rather get rejected than be banned from seeing someone."
Niko peered at me before focusing on the road. "Tell your big brother what happened."
I explained the entire story to Niko regarding the new neighbours, my and James' developing friendship, the fight between him and Brenton, and Mom forbidding our friendship.
"Brent's an ass," he said when I finished.
I chewed on another piece of chocolate. "Agreed."
"Sorry about all that." He glanced at me then back on the road. "On the plus side at least you two were only friends. It would've hurt more if you were into him." When I didn't reply Niko grinned. "I knew it! You like this son of a bitch, don't you?"
"Are you kidding? He's a smart-mouthed ass who only cares about himself."
His grin widened. "Seems like you care about him too."
I let his words sink in and I reflected over them. Did I like James? That was impossible. He and I were hardly friends. I mentally repeated that in my head but the more I said it, the more my stomach sank. I froze, feeling the urge to puke out all the chocolates I ate. "I think I like James."
"Dan, that's so exciting!" Niko exclaimed, his cheeriness contradicting my dreadful state. "When are you going to tell him?"
I gaped at my stupid brother. "How about never?"
"You're boring." He paused. "Tell me more about him."
"Can we drop it?" I pleaded.
"One last thing," Niko said.
"What?" I grumbled.
"I know it sometimes feels like everyone's against you, but know I'm always here for you and I'll support you regardless of what you do."
Although that pep talk came out of nowhere I truly needed to hear that. "Thanks, Niko."
"I'm thinking about bringing Monica over again," he said, making any sentimental feelings I had instantly disappear. "I think with time Mom will open up."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
His lips curved into a frown. "Why not?"
"Last time you two came she may or may not have threatened me."
He didn't reply.
"Earth to Nikolas?"
"Are you serious?"
I nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
He held his hand up to silence me. "Don't be. Thanks for telling me."
"What's going to happen with you two now?"
He focused his attention on the road without sparing me a look. "If she can't get along with my family then I guess I have to end it."
"Niko, I'm so sorry."
He smiled grimly. "Good thing I brought tons of chocolate, don't you think?"
~*~
Our late-night adventure was cut short when Niko dropped me home. "Don't wait until you're feeling down to hang out next time," he said.
"Same goes to you."
He ruffled my hair. "Don't let anyone tell you how you're supposed to feel. Follow your heart, kid."
"You're so lame." I took the remaining chocolate bars, much to his dismay. "Get back safely."
"Wish me luck with Monica," he said with a sigh.
"In that case maybe you should take the rest." I handed him the chocolate bars.
"We legal adults have our own solution to heartbreak, little girl."
I rolled my eyes. "Please drink responsibly."
"No promises." On that note, Niko sped off into the darkness, ready to do who knew what.
As I was walking to the house I noticed a familiar figure standing on the porch of the house next door. "Hey."
He turned around and walked inside, leaving me alone in the darkness. Instead of getting angry, I couldn't help but smile as I entered my house and went to my room. I fell on my bed, my lips curving up into a lovestruck smile. It was crazy, and I knew how crazy it was, but I liked James. I didn't know what it was about him but something drew me to him. Of course, his face and body were gorgeous but there was so much more to him. He was charming yet pompous, hilarious yet rude, intelligent yet dull. The boy was a living oxymoron though a part of me really liked it.
I hated James yet deep down, I think I really liked him.