Evan
“She did what?” Seth exclaimed as he sat down next to me on the bleachers.
“Yeah, it still hurts like hell,” I groaned, fighting the urge to massage my crotch. I asked coach Jenner earlier if I could take a break from practice today but he just looked at me and somehow his eyes slid down to my pants where my hand was at and cocked me an eyebrow. He mumbled something unintelligible about balls and girls after that. “You definitely need to wear a fucking armor around that girl.”
Lance shook his head and took a swig of his bottled water. “Evan. Whatever happened to our bet?”
I shot him a glare. “I'm still working on it, okay.”
“Time's running out, my man,” he patted his wrist with two fingers, wiggling his eyebrows at me. “And don't even think of chickening out either.” He grabbed his helmet and ran toward the field alongside Seth.
The bet.
Fuck. I forgot all about that. Now that I'm more positive about my feelings for CJ, I don't know how I'll ever get out of this stupid bet of making CJ fall in love with me and breaking her heart before the end of our Senior year. For some reason, I'm starting to think karma has somehow showed up at my doorstep. Everything that I did in the past is coming back at me like a hard slap in the face. The unbearable weight of this feeling is torturing me to no end.
I still couldn't forget what happened that Saturday, though. Shit, I was so close to kissing her. If her parents hadn't interrupted us, we would've probably gone all the way. It seemed like she wanted me to kiss her basing from her eyes staring back at me. But I guess it wasn't the right time yet.
CJ was taking pictures from a distance when Trevor ran toward where she was at and gave her a quick peck in the cheek. The sight made my heart drop.
Trevor McAllister.
I always hated that guy. He just rubbed me the wrong way ever since we were kids. There was just something about him that I couldn’t really put my finger on. I don't know, I'm probably just jealous, that's all. I'd give an eye teeth just to be in Trevor's place. This just shows that everything's all my fault as much as I hate to admit it. After all the things I did to CJ in the past, I deserved all the shit she's been throwing at me ever since I got back here in California.
They were right. Karma was a bitch.
“You do like her, don't you?”
I sspun my head around, startled by a sweet voice behind me. Surprised to see it was that new girl, Deidre. She's Kyler's foster sister and Seth's new girlfriend whom he dumped Becca Milano for. I've only met her a few weeks ago since she just recently moved in with the Kress family across the street.
Deidre simply smiled as she carefully hopped down the bleachers to sit beside me. She was really pretty, just like CJ. They have the same height and straight dark brown hair, except Deidre always had heavy make up on. She looked very stylish compared to CJ who is a jeans and shirt kind of girl.
“What're you talking about?” I smiled back.
“Clarey,” she nudged me. “I could tell that you like her.”
I squinted my eyes against the sun, trying to act innocent as I propped my elbows on my knees. How could she possibly know? She hasn't been here that long.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Deeds.”
She snorted. “Well, if you don't step up your game, Trevor boy over there will move in permanently.”
“Sorry, I still don't know what you're talking about.” I muttered, throwing a piece of dried twig in front of me. It’s painful for me to lie about not liking her.
She shrugged. “Just sayin'. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.”
After that, she got up and walked away from the field. I shifted my eyes back at Trevor and CJ. I'm not one hundred percent convinced that they are officially together. Although Trevor seemed to cockblock me every time I made a move. Deidre was right. I needed to do something about it.
Stat.
“Hello there, dear brother,” I looked over to see Evalyn with her large brown curls, bouncing over her shoulder, walking toward me with her large designer bag, white floral dress, and her knee high black leather boots. Celia was also beside her, smiling sweetly at me. “We need to talk.”
I rolled my eyes. My sister was well known for concocting activities I do not approve of. “Whatever it is, I'm not going.” I immediately told her.
She arched an eyebrow at me with a grin. “Oh, stop being such a spoilsport.”
I took a deep breath and turned to face my sister. “Shoot.”
“Guess what?” She giggled. “Grams is coming here today!” She said, flashing her pearly whites.
Oh, hell no. Can't this day get any better? “She is?” I raised my eyebrows.
Grams never came to visit our home in Bonita. Not even once. When my parents died from the car accident, she sent aunt Audrey to fetch us instead of doing it herself. I wasn't close with grams at all. There wasn't anything else in common between us. We only shared a last name. Other than that, I couldn’t think of anything better that links us together.
“Yeah, she is,” she turned to Celia. “Well, I have my hair appointment with Malika at five. Do you want to come, Celia?”
Celia playfully bit her lip, widening her eyes at Evalyn before shifting her eyes at me. “I'll probably just... stay here.”
Evalyn quickly stood up and winked at Celia. “I guess I'll have to leave you two lovebirds alone,” she chuckled. “Toodles!”
Celia was wearing her light yellow and white one-piece tennis uniform, her hair was neatly pulled up into a ponytail. She was no doubt one of Bonita Verde high's best tennis players. They have won every tournament, beating out all schools in San Diego.
She was obviously bored and irritated by the silence between us. “So, how was that birthday party you attended?” She asked, frowning.
She was seated so close to me. I felt a bit awkward because her arm was brushing against mine. I shrugged, refusing to look at her. My eyes were completely glued at CJ, still snapping pictures of everyone around her.
“It was good.”
She suddenly placed her warm soft hands on my face, turning my head slowly to face her. She scanned my face, her eyes blinking fiercely. My heart pounded against my chest. We all know what happens next when a girl starts to look at you that way.
I held her hand to stop her. “Celia, please. Don't.”
Before I could stop her, she quickly moved her face closer and planted her soft pink lips against mine. Her kiss made me melt and I suddenly imagined myself kissing CJ. I held her head with one hand and kissed her back, thrusting my tongue into her mouth. Her fingers brushed my hair, pulling them slightly. I instantly snapped back to reality and came to realize that I was actually kissing Celia and not CJ. I pushed her away gently before I could get sucked in further into her spell.
“Celia, stop. You have to stop this.” I said in between breaths. I quickly looked over at CJ, who happened to be watching us at that moment. She rolled her eyes at me and gave me a gag gesture by sticking her index finger in her mouth. Shit. I guess she saw us making out then.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Evan?” Celia snapped. “I throw myself at you, but all you do is—”
I closed my eyes, massaging my temples. “Celia, please don't get me wrong. You're beautiful, smart, popular, but let me tell you this, it's not going to work out between us. It never will.”
“We can certainly work it out, Evan, because one day we will be—”
I cut her off before she could say it. “No. Celia, I'm sorry to say this but that's never going to happen,” her eyes were already brimming with tears. “You have to understand, I'm not in love with you.”
She swiped her tears away with the back of her hands. “I'm never going to be good enough for you, am I?” She sounded so broken inside and I suddenly wanted to take back all the hurtful words I just said to her.
I sat back down beside her, guilt running through me from what I just said. But she needed to learn the truth whether she liked it or not.
“Celia,” I breathed. “I'm… I'm in love with someone else.”
*
Grams came to Bonita by herself. She gave us hugs and kisses as soon as she entered the door. She was wearing a white cashmere sweater and a black skirt. Her sweet powdered scent that you usually smell on rich old ladies clung to me as she gave me a tight hug.
After that, she scanned the whole interior of our house. Nothing much to see but a huge flat screen TV mounted on the wall of the living room, a small chandelier, black leather sofa, and a few books and figurines on a coffee table.
We all sat down. Awkward silence filled the room as soon as I turned the TV off. I crossed my arms against my chest while waiting for grams to talk.
“Evan, I hope you thought about that proposal I just made.” She unbuckled the leather portfolio and slipped out a paper.
My face curled into a frown. “No.”
Grams just smiled at me like there wasn't any problem at all. I hate what she's doing to me right now. She's ruining my life and she’s probably thinking that she could just get away with it.
“You will do what I say, Evan James,” she said firmly, her eyebrows arched. “You really don't have a choice.”
“Grams, I can't do this!” My voice boomed as I stood up, brushing a hand through my wavy hair. Frustration was running through my skin, almost like venom. “I can't.”
“Yes, you can!” She yelled back, her face was hard as a rock. Her hands suddenly started shaking so Evalyn quickly moved to her side to comfort her. “You really don't have much of a choice, Evan. I'm doing this for your own good. If your parents were still alive today, they would want you to do the same thing. Please, try to understand. This is your future.”
I released a puff of air. “Okay, fine. Whatever. I'll do it.”
Grams leaned her back against the sofa and smiled at me. For some reason, it seemed like I was dealing with the devil here and not my grandmother.
*
Tick. Tick. Tick.
I was sitting down on my bedroom window, throwing M&M's at CJ's bedroom window. Back then I used to throw lots of pebbles at her window back when we were younger. It sure irritated the shit out of her.
A few minutes later, a faint light came on. CJ appeared in the window, wearing a tank top and sweatpants. Her hair was in a high ponytail. She groaned as soon as she saw me. “Evan?” She hissed after opening the window. “Do you realize what time it is?"
“Yes, I believe it's two in the morning.” I replied coolly as I popped a nut in my mouth.
“What do you want?” She asked.
“I couldn't sleep.” I said, shrugging.
I sat on my window and looked straight up at the sky. It was a perfect dark sky with billions of twinkling stars. Ever since I was a kid, I found joy and contentment whenever I looked up at the sky. It's like giving you an assurance that everything will be alright. My parents once told me that when you're feeling down, just look up at the sky and your sadness will be washed away.
She crossed her arms as she glared at me. “Okay, so you woke me at freakin' two in the morning just so you could tell me that you couldn't sleep?” She shook her head. “Oh, and I could see that you're stargazing as well. Thank you very much for inviting me. I love Stargazing.” She said in a sarcastic voice.
I sighed.
“Have you ever been in love, CJ?” I suddenly asked her.
“Wait, what?” Her nose scrunched up. “Uhm... Yes... No...” She coughed. “Look, it's none of your damn business, okay.”
I chuckled. She was too cute for words. Although I began to wonder who she fell in love with. Somewhere in my mind, I had a tinge of hope that the guy she was talking about would be me. But that was far from reality. CJ would never like me. She liked Trevor.
I was no way near her alley.
“Well, how about you?” She said quietly. “Have you ever been in love?”
I looked over at her. It was dark but I could see her eyes looking straight at me. She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face.
“Yeah,” I told her. “And I'm planning to tell her soon.”
“Oh,” she nodded. “Well, good luck with that, von Detten. I'm pretty sure you guys will hit it off just fine.”
I thought I sensed some sadness in her voice. Maybe it was just me, thinking I may have a chance with her. She was getting ready to leave when I threw an M&M through her window.
“What in the hell—” I saw her pick it up. “Seriously?” She chuckled as she threw it back to me. “What a waste of candy. Whatever happened to the pebbles?”
“How are you and Trevor, by the way?” I asked, suddenly changing the subject.
“Why the hell do you even care?”
“Just answer my question, CJ.”
She stood there in silence. “Goodnight, Evan.” She slid her window down and her light flickered off.
I closed my eyes. I was so close to telling her the truth. But if I ever did... Will she be able to accept me?
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