I tried to make sense of Bailey’s words, but then I reminded myself that I don’t really give a fuck about what people think. Except for Jen, I don’t think I really care about anyone. I don’t even know what’s so special about her. People come and go but I don’t know why I stayed with her when I fucking pushed everyone away. Maybe it is her fragility. Her state of unspoken weakness that makes me feel needed. Or maybe because she is the only thing that reminds me of the warmth and love of the family I once had. I looked up at Bailey and gave him a frown. “Just because I’m more creative than others in the manner that I dress… or that I don’t let guys spin my head with their bull flatteries… doesn’t mean I’m gay, right?” Jen and I have been best friends since high school. When I came to town to live with my father, after my mother and her life partner died in a car crash, Jen was the first friend I had. She accepted me for who I am—with all my quirks and weirdn

I was about to retort with something nasty, but Brett called me from the stage.“Ey, Ken! We’re up!”I turned back to Nicholas and gave him a scowl. “We are not yet through!” I said in the gravest tone I could manage.Instead of being offended, threatened, or intimidated, Nicholas gave me a contended smile. In a voice barely hiding his amusement, he said, “Oh, I’m actually counting on that!”I was scowling as I took my seat in front of the drums.“Bad mood, eh? Don’t let him get through to you. Don’t let him linger in your thoughts too much,” Brett said.I raised a brow. “What do you mean?”“That is Nick Atkins. Every guy in this town wanted to be him. Every girl wanted to date him,” he replied before going backstage.I glanced over at their table again. Jen had returned to her seat and was giggling at something that Nicholas said.As I twirled the sticks around my fingers and hit the snare, I thought, No. Not every girl in this town would want to date you. I promise you that!***“Sp

“Excuse me, why are we here?” I demanded.He simply shrugged. “Well, we already passed your house. You didn’t even notice.”“And you just decided to take me somewhere else?” I asked angrily. “What is wrong with you?”“I saw your father standing in front of your house, sending off some his friends. I just thought you wouldn’t want to have another encounter with him. Figured you can use some time off from him?”He was right. I would not want to face my father again. But that does not mean I want to be alone with him!“We’re not friends, Atkins! Why do you think I needed help from you?”Nicholas stared at me for a moment and then he nodded. He straightened up on his seat and started his engine.“Alright, whatever you say, princess,” he murmured.“Stop!” The tone of my voice made him stop on his tracks. He turned around raising a brow at me.“Don’t call me that ever again!” I snapped. Then I turned away from him. “And… yeah, maybe I can stand sitting here next to you for another ten minut

We made our way to the three pompom girls on the dance floor.They saw us coming and I immediately saw the interest in their eyes as we approached.I forced a smile on my face. This was the first time I would do this but there was no way in hell I’d let Nicholas beat me in this game.We probably have the same goal: get the other to sleep with a stranger, hopefully the one with the huge I have STD sign on the forehead.“Can we join you, ladies?” I asked politely.I could tell they were ecstatic to dance with us. Trixie was the girl who had long black hair, dressed in a black skintight dress that ended decently above her knees. Elle was the cute redhead with pixie hair, wearing skintight jeans and a Sabrina top. The provocative girl wearing a white dress that left nothing to the imagination was named Saucy, which sounded more like her stage name than her real name.I smiled at Saucy. She was my target tonight. “Hi, Saucy. This is Nicky,” I said to her, putting my hand to Nicholas’ back

I slowly turned around and found Nicholas standing in front of me, with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was still dripping from the shower. I could not help noticing his firm biceps, a set of six-pack abs, and all other things designed to make any girl avert her eyes, bite her lower lip and occasionally steal sinful glances at the lower region of his body.As I looked at Nicholas’ perfect physique, I was reminded of why Jen was drooling over him, or why Saucy was trying her best to get into his pants. I could tell he was also gifted in that department.God, this is awkward!I swallowed hard as I gathered composure and found the strength to speak without squeaking. “G-good morning,” I said in a weak voice, my eyes still glued to the abs he was displaying in front of me. My glance started drifting lower to his belly button and then—“Dude, you okay?” he interrupted, prompting me to look up to where his eyes were.Shit! What was that?I shook myself back to reality. “Wha