Jaded (Rock Star Trilogy) - By Mercy Amare Page 0,8

I turn to walk away.

“Come on, Scarlett,” he says, stopping me from walking out the door. “It's called joking. It's my way of trying to flirt with you. And I'm sorry that I updated your Twitter.”

“Apology accepted. And wow, you called me Scarlett.”

“Do you prefer Blondie?”

I shake my head, and bite my lip to keep from smiling. “No way. I'll see you tonight, Stephan.”

6:55 pm

Wear something HOT.

I retouch my makeup, and change my outfit before heading next door. I tell myself it's not for Stephan, but I know better. He sent me a tweet earlier that said “Wear something hot”. I don't reply, but I decide to wear something hot anyway.

Monica labeled everything in my closet for almost any occasion I could come across. I pick the one that says, “For when you want to kiss ass, turn heads, and take names.” I put the short, tight, red dress on, and smile at my reflection. I put on a pair of four inch black heels with it, and I have to admit, I look good.

“Hope this is hot enough, Stephan,” I say to my reflection before heading out.

I decide to use the sidewalk to go next door, because walking in heels, in the sand doesn't seem like such a good idea. Before I get up to the house, I hear somebody come up behind me.

“Damn.” I turn around to face Stephan. He's staring at me, with his mouth slightly hanging open, and then he sighs. “I thought you'd wait to look hot until after your little math date with my brother.”

“One, it's not a math date, it's tutoring. If I don't do this, I will fail and be forced to repeat my senior year for the rest of eternity. Two, you and I are going out right after, and I didn't want to change clothes. And three, you're welcome to come. I hear your brother is quite a math genius, and well, you and genius don't fit in the same sentence. I'm sure you could use the help too.”

“Are you going to insult me all night?”

I nod my head. “Probably.”

“Good. It turns me on.” He smiles. “Have fun with my brother.”

“I will.”

“And don't tell Ethan it's not a date. He doesn't know that...”

7:05 pm

Tutoring

Ethan is waiting for me in his room, but I can't stop thinking about Stephan.

“Wow,” Ethan says, motioning towards my outfit. “You look beautiful.”

My heart warms at his comment. He called me beautiful, where his evil stepbrother called me hot. He's sweet. Stephan is a jerk. Why must I have warm, fuzzy feelings for the wrong guy?

“So you're going out with my stepbrother tonight.” It wasn't a question.

“Yeah...” I bite my lip. “I kind of feel bad about the whole black eye thing.”

He nods. “Well, just be careful with him. He tends to get in a lot of trouble.”

“It's sweet that you're trying to be all protective, but trust me when I say I can handle an 18 year old wannabe bad boy.”

“I'm not saying you can't handle him. I'm sure you can, Scarlett. I'm just saying... he might be bad for your good girl image.”

I laugh. I'm far from being a good girl, but he's right, in Hollywood I am considered a good girl. I don't have any DUI's, there are no sex tapes of me, I didn't get pregnant before turning 18, and I haven't posed for Playboy, but I'm definitely not what I would consider good.

“What kind of trouble are we talking about?” I ask. “I gave him a black eye yesterday, and that was just because he updated my Twitter. I think I can handle myself.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean, Ethan?”

“Nothing...” He sighs, and opens his math book. “Let's just study, ok?”

8:15 pm

You can't look hot and be comfortable.

One hour later we are done studying, and I have a major stress headache. I don't feel like I've learned anything new. I'm also pretty sure that math is my kryptonite. Stephan is waiting for me downstairs.

“You probably should have worn more comfortable shoes, Blondie,” Stephan tells me, looking at my four inch stilettos.

“You told me to dress hot. You can't look hot and be comfortable,” I say, shaking my head. Boys.

“You'd look hot in anything...” he pauses, then adds, “or nothing. I'm ok with that option as well. Feel free to take your clothes off.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously, perv, if this is how it's going to be tonight, I will just go home.”

“No, no,” he says. “I'll be good.