The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play #3) - B.B. Reid Page 0,13
the boys broke apart, and I got a glimpse of Ever’s sweaty chest. He was smiling victoriously while Jason wore a scowl and stomped away. I couldn’t help rolling my eyes, even as Ever and Vaughn frowned their confusion at Jason’s retreating form.
“My brother is such a sore loser,” Olivia remarked, voicing my thoughts.
“Shouldn’t you be on his side?” I teased. “He’s your twin, after all.”
She flipped onto her side and grinned. “Not by choice. Besides,” she added as she tucked her blonde hair behind her ear and blushed, “Ever is going to kiss me soon. I just know it.”
Fearing Olivia would notice the jealousy brewing in my veins, I turned away before she could see my face and hurriedly slipped on my sneakers. My mother would die if she caught me wearing them instead of the pretty ballet flats she’d forced me to wear this morning.
I told myself to get a grip.
So what if Ever kissed her? It was no business of mine.
My very unfortunate and sudden crush was an affliction. Something easily cured—if only I could find the remedy.
“Want to come to the park with us? You can ride on my handlebars,” I offered in vain. I already knew she’d say no. She was firm in her belief that boys went to Jupiter to get more stupider while I believed that they were on to something. Girls just wanted to have fun while boys were sure to have it by any means necessary. If I could find another girl in this town like that, hanging out with her instead would be a no-brainer. It would certainly make my mother happy. She didn’t think it was appropriate that I was the only girl in a group of rowdy boys. What she didn’t know was that I could hang with the best of them.
Not to mention that I’d never quite related to other twelve-year-old girls and their plights. I still didn’t get Justin Bieber’s appeal nor had I figured out what made Twilight such a big hit.
“No, thanks. Jessica’s mom is taking us skating today.”
I waited, thinking of a way to turn her down if an invitation followed, but none came. I tried not to think of why that hurt my feelings. I didn’t even want to go. “Okay, then… see you later.”
“Bye!” she yelled with a cheery wave.
My steps were slow, and I still wore a frown by the time I reached the front door. However, my sadness melted away the moment I stepped outside and saw the eager expressions on Vaughn and Ever’s faces. Jason, I suppose, was still somewhere sulking. I’d go after him but I’d learned the hard way that it was better to let him stew until he was ready to get over whatever was eating him.
I couldn’t quite claim Jason as part of my tribe since I was still feeling him out. He was always so closed off, and when he did open up, it was usually out of anger. Maybe one day I’d find out what Jason’s deal was, but right now, I couldn’t be bothered. Glancing at Ever, I quickly averted my gaze, hiding my blush when he smiled.
Clearly, I had my own issues to sort out.
“Is your cousin still staying with you this summer?” Vaughn asked Ever as we made glue and glitter bombs with the balloons Vaughn had managed to procure. Summer had just begun, but Tommy Vann, one of our classmates, hadn’t wasted time terrorizing everyone on the playground. He’d also been talking crap about me, and I was determined to shut him up once and for all. The guys offered to kick his ass again, but I had a better idea. Everyone had a role in our tight-knit crew. I was the brains, and they were the brawn.
“I’m not sure,” Ever grumbled. “He got into trouble again, so my aunt and uncle grounded him for the summer.”
“What did he do this time?” Jason questioned through his chortles. His mood had improved considerably since we left his house. Maybe the promise of taking his anger out on someone more deserving had cheered him up. “Moon the cafeteria ladies again?”
I frowned as I wondered why someone would flash their butt to strangers? It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about Ever’s cousin, and the stories only seemed to get wilder with each telling. I grimaced. Not for the first time that day I felt a warmth spread across my lower stomach accompanied by a dull ache.