as my April Fools’ revenge. I definitely didn’t plan on kissing the guy. I wasn’t going to back down so quickly though.
I smiled and lifted myself up so I could crawl on top of him, my legs straddling either side of his body. His eyes grew even wider, and his breath caught in his throat. My body was buzzing with adrenaline. Was I going too far? Probably. But as I looked down at Aiden, I saw a flash of lust in his eyes, and I felt a matching pulse of excitement flow through me. I was playing with something dangerous, and it was fun.
I draped my hair over one shoulder and placed my hands down on the pillow, one on each side of his head.. Then I slowly lowered my lips toward him. The room was silent, and Aiden seemed to have stopped breathing entirely. His body had gone completely still.
It would be so easy to kiss him, and for a crazy second, I considered going through with it. Being this close to him was intoxicating in a way I never imagined, and my body urged me closer still. I hated him, but right now, my body seemed to be overriding my mind, and I wanted him too.
My lips were just about to brush against his when I looked into his eyes. There was an emotion there I couldn’t place. A sense of adoration I never would have expected. Seeing him look at me that way seemed to wake me up from the heady fog I’d disappeared into, and I jerked back slightly.
What the hell was I doing?
I’d nearly kissed Aiden. I needed to get away from him before I forgot myself again. Even now, my hands itched to touch him, and my lips wanted nothing more than to erase the distance between us. I had to get out of this room fast.
“April Fools’, Aiden.” I tried to drag up a confident smile, and I hoped he couldn’t see the confusion in my eyes. My voice was shaky though, and the elation I expected to feel upon tricking him was sorely missing. This was supposed to be a trick on him, but I felt I’d only pranked myself.
He didn’t move as he stared back at me. A flicker of hurt seemed to flash in his eyes, but it was gone before I could be certain it was even there. Slowly, he started to smile though, and a chuckle escaped his lips. “It’s after midday, Clary. Pranks don’t count anymore.”
“That’s not a rule.”
“It’s the only rule. And you just broke it. I think that means you’re the fool. Either that or this isn’t a prank and you really do want me.”
“It’s definitely a prank,” I quickly assured him, my voice holding almost a little too much conviction. “And it’s still April first, so it still counts.”
“I mean, I would love to agree with you. But the rules are the rules. Nice try though. I especially love how you look in my jersey.”
“Ugh.” I pushed myself off him, and he laughed as I climbed from the bed. He didn’t seem at all bothered that I’d just seduced him before rejecting him at the last moment. If anything, he seemed to find it hilarious.
I started toward the door, feeling defeated.
“Feel free to try this prank again anytime,” he said. “Seriously, I won’t mind.”
I glared at him over my shoulder but was only met by his happy smile, so I stuck my middle finger up at him. He responded with another chuckle as I opened the door and stormed from his room.
“I’ll be in here waiting,” he called before I slammed the door shut behind me. So much for my April Fools’ revenge.
I felt even more embarrassed than I had when Aiden pranked me earlier. He’d reacted like he’d enjoyed my prank more than anything, and I felt like a total fool. I’d been an idiot to think I could outsmart our school’s biggest flirt and play him at his own game. I couldn’t understand why I thought it was a good idea in the first place.
I tore Aiden’s jersey from my shoulders as I entered my room and threw it back down on the weight bench where I’d found it. It landed in a scrunched ball, and I glared at the shirt. There wasn’t anyone else who irritated me as much as Aiden, and I was frustrated he wasn’t even slightly annoyed by me in return.