Page 11 (1/2)

_ _ ONE _ _

Jessica

I usually didn’t like parties Everything was always so loud and the concept of personal space seen idea I didn’t like thes I didn’t get to be where I was by letting raduation I needed so a party seemed like the perfect way to do it

The party itself wasn’t my idea I owed that all to s, was the only person I’d ever see again after tonight Even the house ere using was Becky’s—her parents’, anyway And despite allactually see out in my favor

The music was a mix of the latest pop artists, soh Becky prouests I’d spentonly to practice my violin and maybe attend a mathlete event for the school I didn’t listen to much music outside of Chopin or Mozart, let alone artists like Katy Perry or Lady Gaga, but the guests all see with one another I was proud ofon what I felt was a rather sophisticated affair as opposed to soht grinding on one another

“So, what do you think?”

I turned toward Becky’s voice, offering her a faint, cautious s quite a lot, but she more than likely wanted my opinion on our little soiree

“It’s… good I think,” I said around another aard smile Her own smile faltered, and I quickly tried to rephrase “I ood ti around so many people at once Iin a crowd like this puts e”

Becky’s smile returned as she pushed a lock of hair back behind her ear “How is it that you ed to score a boyfriend before me? You’re like the queen of aard, Jess I et a hunk like Michael, of all people, to fall for you”

I felt my stomach drop as she mentioned my ex-boyfriend’s name It had only been a feeeks since our last breakup, and the wounds were still fresh I sed, res with Michael had been Bittersas probably the most appropriate term to describe our relationship—mostly bitter, toward the end

“I don’t really want to talk about Michael right now,” I said, wrapping h you invited him”

“You two are so cute together, though!” she said, looking into the crohere Michael was holding court with a few of his friends “I thought having his up with him”

Unlike most of the people who ran in our circles, Michael didn’t fit the typical stereotype, especially not in looks He was brilliant, char, handsome, and had an impeccable sense of style It didn’t hurt that he had parents who had spoiled him from the day he was born But there was a much darker side to the handsome man that was Michael Claiborne

“I don’t think I want to patch things up with Michael, Becky,” I said, looking toward the handso man one more time

“Oh, it can’t have been that bad Look, if you’re not interested do you ive him a try?”

“Trust iving her a stern look “Michael is bad news”

“Well telllike a scolded child “Why would you dump him?”

“I said that I don’t want to talk about it,” I replied, loweringelse?”

Becky looked atup her face She seemed utterly baffled by my refusal to discuss what she could only assume was a simple breakup—but it had been so ht out a side of me that I felt ashaht of day for as long as I lived

“Sorry,” she said after ainfrom me”

“It’s just… not so I’ out to gently touch her shoulder “And besides, you already know all of my secrets as it is I deserve to have one of my own”

“You’ve got the best secrets, though,” she giggled, biting on her lip “Ok, forget about Michael… What about that… Other thing…”

“Becky—” I began, but before I could finish the sentence she was already talking a mile a minute

“How have you not even tried yet? I mean, you have to see hi, what’s stopping you? He’s like the hottest guy in school! Even coirl?”

“There are people around,” I whispered, trying to stop her before she said soret “We can’t talk about that here! We can’t talk about that anywhere!”

“But your brother is so fucking hot,” she countered

“Stepbrother,” I corrected, pulling her away frouests “And I know he’s hot, Becky!”

“But you want him! I mean, you tell me all the time how you think about him while you’re—”

“Hush!” I tried to silence her again, but she just grinned

“God, I don’t get you, Jessica How are you able to resist a hunk of meat like that? You’re not with Michael anymore You know you could do it”

“He’s my brother!”

“Stepbrother,” she corrected this time, a smirk on her face “You two aren’t actually related He doesn’t even have the same last name!”

“But it’s still weird,” I said, trying to wave the subject away “And my mom would flip if she found out I had the hots for Richard…”

“But you do have the hots for him! You have the hots for Dick!”

“Oh God… Don’t call hi hard

“Every

body calls him that, and not just because of his attitude either I know you’ve heard the ru her hands apart as if she were telling ht

“It gets bigger every tihed

“Cynthia said it’s pierced,” Becky replied with a crooked smile

“Cynthia’s been reading too hty books Does every stepbrother need to have a pierced penis?”

“Hey, the least you could do is find out if the ru to see each other again He’s going to Yale and you’re staying local at UCLA I mean, really, what’s the harm in it?”

“It’s weird, Becky!” I insisted, glancing around to“And besides, Richard hatesever since his dad moved in He’s the stepbrother from hell”

“Yeah, he is kind of a dick, isn’t he?”

“Stop it!” I said, hitting Becky on the arm

“Fine, but seriously, I think he likes you