The One For Me Read online

  The One For Me

  By: Layla James

  Dedicated to Greg, who is the one for me.

  Chapter One

  “This isn’t funny,” my dad yells.

  No, no it’s not. I lean against the kitchen table and shovel in the rest of my eggs, desperate to leave the dining room and get away from my parent’s bickering. I wish I could crawl into the aquarium on the far wall and drown myself. I’m sure I would be decimated before my parents would notice.

  My parents are at it again, for the seventeenth time this week. I lean up in my seat to glance over into the laundry room, watching Dad. He is standing in front of Mom, his hand clenched around a pair of frozen boxers. Mom’s face is emotionless, paying him no attention. She has one killer poker face.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mom says, laying the shirt she is holding, on the ironing board in front of her. She presses lightly, twirling the iron around in circles, slowly.

  “This,” Dad says, waving the pair of frozen boxers in her face, “you froze all my boxers, Kathy.”

  Mom sighs, shrugs her shoulders and smiles. She smiles. I have to look away. It’s too risky. It’s almost funny. Almost.

  Dad laughs. It’s loud and hysterical. I would glance back to see if Dad’s vein in his head is popping out, but I don’t. I already know it’s there. His laughing like a coyote comes to an abrupt stop.

  Time to go.

  I slip out of my seat and up to my room before things get ugly. Not that it could get much worse, anyway. This has been the worst week of my life. Not only have my parents been down each other’s throats because Dad got caught doing some heavy making out, by Mom, with his receptionist, but Hayden broke up with me. We’ve been dating for the last year and I gave him all of me. He hadn’t even given me a real reason why, only that he didn’t feel the same about me. I thought everything was fine, but obviously, I have zero talent when it comes to reading people. Like my dad.

  I tried so hard to get out of school every day this week but my parent’s made me go. I have to go to school and watch Hayden with Holly. Together. Touching. Like he used to do to me. That is the real reason. Holly with her huge rack and little waist. That was the real reason ‘he didn’t feel the same way about me anymore.’ Because he ‘felt’ that with someone else now, tossing me to the side like I was a piece of nothing. I shake the thoughts out of my head. I can most certainly do this. I can put on my big girl panties and get through one more day of this.

  Thank God it’s Friday. I can have the weekend to myself. I can’t handle much more than one day of this.

  I fight back tears that are threatening to stream down my face; grab my bag and push it over my shoulder. I don’t say bye to my parents, I don’t want to see their fake smiles. I slip outside and get into my Honda. I turn on my radio so loud I know that my mom would be giving me a disappointing head shake right about now. I head toward school. I used to love school. Not only did I get to see Hayden, but I like to learn. I like to know that I know things. Now, my grades are still great, but I don’t care about learning. All I think about it getting the Hell out of dodge.

  I’m deliberately late, like I have been every morning this week. I stalk down the empty halls, not having to look at anyone. I can’t risk seeing Hayden or Holly anymore than I have to. It hurts too much. It’s like a car crash. You can’t help but look and can’t make yourself look away. It’s mentally tiring. Not only seeing them together sucks but everyone else looks at me with these pity stares. It’s aggravating and pathetic.

  I walk into biology and glance at the board. SEX is written in a large cursive on the chalkboard. Oh no. I’ve dreaded this day since the beginning of the semester. The sex talk. Not only any sex talk but a sex talk in front of a class full of seniors and our teacher Mr. Fringe that is a total hottie. I fight the urge to turn around and go back home but Mr. Fringe looks up, his handsome face calm, showing a row of white teeth beneath his enthusiastic smile.

  “Are you coming in, Katy?” Mr. Fringe asks, his eyes secretly hypnotizing me to walk into class. That’s the real reason Mr. Fringe got this job, he has secret super powers that with one look he can make anyone walk into class. Who doesn’t want to see that for an hour every day? This girl does.

  “Um, yeah of course,” I mumble and walk back to my table where, my best friend, Jennifer sits twisting her gum around her finger.

  “I see you noticed the forbidden word on the board.” She wiggles her dark eyebrows. “Let’s learn some moves,” she says, moving her hips back and forth.

  “Stop being gross,” I say, taking out my books. Not that Jen has ever had sex, or wouldn’t freak out if someone tried to. But, she loves to make people think she isn’t just as scared as the next virgin. Her mother would kill her and bury her in her backyard.

  “You look tired,” Jen says, tossing back her black hair from her shoulder. “I’m the Asian; I’m supposed to have squinty eyes, not you.” She smiles but it fades when I don’t return it. “Your parents again? Or is it Hayden, because you deserve better than that asswipe.”

  I shrug. “Both. But my parents today. They’ve been down one another’s throats. Ever since Dad got caught, it’s been hell. She froze his underwear, Jen.” I widen my eyes. “They were fighting when I left this morning.”

  Jen tries her best to hold back a laugh but it slips. She hits the table with her fist. “Damn, I love your Mom.”

  “This is serious,” I whisper, giving her my best serious face. She rolls her eyes and twist her gum some more.

  “No talking, ladies. Let’s get class started. Today we’re going to talk about sex.” Someone lets out a wolf whistle from the back and Mr. Fringe shakes his head. “Knock it off. This is very important science, not a two minute feel good moment for you guys in the back of your mother’s minivan.” Mr. Fringe rolls his eyes. He is only twenty six and always knows what we’re doing. Whether it be cheating, passing notes or making googly eyes at one another, he always knows. He also is never afraid to call us out on it.

  “I last longer than that,” someone yells from the back.

  Mr. Fringe lifts an eyebrow and smiles. “Highly doubtful.”

  The class burst into laughter.

  “I’d like Mr. Fringe to take a little two minute break with me,” Jennifer whispers. I swat at her. Jeez. This girl is hopeless.

  “Ms. Chang, do you have something you would like to share with the class?” Mr. Fringe asks, cocking and eyebrow.

  “I just said--,”

  “She said nothing,” I interrupt her, shaking my head. “Nothing at all,” I grumble. She laughs behind her hand.

  Mr. Fringe straightens out his button down shirt and leans back against his desk, crossing his arms. He eyes Jen and me suspiciously. He always knows. “Tell ya what. All of you have had the same lab partner all year. It’s time to switch it up.” Everyone groans. “I know, life is so horrible. Everyone on the left move up a seat, we need a change of venue.”

  Jennifer crosses her eyes then grabs her things, scooting up to the lab station in front of us. I hear the chairs being scrapped against the tile floor. Who sits behind me? I never look back there. I keep my head down anyway, writing useless things in my notebook until I hear the stool next to me move.

  I glance over. He sets his books down and looks over to me. His dark gray eyes slice into mine but he is smiling, the corner of his lips moving up slowly. Oh no. I sigh. It’s Liam. “Great,” I mumble. “Perfect. Just perfect.”

  “Ouch,” Liam says his voice deep and slow like velvet. He rubs his large hand over his chest and shakes his head. “That might have hurt a little if you were anyone else, and I actually cared.”

  I narrow my eyes and he lifts a black eyebrow. “Mr. Fringe,” I say,
raising my hand. “Well, look who didn’t graduate Kindergarten, still raising their hand like a five year old.” Liam laughs to himself, leans back and shakes his head, his black hair swinging with each move.

  Mr. Fringe turns toward me. “Yes, Ms. Taylor.”

  “I need a new partner.” I give him my best please help me; Liam is a mean, horny, teenage boy look.

  “No trading.” He shakes his head. “It wouldn’t be fair.”

  “But, Mr. Fringe, Liam---,”

  “None,” he says, sternly. He turns his back toward me and begins to write on the board. I fight the urge to throw my pen at the back of his perfectly quaffed head.

  “Looks like you’re stuck with me, sweetheart.” Liam wiggles his dark eyebrows.

  “Don’t call me that. In fact, don’t call me anything, just pay attention.”

  “Like I would call you. You probably don’t date, anyway, too busy studying, right?” He slaps his forehead with his open palm. “Wait, no. That’s right. You date that Hayden guy, don’t you? He is an ass, toots.” Liam picks up his pencil, twisting it in-between both of his palms.

  I grit my teeth. I write what Mr. Fringe is writing. “What? You don’t? Did pretty boy break up with you?”

  “Shut up,” I yell, slamming my pen on the desk.

  Liam throws his hands in the air in surrender. “You don’t have to be mean,” he says. “I’m very sensitive. You might hurt my feelings if you keep throwing things.”

  Is this kid serious? I groan and continue to write. I’m going to stab him with that pencil.

  “Okay, your assignment for the weekend is to get to know your partner. Write a list of things that you like and don’t like about the person. Monday morning you will need to have a paper stating what the other person could use to attract the sex of their choice with. Every person uses something to attract their mates, just like in animals. That is what sex is all about attraction…well and making babies, but it starts with attraction.” A few students snicker.

  Are you serious? I close my eyes and shake my head. “We have to get together with our partner. Are you being serious right now?” I screech. “Because, I feel like someone is out to get me.”

  Jennifer looks back at me, her small eyes widened. “Shit,” she mouths, looking over at Liam.

  He winks and gives her a dark grin.

  “Yes, Mrs. Taylor, I’m being very serious,” Mr. Fringe says. “Why would I not be?”

  “I think that is a great idea, Mr. Fringe. Getting to know our partners, until late hours of the night,” Liam says, wiggling his eyebrows.

  A few boys yell their agreements.

  Mr. Fringe gives me I get it now look. “Cut the crap, Liam. The only getting to know one another that will be done is asking questions that obtain to this subject. Does anyone have any questions about the assignment?”

  Yes, why the hell is this happening to me? Why him? Why my parents? Why Hayden?

  “Spend the last few minutes of class asking your partners some questions to get you started on your papers.” Mr. Fringe turns around and starts looking through a stack of papers on his desk.

  When I glance over, Liam is smiling at me, his arms gracefully placed on desk in front of us. “So, sweetheart, let’s get this over with.” Liam leans forward. “I know you’ve been dying to get to know me. So, ask away.”

  “That’s completely untrue but whatever.” I tuck my brown hair behind my ear and look down at my notebook. “What’s your whole name?”

  I feel his fingers pick up the strand of hair on my shoulder and I snatch away from him. He looks pleased. “Hands to yourself. What’s your whole name?”

  “Liam Erickson.” He smiles and I see the row of white teeth below his lips. “Like you didn’t know.” I guess he is trying to be charming. It’s not working.

  I do know his whole name but I’m not going to let him know that. “What do you like to do for fun?”

  He strokes his chin with his long index finger. It’s covered with scruffy hair. It makes a light sound when he scratches it. He looks way older than eighteen. Maybe he flunked a few years? “Hmmm, that depends on your answer to going out with me is?”

  “The answer is no.”

  “Awe, I could show you a good time, sweetheart.”

  “What do you like to do, Liam? Is all of this nonsense necessary?”

  “Say necessary again, your mouth looks sexy when you do.”

  “Ugh.” I slam my notebook closed shoving it into my bag. “Look, I haven’t had a good week, so if you’d like to talk about the paper, you can meet me at the library tonight at seven. If not, don’t show up. I’ll make up a bunch of things about you. I don’t have time for stupid shit.”

  Liam wipes the corner of his mouth with his thumb and laughs.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You said shit. You don’t seem like the type, is all?” He gestures toward me. I give myself a once over. I look…normal. What is he talking about?

  He holds back a laugh. Oh, I want to say more than shit right now. The bell rings and I pull the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “Well, I guess I am the type. See you at seven.” I look back at him, his dark smile crawls up his heavy jaw. “To study.” I dart out of the classroom, in a mad run for sanity. Darn you Mr. Fringe, can’t you just give me a normal partner?

  “You have the worst luck,” Jennifer says, catching up with me at my locker. “Liam Erickson, the school’s own bad boy. Every school has them,” Jennifer says, opening her locker and checking her lip gloss. “Although, he is kind of--,”

  “Don’t say it,” I say, stopping her with my hand. I don’t want to hear it. We both go toward class. It looks like I’m stuck with Liam. Great.

  “Don’t look,” Jennifer says into my ear. I keep my eyes on my food, knowing why she doesn’t want me to look up. He is here, in the cafeteria. He must be with her. I push my peas around my plate for a few seconds until my eyes betray me. They just flicker up without my permission. I wince. “I told you not to look,” Jennifer says.

  Hayden is walking into the cafeteria with Holly. He is tall, lean and perfectly perfect. His green eyes are bright and on her full chest. I look down at mine, disappointment is an understatement. He wraps his tanned arm around Holly’s slender waist as they walk toward their lunch table. He seems so at ease, so perfect, so comfortable with her, like they’ve been together for years.

  “That sucks,” I hear from behind me. “No wonder you’re so bitter.”

  I look over my shoulder at Liam. He is shaking his head back and forth. “Shut up, Liam. Get away from me.”

  He smiles, leans down and flutters his eyelashes. “Oh, you sure know how to sweet talk, don’t ya, sweetheart.”

  Jennifer snorts beside me, almost choking on her drink. I send her my best death glare.

  I sigh, turning completely toward him. “What do you want, Liam?”

  He straddles the bench next to me, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Just wanted to say that tonight isn’t great for me. I have plans. So, the lovely reading, writing and boredom will have to wait until later.”

  I exhale, closing my eyes. “Liam, I have a feeling every night is going to be bad for you. Look, tonight is the only day that I can do this. Saturday I help my mother in the garden and Sunday I have church. So, that means break your plans.”

  Liam laughs, it’s raw and hard. “You work in the garden? How old are you? Ninety? And why can’t it be changed, sweetheart? Is pulling weeds that important?”

  I grit my teeth. He is making fun of me. “No, it can’t. What do you have that is so important tonight, then?”

  He shrugs. “There is this party tonight at Aaron Mitchells. I want to go. I have to go, it’s expected.”

  “A party? That seems so important, Liam.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Would you like to come with me, partner? It’ll be really fun.” He wiggles his eyebrows. I scowl and throw him a yeah the hell right look. “I’ll take that as a no.”

&
nbsp; “I’m not going and neither are you because we have plans.” I cross my arms. “I’m not getting a bad grade because of you.”

  “I like the sound of that,” he whispers, leaning toward me. I catch a smell of him. He smells like sandalwood and the ocean.

  “Go, Liam. I’ll see you tonight. Bring paper and a pen.” I shoo him away with my hand.

  “I’ll bring ya something, sweetheart, but it won’t be pencil or paper.” I make a gagging noise. He smiles. “Maybe, if I have time to come that is.” He stands up and starts to strut off.

  “Liam! Wait! You better come,” I yell, looking after him.

  He waves his hand over his shoulder and continues to strut away from my table. Damn it. I look over at Jennifer and she shrugs. “Looks like he is going to be a piece of work.”

  Looks like it.

  “Oh. Looks like someone is a little jealous, too,” she says, pointing her fork with a green bean on it in front of her.

  I look up. Hayden is staring at me from across the room, his green eyes intense on mine. His jaw is tight but I can’t help notice his arm on Holly’s shoulder. I shake my head slightly. Jerk. What’s it to him, who I talk to? I look down and continue eating. It hurts too much to look.

  Chapter Two

  I tap my pencil on the wooden desk in the library. I even added to the decorations the other students left carved on the desk. It says, I hate Liam. I hope he sees it one day.

  I glance down at my watch. Seven thirty. I grit my teeth and write furiously on my paper. Doesn’t show up on time, doesn’t care about his grades or his future. A butthead! Uses cheesy inappropriate lines to lure in girls, too! I slam my notebook shut and shove it in my bag. I can’t believe him! He seriously isn’t going to show up.

  “Argh,” I whisper. I’m going to kill him. I can’t do the freaking paper without his help. I don’t know anything about him, other than he is a supposed man whore of Avalon High. Geesh. What did I do to deserve this kind of punishment? I glance around the library one more time. I don’t see Liam anywhere. I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. The library is empty besides me and the librarian who is reading some romance novel and doesn’t even see me leave. It must be pretty steamy. At least someone is enjoying themselves.