The One For Me Read online

  Liam looks over at me and chews on the end of his pen and smiles.

  “Some guy asked her out,” I lie.

  She smiles. “That’s great. Maybe you two could double date?”

  “Mom!” I yell. “We aren’t dating! He is my partner, please stop.” I shake my head and get up to grab our food. “Thanks Mom, we’re going to finish up soon. Goodbye,” I say, pushing her out, and then shutting the door.

  Liam is biting on his lip when I turn around. I place his food in front of him. “Eat,” I say.

  “Hmm,” he says his voice low. “I could get used to this, serving me food like my ol’ lady.”

  “Shut up, Liam. Just eat. Don’t make this any weirder than it already is,” I say, taking a big bite out of my sandwich.

  We eat in silence for a few minutes. It’s awkward.

  “You got enough information?” Liam asks.

  I nod and open my bag of chips. “Yeah, you?”

  “Yep. So, your dad is moving out, huh?”

  My face heats. This still doesn’t seem real. He is going to be gone, forever, leaving me here with Mom, like I was nothing. “Yeah, he cheated on my momma.” I don’t know why I say this, but I just feel I should. I know what Dad did was wrong, but people make mistakes, right?

  “Well, your mom seems great. He is stupid,” he says and smiles. It seems like a real smile.

  “Yeah, she is.” I sigh. “What are we going to do, Liam? Everyone thinks I slept with you? This can’t happen.”

  He rolls his eyes. “It will be over quick. You know how the rumor mill goes at school. By the time Monday hits, everyone would have forgotten about it.”

  Maybe. But not before everyone makes a judgment about me. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “Well, Katy,” he says, standing up. “I guess I’ll see ya Monday. Have fun pulling weeds,” he smiles, hand on the door. “Do you want a goodbye kiss for ol’ times sake?”

  “I’d rather gag,” I say,

  “That can be arranged.”

  “Bye, Liam.”

  “Moving? Like moving towns, states or what?” I ask, my mouth open gaping at my dad. His salt and pepper hair is messy, his eyes look tired and his mouth is in a hard straight line. “Moving where? What the hell, Dad?”

  “Language, Katy. I don’t want you giving your mom a hard time once I’m gone.” Yeah, like you care. “I’m moving to Florida. You can come and stay the summers with me. It will be fun. Like having two homes.”

  Two homes? “Yeah, two broken ones. What the hell is the matter with you two? One thing happens and both of you are acting like you aren’t married? It’s like it’s not a big deal that you’re moving. Oh bye wife and daughter. I’m going to start my life over. What the hell!”

  Mom averts her eyes toward mine, tears whelming in them. “Your dad and I haven’t felt the same about each other in a long time, Katy. It has nothing to do with you, it’s us. We’ve grown apart--,”

  “Shut up!” I yell, my fist hitting the table. “This is stupid. I don’t’ want to hear anymore of it. I want to go to sleep. Farewell, Dad. Have a nice life in Florida. Find you a nice beach bunny to screw this time!”

  “Katy!” Dad yells, but I run upstairs and lock my door. I don’t get up when I hear my mom’s light taps against my door; I lay there until I fall asleep. My mind is racing and everything’s seems to have gone to hell quick.

  I just hope school is better.

  Chapter Three

  “That’s her,” I hear a whisper from behind me. I turn and look at two girls a few lockers down. Their heads are close together, whispering to one another. They look like geeky freshman and I want to remind them that I’m a senior, but with the rumor mill churning, that doesn’t matter much. They both look the other way and pretend to look in their lockers.

  This is how it’s been all morning. I’ve past so many people that stop and stare, giggle or make rude comments. I feel like a witch in Salem. Everyone is preparing my execution. What the hell.

  “Good news or bad news?” Jennifer, asks, her eyes wide.

  I look over at her and frown. Not only because the sweater vest she has on is hideous but I’m not sure if I want any more news for a while.

  “Okay, good news is that Hayden knows the rumors. Bad news, there are rumors,” she says, rubbing my shoulder.

  I slam my head against the locker door and close my eyes. “Why is this happening? It was just a freaking kiss,” I say.

  “I thought it was more than a kiss, sweetheart,” Liam says, leaning against the locker beside me. “It was pretty magical, with you just trying to make your ex jealous and all. You’re a natural romantic, Katy.”

  “Shut up,” I whisper and glare at him. “You’re the reason this is happening in the first place. If you would have just come to the library like I asked, this wouldn’t have happened. We could just be having a normal day at school, but no, I’m the new class whore.”

  Liam leans in closer to me, his breath so close to mine. “I didn’t kiss you, sweetheart. You kissed me.” His lips are just as soft looking as they felt. He shrugs. “And plus, who says it wouldn’t have happened at the library. I hear lots of people get in on in there. There are so many rows of books. Shady places, hiding spots, soft bean bags.”

  I open my mouth but I hear, “Katy,” I pull away from Liam. Hayden is standing in front of me, his eyes examining the situation between Liam and me. He clears his throat. “Can I talk to you really quick?”

  I bite my lip and nod my head. “Yeah…um…sure.”

  Liam laughs a small laugh and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “See ya later, sweetheart.” I pull away from him and avoid his grey eyes that are beaming at me.

  I follow in step with Hayden and he steps into the back hallway no one uses anymore. Once the school built the new classrooms that are technologically advanced, they pushed the old ones to the side for storage. My heart thuds an extra beat. We used to come back here to make out and skip class. Now I’m sure he does that with Holly.

  We stop by an empty classroom and he glares down at me. His green eyes look dark and stormy. “What the hell is going on, Katy? What is up with you and that…Liam guy,” he says, disgusted.

  I shrug my shoulders and play with the end of my hair. “What’s it to you,” I whisper.

  He laughs. “Absolutely nothing, Katy. But people are talking. They’re saying you’re nasty.

  Do you know what that looks like for me? That I dated someone like that for the last year?”

  My mouth drops open. He isn’t asking because he is jealous or concerned. He is worried about himself! I want to hit him in his handsomely perfect face, maybe break his slender nose.

  “We both know you’re nothing like that, so stop seeing him, doing him or whatever it is you’re doing with him. It’s giving you and me a bad name.” He crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes.

  My mind is spinning. He did not just say that. I clench my fist. “Shut the hell up,” I blurt out. His eyes widen and he steps back. “It’s none of your damn business, screw off.”

  I walk away and stomp my feet. My body is shaking and I can’t seem to make it stop. I’ve never been this mad. Well, except when Jen told the entire fifth grade class I laughed so hard I peed in my pants. But, this was almost worse.

  The warning bell rings. I run to class. I swing open the door, my mind is racing, my face hot. The entire class glances up at me. Just like in the movies, every single person is staring. Heat runs toward my face. Liam is sitting in our lab station and his eyes are steady on mine. This is your fault! I bite my tongue to keep from screaming at him.

  The whispers start when I sit down in my seat. “You okay,” he leans in and whispers.

  I shake my head. “No, I want to go home.”

  He opens his mouth like he wants to say something but closes it quickly.

  “Okay, class,” Mr. Fringe says. “Let’s get this started. Brett and Kathy, first.” I bite my nail as I hear them
whispering to one another.

  “Pass,” they say.

  Mr. Fringe narrows his eyes. “Donovan and Melissa,” he says.

  They pretend to pick at the fringe on their notebooks.

  He huffs. He always does when he gets mad. “Guys, seriously?” Mr. Fringe sighs and shakes his head. “You have until tomorrow, no longer. That’s it. Or you all are getting zeros. Do you work? Jeez.”

  I sigh. I have my paper but another day for the rumor mill to die down would be great. Maybe everyone will forget by tomorrow? Liam rests his hand on mine, but I pull away. I don’t need anything to affirm the rumor was true. Liam stares at me for a few minutes until he finally glances down at his notebook. He doesn’t write anything, but I’m not surprised. Mr. Fringe goes on about his lesson about sex and I zone out. Sex is the last thing on my mind right now, contrary to what everyone is thinking.

  When the bell rings after class, I grab my things quickly.

  “You want to talk, are you okay?” Liam asks. I don’t answer. “Come on, Katy, are you alright?” He grabs my elbow and stops me. I look up at him and he is not blinking. “Look, I know there have been a few people talking but I’m sorry. It will die down. This is high school, no one has anything better to do than talk.”

  I shake my head. “I really hope so, Liam.”

  I don’t give him a chance to say anything, I run outside. I don’t want to be stared at anymore. I want to lie down and wallow in my self-pity. I get into my car and drive straight home. The house is quit when I get there. Mom is at work and Dad is gone. Just gone. Forever. He is probably scheduling out a date for every night his first week. Probably watching beach bunnies with binoculars from his new beach side house.

  I fight the tears thinking about Dad leaving. Get a grip, Katy.

  I dump my bag on the kitchen counter and grab a drink from the refrigerator. My phone buzzes against the counter. It’s Jennifer.

  I answer. “Where the hell are you?” she whispers.

  “At my house, I don’t feel good.”

  “Liar. Do you want me to come over?”

  “Nah, I’m just going to go to sleep. I’m feeling crummy.”

  “Whatever, Katy. You’re going to have to get over the rumors. You know that you didn’t do it, why should it matter?”

  “It doesn’t…got to go…love you…bye,” I say and press the End button.

  Ugh. I don’t want to hear Jennifer’s mouth about the situation. She has no idea how it feels to be considered the class hoe. Hell, her strict parents won’t even let her date at all. She will never have to worry about these things. If her mother keeps putting her in those ugly sweaters she will never ever have to worry about that at all. Plaid and animal faces never go together. Unless you’re two years old or eighty. Only ‘maybe’ then.

  I lie back down on the couch and try to remember the girl’s people have called hoes in the past. Heather Jenkins, Lauren Harrod…Brittany Ferrell. Those girls didn’t care. They flung themselves at every descent looking senior that came in the two double doors of the school. The problem is I do care. I don’t want that label; I’ve worked too hard for my grades and life.

  I bite my lip and close my eyes. How did these girls get out of being called names? Most graduated and everyone forgot about them and others got boyfriends.

  I shoot up. A boyfriend. That’s what I need. I need everyone to think I have a boyfriend. Which is a bust, because everyone is talking about me. I wouldn’t want to date me, like this. I roll my eyes. Shut up, Katy. You can’t just go get a boyfriend. They have to like you. And no one will like you now, not because of all the rumors.

  I lie back down and close my eyes again. There has to be a way to fix this problem. That Jose kid always stares at me in class, maybe he would go out with me? Gross, Katy. I slam my head back into the pillow. This is ridiculous. Why is everyone so worried about my love life? It’s not like every girl in the senior class hasn’t already given up their v card, besides Jen. Although, she lies and said it was taken at Asian camp. I don’t even know if there is an Asian camp.

  The fact is that if I were with Liam and we ‘slept’ together it wouldn’t even be a big deal. Besides the fact that he is a delinquent.

  My words ring through my ears. If I was with Liam... A light bulb comes on in my head. Liam and I together seems like an idea that would go terribly wrong. He is…Liam. He is a self-centered jerk that thinks every girl wants him. It’s ridiculous. It’s a ridiculous idea. I lie back down. A ridiculous idea that just might work.

  “Ah shit,” I say and grab my phone. I start to dial Jennifer’s number but then stop. Do I really want to do this? What could it hurt right? Everyone thinks I’m a hoe now; why not let them think Liam and I are dating?

  I finish dialing Jen’s number. She picks up on the fourth ring. “I’m in class, what is it?”

  “I need you to get me Liam’s cell number, stat It’s important.”

  “You wanting to relive your smooch the other night,” she whispers, then makes a loud kissing sound. Good grief.

  “Ms. Chang, get off the phone!” I hear someone yell. The phone cuts off and I shake my head. Maybe…maybe this could work out...right? I pace my living room floor waiting on Jennifer to get me his number. She is taking forever.

  Thirty minutes later I get a text with his number and ‘get it on,’ written below it. Yea, right. I dial his number, my hands suddenly shaking. Can I do this? I have to do this.

  The phone rings a few times and I’m about to hang up when I hear him answer. “Hello.”

  “Hey. This is Katy. Um…your partner.” Silence. “From Science class.”

  He laughs, low and raw. “Yes, Katy. I know who you are. Why are you calling me at school?”

  “Because, I need you to come to my house. We need to talk.”

  Silence.

  Is he ignoring me on purpose? “Liam.”

  “You’re home alone?”

  “Don’t get any ideas. It’s nothing like that; believe me, over my dead body. This is much more serious. Can you come now?”

  “Katy…are you asking me to skip class to come to your house? I’m appalled. Someone is living out their rebel side today.”

  “Get your ass over here.”

  Fifteen minutes later there is a knock on my door. I breathe in a calm breath and try to calm my nerves. Just ask him, the worse he can say is no. Oh God, what if he does say no? My life will be ruined. Liam knocks again, louder this time.

  Liam is standing close to me when I open the door. His hands are resting on the doorframe and a smile creeping up his face.

  “You’re blushing, what’s the matter?” Liam asks.

  I bite my lip. “I’m not blushing. Just come in. We have to talk.” Liam cocks a dark eyebrow and walks in, going straight for the couch.

  “So, what’s up, sweetheart? What is the emergency? Need some emergency sugar from Daddy?”

  “Everyone is talking about us,” I blurt out.

  “I thought we established that? What else happened?” I don’t answer. He looks over to me and purses his lips. “What did Hayden say to you?”

  I gulp. “He said my nasty reputation is making him look bad.”

  Hayden narrows his eyes and pops his knuckles. “That so? Well, screw him, Katy. Who cares?”

  “Me,” I whisper helplessly. “And I think you can help me. Well, at least, I hope you can.”

  Liam stands up and comes in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders. “What is that evil mind thinking, Katy?”

  “I want you to be my boyfriend.” There I said it.

  Liam steps back, his eyebrows furrowed and a crazy look on his face. I think he is secretly searching for the door, but then he laughs. Its borderline insane. Okay, so it’s not that funny.

  “That’s funny, Katy.” He leans over and coughs, he is laughing so hard. I fight the urge to kick him while he is down. “You called me out of school for this?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

&nb
sp; I close my eyes. “You wouldn’t really be my boyfriend, we would be pretending, Liam. Like a deal or an agreement.”

  He cocks an eyebrow. “I don’t do girlfriends, Katy. That’s not my thing.”

  I grit my teeth. “Exactly. You don’t do that, you screw. That is why I’m in this predicament. People are saying we had sex, so everything is okay with you. Your reputation is fine…it’s mine that has gone to hell. I’m the one that looks like a rebounding whore.”

  Liam stops smiling and looks down at me, his eyes narrowed. “What do I get out of this? This just might hurt my reputation.”

  I close my eyes and try to look like I’m annoyed when I’m really panicking.

  “Teachers will look at you differently? They will think better of you. It will alter your reputation, but make it better at the same time.”

  Liam narrows his eyes and strokes his chin. Please answer! That look is driving me crazy. “Look…I’ll think about it, is that okay?”

  I bite my tongue. “How long would it take for you to think about it?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know…a couple of days.”

  “Liam, I don’t have a couple of days. Please,” I beg, stepping closer to him, I place my hand on his bicep and they flex beneath my touch. “Please, we don’t have to do anything, just make an appearance at school. Hold my hand. It can’t be that awful.”

  Liam swallows and his Adam’s apple moves. He takes a step forward and I bump against the living room wall. He places his hands on each side of my head and smiles. “I said, I would think about it.” His breath is minty and cool against my face.

  I let out a slow breath and steady my nerves. He is doing this on purpose. Smiling up at him, I lean up on my toes. “Make it fast; my reputation is on the line.” His lips are close to mine, I lean just enough to let him think I’m going to kiss him, then I stand back and push past him. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Liam.” I smile and walk up to my room. Please, God make him say yes.

  Chapter Four

  “I have my own car,” I say and gape at Liam. He is grinning, leaning against his Jeep in my driveway. He dusts off his hands on his jeans and opens the door for me. What alternative universe have I woken up to?