“Right.”
“Now my friend, Riley, on the other hand, he didn’t look too pleased. You kiss him too?”
I purse my lips and look up at the sky.
“Look at me,” Dallas says. “The answer to that question is not in the sky. And don’t lie to me. I hate when people lie to me. And I can tell we’re gonna be friends. Good friends. I’m talking TIIIIGHT,” he laughs. “So just tell me.”
I spill my guts. The boy parts anyway.
“So I dated this guy for most of high school, but I always crushed on my best friend. We broke up this spring, and finally this guy, that B that texted me, kissed me. And I thought it would be amazing. But then he invited me to go camping with him and his friends, but then they left me. Like completely ditched me, and he acted like it was no big deal. And I thought he was hooking up with other girls that night. And I went to a party with this other friend of mine from school. And that same night, he told me he’d had a crush on me and asked me to go out with him. And I ended up losing my virginity to him, instead of the B guy, who I always dreamed it’d happen with. But then that didn’t work out. That’s an even longer story. And so then I got back with B and we had an amazing summer together, but then he told me he was going away for, like, a year. And then the whole thing happened with the, uh, with my parents moving, and I ended up here. He said we are young, that if we’re meant to be together someday we will, that we should date other people, that he will be dating other people. And I was kinda crushed. But then last night at the cave was fun. I mean, I’d go there with you anytime, and I’d kiss you again, for sure. You kiss good. Like sweet.”
He smiles.
“And really, I thought Riley was kind of a conceited jerk, but in a hot way, you know. And then I kicked the ball in the goal and saw the God of all Hotties.”
“Who?”
“Oh, that’s what I called Aiden before I knew his name. He, like, does something to me. It was love at first sight. Seriously. But then you guys told me he’s a player, and he pretty much told me the same. But when he talks to me, he’s not all smooth like I would expect a player to be. He’s nothing like Riley. I mean, at least with Riley you know he’s a player. He doesn’t try to hide it. But then Aiden brought me lunch after soccer, and I thought it was sweet, but then he said this awful pick up line, and I was like whatever. But then right before I went to dance tryouts, he handed me a four-leaf clover, like, a real one, picked from the ground. And I wondered if he stood there looking for it or what. But I kept telling myself, no players. No players. Then Riley came to walk me to dinner, and I wasn’t quite ready and . . .”
Dallas says, “Riley already told me how you stood up to his brother. He really liked that you did.”
“Good. Riley is hot. And if anything happened with him, at least I’d know what I was getting into. Like, I would know it’s just a thing. Just a hookup. But then Aiden kissed me on the Ferris wheel and, I swear, I couldn’t even breathe. Like, I have never felt like that before. And this time he didn’t say anything stupid or cheesy. He was sweet, and I think I’m falling in love with him. No. I am in love with him. But I know that I can’t be. So I won’t be seeing him anymore. I mean, I’ll probably see him around, but I’m not gonna fall for him and then have him decide I’m not it. So basically that’s it. I’m done with boys.”
Dallas laughs at me. “You’re funny. I didn’t know I was gonna hear your life story. So, I hear you’re supposed to go to a party with Riley tonight.”
“Well, if he saw the kiss, he probably won’t want to take me anymore.”
“Oh, no. I think he will. Dawson told him that he heard you two hadn’t really done anything and that if Riley didn’t make a move then he was going to, tonight. So just know, Dawson is interested. And be careful.”
“I’m not interested in Dawson. He’s got it bad for Whitney. And messing with Dawson would probably not be a good thing, even if they are broken up.”
“Yeah, they used to date. Like all sophomore year and most of last year. She broke up with him when Peyton started dating a college guy. She sounds like one of those girls that has to have the best of everything. I heard she dumped him because she had to one-up Peyton. Riley hates her. Says it devastated Dawson but, of course, Dawson wants her back. I did hear, though, that Dawson’s been playing pretty heavily. Riley says they had a wild summer.”
“Damn, Dallas. You’re good for all the gossip.”
“He’s not the only one that’s got this place wired,” Dallas says with an easy grin.
“So, what do you know about Peyton? She seems nice when she’s not with Whitney but, then, when she’s with her she acts like she doesn’t even know me.”