Accidental Crush (4 page)

Chapter 5: Big Secret

Ryan
is
finally
back at school today and, since it is Friday, he is in full letterman jacket gear. On Fridays, all the athletes wear their letterman jackets and all the cheerleaders wear their uniforms. Supposedly it’s to get everyone excited for the game, but really, it’s to give the popular kids yet another reason to flaunt their popularity.

Unfortunately, Ryan
figured out why I
had
to stay at school Wednesday afternoon and, like the loving brother he is, he
had
to tell my parents since he “is just looking out for me”. Yeah, right.

Actually
, even if he didn't figure it out on his own, he would have known as soon as he got back because Blythe had quickly catapulted to legendary status after detention. Since Sid and I were there, we were legends by association; well, really, more like witnesses.

E
ither way a ton of people are coming up to us in the halls and asking us if the rumor is true. For once, we are the ones with the information and we like it. We’re finally getting a small taste of what it's like to be our brothers. The only bad thing is, this sudden surge of popularity is distracting us from finding out Shane's big secret. Unfortunately, Shane is being a lot more careful and he isn’t letting anything else slip.

The Blythe rumor also cleared up why we were in the hallway earlier
than we were supposed to be on detention day. Shane was so shocked to see us, he didn't even ask, however when he heard the rumor, he said, "Oh, that explains it," like everything suddenly fell into place.

Sid and I
are dying to find out what he is hiding.

My day
can’t possibly get any better until I look up to see Blythe talking to my brother. She is leaning against his locker with one knee bent, wearing these amazing worn-in cowboy boots. They are deep in conversation and she is biting her lower lip as she listens to him. Her hair is flawlessly wild and she has on this great short dress covered in mismatched zippers. I notice Ryan seems really interested in what she is saying. I'm not sure he’s ever been this interested in anything Gretchen has ever said, but then again, what can Gretchen talk about other than cheerleading and lip-gloss?

I’m
having an internal battle as I watch them; should I walk up closer to hear what they are saying or should I stay back. Stay back wins, but only because I'm a huge chicken! Both Ryan and Blythe start to laugh. As she is laughing, she tosses her hair from side to side. That's a good move.

Note to self
: practice and perfect that move.

Just then
, Gretchen comes up behind Ryan and puts her arms around his waist. She is holding this awesome bouquet of miniature sunflowers. I am—unfortunately—now close enough to hear their conversation or Gretchen is just talking super loud.

"Ryan
, what a great surprise. Thanks so much for the flowers; they are so pretty." She turns to her friends who are standing by in awe, giggling.

"Sunflowers
, my favorite! I just opened my locker and there they were." A collective sigh comes from her group of girlfriends who are, of course, all dressed in cheerleading uniforms.

"See you later
, Ryan," Blythe cuts in, she seems as annoyed as I am that their conversation has been interrupted.

"Bye
, Blythe." I know my brother, and his look in her direction lingers a little longer than usual as she walks away. Then, he turns back to Gretchen. "I'm so glad you like them."

"Oh
, of course! I love them; they are perfect!"

"Just like you
," Ryan says as he kisses her forehead. Normally this would sound incredibly cheesy, but I don't know if it’s his delivery or the sheer honesty behind it that makes it completely sincere. She turns back and does a little curtsy with a giggle toward her girls, clearly saying,
aren't you jealous?
They all let out another collective sigh. Man, my brother knows how to work a crowd. Why don’t I have that gene?

Just then
Todd breaks his way into the circle. "Okay, ladies, I hate to break up this love fest, but Ryan, we better get to class or we're both going to get detention."

"Football players don't get detention
," Gretchen says with a smile, placing her hand on Ryan’s chest. My brother gives her a quick, sweet kiss on the lips, and with that, everyone starts to slowly disperse.

Then
, out of nowhere, Rebecca—a cheerleader and one of Gretchen's "besties"—grabs Todd's hand. "See you later, Todd." She smiles and puts her face right up against his. Hasn't
she
ever heard of personal space? She slowly pulls her hand away, dragging it across his and holding on just a second too long before she lets go. Their eyes are locked and she is definitely undressing him with hers. Then, as she turns to run and catch up with her friends, she flips her hand to make her cheerleading skirt fly up and reveal a little extra something for him. As soon as she catches up with Gretchen and the rest of the girls they all start giggling.

WHAT.
WAS. THAT.
Okay, calm down
. My heart is beating so loudly, I can hear it in my ears and I can’t make it stop. Rebecca came out of nowhere with her slutty flirting; she is playing dirty. Wait. What am I talking about? I don't even like Todd, what do I care?
He's like a brother to me, he's my best friend’s brother and he is my brother's best friend.
I keep repeating the words over and over in my head, but they don’t change how I’m feeling. It feels like Rebecca just ripped my heart out, threw it on the floor and stomped on it over and over and over again.

As I walk to
class, my mind races with thoughts. This is unexpected. I mean, Rebecca is cute and popular and she's played the lead in a few school plays opposite Todd. She’s also a cheerleader and she definitely has an all-access pass to The Quad, yet she really doesn’t seem like Todd's type. Was there reciprocation or was it all one-sided? I wish I could rewind what just happened to go back and watch Todd's reaction. Oh, why isn't there a reality DVR? Wouldn’t it be amazing to rewind real life?

Luckily
, I’m not late to class and I make it through the day without getting a detention. Although it would have been kind of great to get a detention today because I know Blythe is going to be there.

Speaking of,
she’s walking right toward me. "Hey, Blythe!"

"Hey
, Ashley! Detention today?" she asks.

"No
, but I can't wait to hear what happens. You have a lot to live up to."

She
laughs. "Yeah, then it seemed like a good idea, but today, I wish I could get out of it. No such luck. I just hope I can control myself so I don't end up in detention for the whole year." Her southern drawl is subtle, but it seeps through.

As we’re talking
, I see Rebecca, let’s just refer to her as RTS—Rebecca The Slut—walking into the school auditorium with SHANE?
Okay, what is going on?
"I’ve gotta go, Blythe." I quickly turn and walk toward the auditorium. Then I realize I just blew off probably the most popular girl in school at the moment, so I quickly turn back. "Sorry," I say with a shrug. "Good luck." 

"Thanks!" Blythe
yells back.

I already
have my hands on the cold, brass handles of the auditorium doors. Our auditorium used to be the cafeteria/auditorium; real classy, right? You could eat lunch and watch a school play, all in the same place. Until one of our alumni won the lottery and decided they wanted to build an auditorium for the drama club. I begin to pull the door open when I hear someone loudly clear their throat which startles me enough to pause for a second.

"Where are you going?" Charlie
, our school security guard is standing behind me with his hands on his hips. We are only a few weeks into the school year, but I already know Charlie is a push over. "I'm talking to you, Miss?"

"
Meee?" I innocently turn around.

"Yes
, you can't go in there Miss—"

“Taylor
," I fill in the blank for him.
Okay, I can either play this by the rules or play this the Blythe way. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen to me? It’s only school grounds after all. Wait, why am I thinking like this? Huge trouble, that's what could happen. Oh, I don't care, I need to know.

I open the doors and quickly walk down the long
, dark aisle. "Miss Taylor?" Charlie says as he trails behind me, unsure of what to do. His shock that I’ve actually opened the door can’t be more obvious.

If he was a betting man
, he would have definitely bet against it; fooled him.

Once
I’m inside, I can't believe my eyes. It is like time stands still. All I can see is Todd up on the stage, standing behind a microphone and looking sexier than usual, which is saying a lot. Shane is there, behind a real drum set, and he actually looks like he knows what he’s doing. When did he learn to play drums?

Todd
is holding his old, beat up guitar and he is really playing; not fake playing like some guys do to impress girls, but really playing. WOW! There is something about a boy holding a guitar! I don't see her at first, but Rebecca—RTS—is up on stage, too. She is singing backup and playing bass guitar. Damn her. How can I compete with that? They have a musical bond.

Just then
, Todd spots me standing there with my jaw hanging open. I quickly realize how shocked I must look and try to contain myself. I do a quick chin nod toward the stage, trying to act really cool and laid back, when Shane catches my attention. "What are you doing here?" he mouths.

"What are
you
doing here?" I mouth back. Todd is in the middle of singing
I'll Be
by Edwin McCain and he sounds incredible.

"I'll be better when I’m older. I'll be the greatest fan of your life..."
This is always a great song, but with Todd singing it, it takes on an entirely new meaning. When they are done with the song, Todd jumps off the stage and comes over to me. At his mere presence, I feel my cheeks burning.

"Hey
, kiddo. How did you get in here?" he asks.

"I just walked in." I move my eyes in Charlie's direction. "He's not very happy." Charlie
is watching my every move from the corner of the room; I swear he’s ready to pounce.

Todd
smiles that amazingly crooked smile, like he is impressed. Heck, I’m impressed. All I need to do is keep channeling Blythe. "Honestly, I had to know what Shane was doing, so I followed him in here. I don't deal very well with secrets."

"Apparently
," Todd agrees right as Shane comes up to join us.

I promptly punch him in the arm before laying into him.
"How could you keep this a secret? I didn’t even know you could play the drums.”

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Shane
isn’t bending, even now.

"Ok
ay, I get it; you don't want anyone to know, but I do know now so what is going on?"

Shane
glances at Todd as if to ask permission to tell me so Todd jumps in, "Okay, we'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone."

"Of course."

"No, seriously; not even Sid"

"Why?"

"Because I love my sister, but she has a big mouth and, if word gets out, this won't really work.”

"First, I disagree, Sid keeps all of my secrets
.” This isn't really true. The boy knows his sister. I love her, but she does have a pretty big mouth. “I will keep your secret, even from Sid, but you have to tell me for me to keep it."

They both glance at each other as if silently looking for approval. Since when
are they so tight? I don't like it. Todd starts, "Okay, we're setting up a surprise performance for the homecoming pep rally. Principal Marks asked a few of us who performed at last year’s prom fundraiser to perform again. He wants to keep it a secret so it's a big surprise. His goal is to get everyone excited for the big homecoming game."

Rebecca
comes up to join us and slips her hand through Todd's so naturally that it looks like it is supposed to be there. It is NOT.

"You guys are telling
her
?" she asks with more distrust than I appreciate. She doesn't even know me.

"She's cool
," Todd says. "She's Ryan's little sister."

Her eyes scan me up and down with disbelief
—like there must have been some hospital mix up or maybe I’m adopted—I know this look, I get it a lot. It's not that I'm unattractive, I think of myself as pretty average, however Ryan is definitely above average. I’ve come to terms with it a long time ago. More importantly, why is RTS holding Todd's hand? I feel my stomach twisting.

"Yeah, don't worry
, I already pinky swore. I won't tell anyone your precious secret." All of my sarcasm is intended for RTS.