CRUSH (5 page)

He shrugged. “I decided it was time for a
change, so I’ve been saving up some money for it. I’ve been trying to slowly
switch things up, just to see if you would notice but then after today I was
tired of waiting.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. He looked great, but
not like
my
Clay either. “Well, you
look . . . good.”

He shifted a little and glanced away for a
second as if he were uncomfortable. “So, you ready to go?”

“Yeah, just let me grab my sweater really quick
in case it gets chilly later.” I went to get it off the couch. “Mom, I’m
heading out with Clay now,” I called.

She appeared and came to give me a kiss. “Have
a good time. Be home by midnight. Love you.”

“I will. Love you too.”

I left the house, and Clay walked me to his
old, white VW Rabbit, pausing to open the door. I slid in. “Thank you,” I
mumbled under my breath.

I couldn’t remember him ever doing this for me
before. Something had definitely changed. I thought back to our tickle fight
beside the pool today and felt a little sick. I didn’t want things to be
different between us. I was happy with the way they were. I was beginning to
think my mom was right. Clay liked me.

“Oh, shoot!” I exclaimed as I glanced down,
realizing I’d forgotten my purse.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I left my bag on the couch. I need my money
for dinner and the movie.” I moved, intending to get out.

“No worries. This is my treat.” He smiled.

“Wait!” I heard my mom. She came running from
the house with my handbag. “You forgot this, Cami! Hi, Clay. You look nice
tonight,” she added, giving him the once over.

He blushed a little and glanced away. “Thanks,”
he mumbled.

“Here you go, sweetie,” Mom said, handing me my
purse.

My relief was palpable. “Thank you. I just
realized. I didn’t want to make Clay pay for everything. It defeats the whole
point of going Dutch, right?” I laughed nervously hoping I didn’t sound stupid
while I tried to make him understand we were
not
on a date.

My mom looked at me curiously. “Okay. Have
fun!” She stepped back to the curb and Clay shut my door.

I clutched my bag tightly as I watched him walk
around the car. I felt like I’d been cast in a role for a horror spot in
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
. My BFF
had suddenly disappeared, replaced with someone who sort of looked like him,
but this person had designs on me. I was having a hard time coming to terms
with it. It was impossible to just wake up one morning and decide you weren’t a
science nerd anymore, but a jock instead. The social ladder didn’t work that
way—did it?

Clay slid into his seat and started the car. “I
think I’ll replace this beater-mobile next. What do you think about that? Maybe
get a sports car . . . like a Mustang or something.”

“Who are you?” I asked, unable to keep it to
myself anymore. “Why are you doing all this? And I like your car! We have good
memories in it. Where would you get that kind of money anyway? Buying a car is
a lot different than saving up for contacts.”

“It doesn’t have to be brand new. There are
nice, used cars out there, Cami.” He sounded frustrated. “Besides, I thought
you’d like all of this. You were the one who inspired it.”

“How?” His remark surprised me.

“Don’t you remember the day those guys were
picking on me in class? You told me not to listen to them because they couldn’t
see how wonderful I really was. You said it was up to me to be what I wanted.
Well, this is what I want to be—someone girls will notice, and people
will want to hang out with. Sure, I’m good at school—really good. I can
get a blue ribbon at any science fair, but I don’t want to just be smart. I
want to look good doing it. I want to have more friends—not that you
won’t always be my best friend—but I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines
and watching life happen to everyone else. So I made some changes. I thought
you’d be pleased.” He glanced over, a hurt expression on his face.

“Clay, I think you look amazing, but I did
before too,” I said softly.

“You did?” He glanced at me with a hopeful
expression.

I nodded. “I’ve known you since we were five.
You’re like my favorite brother who I adore.”

His jaw clenched. He put the car into gear and
headed off down the road without speaking.

I felt my hands trembling, wishing he would say
something, but hoping he wouldn’t either.

“I never wanted to be your brother, Cami.”

Biting my bottom lip, I turned away to look out
the window and blinked back the tears, which threatened. I hated hurting him. I
wasn’t sure what else to say, so I didn’t say anything as we drove the rest of
the way to the restaurant.

Dinner was brutal. We ate mostly in silence. It
didn’t matter that we were at our favorite mom and pop diner, Francesca’s,
eating our favorite burgers and crispy French fries. Everything tasted like
sawdust in my mouth, so I just sat and stirred my thick, strawberry shake while
I watched Clay texting madly on his phone to someone.

“Who you talking to?” I finally asked.

“Marcy,” he replied shortly.

I felt a sudden burst of relief. Maybe he
didn’t like me in that way after all.

“Let me see your phone.” I gestured for him to
hand it to me, but he pulled back. “Give it to me. I want to take a picture of
you so you can send it to her. She needs to see how hot you look tonight.”

A slow grin crossed his face, and he slumped
back into his chair. “You think I look hot?”

I nodded. “Yes, and don’t move. The slouch
you’re sitting in is perfect.”

He pushed a button and slid the phone across
the table. “Here you go.” He’d already pulled up the camera.

“Okay, give me some sexy smolder.”

He laughed and pursed his lips together. “Not
duck face!” I groaned. “Sexy smolder. You know, you’re looking at that gorgeous
girl who you always wanted and you’re thinking, “Come to me, baby.”

His look changed immediately and instantly
there it was, smolder. Wow, he could actually do it. I snapped the picture and
handed the phone back.

“Here you go. Marcy’s gonna love that!”

His expression fell a little, but he glanced at
the picture anyway. A small grin crossed his face. “Thanks, Cami. I like it.
You’re a good photographer even when you don’t have your big camera.”

“Thanks. I love photography. It’s always fun in
the dark room, watching the pictures develop.”

“Maybe you can show me sometime,” he said,
staring at the image on his phone. “I’m gonna message this to you so you can
put it as my contact photo.”

“Sweet. Sounds good.” I pulled my cell out and
waited for the text to pop in.

“Aren’t you hungry tonight?” he asked,
motioning to my barely-touched food.

I shook my head. “Not really. I’ve just had a
nervous stomach for some reason. Don’t worry, I’ll get some snacks at the movie
theater if I need to.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He tossed several
bills onto the table. “I’ve got dinner tonight.”

“No really, Clay. Let me get my own. You said
yourself you wanted to save for a new car.”

“I’m paying for dinner,” he said in a
no-nonsense voice.

“All right. I’ll leave the tip then.” I put a
few dollars next to his. “Thanks.”

He nodded abruptly and quickly stood and headed
for the door. I sighed, not happy that we seemed to be back at awkward again.
I’d been hopeful there for a few minutes.

I watched him walk to his car, but I headed
toward the restrooms instead to check my lip-gloss, teeth, and pop a breath
mint. Thankfully the movie was next. We wouldn’t have to do a lot of talking
there.

Smoothing my hands over my dress, I gave a sigh
and turned to go.

Hunter-

She was here, and I was so mesmerized with
staring at her it took me a second to realize who the guy was standing next to
her. I did a double take as I took in Clay’s new look, amazed with the
transformation. I couldn’t believe this was the same nerdy kid I saw every day.

I glanced around the lobby of the theater,
noticing he was getting much of the same reaction from the school kids who knew
him. Some were pointing and laughing, though there were a few girls who looked
at him appreciatively.

Returning my gaze to the two of them, I also
noticed there seemed to be some sort of friction. Clay was looking at Cami as
if she was the axis his world was spinning on. Cami was biting her plump bottom
lip and doing her best not to pay any attention to him, studying everything
around her instead.

I chuckled slightly and leaned back against the
wall. Well, this was interesting. It seemed as if the guy was carrying a
serious torch for his gorgeous BFF, and she was not willing to reciprocate. For
some reason, I found a great deal of pleasure in this.

She looked amazing in her green dress, her
soft, red hair falling in waves down to brush her bare-skinned shoulders. She
was showing a fair amount of leg—something I hadn’t really seen her do
before—and I didn’t mind one bit. She reminded me of some sort of green
apple just ripe for the picking.

I grunted internally, realizing I was comparing
her to fruit again. What was up with that?
You
know exactly what’s up with that
, my mind countered, but I couldn’t force
myself to look away. I knew she wasn’t for me, though somehow, it didn’t seem
to matter much at the moment.

“Enjoying the eye candy again, I see,” Russ
said, joining me after getting his snack.

“Who? Clayton Bradley? I don’t think so.”

Russ snorted. “Yeah, we’re both aware that’s
not who you were looking at. Dude, if you like her that much just go get her.
You know you want her.”

I shook my head and turned in the direction of
the theaters. “Can’t.”

“Why not?” Russ pressured, trying to
understand. “You got a girlfriend back home? Or are you saying you play for the
other team?”

I snorted. “I just can’t, okay? No girlfriend
for me, period.”

“So you’re going to lust after her from afar?”
He elbowed me as he took a bite of his giant popcorn.

“Something
like
that.”

We found ourselves a seat at the back of the
theater. I liked sitting here so I could watch what everyone around me was
doing while I was waiting for the movie to start.

“This is just a crying shame,” Russ said.

“What is?”

“Sitting on the back row and not having any
honeys to make out with in the dark. I need a date soon.”

“Good luck with that,” I replied. “Maybe you
should try actually talking to a girl. That might help.”

“Oh, look who’s Mr. Advice all of a
sudden—he who stares and drools from afar.”

“At least I have an actual babe to drool over
instead of just wishful thinking.”

“Ah ha! You just admitted it. You do like her!”
His face was lit up like he’d just discovered electricity or something.

And dang it, he was right. “Eat your popcorn
like a good boy and leave me alone.” I grinned.

He laughed. “There’s not a good bone in this body.”

“That sucks for you,” I countered with a sly
smile. “Good bones are all I have lately.”

Russ choked, spewing popcorn out into the
aisle.

“That’s just sick, man,” I chuckled with a
shake of my head, observing the chewed popcorn on the back of the chair in
front of him.

“It’s your fault. Don’t blame me.” He took a
napkin, wiping his mouth and then the chair.

“You’re never gonna get a girl like this. Maybe
I should show you how it’s done.”

“Well, master, here’s your chance.” Russ
gestured into the theater, and I saw Cami and Clay enter together.

I stiffened immediately as I watched them. They
chose some seats a few aisles down from where we were. Clay put his drink in
the cup holder and leaned in close to her. Cami clearly shifted away from him.

This caused an alarm to go off in my head. She
was obviously uncomfortable with his close proximity. I wondered if he’d tried
to hit on her, and she didn’t like it. It was as if they weren’t the same
people I’d watched in class together. Clay had changed his appearance, and it
seemed to have the opposite effect of what he was going for—changing the
dynamic between them completely.

He bent closer and whispered something in her
ear and she leaned even farther. There was definitely something bad going on
between them.

I reached over, grabbed Russ’s popcorn, and got
up.

“Hey, where you going?” he asked, looking
confused.

I ignored him and walked down to the row Cami
was on. I had to find something out.