The week goes by in a blur. After that first day, Roman stopped playing guide and I was fine with it. Sure, I missed the glimmer of camaraderie we shared at lunch that first day, but I wasn’t looking for a replacement crew. Besides, he’s a brooding jerk anyway.
I ignore him whenever I see him in first period or in the halls, and the rest of the school—aside from Aaron—thankfully decides to ignore me now that they’ve realized hanging out with Roman and his crew isn’t going to be a repeat event.
Adjusting to life in Sun Valley is a new experience and it feels a lot like being trapped in purgatory. I see Gerald’s assistant more than I see him. She’s there every morning at half past seven, eager and willing to cart me off to school, though all week I’ve had to catch a rideshare to get home.
It would be easier if I just took the bus but the look on Janessa’s face when I’d made the suggestion made that an immediate no. The bus is beneath me. Seems fine for everyone else in this town but somehow an Uber is the classier, more refined choice.
Urgh.
I’m making my way out of my last class—eyes glued to my phone as I punch in the address of the school for a ride request—when Aaron calls out to me in the hallway.
“Hey.”
I slow my steps and wait for him to catch up.
“Hey.” I smile.
He tugs on the straps of his backpack, his skateboard strapped to the back of it, and a boyish smile on his face. “Got any plans this weekend?”
I shrug. “Not really. I’m still the new girl so I’ll probably just hang out at home and get caught up on homework.”
He nods and sucks on his upper lip. “Well, there’s a party this weekend. It’s sort of a pre-game tradition. A bunch of us go out in the woods and camp for the weekend before our big rival game against the Saints.”
“You’re into football?” I ask giving him a speculative look.
“Nah. But I’m into camping and partying so…” He shrugs.
“Oh. Cool,” I say, not really sure where he’s going with this.
He tilts his head, a question in his eyes, but I’m not sure what response he’s looking for. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “So, uh, would you maybe want to come? With me, I mean? I can pick you up if you’re cool with that…” He trails off and looks away, a slight blush on his cheeks.
Oh. Oh! “You’re inviting me?” I squeak out. As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to smack myself.
The corners of his mouth twitch into the beginning of a smirk. “Yeah. I think it’d be fun. If you came, I mean. I think you would have a lot of fun.”
I bite my bottom lip. I want to go. I could really use some fun in my life right now. And Aaron is the only person who talks to me, so I’m banking on him being my one and only friend while I’m stuck here. I don’t want to disappoint him by turning him down, but would Gerald even let me go? How would I even go about asking him? I haven’t seen him all week. Literally not once. He’s always working and his meetings seem to run late every night.
“Um….” I glance around the hallway and I catch sight of Roman, Emilio, and Dom. All three of them are standing by the exit with matching scowls on their faces as they watch our exchange. I still don’t know what their deal is with Aaron, but thankfully, this time they keep their distance.
Aaron follows my gaze and sees them, his grin quickly morphing into a grimace. “Are you into those guys?”
I’m a little thrown by his question. “What? No!” I rush to say.
He considers me for a moment like he isn’t quite sure whether or not to believe me. “You sure? All the girls at Sun Valley High like the Devils.”
“Definitely not this one.”
He releases a relieved sigh. “That’s good. They’re assholes. I wouldn’t want to see you hurt.”
I don’t argue because, well, they are, and the fact he’s concerned about me is kinda nice.
I pull out my phone and shoot a text off to Janessa.
Me: Do you think my dad will let me go out with a friend this weekend?
Janessa: Dates, Times, Location?
I turn to Aaron. “My dad’s assistant wants to know for how long and where we’d be going?”
He lifts a brow. “Assistant?”
“Yeah. I know it’s weird but I’ll get a faster response if I go through her rather than trying to track him down.”
He nods like he understands. “Shadle Creek. Today until Sunday morning.”
I shoot her the information and watch as the three little dots appear. Then they stop. Then they appear again. Urgh. Come on. Answer already.
Janessa: That’s fine. Your father says to use the credit card he gave you if you need anything. He’ll try and schedule a dinner with you when you get back.
Me: Great.
I roll my eyes. I love the idea of having to schedule a dinner with my dad. I shove my phone back into my pocket and turn to meet Aaron’s expectant gaze. “I’m in.”
His eyes light up. “Really?”
I nod.
“Awesome!”
Aaron gives me a ride home and follows me inside. He sits on the edge of my bed, watching as I hastily pack a bag with the essentials. Underwear. Toothbrush. Hairbrush. Toothpaste. I’m not sure what all I’ll need but it doesn’t take long to realize none of the clothes Janessa got for me are going to work. Everything is white or blush and definitely not suitable for camping.
I dig through my dresser drawers and raid my closet looking for something passable. Aaron looks out of place in the space as he leans back against the pink floral bedspread covering the bed.
He’s wearing his usual black Volcom pants, though today he’s paired them with a Hurley long-sleeved thermal tee and a pair of checkered Vans. His shoulders are well defined, even beneath the fabric of his shirt, and his tee rides up, exposing an inch of smooth, tanned skin dusted with a light trail of blond hair.
I force myself to look away from the curve along his hips that I know leads to an Adonis belt I have no business admiring. How did guys get that? I’ve seen him eat. He’s like a garbage disposal in the lunchroom, but looking at him now, you’d never know it.
“I can’t believe you live here,” he says, a touch of wonder in his tone.
“Yeah, well, only up until a week ago.”
His head tilts in question and I sigh, not really wanting to explain but not really seeing a way around it either. “My mom died.” I stuff down my emotions and force the words past my lips. “Dad’s the only surviving relative I have, so I was shipped off here. I just moved in the week before last, so none of this,” I wave at everything around me. “Is mine or even resembles the life I grew up with.”
“No shit?” He shakes his head and his face pulls down into a frown. “Damn. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
Silence stretches between us, and after looking through the final drawer in my dresser, I give up in defeat. “I don’t think this is going to work. I don’t really have anything appropriate for camping,” I say, resignation in my voice. I didn’t realize just how badly I wanted to go until it became apparent I might not be able to.
Aaron considers me a moment before coming over to take my hands and pulling me from the floor where I’d been sitting. “It’s cool. You can borrow some sweats of mine if you want. My bag is already packed in my trunk. Or we can always run by a store?”
“I don’t think I’d fit in anything of yours,” I say, eyeing his physique. Aaron is tall and thin, probably just shy of six feet. He’s built like Chester Bennington from Linkin Park but with a young Ryan Sheckler hot skater-guy vibe.
“Is there, I don’t know, a Target nearby or on the way?” I ask.
He chuckles. “I didn’t take you for the Target type but yeah, there is.”
My shoulders sag as I lean against the wall, relief sweeping through me. “I don’t come from money. All of this, my dad’s assistant bought it all for me when I moved in. I’m very much a Target kind of girl.”
He grins this goofy lopsided smile. “I think I like you even more with that revelation. Come on. Let’s get you some new kicks and go have some fun.”
