"DEVILISH JUNIPER FLOWERS or The Latin-American Pigs?"
Claudia, in the sink next to mine, spat out toothpaste foam before saying, "Neither. Those suck. How about The Sex Bots?"
"At this point, I don't even know why I ask you for advice."
"Because my ideas are awesome. How about you name your band The Cum Glowsticks?"
I finished brushing my teeth, swirling water around in my mouth, and shot her a glare through the mirror.
Claudia and I might have been sisters, but we looked completely opposite. She had inherited our mother's fair-faced colouring, with sandy-blonde hair and blue eyes. I had inherited my father's olive-skinned complexion, with brown hair and brown eyes that I honestly didn't see the appeal of.
I was pretty―but that was all I was.
"How is your first week of being a freshman?" I asked while drying my hands. "Life-changing?"
"I auditioned for the cheerleading squad," Claudia said, excitement practically bursting in her shining eyes. "And today's the soccer team try-outs, but I don't know if I should bother, because I kind of suck at soccer."
"Clauds, you love soccer. Try it out, and if you don't get in, it's not like you're losing anything."
"Besides my pride?"
"Come on," I said, laughing. "No one will bother you, I swear. They'll have me to deal with."
Claudia rolled her eyes. "You're not scary. But―wait, you're right. Your name is basically a synonym to Skylar Tori's, and my friends all call her a psychopath."
"Yeah, Sky can be a bitch," I acknowledged. "But she's good. Deep down."
"Deep, deep down."
"Okay, come on. Remember when she toilet-papered Uncle Adam's house because you told her what he said to you about your jeans at Thanksgiving?"
"I'm not saying Skylar's not a good friend, I'm just saying she's terrifying. She's actually my role model."
"Speaking of role models . . ." I was remembering what Skylar had said about looking up to Monroe. "Do you know someone named Monroe Kingston?"
Claudia shrugged. "No, never heard of them."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
At least I wasn't the only one.
ON THE WAY OUT, I grabbed a glass of cranberry juice.
"Really, monkey? You're not going to eat more for breakfast?"
"Aaron's waiting for me in the driveway, and besides, he probably already picked up a bagel or something."
My mother bit her lip. "Look, I just don't think it's healthy for you to always be rushing out and―"
"I'll see you later, okay?"
Before either of my parents could say more, I darted out through the front door. Claudia took the school bus most days, but thanks to Aaron having a January birthday and his own car, he picked me up every morning.
Aaron was already pulled up in the front. I closed the front door behind me, but stopped in my tracks at the sight of that car.
"What," I said, "the fuck?"
YOU ARE READING
Shut Up And Kiss Me (gxg) ✓
RomansaTalia Decker is sixteen, starting her junior year of high school. Popular, outgoing, and seemingly confident, she is wholly unprepared for the wildfire that is the new girl: Monroe Kingston. Dark, mysterious, and cocky, Monroe is everything Talia h...