"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)
RomanceTalia 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...