The Bad Boy Next Door- Josh Hutcherson

9.

"What?" He asks, almost in disgust. I regret asking that. Why do I always do this?

"Never mind." I shake my head. My heart starts to race, is he going to get angry?

"Why do you think that? Did someone say something to you?" He asks.

"No. I didn't think anyone knew."

"They don't. But you know how word gets out." He says and I nod.

"What you texted me the other night just made it sound like you wanted to have sex with me because you were frustrated with Amanda." I explain.

"I was frustrated with Amanda but that's not why I had sex with you Bella."

My stomach tingles every time he says my name. I'm starting to worry that this I like you situation is one-sided.

"Okay." I say quietly.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I should have handled it differently."

"It's okay. I tend to overthink things a lot." I shrug.

"Is there anything else you're overthinking that you want to say?" He asks.

Yes. But I don't want to say them out loud.

"No." I hesitate.

"Oh come on, that was a lie." He laughs. You're very right. I can't tell him what I'm thinking. I don't want to ruin everything.

"Why do you want to be friends with me?" I ask. I think this is the best way to approach the subject.

"Because you're nice and pretty hot." He says and I nod.

"Just like every other girl you're friends with."

"I don't have friends. I have girls who I hook up with."

Jealously rages through my body. Those aren't the words I would like to be hearing right now. I'm trying to ignore that part of Josh's life.

"I know." I say.

"How would you know? I thought you didn't have any friends to gossip with?"

Ouch.

"I watch people. Every single day I see girls practically hanging off you all the time. Plus Ellie is kind of my friend and she knows everything about everyone. I've heard many stories about you and girls from the cheer squad."

He chuckles.

"You're jealous?" He says and I widen my eyes.

"What, no." I huff.

"You so are, you're very easy to read Bella."

Stop saying my name.

I decide it's best to end the conversation there. I know I'm going to get laughed at if I tell him I have feelings for him. He will probably kick me out and never lay eyes on me again. I'm not his type and we both know it.

***

"Hello Bella." My mom says the second I open the door. I know that tone of voice, she knows something.

"Hi mom." I reply. I drop my bag on the floor and walk to the kitchen to try and avoid her.

"How was school?" She asks. She definitely knows I wasn't in school.

"You never ask me that." I say.

"I know." She smiles.

"So why now?" I try to play it off casually but I know what direction this is going in.