At the Right Time

Chapter Ten

Rylie ~ Six years ago

"Hey!" Rachel catches up to me in the hallway. "I meant to tell you, I have this stupid group project for German and I'm going to stay late. Maxwell will still take you home, though. He doesn't have to be here for the game until five."

"Okay." I act nonchalant, but my heart starts racing.

Rachel's brother kissed me a little over a month ago, and things have been back to normal for the most part. He still ignores me and I still have a bunch of questions I want to ask him, but don't.

We haven't been alone since that night, though.

After the kiss, he drove us home while we listened to music and then we both went to our separate rooms.

I've kissed people before. Even done more. None of it felt like how it felt with Maxwell. I'm not sure what that means for me except that it can't be good.

For one, he's my best friend's brother. For two, I live in the room right beside his. And three, he's super popular while I'm on the lower side of the totem pole.

We file into the gym, separated by class as we prepare for the pep rally. There is a big home basketball game tonight, and our team is on a winning streak.

Rachel and I settle towards the top. I'm thankful to have a best friend as uninterested in noisy, hyper events as I am. The screaming is already giving me a headache and we haven't even started.

Music at an obnoxious volume starts shaking the room. The cheerleaders line up in their orange and white uniforms, shaking their pom-poms in the air, forming an archway at the door of the boy's locker room.

The assistant coach for the team begins naming the varsity players.

Each player takes their turn running to the circle of the gym and most do some silly dance or flex their muscles.

"Maxwell Rossi!"

The crowd goes wild for him. Everyone knows that Maxwell is the best player on the team. Even though he's only a junior, he gets treated like the top dog because of his talents.

I can't help but stare. Me along with every other straight girl, gay and curious person in this school. He's pure eye candy in his jersey. His ripped arms are held high into the air as he walks, and the boyish grin on his face is panty-melting.

He meets his fellow teammates in the middle, and being the last player out, the pep rally officially begins.

The cheerleaders do a number that's borderline breaking school policy and one girl even points out Maxwell, winking and shaking her ass for him.

He winks at her and I roll my eyes.

I shouldn't care. I'm sure he's slept with her and half the other girls in this school. What does it matter? We shared a New Year kiss. It meant nothing.

When all the screaming and encouraging is over, it's time to go home.

I tell Rachel goodbye then walk to the student parking lot and wait for Maxwell.

He comes about five minutes later with a swarm of people following him.

I climb into the passengers' side once it's unlocked and he follows.

"Just you and me today, Ryles." His dark eyes twinkle at me. "How'd you like the pep rally?"

"It was loud."

"That's the point." He backs out of the parking space and drives us out of the lot. "You're running an errand with me today, because I won't have time to drop you off, do it and go back home before the game."