He's Just a Kid

Rock-and-Role Band

"You aren't paying attention to me at all, are you?"

I shook myself, blinking rapidly. "Sorry, Bree. What were you saying?"

Bree Davenport sighed, grinning at me knowingly. She and I had been friends long enough that she could tell exactly what was going on with me. I guess girls have a better intuition with stuff like that than boys do.

She flicked her long brown hair over her shoulder and looked at me with her large brown eyes. "There's definitely something going on. Spill."

I sighed and let out everything from that afternoon. I'm not going to lie, I got more and more excited as Bree's face changed with the amount of enthusiasm she was feeling. It wasn't too long until she was grinning ear to ear while listening to my story about Marcus and how he put his arm over my shoulders, describing every detail about his physique and face, just just just—

Everything.

Bree collapsed on the couch dramatically, nearly knocking our science books off and forcing me to catch them with my hands. "He sounds so cute!" she squealed. "And he plays guitar too? That's so awesome!"

"I know!" I sighed, my heart hammering at the memory. My spirits fell slightly. "I don't think he'll like me back, though."

Bree shot up. "Nu uh. He is head-over-heels for you, girl. He put his arm over your shoulder." She pressed her palm to her chest and stared dreamily up at the ceiling. "He's totally in love."

I frowned. "Bree. I know you barely have any experience with guys in the real world"—she glared at me—"but don't be delusional. He was probably just being friendly. That's all."

At that moment, the doorbell rang. My heart pounded. Was he here?

Bree shot up and I managed to pull her back down before she sped over to it with her bionic speed. "No, Bree!" I hissed through my teeth.

She blinked at me confusedly. "Why?"

"Because, you're going to embarrass me!"

"When have I ever done that?"

I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow, sending a silent message over to her through my glasses. She sighed, understanding.

"Okay, I get it," she admitted. "But that was last year!"

I opened my mouth to protest, but Adam and Chase came barrelling through the living room, pushing and shoving at each other in a race to the front door.

"Watch the furniture!" Tasha Davenport, their stepmother and Leo's biological mother, called after them with a basket of overflowing laundry in her arms. "A multi-million dollar mansion is not a playhouse! Even if you're a bit more special than us that doesn't mean you get to break things running through here. I'm talking to you, Adam," she finished, shooting a knowing glance at him.

He looked offended for a moment and was about to argue until he remembered that she was, in fact, right. It was every day Mr. Davenport had to pay for another piece of broken furniture or whatever because Adam got a bit too excited with his super strength.

Tasha fixed her short black hair and hefted the laundry basket, continuing down the hall. Bree sped over to her and offered to help, receiving a grateful smile from her stepmom. I smiled at the wholesome interaction until I remembered who was at the door and panicked again.

He was here.

Chase finally—silently—wrestled the doorknob out of Adam's hand with a triumphant glare and opened the door to the awaiting Marcus. My face heated and I retreated into the kitchen, trying to hide the new red in my cheeks.