A Walk by Dragons

The Too-Cute Guy

Needless to say, I got nice and lava-faced when my thirty-seven-year-old father stopped the car, yelled the kid's name, and then yelled my name right next to it.

Don't be embarrassed, I told myself. They're just stupid kids who are too wrapped up in their own lives to remember some dad yelling out his kid's name to another. Besides, what's so embarrassing about that? It's nothing.

That helped. Like I said, I'd been the new kid before. Or, rather, I had always been the new kid.

When I got out of the car and saw Cecil up close, all comforting logic rushed down to join something squirming in my pancreas. Aw man, this kid looked far too handsome up close despite being shorter than me. This wasn't good. Cute guys gave me the chills. If there's any law in this world, it is that if a man knows how handsome he is, he's eighty percent more likely to force your stupid hormonal tendencies to crush on him and then cheat you like a whore. Read 'em and weep.

Dad bid me farewell, told me he'd be out front when school was over, then turned his purple, vintage Camaro around with a roar, attracting even more attention.

Cecil Brown grinned as though on the edge of a laugh.

I put a fringe of fingers to my eyebrows. "My dad makes a great megaphone, doesn't he?"

"I guess so."

"Look, you don't have to lead me around like a puppy, I've done this before. I can take care of myself. You probably have some girl waiting to swoon in your presence anyway."

It wasn't until I registered his shock that I rethought what I had just said. Since it didn't sound rude or idiotic to me, I relaxed. Mr. Cuteface wasn't to be trusted anyway.

In answer, he chuckled—awkwardly, like any normal boy. I was all too happy to announce his attraction level demoted, even with those cute, baby-blue eyes and curly black hair. Maybe we could be friends.

"Nah, though thanks," he said.

My phone buzzed. Guess it would be boob massages now. "Thanks for what?"

He grew more flustered. "Didn't you just call me attractive?"

"Well, sure, but you're not my type. I'm lesbian." His eyebrows shot up, and I smirked. "Just kidding, just kidding. I'm straight as a post. Anyhoo, you don't have to show me around if you're busy. I don't think my dad realizes that other people have lives too."

"Oh, no, it's okay. Your dad's a good friend of my dad, and he's told me a lot about you."

I slumped. "Don't tell me. I don't want to know."

"It's nothing bad."

"Nah, I just don't want to hear how inaccurate he is." I straightened and readjusted my book bag, which caught a bit on my knee-length skirt. I felt like a freaking anime chick wearing the pleated thing. At least the uniforms didn't look too bad.

Skyler would like me in this.

As though knowing my thoughts were to him, my phone vibrated again.

______________________________

I don't like this cover. Will someone please tell me why I don't like this cover? Probably because I painted it myself...No, it's definitely the font. Or it's both. Nurrgh.