Sink or Swim✓ (Teen Romance)

Chapter Eleven

            "Oh my god."  I gape at Elliot.  Then I bring a hand to my lips.  I did not just let Cassi's boyfriend kiss me. 

            Elliot doesn't say anything, but stares at me with a wary gaze.

            "You shouldn't have done that," I say. 

            "Why not?" asks Elliot, his face suddenly crumbling. 

            "Because you're dating my sister!" I screech.

            As much as I loved the idea of kissing Elliot, I'm not a boyfriend-stealer.  I would never hurt Cassi like that, except I just did.  I just kissed my sister's boyfriend; and the worst part is, I liked it.  I have to be the world's worst sister.

            "Cassi?" asks Elliot, scrunching his eyebrows together.  "I'm not dating Cassi."

            My jaw practically falls to the floor. 

            "Yes you are!" 

            "I think I would know," says Elliot.  He is still leaning toward me with his hands clenching the iron bars over my head.  How am I supposed to think straight with him so close to me?

            I dip under his arm and take a few refreshing steps backward.  Much easier to think without the overwhelming scent of his cologne clogging my thoughts.

            "It looks like you're dating to me.  Cassi definitely thinks you are."  I cross my arms over my chest and purse my lips.  Boys can be so dense.

            "That's ridiculous.  I told Cassi I wasn't interested in her like that, and she seemed fine with it." 

            "What?" I sputter.  I can't help myself.  All this time, Cassi's been acting like she and Elliot are gradually moving into a serious relationship.  It seems impossible that she would 'forget' to mention that she and Elliot are just friends.

            "I have no interest in dating Cassi."  Elliot scratches the nape of his neck, and suddenly averts his eyes.  He opens his mouth, as though to add something, but then changes his mind.

            "Well, she likes you, which means I can't."  Just saying those words feels like a knife into my gut. 

            "That doesn't make any sense."  Elliot rolls his eyes.

            No, boys don't make sense.

            "Cassi's really hot.  You should go out with her," I say, desperate to move the conversation into safe territory.  Still, I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot.  Am I really trying to force my crush to date my sister?

            "I don't date people just because they're hot."  Elliot's eyebrows furrow.

            Not going to lie, I apparently have misjudged the entire male population.  To be honest, I was fairly certain that was the only reason boys dated girls.  Otherwise, I should've had at least one boyfriend by now, right?

            "She's actually really nice, once you get to know her."  My words don't sound very convincing, probably because I don't really think it's the truth.  Being nice isn't among Cassi's better qualities.

            "I know.  That's why we're friends."  Elliot pushes away from the fence and steps toward me again.

            I bite down on my bottom lip and stare down at my sneakers.