NOT THAT BAD

05: Now He Regrets It

"One hour."

"Two."

"One and a half."

"Well, I guess I'll see you on Monday."

"Fine. Two Hours."

"Now was that so hard?"

Spencer finally relents after we'd going back and forth about when he was gonna pick me up again. I wouldn't say we were going on a date, it was just a casual thing between two people who've known each other for less than 24 hours.

At least, I think so...

Trying not to overthink too much, I just smile triumphantly at him. "See you in a couple hours, Mora." I almost leaned into kiss him on the cheek like I always used to do with him when he dropped me off at home. But I move half an inch forward before stopping abruptly.

I see his eyes widen a bit but he pretends like I wasn't just about to kiss him. I'm still frozen in place as he jokingly says, "I mean, I have no problem going out with you looking like that, honestly, so if you wanna go now..."

I can feel my cheeks heat up and i fumble a bit with the door handle. "Shut up I'm going, I'm going," I mutter. The handle is stuck, or locked, or shit did I almost kiss Spencer? I don't even know if I was thinking about Spencer in the moment, but--

"Fuck," I mumble, but then the door clicks and flies open, the handle giving into my frantic pulling. I hear Spencer trying not to laugh from the driver's seat, which only makes me get out of his stupid car faster.

"Get off my driveway," I mumble before closing the door and walking quickly to my front door. Even as search through my clutch to find my house key, he doesn't leave. He doesn't even say anything until I finally get my front door open.

He rolls his window down. "See you in a few TayTay!" he coos, and I roll my eyes even though he can't see.

I walk inside, but before I can close the door on him he gets out a last melodramatic, "Aw don't be like that, babe! Babe--"

I steady myself on the door and rest my forehead against the cool, white-painted wood. I let out the breath I was holding.

I can't help but smile to myself about the last twenty-four hours. Almost twenty-four hours ago I showed up at Mallory's house to get ready for Homecoming and now I'm home, about to get ready for a date with Spencer Mora.

I mean hanging out...?

I trudge upstairs and press my ear to my older asshole of a brother's bedroom door.

I hear a shrill giggle. "Oh my god Tyler," some random girl moans.

I immediately pull back from my brother's door and walk as fast as I can over to my room, two doors down, and slam it shut.

Tyler was always a player in high school, and his senior year was no exception, which was when I was a freshman. Back then he barely even talked to me. Even when my mom made him drive me home too, I would usually be sitting in the backseat, because he always had his whore of a girlfriend in the front seat. I never had a brother who looked out for me, and I didn't want one if they were anything like Tyler.

I turned around only to have someone push me against the door and plaster a hand to my mouth. My eyes widen since I can't scream. Is this a joke?

Kasen Halford broke into my room. No, wait: Kase Halford the A1 Asshole broke into my house.

"Kase!" I try to yell at him but his hand muffles my words.