A shy girl and a hot jock don't mix

feelings

The twins and Jack are above. The order goes Grayson, Ethan and Jack. (Left to right) also please recommend this book to people who you think would like it. I need more reads if I'm going to continue writing.

Chapter 6

"Guys, look at what I can do." Jack says. We all look in his direction and he is balancing a spoon on his nose, we all laugh at how stupid he looks. Pizza with these guys hasn't been as bad as expected or bad at all. I'm actually having a lot of fun. The twins and Jack are the biggest goofs ever.
Ethan is probably the sweetest, I know he's probably someone you can count on to talk to. Grayson is very athletic, he takes his football games seriously but he also has a soft side. Jack is a roller coaster, sometimes he's sweet, sometimes he's not, but I still like him. After we all are done laughing at Jack we resume are conversations with one another.
"So you having fun?" Brian asks me.
"Yes, very much. Thanks for inviting me."
"Yeah no problem. I wanted to." My insides flutter and I blush. I begin to glance around the table and I see Jess having a deep conversation with Ethan, I can tell they are hitting it off and will be a couple in the next couple weeks. Grayson and Amanda haven't stopped laughing and they seem perfect for each other. Jack is just on his phone probably texting his girlfriend Emily.
"So Rachel, we still have to finish our project. We don't have a lot of time cause I've got practice and you've got, well reading." I blush. Wow am I seriously that lame?
"Yeah, umm how about Tuesday? Will that work?" I ask.
"Yeah cool, my parents are actually having a party there for work so can we work at your place?"
"Uhh sure." Just as I'm about to say something else I hear the door jingle and guess who walks in? Anya and her two followers. I look at Jess and we both roll our eyes. I'm hoping she won't see us but of course she does cause Jack waves her over.
"Hey boys." Anya says. She then notices Amanda, Jess and then me.
"What are you doing hanging with these girls who I've never seen before?"
"Just chilling, why do you care?" Grayson says, by the look he gives her I can tell he doesn't enjoy her company. Neither does Ethan.
"Just wondering Gray bear." I snort. Really Gray bear?
"Um do you have something to say nerd?" Anya says looking my way.
"Nope." I say with a sarcastic smile on my face. She just glares at me then grins at Brian who is sitting beside me.
"Hey baby, you coming by my place today so we can "hang"?" Why did she put air quotes when she said hang? Eww no. Brian glances towards me like he wants to see my reaction but I just look away from him.
"Yeah sure, I got some time." My heart immediately drops. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about Anya and Brian "hanging out". I guess Jess could sense my discomfort cause se suggests that we should go. I agree and walk out the door after I say a goodbye to the guys except for Brian. I don't want to look at him.
"Bye girls! Glad I could meet you!" Anya shouts as we walk out the door. I could hear the sarcasm in her voice.
"I'm sorry about what just happened Rachel." Amanda says.
"It's fine, I don't care. It's not like I liked him or anything we are just friends." They nod their heads but I can tell they don't believe me. I don't even believe me.
~~
Monday went fast. Nothing exciting happened and Brian talked to me like nothing happened at the pizza parlor. Which in his mind I guess nothing did happen, but to me my heart was crushed. Every time Anya saw me in the halls she would glare and I could tell she hated me, why should she though?! She has Brian not me. Her two sidekicks even dislike me. Grayson and Ethan talked to me in the halls and Ethan even walked me to a couple classes, but I think that was just so he could ask if Jessica was in a relationship or not.
The end of the day on Tuesday finally is here and I realize that I walked to school today, meaning I will have to walk back. In the rain. I grab my books from my locker and stuff them in my bag then I put on my hoodie and walk out the nearest exit. It is pouring outside. I live like 15 minutes away, I will get pneumonia if I walk in this. I text my mom and dad and ask if one of them could pick me up but they are both working. I have to get Vanessa from school so that means even more walking.
I see Brian under a tree looking through his bag. I decide to walk over just to casually ask him if we are still working on our project today.
"Hey Brian." I say once I'm a few feet away. He looks up surprised.
"Oh, hey Ray." He smiles at me widely.
"So are we still on for today?" I ask.
"Yeah of course. I was just going to drive there now actually. Once I grab a cup of coffee."
"I have to walk home and get my sister so do you think you could come in like 45 minutes?" I ask.
"Your going to walk in this rain? I don't think so, come on I'll take you home." Brian demands. To be honest I was hoping he would offer a ride.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes of course Rachel."
We head to his car and he open the passenger door for me.
"So do I have time to get some coffee before we get your sister?"
"Yeah." The rest of the ride is silent, but a comfortable silence.
We pull into the Starbucks drive thru and there is one car ahead of us.
"Do you want anything?" Brian asks me.
"Yeah could I get a grande strawberries and cream frappuccino."
"Of course." He orders the drinks and once we pull up to the window I pull out my wallet and hand him $5.
"You really think I'm going to make you pay?" Brian asks me.
"Well I didn't want to just assume. Are you sure?"
"Yes Rachel, stop being so sweet all the time. Most girls would love to have a boy buy them Starbucks." I try not to pay attention to the fact that he just called me sweet.
"I guess I'm not like most girls then." I say not very confidently.
"That is very correct." He says. I smile and he hands me my drink.
I tell him where Vanessa's school is and we drive there listening to the radio sipping our drinks. We get there just in time and a pool of kids come running out the elementary school doors. I spot V with her neon purple backpack.
"V! Over here!" I yell and wave out the window. She hears me and comes running out towards the car. She gets in the backseat without even wondering whose car it is.
"Hi Rachel!" V practically yells at me once she buckles up.
"Hi. This is Brian my friend." I say as I gesture towards him. He turns around in his seat to face Vanessa.
"Hi." Brian says sweetly.
"Hi. I'm Vanessa."
"Nice to meet you Vanessa." She just giggles in reply. Brian smile at her and then turns around and starts driving to my place.
"So is Rachel your girlfriend?" V asks Brian. My whole face turns bright red.
"Haha. No, we are just friends." Brian says. Vanessa looks a little disappointed by his answer and I am too. The rest of the way is quiet. As soon as we pull into the driveway Vanessa runs out of the car probably excited to get a snack or something.
I get out to and Brian follows.
"So where do you want to work at?" Brian asks. We agree on my bedroom. As soon as we walk in I'm glad that I decided to clean my room the day before or else this place would have been a mess. Brian scans my tiny room, and sees The Outsiders book on my nightstand.
"I was wondering if you were ever going to finish this." He says.
"Yeah, I'm planning on it. I've been busier than usual."
"How come?" He asks.
"My parents have been working later than normal so I've been watching my sister all day and I don't really have time to sit and read." Before he can reply my sister walks in and plops her butt on my bed.
"Can I hang with you guys. It's boring being all by myself."
"Of course you can." Brian says.
We begin our project and Vanessa helps with some of the painting. Brian keeps making her laugh and I'm a little jealous cause I can't even make her laugh that much. It's cute how sweet Brian is to her though, it's definitely making me like him even more, but as a friend of course. Three hours later we are done for the day. All three of us go downstairs and eat some strawberries. We are all three sitting on the kitchen counter laughing at pretty much anything and everything when my parents walk in.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Vanessa yells as she jumps down the counter and hugs them both. I see Brian stiffen a little. Is he nervous? Why would he be. He already met my dad once.
Me and Brian get off the counter as well and walk closer to my parents.
"Hi dad. Hi mom."
"Hi honey. Hey Brian good to see you again." My dad says.
They shake hands and Brian says
"Nice to see you again too sir." He then turns to my mom.
"Hello, Mrs. Loski. I'm Brian. I've been working on a project with Rachel."
"Nice to meet you Brian. I hope my daughter hasn't been too much to handle." My mom says with a chuckle.
"Oh not at all, she's very fun to be around." Brian says turning to look at me with a smile. I smile back.
"Well I should get going, I promised to eat dinner with my parents tonight. Nice meeting you Mrs. Loski. Goodbye sir." He kneels down to be the same height as Vanessa.
"Bye Vanessa. Thanks for the help today." Vanessa surprises him with a hug. He's taken back at first but hugs her back. I smile.
"Bye Brian." He waved to all of them and I walk him outside to his car.
"Well bye Brian. Thanks for the Starbucks."
"Bye Ray. I'll see you tomorrow beautiful." He then dips his head in the car and drives away. Did he just call me beautiful. My heart stars to race like crazy. No ones ever called me beautiful except for my family. I smile at the the thought. Once I go back inside I see my mom already cooking dinner and my dad watching tv. I decide to read for a little bit. A little bit turns into 3 hours and I end up finishing the book. I was so into it I didn't even eat the food my mom left for me on my nightstand. I text Brian immediately.

Me:
Oh my god! Johnny and Dally die?! I can't believe you. I hate this book so much.

Brian:
Haha. So you finished it then?

Me:
Yes:(

Brian:
I know it's sad, but it's really good isn't it?

Me:
Really good is an understatement. I'm going to buy my own copy now!!

I check Amazon but I can't find any. I doubt they will have this book in a store. We don't have any bookstores around where I live so I usually order all my books. Great. I can't get a copy now.

Me:
I can't find the book on Amazon. That sucks. :( where did you get yours?

Brian:
My dad gave it to me. He's had it since he was a kid. I'll help you find one.

Me:
Thanks. Goodnight!

Brian:
Night Ray. :*

My heart skips a beat. Wow all he did was send a kiss face and I freak out. Friends don't do that. No matter what I say I know I like Brian. I can't even deny it now. The way I feel is definitely way more than just a friend. All he will see me as is his nerdy friend. Anya is way more of his type. I drift off asleep thinking about what it would be like if Brian actually liked me back.