Rules of Attraction

Chapter One-

“Open your window, I’m coming over.”

Mallory Thomas pulls on a plain grey sweatshirt before stepping on her window seat and leaping out of her bedroom and into her neighbor’s bedroom.  “Parents fighting again?”

“How’d you guess?” Mallory smiles as she swipes a piece of hair from her face.  Taking one of the many ponytails from her wrist, she ties her hair up in a messy ponytail.  Her friend pulls on a shirt after noticing Mallory stare at his bare chest.

“You always wear that sweatshirt when your ‘rents fight.” Blushing, Mallory takes a seat on her neighbor’s bed.  “Plus, you’re biting your lip.  You do that when you’re upset.”

“Thanks for stalking me, Ross.” He taps her head and sits in his own window seat.

“No prob Mally.”

She stares out of the window and watches as her father storms out of her house and into his blue SUV.  “I gotta get back.”

“He left?”

“Yup, mom’s gonna wanna complain to me about how he doesn’t spend time with her.”

“don’t worry, it’ll be easier when they divorce,” Ross shrugs and pulls Mallory into a hug. 

“My parents aren’t getting a divorce.”

“yeah, yeah, yeah.  That’s what I said when my dad introduced me to his mistress.”  Mallory slaps his arm and frowns.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’m sorry Mally.  Would you like me to lie and say that your parents are going to have marvelous make up sex and make you a uni-“

“Shut up.” Ross breaks out in laughter and opens his window for Mallory.  She gives him another quick hug before jumping back over into her own room.  “I’ll call you later Ross.”

“Sounds good.”

“cool,” Mallory pulls off her sweatshirt and reaches to close her window.

“Good luck Mally!”

Rolling her eyes, Mallory closes her window all the way and pulls her blinds down.  She lies on her bed and stares at the ceiling, waiting for her mom to burst in.  Seconds later, her mother is in her room.

“Do you believe him?!”

“no.”

“I can’t believe that he’d rather spend time with his friends! Do you understand what he’s thinking?”

“no.”

Mallory closes her eyes and blocks out her mother’s complaining.  Turning onto her side, she stares at her blinds.  Ross Weiss had been one of her best friends since she could remember.  There was also Craig, Tim, and Drew but Ross was her favorite.  Not only because he lived next door, but because he was the first one of the guys had she met.

Mallory had always been a tom boy, and Ross learned to respect that.  He had always thought it was astonishing how Mallory could play football and wrestle like a guy. 

“Are you even listening to me?”

“no.”

“Mallory Caitlin Thomas!”

“Wha- oh! Sorry mom.  I just spaced out.  What were we talking about?”

Her mom huffs in frustration and Mallory grins she stomps out of her bedroom.  Walking over to her en-suite bathroom, she turns on the water for her bathtub and pours almost a cup of bubble bath in the tub.