Stuck Between Bad Brothers

Chapter 3

The instant I throw the phone facedown on the bed Lindsay screams. She rushes to her closet and starts sifting through dresses, panicking because with all that cookie dough in her system, they might not zip up.

"Woah, woah, woah, slow down." I get up and shake her by the arms. "They're just boys. Dress exactly how you would if they were guys from school."

"These are not guys from school, Vee. This is Grayson Dolan. I'm going with you on a double date with The Dolan Twins. Jesus Christ, our lives have transformed into a rom-com movie and it's going to be one of the good ones where we end up married. The horoscope was right."

Married? Hell, this was not a good idea. I though slipping Lindsay into the conversation would warrant me not having to go alone tonight. That part worked. But I didn't weigh in how much pressure Lindsay would put on the whole thing.

"Well don't wear any fancy dresses, okay? I'm going like this," I say, gesturing down to myself in the jeans and Nirvana tee shirt. I put it on after showering at home and since there's not time to really go back, I'm stuck with them.

"No, you are not. You can wear something of mine and thank me later."

I cross my arms, staring at her body that's hard the size of mine. "None of that stuff will fit me. Besides, this is hoesntly a cute outfit for me." I love my Nirvana shirt.

"That's sad, Venus. At least your hair is naturally perfect. Play around with my makeup and see if you can make yourself a little tanner."

In her mirror, I check my face and notice how pale it is for summertime. I'm a snow girl. light eyes and skin. The darkness of my hair and eyebrows only makes the contrast more extreme. She's right. I could use some color on my cheeks, if only to make me look like less of a vampire.

By the time we get to the movie theater, dressed completely differently, the boys have already been spotted by fans. They're signing photos and taking pictures. One girl is videotaping them signing the photos and taking pictures.

"I'm so nervous," Lindsay says, clutching my arm. Her nails dig in and I twist my flash away, shooting her an irritated glance. These guys do not make or break our lives. No matter what happens tonight, we will still be us. Lindsay and Vee. Vee and Lindsay. That counts for something and in my world, it counts for anything.

To my own surprise, I'm the one walking up and taping Ethan on the shoulder, interrupting the heap of girls huddled around them. It's also amazing how much I can tell them apart already. They mentioned in one of the videos that most of their friends use the freckle on Grayson's lip to know it's him, but the different color hair is the most obvious give away.

Ethan turns around and smiles. "Vee," he says, and for a split second, he almost seems awkward.

"Hey," I say. Lindsay has followed close behind me and I introduce her again. He remembers her, thanks her for the box he hasn't opened yet but will tomorrow, and grabs his brother my the arm. Grayson is having a conversation with an older girl, someone who could be twenty four, maybe twenty five. She's got on leopard print boots and a low cut v-neck, and my mouth sours. He's seventeen, I want to say. It's not my place and she's not necessarily doing anything wrong, but I get the sense that she's got intentions Grayson doesn't need. Luckily, Grayson seems to be slipping out of the moment himself. He sees Lindsay and smiles, shaking her hand. I pray on my life that she doesn't faint.

Grayson turns his attention on me. He doesn't extend a hand or smile. He leaves those green eyes empty, letting me squirm and leaving me to figure out what he's thinking. I've got nothing until his eyes dip to my shirt and the hint of a smile appears. He's about to speak when Ethan interrupts.