Another Stupid Boy

Chapter Eleven

We marched into school Monday morning like an army ready for battle. Whatever Carmella decided she was going to throw at us, we were ready. At least that's what we kept telling ourselves. What we weren't ready for was Kaitlyn's popularity.

A small crowd had gathered in the hallway surrounding Kaitlyn and Carmella, and when we joined them Kaitlyn looped arms with Nikki and brought my best friend close to her side.

"Seriously, Carmella. I'd drop it if I were you. I don't know what you heard, but there's no way it's true. My brother doesn't sleep with my friends."

Carmella's face turned bright red. "I know what I heard, why are you attacking me? I'm trying to protect you."

Kaitlyn raised one eyebrow, and in a condescending tone said, "I appreciate your concern, but my friends don't stab me in the back like that. Right, Nikki?"

I could feel my heart racing. Nikki wanted to date Seth, but she couldn't tell Kaitlyn that. But she also wasn't a liar. I held my breath wondering how she would handle this dilemma.

"I would never use Kaitlyn to get to Seth. I respect her too much for that." They grinned at each other.

"But you were mad at him for texting other girls," Carmella said, "he said you were friends with benefits."

Kaitlyn's smile turned a bit brittle, and her sole focus was on Nikki's face. "He said that?"

Nikki waved it off, and to the average person watching, she looked completely calm. Only I could tell that the extra flutter of her eyelashes meant she was freaking out on the inside.

"Seth kissed me once. No big deal. It wasn't like it meant anything, and it definitely won't be happening again. We just don't see each other like that."

Kaitlyn's smile slipped for a second before she put it firmly back into place.

"Then I guess you'll be happy to hear that I'm not going on any more trips to watch Dean. You and I are hanging out at the house by ourselves while everyone else goes."

Nikki's face broke into a wide grin. I could see the relief roll off her shoulders. No awkward weekends with Seth and Kaitlyn still wanted to be her friend.

"That would be great."

What was great for Nikki, sucked for me. That meant no more weekends with the McMahon's amazing outdoor pool.

I blocked out Kaitlyn's response until I realized she'd said my name. Several faces stared at me, and that's when I noticed people were waiting for me to respond. AJ's eyes grew wide, but I couldn't tell from her expression if the surprise was good or bad. Nikki's eyes looked hopeful, and after the tough weekend she'd had, I couldn't disappoint her.

I lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug, "Yeah sure, whatever." I said unenthusiastically, hoping it was the right answer.

Nikki and Kaitlyn grinned at me while AJ's eyes grew wider. I had a feeling I had just gotten myself into something I'd regret.

"Carmella," Kaitlyn's tone turned mean-girl-snotty, "thanks for looking out for me, but as you can see, you don't need to protect me from my true friends." Then, she linked arms with me and Nikki and practically dragged us into the girls restroom.

I glanced back at AJ to make sure she was following us, and I gave her a huge grin.

Who knew this catastrophe would be resolved so easily? AJ didn't return my grin. She chewed on her bottom lip as she rushed to keep up with us and I felt my nerves jump a little. Her nervousness made me wonder what piece of the puzzle I was missing.

After checking to make sure the room was empty, Kaitlyn jabbed her finger into Nikki's chest. "Tell me what's going on, and I want the truth."

I glanced at AJ and then at Nikki. There were equal expressions of fear on their faces.

"I didn't use you to get to Seth. I just thought it was a perk that my new friend had a hot brother." Nikki's hands waved helplessly around her. "When he flirted with me, I didn't stop him."

"You knew how I felt." Kaitlyn jabbed again.

"I know," Nikki's eyes saddened, "but I thought that if anything happened between me and Seth, then you would see that I was still your friend. I would never fake a friendship just to get close to a guy."

I opened my mouth to backup my friend, but AJ grabbed my wrist and yanked it before I could say anything.

Kaitlyn shook her head and walked over to one of the mirrors lining the wall above the sinks. Her reflection caught Nikki's eyes. "How do I know I can trust you anymore?"

I watched Nikki stand next to Kaitlyn and place her arm around her shoulders.

"You can't. Nothing I say is going to make you trust me again. But if you mean it about us staying at your house over the weekend, and Seth going out of town, then count me in."

Kaitlyn's eyes glistened. "Seriously? You want to hang out with me this weekend and send Paige and Seth away?"

My heart stopped at her words. Send ME away? With Seth? Where was I going? I opened my mouth to object when AJ grabbed my wrist again and slightly shook her head.

"Sure," Nikki grinned, "it'll be fun. We can watch sappy romances, do facials and mani-pedis. It'll be great!"

A slow grin spread across Kaitlyn's face. "Yeah that does sound great," she turned towards me, "and what about you?"

"What about me?" I had no clue what she meant, it'd be too good to be true for her to be inviting me to tag along.

"Not you." Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "April, want to join us?"

I knew it. Kaitlyn had made it very clear from the beginning that I wasn't part of her little circle.

But for the first time this morning, AJ seemed to finally relax. "I'd have to get permission first, but it sounds like fun."

I looked at the other girls and sighed loudly. "So, I guess I'm not invited to this little party?"

Kaitlyn's smile was so big it almost split her face. "Well, somebody's got to spend the weekend with my brother."

"Why me?" I whined, throwing my head back.

She simply shrugged. "Because you're the only one that doesn't want to."

****

Enjoy the chapter :))))

PS I feel so bad for making my girl Carmella a bad guy in this lmaoooo I love her so much. >:( <3