No Turning Back (Rewrite)

Chapter 16

Dial tones were created by the hands of Lucifer. The annoying sound blasted through my ears as I paced back and forth across my room. I chewed on my lip, trying to focus on any other feeling besides the fluttering wings against my stomach – even if it was pain.

"Hello," Conner finally answered.

"Hey," I said. "I need advice."

I could picture Conner's raised eyebrow. "About...?"

"I...uh...there's this...girl."

"A girl." The smirk in his voice was evident. "It's only been three weeks since you and Mia broke up and you're already thinking about another girl." He chuckled. "Justin can say what he wants, but you stay having girls lined up."

"This...girl isn't someone who was lined up, per say. We, uh...we've crossed paths often in the past, but we've never gotten the chance to hang out. So, we don't really know each other. But, I...uh...I think I really like her."

"So, you think she's hot?"

"Well, yeah, she's...exquisite." A smile bloomed on my lips. "She has beautiful green eyes and dimples when she smiles. We listen to some of the same artists, and...she...she makes me laugh."

"She sounds like a keeper. What's the problem?"

"She's...uh...she's not the type I usually go for. You know, she's not a cheerleader or an over-achiever or anything like that. She's...she's conscious of her struggles in school, and she's not involved much in athletics – or at least I don't think so. She's more into...fixing things." I sat down on my bed. "And...I don't know... I guess I'm afraid of what others might think when they see us together."

"Fuck what other people think. If she makes you happy, then nothing else has to matter."

I sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

"Stop worrying about what other people are going to think. Start doing what makes you happy. I promise I won't make fun of your girlfriend – unless she makes fun of me first."

I laughed. "I know you won't, Conner."

"Have you kissed her yet?"

Blood rushed to my cheeks. "Kissed," I croaked. God, I hadn't even thought about kissing Jayden. Not yet, anyway. I couldn't imagine how much harder it'd be to restrain myself around him once my brain developed those thoughts. Since we were still reading the play in English, I couldn't sit near him all the week. The distance, and my constant lines, helped subside my desire to stare at him. Still, I'd look up from my textbook and find him sitting alone. His crease of confusion had vanished and one of concentration replaced it. Usually when I glanced up at him, he seemed to be writing – or doodling. Other times, I'd look his way and meet his gaze. The first time, I blushed furiously and averted my gaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his smug smirk return. In the select few times we made eye contact, he either mockingly stuck his tongue out at me or made a playful angry face. I only smiled each time.

We made plans to hang out today. We didn't talk much about what we wanted to do. After he told me our plans would be after he clocked out of work, I assumed he'd be tired. I thought I could take him out to lunch and bring him back to my house. Donnie was planning to be out with some friends from school, and my parents weren't going to be home. We'd have the house to ourselves – a thought that pleasured and terrified me.

"Yeah," Conner said. "Have you kissed her yet?"

"Well, no... I...I'm not even sure she feels the same way."

"You won't know if you don't try, Daniel."

"But what if I kiss her and it makes her uncomfortable? I don't want to ruin the friendship we've been building. What can I do – before I kiss her – that'll let me know if she likes me too?"