Chapter 6
Justin
“You’re insane,” Amanda announces after I’ve tried to explain it, the thing I can’t ignore anymore: my feelings for Tara. “It’s like Stalker Syndrome, or whatever. You’re just confused because she saved your life.”
“I think you mean Stockholm Syndrome. That’s when people fall in love with their kidnappers. And Tara didn’t kidnap me. She saved me.”
“No, I meant stalker. It’s obvious the girl’s totally obsessively in love with you.”
“She is not,” I reply, but I’m replaying hundreds of looks between us, especially over the last few days. Tara at the BBQ, at the beach…
“Well, if she’s not, then why do you want to take a break?” Amanda urges.
I sigh. “It’s hard to explain,” I start, “But after the thing at the lake, things changed. I don’t know, Amanda … I just feel like we’re not that—compatible…”
“But opposites attract! That’s, like, our thing.”
She sounds almost frantic. She’s not used to me paying attention to someone other than her. Even as she defends our relationship, I can tell it’s got more to do with her than with me. Getting dumped won’t be good for her reputation.
She slides into my lap and flips her hair. A go-to move that usually works for her. That usually works for me. She puts her lips as close to mine as possible without actually touching. I remember, suddenly, our first kiss. It was a dare, last summer in Sally’s basement, in front of everyone. Watching Amanda try to look cool and sexy, it occurs to me that every other kiss since then has felt a little like a dare, too.
For the first time, I don’t kiss back.
YOU ARE READING
The In Between
Teen FictionTara Jenkins and Justin Westcroft used to be childhood BFFs. Now in high school, Justin’s a popular, all-star athlete, and Tara spends her days admiring him from afar. But when Tara saves Justin from nearly drowning in a freak accident, he’s unable...
