Lizzie

Jee-zus, Brandon has been acting so weird ever since we went shopping. I bought the red dress, by the way; it's not his decision what damn clothes I'm going to wear. I want to look good next week when I go out with Tammy and Lilly. It's a massive diversion from what I usually wear, but fuck it, I want to live dangerously for once in my life. It's not like anything will ever happen between Brandon and me. No matter how much I'm craving him to like me for being a girl and not his bestie – it's never going to happen.

This crushes me a bit as I look at him from the corner of my eye. His gaze is on the playing field. Our team is winning, and every time they score, Denver and Brandon yell and holler. I swear my eardrums are going to pop, but it's good to see them having some fun.

Lilly and Tammy are chatting away about next week's party and their outfits. I've been so busy daydreaming about Brandon that I haven't interacted with them for a while. Too busy dreaming about his hands on my body, stroking my thighs, touching me where I want him to the most, right in the center of me. I imagine his tongue caressing me and shit, I have to squeeze my legs together. My nipples are zinging so much they feel as if they're straining to get out of my sports bra.

"I'm so pleased I bought that red dress," I say to the girls, trying wholeheartedly to distract myself from sexual thoughts about Brandon. When all I really want to do is throw myself on him and press his full lips into mine, to bite on them and slide my tongue into his mouth. As if he knows what dirty thoughts are racing through my mind, he turns to me and winks. I almost melt into a puddle. It's so fantastically, fucking hot when he winks. It's not just me he has this effect on; it gets the girls all the time. That and his lazy smirk.

I see something in his eyes and momentarily lose myself in them. What is that look? I've never seen it before. What does it mean?

Lilly interrupts my thoughts. "Me too, it looks fantastic on you. You're definitely going to have all the guys after you." She giggles. Brandon's head swings round faster than a shooting arrow.

"What dress?" His voice is tight.

"The red dress, silly. You saw it," Lilly says and turns back to Tammy and me like, that's the end of the conversation. They saw his reaction back in the changing room, and as far as they are concerned, he has no say on what I wear or buy. It was a first, I have to admit. I've never ever heard Brandon tell me I can't buy something. He's usually pretty good about the clothes I get. And to be perfectly honest, they're safe clothes. You know what I mean, jeans, casual tops, a few summer dresses here and there. I've never been so daring before, but it's time.

If I can't have Brandon, I'll have to find someone else. My stomach drops. I don't want anyone else. He is it for me; he always has been, and he always will be. But I'm ready now. I'm eighteen, and I want to experience being close to a guy, feeling what sex is like. Then I have a wild thought. It's so wild it's crazy-nuts. But it is giving me a tingle in my stomach, and I feel a warm sensation between my legs. Just thinking about it is getting me moist.

"You are not wearing that damn dress next week," he says, putting his beer bottle on the table in front of him. I can see he has had two already, and I sure hope he isn't having any more. He is driving him and Denver. Lilly will take me home, and Tammy has her own car.

The game is coming to an end; there are only a few minutes left on the clock, and our town looks like it is going to win. There's only a couple of points difference in the score. It's unlikely the opposing team is going to manage to stomp over us.

"Hush your mouth, Brandon." Tammy chips in. "It's got nothing to do with you. You can't order Lizzie around, best friend or not. You don't do that. She's hot, and it's about time she showed herself off." She has spoken. He actually looks shocked that anyone has spoken to him like that.

It's not something Brandon is used to; most people bow down to him, and he is silently the leader of our group. If you know what I mean. What Brandon says usually goes; if he comes up with an idea, we're all in with him. If he wants to do something, hang somewhere, we're happy to go along with it.

I stay silent; I'm not going to argue back with Brandon. He isn't invited to the party in any case. It's one of the girls from school in science class that Lilly and I attend. Brandon doesn't do science; he attends business class instead.

Denver is in his own world as he sits forward in his chair, his elbows perched on his knees, his beer bottle dangling from his fingers. He is expectant of the final whistle going and seeing our team go crazy on the field.

Brandon huffs and leans back in his chair; he runs his long fingers through his jet-black hair, his eyes are narrow. Oh. My. God. He is having a silent tantrum. It's hysterical; it makes me want to burst out laughing.

Since when did my bestie get so annoyed over what I'm going to wear?

Should I read more into this?

My insides tingle at the thought that maybe Brandon is interested in me as more than merely a friend.