Considering I had rolled out of bed this morning, braided my hair, mucked out the stalls, fed the horses, and gone directly on my ride, I was fairly noxious at this point and in desperate need of a shower. I told Jared to give me 45 minutes and gave him directions to the ranch. 

"Just don't pick me up on the thing," I say, pointing at the ATV.

"Don't worry. I just got a new car and I've been dying to take it out again," he replied.

Shocker

Mom was at work (the elementary school got out two weeks after the high school did) and Dad was at my Uncle Rod's helping him patch a hole in his garage roof. 

I pinned my hair up and showered quickly, then undid my braids and let my hair fall down over my shoulders in waves. Then I threw on my favorite jeans and sneakers, and changed my shirt four times before I finally decided on what to wear. And you know what? I'm not going to dress up for an invader. Not this girl. 

Finally I pulled over my A&W t-shirt, my favorite one, and walked out to wait for Jared.

He was ten minutes late and the music blared from his car radio as he sped up the dirt road. I had to wave my hand in front of my face to clear the dust as he paused in front of me. His new car was a 2-door BMW sports thing in gunmetal silver with black leather seats. The top was, of course, down.

"Hop in," he said with a grin.

His hair was clean now and all tousled, but look perfect anyway. My pulse responded to the sight of him by rushing annoyingly through my ears. No one had ever had this kind of effect on me. I had to get a grip. 

I opened the car door and sunk into the seat in what I hoped was a casual way. I was the cleanest car I had ever seen.

"So, where to?" he asked. 

"Know how to get to downtown?" I asked, laying my arm on top of the door.

"Downtown, that's funny. You sure one gas station and a library qualifies." Jared joked.

"You are hysterical," I said flatly.

He revved the engine a few times, showing off, then peeled out. I gripped the door seat as he flew down the drive way and zoomed onto Town Line Road without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

"Don't worry! I'm a great driver!"he shouted over the roar of the air whipping by.

I fumbled for my seat belt and locked it in  as we flew by trees and fences in a blur.

"You might want to slow down. People have animals around here, and you know, children." I say.

"Live a little!" Jared shouted.

"We're almost there!" I said, hoping that might slow him down. "It's Pete's Diner up here on the right!"

Jared slammed on his brakes and I shot forward, the seat belt cutting into my skin. He cut the wheel and whirled into a parking space. It took a full 5 seconds before I could breathe again.

"Sweet ride, right?" he said, climbing over the car door. 

"Yeah," I said, hoping I hadn't peed my pants. "Sweet."

Jared walked around and opened my door for me. I looked up, surprise at the gentlemanly gesture. I wasn't surprised, however, when my knees quaked under me. Jared noticed my unsteadiness and started to laugh.

"You know, Gracie, if we're going to hang out, you're going to have to loosen up a little." he said, patting me on the back. 

"It's Cassie. Cassandra Grace. And who says we're going to hang out?"

"We are. You already like me. I can tell," he said, slamming the door. "And I think I'll call you Gracie," he said, with a half smile now. 

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling at his cocky grin. The kid was charming, the only problem was, he knew it.

The second we stepped through the door, I knew I had made a mistake. Mr. Lutz and Mr. Smith, were hunched at the counter sipping their coffee. The 2 oldest fogies in the book. They, along with the other 10 people in the place, all turned around and stared at us as I led Jared to my usual booth. Elaine Mission, Pete's wife, and head waitress, nearly dropped the pot of coffee. I knew they weren't surprised to see me. After all, Derek, Donna, and I met here every other morning for breakfast. What they were surprised about seeing, was me with an invader.

From the looks on their faces, it's clear what they were thinking. I had gone over to the dark side. 

"I think I'm gonna hit the bathroom," Jared said either not noticing, or acknowledge, the stares. "Order me a coffee? Black."

"Sure," I replied.

I slid into the vinyl seat of the booth and pulled out one of the menus, even though I had pretty much already memorized it. Still, the usual diner noise hadn't started up again. What was with these people? Hadn't they ever seen an invader before?

"Coffee?" Elaine asked, materializing at the end of the table. 

"Thanks Elaine," I said trying not to make eye contact. Maybe if I didn't look at her she wouldn't grill me,

"And for the boy you're with?" 

"Yes, for him too."

She turned over 2 of the 4 coffee cups on the table and filled them with steaming how liquid. 

"And who is the boy you're with?"

Luckily, I was saved my my hyperventilating best friend.

"You are so not going to believe this!" she blurted. "The Kent's are here!"

Elaine gasped and looked at Mrs. Roselle. Everyone in the place was riveted on Donna.

"They came in late last night! They're actually staying for the entire summer! Deputy DoRight told my dad this morning at the bank! Can you believe it?

"Actually I-"

"Oh my god, I can't believe they actually came here! How are they going to live without their spas, and manicurists, and chauffeurs?"

"Well, I'm sure they're not that bad," I said, glancing over my shoulder at the bathrooms.

"Please! You know they're going to be the first ones to complain about our lack of Starbucks! But, man, I can't wait to see what Susan Kent looks like. I can't believe she actually came back here when all anyone's been talking about in this town for 20 years is was a heartless, money-grabbing slut she turned out to be."

Donna's eyes trained up over my shoulder and from the look of shock on her face, I knew she had just seen the hot stranger in the room. Unfortunately, she didn't know she had been trash talking the hot strangers mother. My stomach tightened in a ball and I looked over my shoulder again. Sure enough, Jared was standing there with his jaw clenched, his fingers curled into fists at his sides. I had known the boy for 5 minutes and even I could see the blatant hurt in his eyes.

"Um... Jared, this is my best friend, Donna," I said, hoping there was some way to salvage the situation. "Donna, this is Jared... Jared Kent." I said looking her in her eyes.

Donna went as white ad Elaines apron. Luke, the fry cook, burst out laughing.

"Well, it looks like I was right about this town after all," Jared said finally.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry," Donna began getting up.

But Jared just stormed right past her and slammed the door with the heel of his hand.

"Cassie? What-?"

"Jared! Wait!" I called out. "She didn't mean it!"

But Jared jumped back in his car and sped away. 

Well, so much for that, I thought, feeling an unexpected amount of major regret. Not that I expected anything to happen between us. Or wanted it to. I have a lot to do this summer.

"What the hell was that?" Derek asked. watching with me as the dust and leaves settled on the road.

"That was a Kent," I said, turning and walking back to the diner.

"You're kidding, that tool?" Derek said.

Donna was still on her feet as the rest of the diner buzzed over what they had just witnessed.

"Oh my god. What just happened? Did I really just say that right in front of him?" She asked, sitting down covering her hands with her face. 

"What? What did you say?" Derek asked.

"She basically just insulted his mother right to his face," I clarified.

"Oh man," Derek said.

"I didn't know! How was I supposed to know he was here?" Donna wailed, dropping her hands. "You!" she said whirling to me. "You brought him here! How could you bring him here?!"

"What? He just told me he wanted to meet some cool people obviously I thought of you guys.
Donna gasped then looked at me and Derek. "And I called his mother a slut. Yeah. Real cool."

"Come one Cassie. You really think Jared Kent is interested in being friends with us?"  Derek said.

"Why not, he seemed pretty cool. Egotistical, maybe, but cool. And he's here for the whole summer. Maybe he wants to make new friends."

Derek scoffed, "Yeah right. He probably just needed someone to slum with until his country club buddies show up."

"I don't know that," I said, although I felt a sting of truth in my chest. We had never known any invader who had actually hung out with locals. Not as friends, anyway. There was always a few jerks who did everything they could do to fool around with a local girl or two, then dump her. How had I, in ten minuted, managed to forget that.

"You should probably steer clear of him Cass. He seems like a class A asshole," said Derek.

"You only seen him for a second," I pointed out. 

"Yeah but he didn't let either on of us explain or apologize,' Donna reminded me.

"And then he peeled out of here like a maniac, he could've killed somebody." Said Derek.

"Well, actually, that was kind of cool. Did you see that car? Damn!" Donna said with a smile.

"Tongue back in mouth sis," Derek joked. But seriously. If Jared Kent really wants to make new friends, let him find somebody else. You don't need that kind of jerk hanging around."

Good old Derek, so over protective. We spent so much time together that half my graduating class always assumed we were a couple, but in reality we are way more like brother and sister. Big brother and little sister to be more specific.

"You sound like my dad," I said, my shoulders slumping.

"Hey, I like your dad," Derek said with a smile.

I chuckled and took a sip of Dereks black coffee. As much as my overexcited heart rate hated to admit it, maybe Derek and Donna are right. I had too much going on this summer to waste time worrying about a hot-headed dare devil who would only be here for two months anyway.

Now all I have to do is erase the memory of those piercing blue eyes from my mind and I would be fine.

Easier said than done.

*    *    *    *

Hello all!!! I am very very sorry that I haven't posted in a hot minute, but let me tell you that it is going to be worth the wait. I spent a whole lot of time editing and rewriting a lot of the book and I think it's the best version it could possibly be!!!!

Thank you all of the many vote I have gotten recently, it really is, greatly appreciated.

Also, I would really like to recommend a book on here to y'all. It's called Carter by silentlycreating. It is a beautiful book and is worth your time.  Please go check it out!!!!!

Once again thank you of all of the reads and votes, yall have no idea how much it means to me!!! 

New chapters coming every Saturday so stay tuned!!!!

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Much love, Kylie < 3