| Hailey Pickett |

Today I could feel something for all the couples I had jeered at.

At night, I did watch a no makeup makeup YouTube tutorial and now I was painting my face careful not to step over to the joker boundary. I had this weird kind of energy I never felt before. .like I could fly away in the sky ; be a super woman.

Is that what butterflies in stomach felt like?

The constant smile on my face. .

The hope in my eyes. .

The impatience to see him. .

One boy flipped my world upside down. The searing kiss we shared yesterday told me everything about him , he didn't rush , didn't press, didn't shove his tongue in my mouth. .and he held me more than kissing me.

This tiny piece if information, I wasn't planning to let it out to anyone. Not even Stella.

Ian hugged me to his chest , none of us talked , we listened to each other's heart. I asked him if he didn't want to make out further?

He had smiled and said ,"Rush is a trait of the devil. Let's not do that."

That moment I got disappointed but now when I was in full senses , I figured I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I jumped his bones too early.

One step at a time.

I still had to unravel Ian.

There were parts of him I didn't met yet. Chunks of him were still shrouded in mystery.

Stella had squealed all the way to home about me and Ian being a couple and I had hid the embarrassed grimace on my face because. .he didn't ask me to be his girlfriend.

All we did was kiss.

And God damnit! It made me want him more.

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"You look. . . different."

"I did makeup."

Stella widened her eyes. "You did not!"

I rolled my eyes. "It's not a big deal." I muttered as I pushed the glass door back and we entered the school building.

My girl-radar on high alert for him.

"You never put on anything for Jake." She reminded me.

I scoffed.

"He was an. . experiment gone wrong. And it's all about the heart. I didn't want to do anything for Jake but for him , I want to go the extra mile. I want to put on gloss and the best clothes I own." I laid it out to her as gently as I could.

She looked dazed while nodding.

"Say , did Brad say anything?" I asked , watching her flinch a little at the sudden mention of him.

"W-why would he?" Stella whispered, her eyes looking anywhere but at me as we walked.

"Are we gonna do this again? You denying everything? " I mocked.

"I'm not denying. And . .it's—can you drop that know it all look please?" She groaned out.

"Oh why? I like the way you lie." I gave her a sly look.

I swear her face was threatening to bloom into a red hot blush. I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I curled my arm around her shoulders and pulled her right in.

I planted a giant kiss on the side of her head.

"Gross! Get away!"

"Why? You would rather take a kiss from Braddie Boy, eh?" I teased , she turned beet red.

Bullseye!

"You procrastinate too much. He's just a friend—,"

"A friend you couldn't help but call at the first sign of trouble?" I wagged my eyebrows in suggestive manner.

Stella let out a heavy sigh.

"I like him. Happy now?" She said sourly.

I opened my mouth to give her a kinky answer when I heard a certain familiar giggle. She had the kind of voice you can't help but wonder. .the call of a siren. She was coming our way, with a girl by her side, her hands were moving animatedly. As she neared us, I frowned . .

There was something wrong with her. .

I couldn't point out what but .  . .

Chelissa looked as pretty as yesterday then why—

"Isn't that what Ian wore ? At the party?" Stella's voice floated in my ear and I took me few moments to register what she said.

The world suddenly flipped over.

Tilted to an odd axis.

My eyes glued to her outfit.

An oversized black hoodie that engulfed her and she paired it up with shorts.

I'm her foster brother. .

I pressed my lips into a hard line. Some brother he was! Bitter thoughts clouded me like never before. She walked by us perfectly normal while i clenched my fists in fear of my raw anger.

I wanted to rip it off her body!

Strip that away from her perfect body!

"Isn't he your boyfriend now?" Stella asked me in a soft voice.

I smirked.

"Was , darling. Was."

Stella was kind and understanding enough not to open her mouth and ask me further details.

I may have dug my own hole. I painted him as my boyfriend after one measly kiss and my lie got thrown on to my face.

Chelissa. .

Freaking Chelissa had his clothes on when I should have been sporting it! I should have been the one ! The rightful owner of the damn hoodie!

Stella said something about her class getting started and she went on her way while I walked like I was floating around , a speck . .

Girls. . no wonder we are an idiot of a nation! One kiss lead me to thinking I had him as my boyfriend! Passing by a mirror that was stuck on a locker, I felt like to wipe off that stupid lip gloss off my lips! Take off the sunny dress as I pretended to be a sunflower today!

Chained to the dark thoughts, I didn't see the person walking to me , I nearly rammed into the person but got saved at the last moment.

I knew who it was.

I pretended like I didn't.

Scowling, I glanced up and found him looking at me with an amused smile.

I tilted my head to a side.

"Everything I do is an amusement to you right?" I asked , seeing the smile deepening.

"I never said that."

I looked away from him.

"Yeah, you never do.  I never cross your mind anyway." I said it all under my breath but he heard everything.

He bent down slightly, to match to my height. Slowly, I looked at him. .with a wide eyes bambi look.

Green eyes opened up to me.

"True. You never cross my mind. You live in it."

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