Blindsided (Game On 2)

I knew nothing about boys, but pointing out my flaws didn’t seem like a brilliant way to get his attention.

Jesse also said that Georgia and I had very different personalities. I assumed he meant that Georgia is outgoing, sexy and fun, while I’m a geeky bookworm.

“Izzy, can I come in?”

“When have you ever asked before?”

Georgia laughed as she stepped in to my room.

“Where’s Mischa?”

“Gone. She stayed and chatted to Hunter for a while, then made up an excuse to go home. She wasn’t very pleased that Jesse turned her down.”

She said the words quite pointedly, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m glad he did,” I said. “But that doesn’t exactly give me hope. He turned down the most charming girl we know. The girl every guy wants, and never says no to. If he isn’t interested in her, I don’t think there’s any chance for me.”

Georgia sat down on the bed beside me. “The point is, he turned her down.”

“Maybe he’s gay.”

“He’s not gay!” Georgia laughed. “Hunter said he had some horrible ex-girlfriend before.”

Whether he liked me or not, I could tell he was a decent person, and the thought of him being in pain made my stomach clench. What did this ex-girlfriend do to him? Did he still love her? Perhaps that was why he didn’t want anything to do with Mischa. Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with any girl.

“Was Mischa upset?” I asked.

“Pissed off, I think. Hunter tried his luck but she needed to go home and lick her wounds before moving on to the next bloke.”

“I thought she was after Toby?”

“Well, you know what she’s like,” Georgia sighed. “A boy is a boy! Anyway, enough about Mischa. Yesterday, Hunter and Jesse were talking about going out for a beer, because, in England they can legally drink. They were going to go tomorrow night but I thought, maybe we could all go out together at the weekend? Me, you, Elliott, Jesse and Hunter. You could even bring Willow if you want. We could have dinner somewhere, then go to a bar. They need us to show them around Notting Hill and make sure they have a really good time.”

Elliott was Georgia’s boyfriend, and very much the epitome of an English gentleman, but with a cheeky smile and a wicked sense of humour.

“Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this,” I said, with a smile.

“Well … a little. I didn’t want to get too carried away, just in case you didn’t want to come.”

“You don’t need me to come, Georgie. You’ll still have fun without me.”

“No,” she whined, throwing her arms around me, and pressing her face against my shoulder, “we won’t! Besides, if I go out with three guys, people will think I’m a slapper!”

I hugged her back, laughing. “Nobody would think that!”

“But you wouldn’t make me risk it, would you?”

She fluttered her eyelashes, and she knew she had me. It was hard to resist Georgia when she wanted something. And I loved that she really only planned the night as a way to apologise for unleashing Mischa on Jesse.

“Plus,” she added, “I will help you find something amazing to wear, and make you look irresistible!”

“Okay, okay,” I said. “Let’s do it!”

The days leading up to our night out went far too quickly for my liking. I needed time to slow down, so I could prepare myself. There was no reason for me to be so nervous. After all, it was only a few hours in Notting Hill with people I knew.

Oh, and a really, really good-looking guy.

I’d tried hard to fend off my crush on Jesse, but every time I saw him, and especially when I spoke to him, I felt all wibbly inside. Often, I was wibbly on the outside too, but I hoped I hid it well enough that he wouldn’t think I was a weirdo.