I jerked my head to the side and she pouted, sliding her long tanned legs off the bike.
“What’s wrong, Jace?”
“I’m not in the mood.”
She shrugged.
“Suit yourself.”
I didn’t even watch as she slinked away. Even though every other red blooded male in the place was staring at her with drool hanging off their chins. Instead, I yanked on my helmet and tore out of there.
I drove around aimlessly, not realizing where I was headed until I pulled up.
Frannie’s place.
Damn, if I couldn’t get that girl out of my head! And now I was practically stalking her. Fuck it though, I wanted to see if she was home.
That would give me something to fantasize about later.
I’d spent every waking moment the past few days mentally undressing her. I’d imagined her with her top off, bra on. Bra off and panties on. Slowly moving toward the main event.
Though to be honest, I doubted it would be slow when it happened. Not the first dozen times or so. I wanted her too bad.
I stared up at her window on the third floor.
The lights were on.
It would be so easy to ring the buzzer, walk up the stairs and pull her into my arms.
I’d kiss her senseless before carrying her down the hallway to her bedroom.
We wouldn’t come out again for hours.
Fuck that.
We wouldn’t come out for days.
I pulled out my phone. She still hadn’t written back.
Fuck.
Not tonight I guess.
I tucked my phone away and rode out into the night.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Frannie
I woke up with tears on my pillow for the third day in a row. I had a few days off before my summer job started. I’d planned to clean the house, go for a walk, check out the beach and boardwalk that I hadn’t had a chance to visit more than once since I’d started school. But I’d spent most of it crying and laying in bed.
I’d just taken an accidental 3 hour nap after an unsatisfactory dinner of reheated take out food.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how stupid I’d been about my idol worship. All the time, he’d seen me as easy pickings. The fat, lonely girl who would be grateful for an easy A and a little attention.
I must be an idiot.
Not just an idiot.
The biggest idiot alive.
A prize winning idiot, not unlike a hog at the county fair.
I snorted.
Yeah, Frannie, you’re a pig. Fat Frannie rides again.
That’s what the kids used to call me in middle school. I had slimmed down a bit as I got taller in high school, but the name stuck.
In my head, anyway.
Visions of the smarmy look on Professor Candel’s face slid around my mind. He’d thought I would be flattered… excited even. Did I seriously give that vibe out?
Was I still the sad, fat, desperate chick?
It’s not like I’d never flirted a day in my life so I knew that wasn’t it. I hadn’t made myself available. I didn’t dress sexy or drop pencils or twirl my hair.
Sure, I’d had crushes. Nothing too crazy but I noticed cute boys. Some of Clay’s friends, for sure. But I’d never done anything about it.
Not even close.
Not even ONCE.
I sighed, slipping my feet into my fuzzy slippers. I’d let my phone die again. I padded into the kitchen to plug it in and make a pot of tea.
Maybe a little late night TV would cheer me up.
It being 11 pm and all.
A key rattled in the lock and I turned to see Becky walk in the door. She was carrying a bag of clean laundry. It must be that time again.
Once in a while she swapped her clothes out. Her boyfriend had yet to make enough room in his closet to satisfy her clothes habit. So Becky showed up once a week to drop things off and pick up some fresh outfits.
What I considered home, she considered a closet.
She wasn’t a jerk or anything, she was just really into her boyfriend. And clothes. She loved clothes.
Whereas I just saw them as a way to cover up my body.
“Hey, Becks.”
“Oh, hey. You’re up.”
I nodded. I was often in bed with a book by now. Even when I wasn’t working on homework I was reading. I was a certified book-a-colic.
“Want a cup of tea?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Becky was putting her stuff away when my phone let out a series of loud beeps.
Ding.
Ding ding ding.
Whoa, I must have gotten a bunch of texts during my three day sleep-a-thon.
I picked up my phone and my mouth dropped open.
Text one was from Jace:
You okay? Checking in… your car needs a lot of work btw
Text two was from Nevada:
SCHOOL IS OVER! WHOOHOOO! Am I gonna see your face soon Frantastic?
Text three was from Jace:
Hey, let me know how you are. Car should be ready by next week. I can give you a ride if you need one before then.