When Perfect Meets Crazy

Trevor took it well. The kiss. I attributed it to the fact that he was older, in college. College guys were supposedly more mature. Ian was a testament to that fact. Not many high schoolers could handle my constant insults and unfiltered abrasiveness but Ian, despite the rest of his faults, took it admirably well. He had never once yelled at me even though he had to deal with the undiluted and unfiltered version of me. I had to water myself down for everybody else and they still whined about it.

Trevor also was a good kisser. Another thing I decided to attribute to him being in college where he could easily amass a plethora of experience. He kissed so well I was sure I had on a dreamy smile afterwards.

“Nicely done,” I complimented, pulling back.

“I could say the same,” he replied, his voice noticeably huskier.

I smile inwardly, taking in his darkened gaze and heavy breathing. I wasn’t such an amateur myself.

“My turn,” I said, returning to my seat next to Ian who slightly scooted away as soon as I sat down.

And for a second there, I was penning his name down on my matured boys list. I rolled my eyes, ignoring him as I turned to face the last girl in the circle, a devious smile on my face.

“Truth or dare.”

“I feel so unsafe right now,” the girl announced.

After one more round, the truth-or-dare group broke up, with Jack and Mandy heading out to begin what I hoped -for their sake- would be a beautiful relationship, Dreadlocks -whose name I later discovered was Leah- left with the last girl. From the looks they had been giving each other, my guess was they were off to find a private place to themselves. Trevor, Ian, Olly and I headed outside for some fresh air.

For some reason, Ian was sulking. I could just feel it. I tried talking to him but he met me with forced awfully polite platitudes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any fault in them and the conversation eventually came to a natural end. At which point, he turned away and struck up conversation with Olly.

I didn’t like the idea of him talking to her since she wasn’t aware of the details of our ‘situation.’ There wasn’t much he didn’t already know about me but I still couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable about him and Olly together, alone. So I hung around them, making small talk with Trevor.

“Yeah, I remember him. He was nice. Very funny too.” I smiled. “He used to dance like crazy.”

“He still does, I think. I’m surprised you know that. He used to be so secretive about it.”

I smiled, letting my eyes drift shut as I inhaled deeply.

“He was,” I agreed, gazing up at the stars.

I could feel Trevor’s gaze on my face but after identifying the constellation I had been looking for, my eyes drifted to Ian whose gaze also happened to flicker to me, an unreadable expression on his face. He flashed a smile my way and turned his attention back to Olly who was animatedly communicating some story or the other with wild gesticulations.

relief, a knot in my stomach undoing itself. We were

announced loudly a while later, drawing Trevor and I’s

called over my shoulder.

in the little corner we had carved out for ourselves on the porch

side glance. “Ian. This is the second time

got the implication

also heard me say he has a girlfriend. Tammy, I think. Or Tonya. It’s a

know,” she sang, eyes twinkling with delight. “I think he might maybe like

him. Not even a little.”

it doesn’t seem to matter. I think he likes you. He just hasn’t figured it out yet,”

“No.” I laughed.

awkward, even to my own ears. I cleared my throat and

not used to seeing me hangout with other

you say so.” She shrugged. “Just seemed a little jealous to me. Especially when you kissed Trey. His face... I don’t know. It wasn’t jealous jealous but... there was something off about it.” She shrugged again.

can’t be that. Trust

we started

horrible track record when it comes to figuring

blind spots,” I refuted

she merely jerked a shoulder, wordlessly insinuating, if you say so. I scowled. Sure my past experiences showed that I was a bit slow to catch on when guys liked me despite my hawk-like precision at catching it when it came to other people but this was Ian we were talking about. Masked

me too well to like me. Attraction was a different matter but to actually like me, he couldn’t. Besides even if -and that was an enormous if- he did, I

definitely did not like

me,” I concluded as we stepped

to go up to the boys who were speaking in hushed tones but Olly drew me back into the shadows, placing a finger against her

ear, then to the boys. The implication was clear. She wanted us to eavesdrop. I wasn’t a fan but if there was something she wanted

his shoulders up as though to say, ‘what can

Olly, narrowing in accusation. Not so long ago, she had sworn up and down that there was nothing of

eyes at my accusatory look.

She

words, ‘see what I mean? You’re slow to catch on.’ I ignored her expression and the revelation