Music: Break Your Little Heart by All Time Low

     Clarey

He broke away after giving me the sweetest kiss you could ever imagine. As soon as he told me he loved me, all my anger against him from the past dissipated. It was sincere, and I knew it all came from the goodness of his heart.

I broke out of the daze and suddenly felt cold. He slowly scanned my eyes, hoping for confirmation. Anything to validate that we had something special going on between us. I swallowed the lump lodged in my throat. It was taking me forever to respond. I averted my eyes as I took his warm hand away from my face.

"I love you, CJ," he whispered to me, placing his hand back to my face where he cupped it gently, caressing my cheek with his thumb.

Heat climbed into my cheeks and I forced myself to look at him. His gaze remained watchful. Intense. I wound my arm around his neck, still unsure of what to do next. My fingers delved into his thick, soft hair at his nape.

"I—I love you, too, Evan."

He took my hand with a smile, pressing a languid kiss to my palm. His face moved closer, planting once again his soft lips on mine. His other hand was on my neck and I could feel it sliding down my bare back, pulling my body closer to him. As soon as he slipped his tongue between my lips, I sank under his spell with a low moan, my mind going blank. I slid my hands up his bare chest. He was all solid, lean muscle.

He was completely gorgeous.

Wow. I couldn't believe I just told Evan I loved him, and now here we are kissing... again. Seriously, what does this make us? Are we officially a couple now that I've finally coughed out those three sweet little words? To be honest, I am still unsure at the moment. Hell, I feel like announcing my relationship status on social media: It's too fucking complicated. I suddenly pulled away, both of us breathing heavily from that kiss.

"CJ, are you alright?" I turned away from him, somewhat embarrassed. I felt so hot all of a sudden. We both sat down on the sand. I could feel Evan's eyes burning through me as he leaned imperceptibly closer. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

I quickly shook my head. "No, this is just... wrong."

I glanced at him and he shot me a questioning look. He gave a low chuckle, brushing his hand through his wavy dark brown locks.

"Wrong? Now what makes you say that?"

I shrugged, shifting my eyes back at the large waves crashing on to the shore. "I don't know, you tell me."

He slid his hand over to mine. "CJ. How many times do I have to tell you that I seriously love you? I know I've been a problem all your life, but that doesn't mean I can't change. What else do you want me to do? Beg on my knees? Jump off a cliff?"

I playfully slapped him in the arm. "Oh, shut up. You're seriously going to jump off a cliff?"

"Sorry," he chuckled, dragging his index finger on my cheek, caressing it as his green eyes dug into mine. "What I'm saying is," he whispered, narrowing his eyes at me as he slowly closed the distance between us. "That I'll go the extra mile just so I can prove my love to you. It doesn't matter what it is. If you want me to do it, I'll do it."

I gave a small smile in return. My heart fluttered with his words. I didn't even realize how romantic he was until now. "Evan, please..."

He tipped my chin with his finger, studying my whole face, like he wanted to remember every part of it. I blushed as I stared back into his eyes. I pushed him away gently with a smile, but he caught my other hand just as soon as I was about to walk away.

"I have to go, Evan."

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before letting it go, his mouth curving into a grin. "I'll see you at school?"

I playfully winked at him, sliding both my hands inside my short pockets. "Yeah, I'll see you at school."

*

That night I couldn't sleep at all. No matter what I did, I kept on tossing and turning. I knew I should've stayed along with Sofie and Trish, but I couldn't get over the fact that I just confessed my love to my archenemy.

This is so surreal.

The most popular guy of Bonita Verde is in love with me. It's strange how girls all over town have always somehow been explicably drawn to Evan. I'm still thinking that he has some kind of magical charm hidden somewhere. Who knows, maybe one day I'll get to discover it. The scene at the beach kept playing over and over in my head, which is the reason why I couldn't sleep. I hugged my pillow tightly and before I knew it, I had drifted off to dreamland with a huge smile on my face.

*

"No fucking way?" Sofie yelled, and I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth to shut her up.

"Sshh... not too loud," I hissed. Sofie and Trish exchanged a highly charged look. Trish suddenly erupted in giggles. "What's so funny?"

Trish shook her head, linking her arm around mine. "Clarey, you don't know how happy we are for you."

Sofie then linked her arm on my other side. "Yes, you just hit the jackpot, chickie. The hottest, popular jock in school is in love with Clarey Johnson. This is totally major news!"

"Volume down, loudmouth." I snapped.

We stopped walking as soon as we saw some students hanging a large banner on a wall next to the trophy case. I realized it was the winter ball announcement.

"Shit." I groaned, leaning my back against a locker.

"Why, what's the matter?" Trish threw me a quizzical look. She followed my gaze, then realized the reason for my reaction was. "Ooh."

Sofie whispered in Trish's ear and they both left me as they giggled nonstop. I rolled my eyes at Evan who was walking towards me. He was nibbling on his bottom lip as he leaned on the locker next to me, both his hands clutching the straps of his backpack.

"Hey, CJ." He finally conceded.

"What?" I muttered, avoiding eye contact. But of course, I had to shift my eyes back at him. He pressed his lips together. I knew he was nervous. "Spit it out, Evan." I said, rolling my eyes.

He glanced at the banner on the wall nearby and took a deep breath as his eyes fluttered nervously back at me.

"I—I just wanted to ask you about the... winter ball?"

"No." I stated in a hard tone before he would ruminate further. I crossed my arms as I glared at him.

He raised a considering brow and began to grin at me like a cheshire cat. He moved closer, his fingers touching my elbows.

"CJ, come on. I'm asking you to the winter ball."

I grinned back devilishly, placing my hand on his chest. "I'll think about it."

I winked at him one last time as I pushed him away gently. As I turned my back on him, I was all smiles. My heart was skipping happily as I walked further away from him. He just asked me to the winter ball.

*

"Table number twenty just requested for you, Clarissa," Mrs. Cooper slid a plate of burger and fries over the counter. "Order number seventy!"

"Table number...?"

I peeked through the kitchen door and saw Evan and his friends sitting at the corner booth, the table Mrs. Cooper told me about. I rolled my eyes, wiping my hands off with a paper towel. Before exiting the door, Mrs. Cooper grabbed a hold of my arm.

"You're not gonna pour ice cream all over his head again, are you?" She said in her raspy voice.

I snorted. "I wish! But no, I wasn't going to do anything stupid, Mrs. Cooper. Don't worry." I said with the sweetest smile I could muster.

As I approached their table, my heart began to beat faster, humming like a motor in my chest. It felt as if my heart would jump out anytime soon.

"Hey, guys!" I said, super chipperly. "What can I get for you today?"

Lance glared at me while Seth and Reece Began looking at the menus. Evan just sat there and winked at me, giving me one of his knee melting smiles. My heart started to flutter once again. "Um, I'll just come back if you guys are ready to order."

My eyes were locked in on Evan's as I backpedaled. But clumsy me bumped into a table making me lose my balance, so my hand landed over a bowl of stew, splashing it all over a pretty blonde-haired girl's white cardigan.

"Holy shit!" She shrieked, quickly pushing herself away from the table. She started wiping away at her stained clothes. Her white cardigan was half covered with the brownish stain of beef stew. Her nose flared as she closed her eyes. Nothing came out of my stupid mouth.

Apologize, Clarey. Apologize, damn it!

"I'm—I'm sorry!" That's all I could utter at the moment.

She lifted a finger to stop me from talking. "I. Need. A manager," she said calmly. "Now!"

So, my aunt immediately came out and apologized repeatedly to the girl who was shooting me the daggers while wiping herself off with a table napkin. I couldn't help it, really. It was an accident. Believe me, no one would want to get drenched in beef stew. I switched my gaze over at Evan's table. He was just shaking his head, and from the way I see it, he's having a fucking good time watching the show.

*

We all went to the back room where our lockers were at. I quietly took the girl's clothes from the washer and threw them inside the dryer. I was totally flushed. I offered the blonde-haired girl before me a dark gray tank top. She still refused to talk to me after what transpired earlier. Her friend just sat on the sofa, nervously biting her nails and switching glances between me and her friend.

"Look, I'm really sorry, Miss," I said, shattering the silence between us. I bit my lip, hoping for a positive response. "I'm really, really sorry. I didn't know what came over me today."

She cocked an eyebrow and walked over to the kitchen door. "You're in love." She finally said. My nose scrunched up and her gaze shifted back to me.

"Pardon me?" My eyebrows rose fractionally.

She leaned on the door jamb crossing her arms over her chest. "That brown haired hottie on table twenty? Come on, don't act like you don't fucking know."

My jaw instantly dropped to the floor. I was so lost for words. Who was this girl anyway? Gosh, I couldn't even defend myself. She suddenly grinned at me and strode over to the sofa to sit down beside her friend.

"Seriously," I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her eyes turned into slits. "Oh, don't play innocent with me. You're obviously love struck. I was trying to get your attention a while ago, but you were so busy eye fucking Mr. McSteamy so your attention was easily thrown off balance," she said with a smirk on her face. "It's one of the reasons why you're a total klutz, by the way."

My face was probably beet red by now and hot as a furnace. I turned to her, ready to spew, and then quickly held my tongue. She was right after all.

She fixed her messy blonde hair and extended her hand in front of me. "I'm Vada, and this is my best friend, Heidi."

I shook both their hands. "I'm Clarey."

She smiled. "Pretty name."

"Well, I like yours better." I shot back with a grin.

Awkward silence.

Vada was really pretty. A little bit taller and probably a bit older than me. She wasn't really as bitchy as I thought she would be. I left them in the room and came back a few minutes later. The dryer's cycle signal buzzed finally. Vada soon changed back into her clothes. I escorted them out of the restaurant along with some free take out. It's the least we could do for the trouble I caused earlier.

"We're from Summerfield, California. It's a great town, have you been there?" I shook my head. "It's not really far from San Diego. I suggest you visit someday."

"Yeah, maybe I should," I nodded, squinting my eyes against the sun. "Uh, Vada?"

"Yeah?"

"Again, I'm really sorry for what happened earlier. I really am. It was so stupid of me."

She shook her head and gave a small laugh. "It's okay, Clarey. Shit happens. But could you do me one tiny favor?" She said, squinting at me, her blonde hair shining from the sun. "Stop fucking around and just go with it." Vada winked at me and they both said goodbye as they crossed the street towards their car.

"Am I really thatobvious?" I said glumly, and made my way back inside the diner.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: 

Special thanks to my buddy Ivy @milliondollarbaby for letting me use her character Vada and Heidi from her novel  "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" sadly she took it down already. :(  She's an amazing gal! I love you, Ivy! :)

xoxo
Katie