Chapter 12: Like Her
Rowena
Her?
“N–No…” I stammered, still in shock. “I didn’t know. No one told me.”
Seeing Adrian with Heather made my stomach feel heavy. Of course I knew about her father being one of the school’s biggest sponsors. Of course I knew about her entourage of followers, too, and her beautiful features–not to mention the fact that she was Emma’s sister.
But it was only now that I really began to make the connection. Heather wasn’t just the beautiful, seductive cheerleading captain who had a fling with my brother.
She was Adrian’s girlfriend.
I couldn’t believe it. Adrian liked girls like that? It didn’t seem like his type. No, I couldn’t believe it.
“There has to be a mistake,” I said softly. “Adrian doesn’t… He’s not like that. He doesn’t like girls like that.”
Eric chuckled. “Can’t you see it?” he asked, nodding his head toward the two of them. I hated to say it, but Eric was right. It was unmistakable; Adrian had his arm securely wrapped around Heather’s waist. Her slender hip was bumping into his leg as they walked side by side. Even the
way she narrowed her eyes at me and flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder said it all: he was hers.
Not mine.
“I told you once and I’ll say it again: Adrian likes that kind of girl.”
Eric’s words made my stomach clench. “You’re enjoying this too much,” I huffed, before turning on my heel and walking away. I didn’t want to see them together; the sight was too unsettling, and I needed a moment to calm down.
I pushed through the double doors leading outside and stepped into the warm afternoon air. The afternoon heat of early autumn hadn’t faded; sometimes it still felt like summer. Right now, I despised this heat. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Eric followed behind me at a leisurely pace, his hands in his pockets and his strides calm and measured.
“Hey, don’t be upset, Rowena,” he teased, reaching out to tug at a loose strand of Come on, You wanna talk about it?”
my
hair.
((
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#Chapter 12: Like Her
I shook my head and folded my arms across my chest. “I’m fine,” I lied.
Eric always saw right through my lies, so he persisted, this time tugging my hair a little harder. This time, I reached over and smacked his hand away.
The whole way home that day, I ignored Eric. But he kept talking nonstop, as stubborn and teasing as ever.
“Rowena, you’re completely different from Heather,” he said. “And that’s okay. Not everyone can be a hottie like her. She’s a one in a million.”
Gee, I thought to myself as I folded my arms and stared out the window. Thanks.
“Look, I know what you’re thinking,” he continued, “but you don’t need to change yourself just for a guy. Especially not a guy like Adrian.”
I huffed, but didn’t answer.
“C’mon, Rowena, why are you so angry? Is it jealousy, is that it? Do you need a hug?”
As Eric finished speaking, we pulled into the pebbled driveway of our gated mansion. He put the car in park and turned to look at me in his seat. “Come on, Rowena,” he said quietly. “You know you can talk to me.”
Finally, I let out a soft sigh. “I just don’t understand why no one likes me, that’s all. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
For the first time all day, Eric was silent. Realizing that I wasn’t going to get a response, I quickly got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind me.
Okay. I’ll try it again.
I turned on my heel and tried to walk, for the millionth time that evening, like… her. I had been working at it for ages now. There was so much more to Heather than just her looks; yes, she was pretty, but she also had this… air about her. Like she could seduce anyone she wanted with just a look.
She seemed so relaxed, so easy to catch someone’s attention without even having to try that
hard.
I also knew, after Eric’s party, that I wasn’t necessarily unattractive. I just needed a little practice to make people notice me.
After all, the article I read online, which was still open on my laptop on the bed, had mentioned how attitude and confidence were almost more important than actual beauty in
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#Chapter 12: Like Her
many cases.
Gritting my teeth, I swung my hips as I moved. I was determined to get it right this time. Left, right, left, right… I tossed my hair over my shoulder, but…
“Ugh.”
No, it was all wrong. Too stiff, too unnatural. For a girl like me to pull off a model walk like Heather, I needed to try and make it look natural. Otherwise, it would just be too obvious how hard I was trying.
Just one more try. I would get it this time
I spun around and began to sashay down the center of my bedroom, taking extra care this time to loosen my expression. I even smiled a little, trying to mimic the soft little smile that Heather always seemed to have on her face.
But then, I froze when I saw Eric standing there.
“What are you doing in here?”
His eyes flickered first to me, and then to my laptop, and laughed. “I could ask you the same question,” he teased. “You look a little tired. How long have you been strutting back and forth like that?”
My face turned red almost immediately. “I haven’t been strutting back and forth,” I lied. “I’ve just…”
But Eric cut me off with that signature smirk of his. “Show me what you’ve got,” he said, leaning against the wall by the doorway. “Maybe I can give you some pointers.”
I swallowed. “Really, I—”
“Show me.”
Eric’s commanding voice made my heart throb, and I realized he wouldn’t let it go.
So, with a deep breath to steel myself, I continued to walk forward–trying to swing my hips, trying to look natural and not embarrass myself. I finally stopped in front of Eric, but nearly stumbled over myself in the process. My hand landed on his shoulder out of instinct, to steady myself.
When had he gotten so tall? I nearly needed to stand on my tiptoes just to reach his broad shoulder.
Eric looked at me for a long moment, his bright blue eyes searching me before he laughed again. “Are you trying to imitate Heather?” he teased.
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“N–No-”
I went to pull away, but it was too late. Eric’s hand caught my wrist, his other hand looping around my waist and pulling me undeniably close.
“Here’s how you flirt,” he murmured.
My eyes widened at this sudden closeness. “Eric-”
“Watch this, Rowena.”
Suddenly, his other arm looped around me. I felt crushed in his strong arms, but that wasn’t all that was in store for me; he quickly whirled me around, pressing me up against my bedroom door before I even knew what was happening.
Click.
The door shut behind us, and his hand reached out, sliding the lock into place.
Why? Why did he lock the door?
I felt my heart pound as he leaned down, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, “If you want to act like a bitch, I can show you how.”
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