Page 28 of Hard Rock Love

9

Itexted Everly and told her I was taking a cab home. She assumed I was still upset over her comments and didn’t want to ride back with her.

She was half-right. I was still upset with her. But mostly I was mortified by what had happened between me and Seth.

I’d thrown myself at him — and he’d pulled away.

After all the things people whispered and snickered about me at school, you’d think I’d know better. But there I was, jumping on the first guy to show me the slightest bit of attention, like the rumors all said.

And he’d rejected me.

Just how pathetic was I?

I hid in my room for the next few days. I didn’t study or do my readings. I barely looked at my schoolwork at all. I managed to drag myself to campus long enough for class and immediately headed home the moment the professor dismissed us.

I buried myself under a mound of books, mostly young adult fiction I’d read growing up, taking comfort in the familiar words. I very carefully ignored my well-worn copies of a certain bespectacled boy wizard.

I was in my room, reading, when I heard the front door creak open and the quiet sounds of her shuffling to my bedroom.

My door was ajar, but she didn’t walk in. She knocked and waited outside. A hopeful look crossed her face when I opened the door a crack.

“I’m sorry,” were the first words out of her mouth. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was worried and said something stupid and thoughtless.”

I wanted to shut the door in her face, but I’d had a lot of time to think over the last few days. I knew Everly hadn’t meant to be mean. She had no idea that she’d inadvertently poked one of my more sensitive sore spots.

I sighed and opened the door wider for her to come in.

“I forgive you,” I told her.

“Oh, thank god.” Relief blossomed across her face. “I hate it when we fight.”

“Me, too,” I said.

She came into my room, eyeing the mess of books on my bed, but didn’t say anything about it.

“Do you still want to come?” she asked.

“Come where?” I asked.

“To that interview this afternoon,” she said, and I remembered her telling me about it. “Cerise is going to be there, and to be honest, I’m still kind of intimidated by her. It would really help me if you came along.”

I hesitated and looked to the novel I’d left open on my bed.

“I'm sort of in the middle of something,” I said.

My sister’s face fell, her hot pink hair falling over her shoulders as she slumped down. I remembered all the times she’d ditched me for her friends and her band when I was growing up. For once, she was actually trying to include me in her life.

“I guess I can come along for the afternoon,” I added.

She brightened up and threw her arms around me.

“Thank you,” she said with a squeeze. “I really appreciate this.”

“I don’t have to dress up or anything, do I?” I examined the flawless makeup Everly wore on her face.

“It’s just a casual blog thing,” she told me.

But again, Everly’s idea of casual was far from reality.