“Shut up.” Knox pouts and turns back to face the TV.
Another rumble of thunder has me flinching in Zayn’s arms, and he snickers. He rubs up and down my arm and whispers soothing phrases in my ear.
“Don’t worry.”
“You’re safe.”
“I’ve got you.”
"How am I supposed to just go on like he didn't totally shoot me down when he's constantly showing up, reminding me that no matter how much I want him, it'll never happen?"
Kennedy gets up and comes over to my bed, wrapping her arms around me. "It sucks, I know. Let's just take it one day at a time and focus on other things, like how cheerleading practice starts tomorrow."
My head falls back as I groan. "They're going to whip our asses into shape, and after the summer I had, I'm so not ready for that."
She cringes. "Then we should probably enjoy the last night of freedom we have."
It's probably a bad idea, especially being as I have class tomorrow morning at eight. But neither of us say anything about that as we get up and head out the door, with an unknown destination and the whole world at our feet.
CHRISSY YELLS COMMANDS FOR the hundredth time, and I'm convinced I'm dying. If I try to do one more burpee, my arms are going to fall off. They weren't kidding when they said we should keep up our training over summer vacation, because I'm really regretting not listening to that advice right now.
Thankfully, I'm not alone. Not only is Kennedy struggling just as much, it seems like the only people who aren't are the upperclassmen. I guess they learned from experience: always stay on top of it.
"Okay, that's enough for the day," Chrissy, the captain, announces.
Kennedy and I collapse onto the floor, our breathing ragged. As I go to take a sip of my water bottle, I accidentally spill it all over my face and I'm not even mad about it. Just as I sit up, I see Chrissy and a few of the other girls coming our way.
Fuck.
"Amelia, right?" she asks, and I nod. "Your brother is Easton Donovan?"
Oh. "Yeah."
Smiling, she glances over at her friends then back to me. "Maybe you could introduce me sometime."
Kennedy's jaw ticks next to me. It's no secret she has a small crush on my brother, ever since the party where she pulled him away so I could be alone with he-who-shall-not-be-named. Chrissy has the ability to all but shun me from the team, but I'm a big believer in putting your friendships first. I glance over at Kennedy, and when she notices I'm not agreeing to it, she smiles.
"I think he's seeing someone," I tell Chrissy.
Her bottom lip juts out. "Oh, that's too bad. He's cute for a sophomore."
The four of them walk off and out of the gym. I pretend to gag, mocking disgust. Kennedy laughs and lightly kicks me.
"See? I'm not the only one who thinks your brother is hot," she teases.
I roll my eyes playfully. "That's because none of you have seen him pre-puberty. He once went through a phase where he insisted on wearing baggy jeans with a chain hanging practically to the floor."
Kennedy chuckles but still looks endeared by the concept. "Sorry, babe. He's still hot."
So gross.
I'M SITTING AT MY desk, studying for a quiz we have tomorrow, when Kennedy bursts through the door, looking like she has the answers to all the world's greatest problems. She pulls a flyer out of her purse and slams it onto my book, blocking my view.
"I've got it!"
My brows furrow. "Got what, exactly?"
She taps on the flyer to make me read it. "How we can afford to live our best lives, duh."