Page 3 of Once Upon an Apocalypse

The sound my mom makes is something between a seagull and a yelp, making me jump off my seat. “Dammit, Mom, what was that?”

“Sorry, I’m just so fucking excited. I’ve been waiting for you guys to finally confess your undying love to each other. Just do me a favor, be safe. Even though you are on birth control, it’s important to practice safe sex.”

“Mom!” I shout as Hayden slides back into his seat.

“What did I miss?” he asks, looking right at me as if he already knows what we were talking about.

“Nothing,” I say at the same time my mom says, “Jonah and Lori love each other and are going to have the cutest kids one day.”

“Mom!” I shout a bit louder, throwing one of my harsher looks at her. Hayden just laughs.

“Okay, okay,” my mom giggles.

The waiter interrupts us with a “Welcome,” and asks us what we’d like to drink. Once our orders are placed, my mom is sobered up but still staring at me.

“In all seriousness, I think you two will be great together. I know you are scared of opening your heart up, but the hardest part is over. You both have expressed your feelings. Keep that open line of communication and you guys will get through anything.”

“I like Jonah a lot,” Hayden says. “Much more than that shitbag you dumped a few months ago.”

Hayden doesn’t bother looking at me as he gives his unsolicited opinion, but it warms my heart to know that my family approves of Jonah. Who wouldn’t? He’s literally everything a girl could dream of. Smart. Caring. Handsome.

Those smoky quartz eyes of his have haunted my dreams for years. Eyes I never thought would be fixed on me. As I sit with my family, I try so hard not to imagine my fingers twirling his thick, brown curly hair as we lie in bed together. I can’t help but think of his arms around me. How perfectly we fit together, even though he’s so much taller than me.

I long to get to know him better. More than just my best friend’s brother. Because I already know everything about who he is and where he comes from. Now I want to dive in deeper. Become something more than a friend. I’m just not sure I’m ready for that. Or perhaps it’s only fear holding me back.

Chapter 2

“There’ssomethingI’vebeendying to ask you,” Lexi says from behind me as I change out of my gym clothes in the girls’ locker room at school.

Without turning around to look at her, I roll my eyes, readying myself for an insult or some kind of bitchy comment. Lexi has hated me ever since I made the varsity volleyball team and she didn’t. I wish I could say her comments don’t bother me, but they do. So I attempt to ignore her, hoping she’ll leave me alone. An attempt that doesn’t work.

“Did you not hear me?” Lexi’s cringe-worthy voice makes me want to punch something. Her face. Instead, I take a deep breath and turn around.

“Are you speaking to me?” I ask, feigning ignorance.

My friends from swim team step closer to me, offering me their support if I need it. Jenni even takes a little step in front of me. I love my friends. They are fiercely loyal, in the pool and on dry land.

“Yes. I was looking at you, so who else would I be talking to?” Lexi places her hands on her hips in a defensive stance.

“So sorry, I don’t have eyes on the back of my head.”

Elice chuckles at my side, making Lexi’s eyes narrow on her. But she swings her gaze back to me. “Actually, it’s a question my boyfriend wanted me to ask you. You know Jake, right?”

My chest clenches at the name of my ex. Shit. I didn’t know he and Lexi are together now. I dumped that douche months ago after I found out he cheated on me. We hadn’t even gone all the way together, just heavy make-out sessions. I wasn’t ready to go all the way with him. Something that he wasn’t too happy about.

When I don’t answer, Lexi continues with, “He wanted to know if the carpet matches the drapes and hoped I’d be able to catch a glimpse of you in the locker room, but you cover up so quickly. So I figured I’d just ask.”

My face burns with humiliation. I knew nothing but venom would come out of Lexi’s mouth, but I wasn’t expecting this comment. The embarrassment is so obvious in my face as I feel it burn even redder. Jenni pushes Lexi away from me, saying, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“She’s just jealous because Lori is a badass bitch whereas she is just a…bitch,” Elice says, putting her hands on her hips.

Lexi laughs. “At least I know how to treat my boyfriend. You wouldn’t even give him head? What is wrong withyou?”

“Nothing iswrongwith Lori,” Elice says as she steps in front of me, completely blocking Lexi’s path of destruction. But I’m already destroyed inside.

I bolt for the hallway like a pathetic coward, heading for my next class. Before I make it there, my head slams into a brick wall. A brick wall that smells like a gust of fall wind. Arms wrap around my waist, pressing me closer.

“You okay, Shortcake?” Jonah whispers into my ear, using his nickname for me. A name I used to hate when I was little, but it’s grown on me over the years.

---