Page 5 of The Midseason Fakeout

He runs his hands through his hair. “I think you’re losing it. I didn’t understand any of that. Somehow, where you go to college means you’ll have a miserable life, which I don’t even understand because you’re not in college yet.”

I grimace. “I actually skipped a grade.” I shake a nonexistent pom-pom.

He rolls his eyes. “Of course you did.”

Sealing my lips shut, I bite my tongue. People don’t understand how much that bothers me, especially others my own age. How do I even begin to explain that I have this overwhelming urge to make my parents proud…in everything? Even when it’s detrimental to myself.

He sits down on his bed. I knew the right was his side. It’s a little messy, but not bad. The TV is turned toward his bed, and there’s a football video game paused, something he and Darrin used to play nearly all day when Aidan would visit.

Leaning over his thighs, he peeks up at me, his gaze drifting down my front and back up quickly. A thrill shoots through me. That might have been the first time Aidan Michaels has ever checked me out. If that’s what it was.

I still consider it a personal victory.

It’s no wonder his name popped out when I was trying to convince my parents not to send me to Carnegie University. Sure, it’s a great school, but I wouldn’t be meeting anyone different. I wouldn’t be experiencing new things. I live in a posh bubble, and I can’t escape it.

I’m going fucking mad.

“Let’s start from the beginning,” Aidan instructs. “And I promise I won’t get angry.”

I move toward the bed and sit next to him, frowning a little when he puts some distance between us. Distracted by all the new things in this room, I bounce up and down on the mattress. Not bad. It’s definitely no plush luxury brand, but I could deal. Mom made it sound like kids at other colleges sleep on army cots or some shit.

“What are you doing?” Aidan asks, jumping to his feet.

“Nothing,” I say hurriedly. “Just…looking at things.” I take a deep breath. “Sorry, I’ve never been in a dorm room before. But moving on, you know how my parents are with me. The piano recitals, and the dance classes, and—”

“You like all those things.”

I give him a withering look. “—the pressure. Oh my God, the pressure. I need a break, Aidan. It’s like being in a cage.”

“Yeah, a diamond-encrusted cage.”

My head snaps back, and I clamp my jaw shut again. I’d suspected that’s what Aidan thought of me. It’s probably what everyone thinks of me. I’m my mother’s mini-me. Louis Vuitton’s and designer clothes. Straight A’s.

My mother is the stud, and I’m the prized mare to be shown around with ribbons draping my neck.

“Aidan…” Emotion clogs my throat before I can compose myself. “You must have noticed my parents never let me do anything. You and Darrin would go out. I had to stay home. You and Darrin would get to do all these fun things, and I had to practice and study and be thegood little girl.”

He shakes his head. “You were too young to go out with us.”

“I’m only a year and a half younger than you,” I snap. “Get over it.”

He holds up his hands. “Whoa.”

I barely let him take another breath. “Even when I got older, they still wouldn’t let me do anything. I’m like the mannequin in a store—you can look but you can’t touch. If I go to Carnegie, everything will stay the same.Everything.I need space. I need freedom.”

He scratches at the little bit of stubble that lines his jaw, and I find myself wondering if it’s always there now, or if he just didn’t shave today. When he speaks, though, I meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, Bailey. I didn’t realize you were…unhappy. I thought you liked being the princess.”

“How could I have shown otherwise? A princess throwing a fit looks like a stuck-up bitch.”

He nods. “Fair enough. Really, I’m sorry. I didn’t even know you wanted to come out with us. If I did…”

This is what I love about Aidan. Always so quick to understand and empathize. “So, then, you understand why I’m here?” I ask hopefully.

“I get that you want to be your own person. I don’t understand why you need me to do that.”

Well, that’s a story within another story. “So, here’s the thing. Darrin’s been talking about transferring here for a year or so, and my parents were all on board as sort of a fun reprieve before he returned to ‘real college.’ I said I wanted to, too, but it was an immediate no, which so isn’t fair.” I peer at Aidan for confirmation, but he still looks confused. “They told me Darrin had a reason for wanting to go here and I didn’t. You and I dating kind of popped out after that. You know, as the reason why I would want to go here.”

“And they believed that? That was enough for them?”

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