Mutual Hatred - Love Game (22 page)

"I was just mad at him!" cried Chelsey, "That's what Brandon and I do. We fight. But then I meet him in the back seat of his car and we-"

"Please spare us the details," said Morgan, cutting her off. "Trust me honey, you have no chance with my brother. You're a slut," she said slowly, as if talking to a child, "Brandon would never date someone like you. Shelley's more his type."

Chelsey scoffed, trying to hide the fact that she was near tears now. "Brandon and Shelley? The football team will win the CIF championships when that day comes."

"Hey, it could happen," Morgan said simply. She took Shelley by the arm and left Chelsey in their wake.

"God I hate her," complained Morgan, "She's always calling the house. I mean, doesn't she get the message? How many times do I have to tell her?"

Shelley chuckled lightly. "She's always been like that."

"So what was that hug about on the field?" inquired Morgan, changing the subject, "You and Brandon finally realize that you've got the hots for each other?"

Giving her friend a playful swat on the arm, Shelley replied, "Sorry, but Chelsey was partly right. Brandon and I don't really get along. I don't think we ever will"

"Nonsense. You just need to be around him in a different environment. But tell me this; if you and Brandon had met under different circumstances, would you like him?"

That was a hard question. As much as she wanted to say 'No' to Morgan, Shelley knew it would be a lie. She'd be totally attracted to him, and everyone knew it.

"Maybe," said Shelley, shrugging indifferently, "But I can't imagine Brandon and I not being at each other's throats twenty-four seven."

Shelley unlocked her car doors and the girls got in.

"Let's imagine you don't know Brandon and he happened to ask you out. Would you say yes?"

"Why are we talking about this?" demanded Shelley as she started the car, "I thought people were going to stop bugging me about him."

"I never said anything about that," Morgan said mischievously, "You'll come around. They always do."

There was that famous Miller confidence. It must have been a genetic trait, because all of the Millers, or at least the ones Shelley had met so far, seemed to possess that James Bond-ish composure.

Shelley had only planned to drop Morgan off at her home, but there ended up being an impromptu celebration party at the Miller's. Cars were parked all over the street and Shelley had difficulty finding a parking spot nearby. From down the street, Morgan and Shelley could already hear music blaring. As they neared the house, Morgan gasped. There were so many people that the house almost looked like it was overflowing. There was a handful of people cluttered on the lawn clutching beer cans and plastic red cups. When the two girls finally pushed their way into the foyer, they discovered that the inside of the house was just as crowded, if not more.

"There better not be anyone making out or having sex in my room," muttered Morgan.

Shelley spotted Kyle, who grinned at her and yelled, "She's here!"

Evidently someone had put him up to be the lookout.

A hearty cheer rose up through the crowd. Someone started chanting, "Shell-ey! Shell-ey!" Naturally everyone joined in.

Shelley shook her head and followed Morgan into the living room. They spotted Brandon, Alex, and James trying to build a pyramid with beer cans as girls looked on greedily.

When their pyramid toppled over, the boys burst into laughter and fell on top of each other.

Already drunk
, mused Shelley.

And where were Mr. and Mrs. Miller? Didn't they care that their house was being destroyed by what seemed like hundreds of teenagers?

Obviously not, or they would have put a stop to it by now.

As Shelley was about to turn and go in search of her other friends, Brandon spotted her.

"Coach!" he cried drunkenly, patting his lap, "C'mere!"

Shelley shook her head, but Brandon persisted. He got up and dragged her to the coach, forcing her to sit next to him. She looked at Morgan for help, but Morgan only smiled evilly and ran off.

Honestly. What kind of friends did Shelley have? The kind that conspired against her?

Meanwhile, Brandon had gotten hold of another can of beer. "Dude, that was a sick game we played, huh?"

"Yeah," Shelley said lamely, hoping Brandon would get the message, "Can I go now?"

"No," Brandon said forcefully. To add emphasis he placed a strong hand on Shelley's knee.

She had no idea why he was doing this. What was he up to?

Suddenly, Chelsey sidled up to Brandon. For once in her life, Shelley was
happy
to see Chelsey, even though she wouldn't wish Chelsey on Brandon.

"Sinclair, get your hands off my man. Now," said Chelsey, giving Shelley her best glare.

"I believe his hands are on
me
, so you'll have to ask him to remove them," retorted Shelley.

Brandon was watching the two girls with an amused expression. "Hey, why don't you guys fight over me? Pull each other's hair and shit? That'd be hot," he suggested. "Better yet, fight and then start kissing. I wanna see some tongue action!"

Shelley elbowed Brandon hard and delicately removed his hand from its position on her thigh.

"You're not worth fighting over," said Shelley.

"What, you think you'll lose him to me?" challenged Chelsey.

"Smith, give it a
rest
already. Brandon doesn't want you and he never will," Shelley countered.

In one swift motion, Chelsey had swooped down on Brandon and planted her lips firmly on his.

Shelley was appalled. Not that Chelsey had done such a thing, but because Brandon was fully participating. It takes two to tango, doesn't it?

And good Lord, was that
tongue
?

Chelsey pulled away long enough to give Shelley a triumphant look before Brandon pulled Chelsey closer to him and they resumed….whatever they were doing.

At this rate, Brandon and Chelsey would definitely be a couple by Monday, even if Brandon didn't actually like Chelsey. Somehow that girl would spin a tale about how Brandon had confessed his undying love for her, and Brandon being the dumbass he could be, would believe it.

He confused her. Really, he did.

For someone who had so profusely declared that he didn't like Chelsey, this was too much, even for Brandon. There he was, making out with Shelley's rival!

Shelley must have looked distressed, because a voice next to her said dryly, "Aren't they disgusting?"

Her eyes lit up when she saw that it was Andrew Cheek, the freshman Chelsey had it out for.

"Absolutely horrid," she agreed. "What are you doing here?"

"My friends said something about a party after the game. But after we all got here, we got separated. Congratulations on the win," Andrew said, flashing Shelley a genuine smile, "You're a great coach."

"Only because I have a good team that complies with my every order."

"So whose house is this? It's pretty nice," said Andrew.

"Oh, it's Brandon's," replied Shelley, making a face.

Andrew's eyes widened. "
That
Brandon? The one who's tongue wrestling with
her
?" he said in disbelief, pointing at Brandon and Chelsey.

"The one and only."

"Something gives me the feeling that you're not enjoying that sight," he commented.

"No, I'm not. But who wouldn't? They could at least get a room or something," she replied.

"That's not what I meant."

Andrew had this uncanny perception. It kind of scared Shelley, but at the same time it was comforting.

"Oh, what did you mean then?"

"You know exactly what," Andrew said stonily.

Funny, Andrew had seemed so shy and timid at school. This was a whole new side of him. Shelley couldn't decide if she liked it or not.

"If you're implying that I'm jealous,
I'm not
," said Shelley.

When Andrew still looked unconvinced, she hastily added,

"Really, I'm not. It's not like Brandon and I are an
item
or anything. I'm not even interested in him!"

Now he was looking at her with a knowing smile. It infuriated her.

"Oh, go away, freshman!" Shelley said irritably.

"You don't mean that. You're only saying that because I'm right and you know it," Andrew said agreeably.

"You're wrong. I think I'm gonna get a drink. See ya," said Shelley, and she hastened off to find a non-alcoholic drink.

She wandered into the kitchen, only to find Brandon with Chelsey pushed up against the refrigerator, still sucking face. Brandon was groping his way up Chelsey's skirt and Chelsey's hands were wandering all over his toned body.

"Oh, get a room!" cried Shelley as she walked away, now in search of someplace quiet. She nearly screamed as someone grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a room.

Shelley sighed with relief when she found out who her 'kidnapper' was.

"Thank God, Destiny! I was starting to get bored," said Shelley.

They were in the spacious downstairs bathroom. Grouped around her were Brianna, Meg, Taryn, Destiny, and Morgan.

Ah, finally.
Sane people
.

"We've been looking all over for you!" cried Brianna. "We thought maybe you and Brandon decided to hook up after all."

Scratch that. Everyone in here was stark raving
mad
.

Morgan held up a hand. "We know, we know. You don't like Brandon. But you can't honestly say that you
like
seeing him with Chelsey."

"I don't. But there's nothing I can do about it. If he wants trash, he can have her. It's not like I have any hold over him."

Meg took a bobby pin out of her hair and pocketed it. "You can't let
Chelsey
have him though! Come on, do you really want the satisfaction of knowing she's won?"

"If Brandon is what she's won, I don't think I've missed out on anything. They're made for each other," said Shelley.

"Correction: You and Brandon are made for each other. In the wise words of Colette in Legally Blonde, 'Steal the bastard back,'" urged Taryn.

"And if I get him, what will I do with him?"

"Become my sister-in-law and make lots of babies," suggested Morgan.

"I think I'll pass," said Shelley. "Can you all
please
just lay off about Brandon? It's like you've all started a club and everyone in it is supposed to try and hook me and Brandon up."

Ahem.

"Now why would we do something like
that
?" chuckled Destiny nervously, "We'll lay off. For now."

Just then, they heard someone yell, "Girl fight!"

This was the perfect escape. Shelley thrust open the door and ran out to see what the commotion was all about. The other girls followed.

Apparently, a fight had developed in the backyard between a young looking girl and one of Chelsey's lackeys.

"He's
my
boyfriend!" shrieked the younger girl. "Get your own!"

"You silly freshman, if he wanted you, he'd have been with you. But he was with
me
," said Kelly Jones.

They were fighting over a boy! How typical.

The freshman girl grabbed the arm of the boy standing next to her. "Tell this skank that you're with
me
!" she said fiercely.

Shelley didn't know how she'd missed him before. The boy that the girls were fighting over was
Andrew
.

Not surprising. After all, Andrew was quite handsome in his own right.

When Andrew refused to obey his 'girlfriend's' bidding, chaos ensued. Kelly Jones pushed Andrew out of the way and took a lunge at the freshman.

It was actually kind of funny to watch them fight. They were pulling each other's hair, kicking and screaming. Eventually, Kelly, being much larger and stronger, got the upper hand and pushed the younger girl into the pool. At that point,
everyone
started jumping in the pool.

Oh, those crazy fools.

Shelley decided it was time to leave. It was nearing one o'clock in the morning, and even though tomorrow was Saturday, Shelley just wanted to sleep. The game had already tired her out.

The house was now mostly empty since everyone had migrated to the backyard to watch the fight. Shelley was just on her way out when Brandon walked out of one of the bedrooms, wiping his mouth as he shut the door. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Shelley.

"Is the party over?" he asked.

"Nah, they're all in the backyard. There was a fight," she replied.