Mutual Hatred - Love Game (30 page)

"You need to get a life, buddy," said Brandon, clapping a hand on Johnny's back. "How 'bout you get a gay lover?"

"How about you get your fucking filthy hands off me and we'll talk about how you want to do the nasty with me."

Brandon quickly drew his hand away. "Bastard. I always knew you wanted me. You know I don't swing that way. Maybe you and Fox can work something out, though."

"I'd stop while I was ahead," advised Johnny, shooting Brandon a deathly glare.

"So you
are
a fag, then?" Brandon raised his eyebrows.

"You're just looking for trouble aren't you?"

Unfortunately, Brandon didn't see Johnny's hands curling into fists at his sides. If he had, he wouldn't have gone any further.

"Gentlemen, we have a winner," Brandon said to their surveyors. Johnny's friends looked absolutely livid, while Brandon's crowd was eagerly awaiting a fight to ensue. "It's okay to admit you're gay, Johnny boy. We'll still accept you."

"Fat chance."

Without warning, Johnny punched Brandon squarely in the face. Brandon didn't even stop to think for a moment. He retaliated with such a force that sent Johnny hurtling backwards and eventually sprawled on the ground.

Brandon walked-no, strutted-over to where Johnny lay and loomed over him.

"You'll never beat me," he said darkly.

Johnny groaned and looked up just as Brandon was walking away.

"I hope Shelley dumps your fucking ass!" he called after Brandon. "I hope she sees you for what you really are!"

Brandon stopped in his tracks, and without turning around said, "She already knows what I am. And I don't think she minds."

- - - - - -

"Wait! Allow me," Zachary said easily as he pulled out Shelley's chair for her.

They hadn't gone to a posh restaurant, but Zach had insisted on taking her somewhere nice.

"You are
way
too sweet for your own good," sighed Shelley as he took his own seat across from her.

"What, Brandon's never pulled out a chair for you?"

"What does
he
have to do with this?" Shelley's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know; maybe nothing at all. I just get the feeling there's something going on between you two that you're not telling me," Zachary said nonchalantly.

"Nothing is 'going on,'" Shelley said firmly.

"So you won't mind if I kiss you?"

His bold remark caught Shelley off guard. Sure, she liked Zach, but not in
that
way. And the whole time he'd flirted with her, she'd thought he was fooling around. Did she
want
him to kiss her?

"I'm not sure how Brandon would feel about that-" she began.

"I didn't ask you how Brandon would feel," Zachary cut in smoothly. "But I think that was answer enough."

"What?" protested Shelley. "I didn't even give you my answer!"

"But you were concerned about Brandon. I like you, but I don't want to kiss you if you're romantically interested in someone else," said Zach.

He was taking it as well as he could. Shelley was nothing more than a pretty face, after all. It was her loss if she wanted a jerk like Brandon Miller.

"I'm not interested in Brandon," said Shelley. "Not yesterday. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever."

"It's okay," Zachary said softly. "I understand. He was in your life way before I was."

"You're making it sound like Brandon and I are going out," she said sharply.

He made to answer, but was interrupted by the waiter. They ordered and sat in silence until their food came. Zachary didn't want to say the wrong thing to Shelley, nor did she want to say anything to him-at all. She was sick and tired of everyone talking about "Brandon-and-Shelley" like there was something there, like they even existed as a couple. They didn't, of course, but she couldn't help but think how sweet he could be, how innocent he'd sounded when he had told her he liked her.

It was ridiculous, frankly. The phrases 'I love you' and 'I like you' contained eight letters, but so did 'Bullshit.' And that's exactly what Brandon's words were. She could never tell when he was being serious or just plain lying. When in doubt,
don't
give the benefit of the doubt.

Why was she even thinking about him anyways? She was at a nice restaurant having dinner was a super sweet and adorable boy. As far as she was concerned, Brandon shouldn't have even been anywhere near her thoughts tonight.

And yet, why did everything always lead back to him? She was taking Zachary to the concert with her-the concert
Brandon
had gotten her tickets for. The necklace around her neck that she'd never ever dream of removing? Also courtesy of Brandon Miller.

Why did she even bother wearing it? She'd detested him at that time! But one side of her pointed out that it was such a waste not to wear such a nice piece of jewelry.

She was snapped out of her reverie-literally, by Zachary.

"Hello? Earth to Shelley?"

"Sorry, I must have wandered off into thought for a moment."

"It's okay," he said airily. "I, uh, I'm sorry if I made you mad. I didn't realize you-know-who was such a touchy subject for you."

"Voldemort?"

Zachary laughed. "No, no.
Him
."

"That fat, bald guy sitting across from us with the spinach stuck in his teeth?"

"Not him either. You
must
know who I'm referring to," said Zachary, clearly exasperated that she still couldn't figure out who he was talking about.

"Huh? Oh.
OH!
" her eyes lit up when it finally clicked. "
Him
."

"You know, if you're in denial, it is totally okay. If I liked someone like him, I'd want to be in denial too. Granted, I'd have to be gay, but you get the idea."

"What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm telling it like it is. You like Brandon, everyone thinks and knows you do," he said, leaning back in his seat. "But you're so sick of living up to everyone's expectations that you don't
want
to let everyone else be right again. Think about it, Shell," his voice was softer now; "You're always the good girl. But everybody likes a rebel, and you know it."

Shelley had to admit that Zachary's analysis hit pretty close to home. She'd started this school year a "rebel" of sorts; in fact, she'd started her summer a rebel. She'd been a cheerleader practically her entire life. And all of a sudden she dropped it to coach a really bad high school football team? No wonder her mom thought she was insane.

But Shelley had proven everyone wrong. She wasn't that 'dumb blonde' or that vapid cheerleader. She hadn't fallen for Brandon's-there he was again, popping up in her thoughts!-charms or good looks. She hadn't succumbed to the airs of popularity. Through it all, Shelley Sinclair had done everything
her
way and stayed true to herself.

But when it came to Brandon, was she being true to herself? She recalled Morgan asking her that, if given different circumstances, how Shelley would feel about Brandon. And while she honestly didn't have an answer for that, Shelley knew she might feel differently.

She might have liked him, dated him, even.

So what was she doing now? She was flaunting herself before him, using the delightful and ever-so-willing Zachary Fox to make him jealous.
Why
? What possessed her to do that?

Shelley had to face it. She cared about Brandon, whether she liked it or not. She'd spent so much time trying to be the girl no one expected her to be that she didn't realize that while the old Shelley didn't like Brandon, the rebel-Shelley saw his jackass in a whole new light. Whether it was a positive light was yet to be determined.

Still, she was a changed person.

So maybe she liked him more than she would ever have admitted. That didn't change things. Something was still going on between Brandon and Chelsey; she could feel it.

Zachary leaned forward and studied Shelley. She'd barely uttered a word all night, and now she looked as intrusive as ever. He didn't want to interrupt her thoughts, though.

"I think you're right," she finally declared. "Do you like this rebel-Shelley?"

"Do you? Because it's not what
I
think that matters."

"I will always value your opinion," she assured him.

"I liked the old Shelley better, to be honest. But I don't mind the new one. She's funnier, wittier, smarter, and nicer. I'll always like you for who you are, Shell, but I think what you want to know is if Brandon likes the new you."

"And what if he doesn't?" she asked faintly.

"Trust me, he does."

- - - - -

The Backstreet Boys concert was a blast. Somehow, Zachary had charmed his way with one of the stage managers and gotten them backstage passes. It was amazing, really, what good looks could do for you.

Shelley appreciated Zachary for being such a good sport about the concert; he'd even started singing along, and Shelley wasn't surprised he knew some of the words. She could tell that the girls around them had noticed the older guy, and it wasn't just because he was the only male in the audience. Several of the older, bolder girls had flocked to him and made passes, but he'd turned them all down flat. That was the kind of boy Shelley wanted. A Zachary-type boy who would stay true to her. In a sense, he was perfect. And yet, she didn't want Zachary himself.

Boys complicated life. Shelley made an exception for the Backstreet Boys, though. She really had to hand it to Zachary. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have
met
the 'boys' either. They were really sweet and funny, especially Nick Carter. She'd flirted with him a bit, knowing full well that he was way too old for her; well, seven years older
was
quite a bit, wasn't it? But it was fun.

As they made their way back to her house-Zachary was driving-Zachary started humming. At first, Shelley couldn't figure out the song, but eventually she caught on.

"But my love is all I have to giiiive!" she joined in, "Without you I don't think I can liiiiive!"

Zach pulled into her driveway and cut off the engine. They were still singing as he walked her to the door.

"I wish I could give the world to you," he crooned, a lopsided smile on his face, "But love is all I have to give."

Impulsively, she stood on her tip-toes and kissed him. It wasn't anything hot or passionate. It was more of a friendly kiss. And how could she resist? He was so cute, agreeing to come along, getting her a backstage pass, not to mention singing for her. Why couldn't
Brandon
be like that? Oh, no. Brandon had to keep his stupid masculinity intact.

When she pulled away, Zachary didn't say anything. He gave her a knowing smile and said,

"Thanks for inviting me, Shell. I, er-I had fun."

"Don't thank me. The pleasure was all mine! I mean, I met the freakin' Backstreet Boys! What more could a girl ask for?" she cried.

"See ya later, love," he squeezed her hand and left.

Shelley was in the process of unlocking her front door when a voice from behind her said,

"Have fun?"

She nearly jumped a mile when she heard his voice. What the hell was he doing waiting in front of her house at such an ungodly hour?

She slowly turned around, any traces of surprise masked. "Brandon," she said calmly, "Do you need something?"

"Need— no." Brandon smirked at her. "Of course, 'want' is an entirely different matter."

Shelley sighed heavily. She'd seen Brandon turn on the fatal Miller charm many times to get himself out of trouble, and knew its unequivocal tones by heart. She smirked back at him. "Alright, I'll play. What do you
want,
Brandon?"

He took a step closer to her. "There are a lot of things I
want
, although none of them are appropriate enough to mention in front of you, though," he said cheekily.

"Well, there must be a reason
why
you're here. It's almost one in the morning. And I highly doubt it's because you wanted to know if I had
fun
."

"Did you, though?"

"I did, thank you very much," she replied stiffly.

"And did you have fun with Zachary?" he said it ever so casually, but she suspected there was more to that than he was letting on.

He took another step closer to her.

"Mhmm," she mumbled, "It was great."

"I'm glad."

Her eyes lost that dreamy look and suddenly she was alert again. "Why are you here?"

"Oh," said Brandon, "Just wanted to make sure my favorite girl got home safely."

"Well you could have just called, you know."

"And interrupt you and Zachary making out? I don't think so."