"There's nothing to tell," I say coolly.
"Come on!" Lauren says, turning to Evan. "This guy really likes her and she's playing hard to get."
I shoot her my best death glare in hopes of shutting her up. Completely ignoring me, she claps her hands together. Evan arches a dark eyebrow and folds his arms over his hard chest. He's athletically fit for his barely fifteen years of age.
No surprise, he's growing more and more into a man, less of a boy each day. Even knowing this, I still do a double-take every time I lay eyes on him. His tall, lean frame is filling out with defined muscles and taut lines.
Unfortunately, I'm not the only one to notice. In fact, too many girls do. With his dark wavy hair, model features, and bad-boy vibe, far too many girls stroke his bulging biceps.
"Go out with him-or don't you like him?" Ry chimes in.
I'm surprised I didn't notice him. He's been sitting on the counter the whole time. I've been doing that a lot lately. Whenever Evan is near, I'm oblivious to everything else. This has to stop.
Evan and I are close, but things have shifted, are changing between us. My feelings are morphing into more, something deeper. We still have our friendship and his loyalty to me is unrivaled, but like an iceberg, beneath the placid blue surface, there's this gigantic mass of formidable emotions lying in wait.
As I struggle to make sense of it all, I have no clue where he stands. Since he's hit his teens, he doesn't look at me the same way anymore. His gazes are more intense, yet indiscernible.
We used to be in sync, and words weren't necessary. Now, we're hardly ever on the same page. Some days, we're worlds apart.
When his parents died, he became a ward of the state, while Ma legally petitioned to be his guardian. Fortunately, after less than two months, he came to live with us permanently. We got lucky. Ma came across his parents' will, which named my parents guardians for their only son, Evan. He was back in our lives sooner rather than later. It was still longer than I would have wanted, but it could have been worse.
"I never said he asked me out."
"Oh, my God, yes he did. He asked you out!" Lauren shrieks.
"L, can you stop? You're not helping."
She giggles, giddy like a child overdosing on sugar. She is going to be a disaster in high school. I have my work cut out for me. Evan's heated stare and clenched jaw cause me to fidget. I hate how easily he makes me squirm. I look away, and Ry's blue eyes nab mine. He smirks.
"Give the guy a break. Either cut him loose or say yes," Ry says.
"Don't you think you're too young to be into boys?" Evan says slowly, his eyes locked with mine.
He's challenging me. He's infuriating. Who does he think he is to have a say? I'm almost twelve, and besides, he's going out with Stacie Holmes. The thought of her is a rock sinking to the pit of my stomach.
My heart seized at the sight of them holding hands last week. I knew he was seeing girls, I just wish I didn't have to witness it. Besides wishing they weren't together, I also wish I could erase the image from my mind.
///
"You know, L, I'm going to say yes to Jon. I'd love to go to Sara's party with him." My eyes never waver from Evan's as I ignore his comment and make my own statement. His darken by the second.
"Hey, sis, we need to talk," Ry starts in with his imitation of a father.
"Ry." I break our staring contest, swinging my gaze to my brother. "I don't need you to big brother me all the time-I don't need either of you." I cut back to Evan. "If I need your help, I'll ask. Otherwise, back off."
Without another word, I go into our living quarters, with Lauren on my heels. After Pops died, we sold our home and moved into the three-bedroom apartment above the bar.
"I'm going to shower," I say to Lauren.
"I'm going to call Tyler and make plans for the four of us."
"Okay," I say halfheartedly, shutting the bathroom door.
Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I try to see what it is that Jon, Ben, and other boys see in me. I'm not hung up on looks, but still I'm human. I'm pretty, although I'm not feeling it right now, and it has everything to do with the dark-haired boy downstairs.
I undo my bun and my long hair falls in messy tresses down my back, not too far from my typical wild, loose waves. Thanks to my Irish heritage, my pale skin is now cherry red from practice and the heat.
My aquamarine eyes shine, more blue than green today, changing color with my mood. My only small facial feature is my nose; everything else is too big, too wide. My square jaw is most prominent, and almost as noticeable are my big heart-shaped lips. Each trait isn't necessarily attractive by itself, but together, they work. I've been told by many, including strangers, that my eyes and smile are magnetic. I got lucky.