Scarlett White (38 page)

"Yeah. For your plane ticket to come home." Ginny sounded excited.

"Oh, Ginny, I can't come home."

"And why the hell not? We have the money for you. You can just come home for two weeks during Christmas break and visit everyone, including Tristan. And maybe that will help with the coma. Because sometimes when loved ones are reunited, it helps with any serious injury, like amnesia, comas, and other serious disorders."

"Have you been looking this up?" Scarlett asked with a hint of a smile.

"Maybe. But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is trying to convince you to get your ass down here."

"Ginny, those kinds of things only happens in movies."

"Well, then let's make this a movie," Ginny said.

"How much money do you have?" Scarlett asked.

"Seven hundred dollars."

"Round-trip?"

"Yeah."

"During Christmas break?"

"Yes."

"I'll have to ask my mother."

"Okay."

"Do you think it will really help Tristan?"

"I don't know, but it's worth a shot. And…Tristan sometimes mumbles your name."

"What?" Scarlett gasped. "Why didn't you tell me that at first? Of course, I'll come."

"Really?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah. I just have to ask my mother and Timothy."

"Great."

Scarlett was surprised when she realized her mother and Timothy were totally up for a trip to see Scarlett's friends down south. And it was even Rosa who suggested that Scarlett was mature and independent enough to travel by herself as long as she stayed with Ginny, Kate, or Meghan while she was there. And Scarlett knew that Timothy had learned about Tristan's condition through Melody, so that was probably a huge factor as to why he agreed to her Christmas break plans.

But there was still something left unfinished. Christian Cox. What was she supposed to do about him? She had led him on, and now she had no clue how to handle this situation. So there was only one solution. She needed to talk to someone who knew boys back and forth, up and down, through and through. Chloe Levine, Zoey Aron, and Millie Blitch. From what Scarlett had gathered from her first month at Humphrey Day, those girls were very educated on the subject of the opposite sex.

After Scarlett visited Charles again on Sunday, she called Chloe and asked if she and the girls could meet Scarlett to hang out. Chloe was enthusiastic about spending time with Scarlett since she was feeling better from her depression. Scarlett was glad that she was friends with Chloe. She seemed to simply brighten her day by merely talking to her. Her cheerful voice and optimistic attitude seemed to lighten Scarlett's day.

All four of the girls met up at some antique store downtown before they started shopping for clothes at neighboring stores. Scarlett didn't mention what had happened after she had gone to see 'Paranormal Activity' at first to the girls, wanting this to seem like a normal shopping trip. But eventually the subject came up when Zoey asked, "So how was the movie with Christian?"

"Scary as hell," Scarlett answered. "I was jumping at every scene. And I could barely sleep that night." Not that her sleepless night had anything to do with the movie.

"That's all nice and dandy, but what I really meant was…So how was Christian at that movie?" Zoey grinned.

"Figured," Scarlett mumbled. "Well, that's kind of why I asked to meet with you guys. I have a serious problem."

"Oh, God, did he try to make a move on you?" Millie asked with wide eyes.

"Um, no, not exactly. He kissed me. Well, I kissed him. Okay, so we kind of kissed each other," Scarlett said.

Zoey let out a loud laugh and raised her palm up for Scarlett to high five. "What did I say?"

"Excuse me?" Chloe butted in. "You said two weeks. I said until Friday. I believe I was closer."

"What are you guys talking about?" Scarlett asked.

"When you and Christian were walking on the beach," Millie explained, "they made a bet about when you two would hook up."

"But that's not that point." Scarlett seemed worried.

"What are you so upset about? Christian is the hottest boy at school. You should be very proud of yourself," Chloe replied.

"I have a boyfriend," Scarlett replied exasperatedly.

"Who is a thousand miles away and in a coma. It's okay to have a little fun now and again. A girl needs a boy's touch when she's lonely. Nobody's going to blame you. I don't even think your boyfriend will be upset with you when he wakes up. He should understand that you were going through a lot," Millie said, trying to calm Scarlett.

"But what should I tell Christian?"

"That's easy," Zoey said. "Tell him that he was a nice stand-in while your boyfriend was knocked out."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Chloe, do you have any advice that is better than this bogus Zoey is giving me?"

Chloe looked at the dress that was hanging on the rack in front of her, thinking. "Just tell Christian that you weren't really thinking that night. Tell him that it was your fault and you didn't mean to lead him on, but you're sorry that you did. Your excuses will be that you've needed a man's touch ever since you left your boyfriend in Florida. You have been lonely this past month. And with the changes you're going through—your stepfather, the move, separation anxiety, et cetera—your mind has been so confused, you didn't comprehend what you were doing at the time. And who could blame you? I mean, look at him. He is some nice eye candy."

"You know," Scarlett said thoughtfully. "Most of that was actually really good counsel."

"I try," Chloe said with a smile as she flipped her brunette curls over her shoulder.

"I feel really bad still," Scarlett said.

"Why?" Millie asked.

"Because I actually kissed him even though I knew I shouldn't."

"Pssh, if that's the worst you've ever done, girl, you're going down a righteous path," Zoey snorted.

"What do you mean?"

"We have all done worse than merely kiss a boy we know we shouldn't kiss. Hell, I've had three boyfriends at one time."

"How did you juggle that?"

"Easy. I took some notes from John Tucker in the movie 'John Tucker Must Die' and dated three guys from completely different cliques. They never even knew they were being scammed. I just had to make sure that I didn't show too much affection towards anyone of them at school. And then whenever I went on a date with one of them, I would make up for my lack of attention, if you know what I mean," Zoey said suggestively.

Chloe and Millie let out a couple of giggles, and even Scarlett had to admit it was actually quite clever. The day continued with the girls browsing and purchasing cute clothes with colorful conversations. Though Scarlett was still nervous to talk to Christian at school, she felt a load better that none of the girls had judged her infidelity harshly.

Sunday went by quickly for Scarlett, and soon enough Monday was here. She needed to have a nice, long talk with Christian. And it wasn't going to be easy. She decided she needed to get it over with as soon as possible, so when she saw his corvette pull up in the parking lot, she headed over to him.

"Hey, Chris."

"Hey, Scar." Christian smiled as he got out of his car and started walking by Scarlett towards the school building.

"About what happened after the movies," Scarlett began, diving right to the point.

"Don't worry about it."

"What?"

"It was my entire fault. I shouldn't have tried to make a move on you when I know you have a boyfriend," Christian admitted.

"Wait. Are you serious?"

"Of course, I am. I had just gotten excited that you hadn't been repulsed when I put my arm around you in the theater. I thought maybe you had feelings for me. But I know you still like your boyfriend. It was late, and I wasn't thinking straight."

"No, no, no, that was exactly what I was supposed to say," Scarlett replied. "It wasn't just you who made the kiss. I was a part of it. And I'm really sorry that I led you on. It was a rude thing for me to do."

"It's fine. I just sometimes wish you didn't have a boyfriend, that's all," Christian said, and then as an afterthought added, "No offense."

"None taken." Scarlett smiled and then turned to look Christian in the eyes with a flutter in her heart. "If Tristan and I ever breakup, you'll be my go to guy. How about that?"

At first, Christian smiled at what she had said. And then his mind registered something that he should have put together a long time ago. He had a cousin who lived in Florida. And, if he was remembering correctly, went to a school called Watson High. And then something else registered. The look on Scarlett's face when they had first run into each other after Austin had hurt Scarlett had been one of familiarity and recognition.

"Tristan? As in, Tristan Cox? As in, my cousin?" Christian asked.

Scarlett had only then realized that she had never mentioned Tristan's name to Christian.

"Um. Yeah," she said, suddenly uncertain.

"I didn't know that your boyfriend was my cousin."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. You must think I'm a pig."

"Why would I think that?" Christian asked.

"Because I cheated on my boyfriend with his cousin while he was completely helpless, being unconscious and all," Scarlett answered.

"You didn't cheat on him. That kiss never happened. It was just the product of two lonely and hormonal teenagers, that's all. Besides, it was just a kiss, nothing else," Christian said.

Scarlett smiled, so relieved and grateful. She threw her arms around Christian and gave him a tight hug. "You're the best."

Christian's nostrils inhaled her sweet perfume, and he wanted to groan as he closed his eyes, savoring her proximity. He really did want her; but he wouldn't make a move on her unless she was single. For the first time in his life, he was completely jealous of his cousin.

Scarlett and Christian walked away together, meandering aimlessly around the school while they talked about random things. Christian sat and talked to Scarlett before the warning bell rang in a secluded hallway that was by the gymnasium. And something inside Scarlett spooked her. When his lips moved as he told her a camping-trip-gone-wrong story, her heart did some funny things. It almost reminded her of the way she felt when Tristan had first kissed her in her living room the same day that she had caught Francis cheating on her with What's Her Name. And every time Christian would blink and absentmindedly looked at her from underneath his lashes, Scarlett's breath hitched in her throat. Her mouth became drier and drier with ever breathtaking smile that appeared on Christian's lips. Her chest started beating quicker and quicker with every laugh that escaped Christian's mouth. And soon enough, her brain was completely mesmerized with the idea of his skin against her own. Her mind flashed back to the previous night in his car when his lips had moved against her own.

Scarlett blinked.

"Well, what do you think?" Christian asked.