What a Boy Wants (8 page)

I slipped around him and leaned toward the window. “Hey, Woodstock.” I picked a piece of paper out of her hair and man, I wanted to do it again. It was just as soft as it looked. The urge hit me to turn around and tell him, “See, I can touch her whenever I want to,” but then I realized that was a little bit creepy. Like I wanted her or something and really, I just wanted to keep her away from guys like him and… well, me.

“Um, hey, Bastian.”

I opened the door. Aspen scooted over and I slid in beside her. “Count me and Jaden in tomorrow night too, could you, Mattie?” As if Jaden could read my mind, he laughed, then peeled out of the parking lot.

***

PA,

Time to step up your game. It’s time for Operation Flirt. Now, I know I don’t know you, but just from your emails, you don’t seem like a real flirty type. Unlike what some girls think, flirting is an art form. It’s not something everyone can do. I think you can handle it though and it goes a long way when it comes to getting the guy.

There’s a fine line between being flirty and looking easy. You don’t want to look easy because, despite what we try and make girls think, we really don’t want an easy girl, just like I’m sure girls don’t want an easy guy. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hook-up Doctor

***

Hook-up Doctor,

Okay, I feel like an idiot that I’m asking your advice on how to flirt, but I since I already look desperate enough by doing this, I figured what the heck. Helps that you don’t know who I am, too, but we’ll just pretend it’s because I really don’t care what people think. LOL.

This is the thing, I’ve flirted a bit. I mean, what girl hasn’t, but it’s hard to know what guys really want. It’s not like we can ask and since I’m paying you, I guess I should fully take advantage of the situation, right?

There are those girls who walk around half-naked, plastering themselves to guys and for some strange reason, guys seem to go for that. Isn’t that an easy girl? You said guys don’t want easy, then what do they want? I have to be honest with you, the whole half naked thing is not me and though I really want this guy, I’m not comfortable turning into someone I’m not for him. Is that what you’re asking for? Be honest, is that really what guys want in a girl? I have a party coming up and I’m thinking it will be a good opportunity to put my flirting into action.

Thanks,

PA

***

PA,

While the half-naked thing is good on the eyes, it’s really not what we want (shh, don’t tell though). We want confident, but not bitchy. You want to be sexy and fun, but still in control, know what I mean? You don’t have to try and control us, but if we’re turned on, it will happen regardless. Control is everything. It not only makes you more desirable (strong women are hot), but it’s also better for you. You know, safety and all, especially if there’s a party. Don’t give up that control, PA. You can do this. Let me know how it goes.

Hook-up Doctor

***

Jaden stood in front of the mirror in my room, ruffling his hair so it looked extra messy. He cracked me up. Sometimes he was worse than a girl with his primping. “How ya doin’ over there, Goldilocks? Do you need me to give you a perm before we go? Oh, and I think your roots are showing. Might be time to pull out the peroxide again.”

I pulled on my black button up shirt, leaving it open so you could see my Beastie Boys t-shirt under it. I didn’t care how old school they were. People either gave me shit about them or looked at me confused because they didn’t know who they were. Not my fault they didn’t know good music. Plus, it was my lucky shirt. Tonight, I needed some luck.

After buckling my belt so that my shorts didn’t fall off, but still sat low like I liked them, I walked to the other mirror to put in the new barbell my mom got me for my eyebrow. “Who knows? Figured it would be better than chillin’ at home. According to Mattie, there’s supposed to be no shortage of hot girls there.”

Once he had his hair effectively messed up, Jaden sat in my computer chair and pulled on his shoes. “Nice. Hopefully, there will be some fresh meat.”

Which was exactly what I needed. My head had been all screwed up lately. I wasn’t sure what was going on. “That’s what he said. Idiot.”

Jaden laughed. “You don’t like him?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t trust him. He was asking about the girls.” Only a slight lie. He’d asked about one of the girls, but Jaden didn’t need to know that. He’d only take it to mean the wrong thing and I didn’t feel like getting into it tonight.

Jaden played with his new piercing before he said, “Speaking of, Pris has been acting weird lately. I’m wondering if all her parents’ money is making her crazy. It’s like she’s had split personalities or something. One minute she’s fine and then she seems extra pissed at me for some reason.”

Feeling my pockets, I made sure I had my cell and wallet and then headed out the door. Jaden was right behind me. “She’s a girl. They’re always weird. And no offense, bro, but she’s always a little pissy with you.”

“True. What’s up with that?”

I shrugged because really, I had no clue. All I wanted to focus on tonight was having a good time. I felt pumped, my pulse break dancing beneath the surface of my skin. I needed a night out to get my head straight. It was strange—the way I felt so off my game lately. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I planned on rectifying it tonight. “You sure we shouldn’t take the beatermobile? You know, just in case. That way we don’t have to depend on the girls?” I asked Jaden, halfway hoping he’d say yes while the other half wanted him to say no.

His eyes diverted away from mine. “It’s not really runnin’ too well. Might be smarter just to ride with them.”

I didn’t know why Jaden was embarrassed about his car. I gave him crap about it, but he was right, at least he had one. “K. We’ll look at it on my next day off. See if we can figure out what’s up.” I would too. Even though I didn’t do the whole car-work thing, I would help Jaden if push came to shove. I tried to pull the door open, but he stopped me.

“Yeah, right. We all know you don’t like to get dirty.” He laughed, but then turned serious. “Can I stay here tonight though? My dad’s being a prick.”

I had a feeling there was a lot more going on at Jaden’s than he let on, but I didn’t dare ask him. It was some kind of guy code or something. He knew I was there for him and if he wanted to talk to me, he would, just like if I ever felt like spilling my guts about my mom, I knew Jaden would listen. It wasn’t something we did and I knew it would only embarrass him if I brought it up. “Yeah. Anytime. Stay as long as you want. I was going to ask, but I forgot.” It would make him feel better if he thought it was my idea. I threw my arm over his shoulder. “Come on, man. We’re going to make sure this night is epic.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Then we were out the door to Aspen’s house. No matter what it took, I was going to make sure this was a night we didn’t forget.

Chapter Seven

The living room was crowded with bodies almost as tightly as the sea of people at the Green Day concert I went to the year before. I pushed my way through the crowd, Aspen holding on to my shirt from behind, Pris holding her and Jaden bringing up the rear. My stomach was a little uneasy for some reason, so I wanted to find a quiet place for our little pow-wow. The kitchen was much less crowded than the living room, but still not quite what I was looking for, so I slipped out the back door and waited for them to join me.

“Um, party’s inside, bro,” Jaden said.

“I know, I just wanted to figure out the night.” I looked at my cell phone. “It’s 9:30 now so we have to be out of here in three hours to make curfew. We still doing the three drink max for the rest of us and Pris is the designated driver?”

They all nodded “Bet. Text if you need us, k?” I said to Pris and Aspen. I knew how guys thought—especially when there was alcohol involved. I knew what was always on my mind, so Jaden and I were always sure we kept an eye on the girls when we were out. There was this one time a guy got a little too touchy feely with Pris, but luckily she’d been smart enough to give him a right hook and find Jaden and me. After that we always came up with a pre-party plan, also known as the PPP just to be on the safe side. “Don’t do anything I would do.” I smiled at the girls, my eyes lingering a little longer on Aspen. My stomach flipped.

“You’re so funny, Bastian. It’s okay for
you
mess around, but not us.” Aspen put her hands on her hips like she was annoyed. She wore something different tonight. Maybe something of Pris’s because I’d never seen her wear it before. It didn’t show a lot of skin like the stuff I’d admired on the other girls as we walked through the house, but it was definitely more when it came to Aspen. It was a red—which I’d always thought looked hot on a girl -- sleeveless V-neck that teased, but didn’t really show the goods. A little teardrop-looking necklace hung down and rested between her breasts. And she topped off the outfit with a pair of hip hugging jeans that almost made me groan.

Yeah, I definitely needed to be here to watch the girls tonight.

Luckily, I was pretty good at playing things off when I wanted to, so instead of admiring her, I nudged her. “Hey, you know I’m all for equal flirting rights and all that, but I also gotta take care of my girls.” Damn, I was a pretty nice guy when I thought about it.

“If we don’t see each other before, let’s meet up at 11:00,” I said. If we came together, we left together, so we liked to meet up to make sure everyone was still having a good time. All for one and shit. I pushed my hands in my pockets, feeling pretty proud of myself. We got the pre-party plan out of the way and now it was time for the night of epicness to begin.

“Alright,
Dad.
See you guys later.” Aspen started to pull Pris away, and when she did, I saw Pris lean over and whisper something to her. Aspen shook her head no, while turning back to look at us. Pris nodded, Aspen smiled and they disappeared into the kitchen.

“They’re being weird,” I told Jaden.

“Who?” he asked, his eyes already scanning the kitchen through the glass door.

He had the right idea, so I mumbled a “Nothing.” After straightening my shirt, I looked over at Jaden. “Are you ready for our night of epic proportions?”

He gave his hair another ruffle with his hand to make sure it was effectively messy. “I was born ready.”

Blood pumped through my veins with so much fervor, I didn’t even take the time to tell Jaden how corny his last line was. I strode into the kitchen with my boy at my side, on a mission. We were going to find girls and I was going to get my head on straight, because no good could come from the urge I’d fought to pull Aspen back to me as she’d been swallowed by the crowd.

***

Mattie hadn’t been wrong about the ratio of female vs. males. There was a good two to one, which were odds I really liked. In fact, there were so many girls dancing around that I was having a hard time choosing which one I wanted to go for.

“Dude, you’ve found something wrong with every girl. I’m about to play this one solo if you can’t make up your mind.” Jaden leaned against the wall next to me. A fireplace with a mantle full of pictures of who I assumed was Mattie’s Mall Girl was behind him.

“We’re not trying to decide between a Big Mac or a chicken sandwich here. This is some serious shit. We want epicness, we have to be choosy.”

Jaden rolled his eyes, so I continued to scan the room.

“What about them?” he asked, pointing to a red head and girl with dark brown hair who were dancing with each other. My body perked up at the sight. “I’ll take Red and you can have the other one,” he said.

“Nah, I’m not feelin’ her.” I was starting to get a little worried about myself. I mean, this was a party and there were chicks everywhere, but none of them were really getting my blood pumping, if you know what I mean. What guy wasn’t trying to hook-up at this party?

Apparently, me…

“Okay, Sebastian. You pick, but I’m telling you, if you don’t pick some girls within five minutes, I’m out. I at least want to get some dancing in rather than staring at your frown all night.” Jaden pushed off the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m frowning?” Why was I frowning?

“Yeah, you’ve looked pissy ever since we left the girls. I think you’ve been hanging out with them too long. You’re swapping testosterone for estrogen. I feel like you’re going to start lecturing me on seeing women as more than a piece of meat any minute.” I opened my mouth, but Jaden cut me off. “Which I do. You know that, but I also want to have a good time and if there’s a girl I meet who I like and we’re both willing, there’s nothing wrong with that.”