Chapter 3 - Robots and Gay Porn

THREE

♛

Faye

THAT SAME DAY, Kris insisted we go shopping for us girls to 'catch up'. But I think she just wanted an excuse to dress me up like a Barbie doll.

I wanted so bad to decline her invitation, the last thing I want is to go shopping especially with a shopaholic like Kris. But then Cole started blaring rock music through the house while he worked out and I couldn't take it.

I literally jumped into Kris's arms when she came to get me in my room.

In all honesty, shopping isn't all that bad.

I got my first Brazilian wax and I almost kicked the wretched girl. She gave me the stink eye then quit on the spot because I kept insulting her ancestry during our session.

I'm sorry I get snappy when I'm in pain. You could guess Kris wasn't impressed and got my ass out of there before they could call animal control on me.

Next on the agenda, she took me to a salon. My amber hair is now shinier and bouncier like never before. I always hated my hair. It was too bland for my taste but I never had the balls to dye it, scared I'll mess it up. But my hair actually looked... nice.

Kris was like a hyper bunny shooting through every store in sight and buying unnecessary crap she convinced me I needed. I had eight bags of new clothes up to my arm and three new school uniforms that were supposed to be delivered at the house by this evening.

"Kris," I wheezed out. "I know this would be a hard concept to grasp because I'm starting to think you're a robot but I need a break." My feet were sore, I'm out of breath and I was starting to see stars.

"But we still haven't been to Victoria Secret yet. They have a new collection," She pouted.

I waved her off. "Go on without me. I wanna go check out the Art store we passed a couple ways back. I need to get some supplies." She promised to meet back here in a little bit and I high tailed it to the Art store before she saw something my size and dragged me back to try it on.

A bell dinged above my head when I entered and a lean Asian boy around my age popped out from behind the counter.

"Bae?"

He squinted in my direction then recognition glinted in his eyes. "Faye!"

He jumped over the counter and barreled towards me. He wrapped his arms around me for a bone-crushing hug. "This is a touching moment and all, but I can't breathe." I winced.

He released me and gave me that soul touching grin that drew me to him in the first place. Bae Kim is the only person I know going to Pentbrooke Academy. An academy on the other side of town. A brutal rivalry has been going on between the two schools since the dawn of time over something as stupid as football. But it hasn't been this serious. A couple of meagre pranks here and there but since Cole and Arsen became captains there have been more fights and drama than a KUWTK episode.

Bae and I met at a Pentbrooke party Hayley dragged me to a while back. He caught me vomiting in his fish tank and instead of throwing my ass out (which I had expected him to do). He gave me a place to sleep and some painkillers for my Hangover the morning after. We aren't best friends but we do talk every time we meet up at a party.

"What are you doing here? And what the fuck are you wearing?" I took in his uniform. Red polo shirt and khakis with the Art Store logo on his left breast. Wait a minute... "You work here?"

He pulled off his cap and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Me and a couple of guys were playing with some fireworks. I should say I don't know how that shit works. All I know it goes boom and I thought I could figure it out. Long story short, it fell into the owner's pool house and my dad is making me pay for the damage by working here over the summer."

I laughed. "That's some shitty luck you got there, Bae."

"Tell me about it." He gestured for me to follow him back to the counter. "You came here for something, Faye. Or do you get off tormenting me."

"I need some painting supplies. Then I promise you could get back to the gay porn you were jerking off to under the counter before I walked in." His cheeks went pink. "Sorry I made you pause it."

He flipped me the bird over his shoulder. I chuckled.

I followed him around the store picking up what I needed. A couple of canvases, paintbrushes, paints and a new apron with a daisy on the front— because why not. He checked it out and told me everything would be delivered to me. He gave me a curious look when I gave him the Knightley's address but said nothing.

I was thankful he didn't pry. I have no idea how that conversation would've gone over.

I was turning to leave when a body collided with mines. I winced at the pain shooting up my shoulder and let out a word that would've made my grandmother blush like a virgin. I looked up.

Great. I almost got run over by a dude built like a fucking line-backer on steroids.

He reached for my shoulders to steady me, smirking. "And who might you be, beautiful?"

"The girl you almost gave a concussion." I glared up at him and stepped out of his reach.

He was tall, with a mop of dirty blonde hair and a hard jaw. He was undeniably gorgeous- nowhere near Cole's level— but gorgeous nonetheless. He's firm in all the right places, with broad shoulders and beefy arms. That just strengthens my line-backer theory or maybe he was even the quarterback.

"Oh, she's feisty too. I like it." His lips curl taking me in just as I did just now. His eyes lingered a bit longer on my hips and I scoffed.

"I don't think so, buddy." I made a show of looking at his crouch and seeming disappointed at the bulge. "You couldn't handle me." Then I sidestepped him for the door. "I'll see you later, Bae."

I made a beeline to our dropout point and waited only two minutes before Kris showed up balancing four more bags on her arm with an excited grin on her face. "Their new Summer collection is to die for. You should've been there."

"Then I'm glad I wasn't," I muttered under my breath but somehow, she heard me. She glared.

"You ready? I can't wait to try these on. I got you a couple pairs too." She didn't stop ranting until we reached home and I ran to my room for cover.