Coming of Age

Just as I was about to share a dreamy kiss with Brad Pinsley, my alarm clock decided to blare, yanking me out of my sweet slumber.

I’d been dreaming about Brad, the most popular swimmer at school, for a while now. But today, I was so close to finally kissing him.

I groaned, annoyed at the bird-shaped alarm clock on my bedside table. I slapped it off and tried to fall back asleep, hoping to pick up where I left off.

But sleep had abandoned me, and I was left frustrated.

I gave up on sleep and sat up, rubbing my eyes. The dream was gone, and the reality of school was setting in.

I hated school more than anything else. But at seventeen, I still had two years left until graduation.

I scratched my head, hearing a knock on my door. My mom’s voice floated through the cracks.

“Chels?! Honey, hurry up! Your brother is about to leave!”

I couldn’t wait to go to college, to escape my mom’s early morning wake-up calls and my brother’s lame jokes.

I hated having to rely on my brother for rides. I couldn’t wait to get my license and my own car.

But for now, I was stuck with my older brother, Max Holmes, the star hockey player, and his best friend, Nathan Sharles.

Don’t get me wrong, if Max wasn’t my brother, I’d admit he was good-looking. But he was my brother, and an annoying one at that. So, I had to deal with his player-like looks that no girl could resist, which explained the revolving door of girls at our house.

And speaking of players, Nathan Sharles was the real deal.

Nathan couldn’t keep it in his pants to save his life.

He was our next-door neighbor and a family friend since we were kids. Because of him and the unfortunate placement of my window, I’d seen more than my fair share of explicit scenes.

Nathan was attractive, in a cliché James Dean, ripped jeans, white tee kind of way. But he used his good looks to break girls’ hearts, not to do something positive like motivational speaking or modeling.

Some girls might have swooned over living next door to a “hot” guy (as the girls at Gilmore High would say) who rarely wore a shirt and danced to rock music in front of his mirror.

But me? I was disgusted, irritated, and annoyed.

It wasn’t that I liked him or anything, but it bothered me how quickly he went through girlfriends. I felt bad for the girls who thought they had a future with him.

That’s more Vicky’s thing. She’d had a crush on my brother for years.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She’d liked him since she was twelve, and she still hadn’t gotten over it. I couldn’t judge her though, not when I’d been in love with Brad Pinsley for as long as I could remember.

But more on that later.

Realizing I’d spent the whole morning lost in my thoughts, I got out of bed and slipped on my slippers.

I rushed to the bathroom before my mom could call me again. So annoying.

As I showered, I remembered that Vicky and I had decided to tell our crushes how we felt. We’d chosen the most immature method possible.

A love letter!

Cringe, right?

The thought made me both excited and nervous as I hummed my favorite song in the shower.

Despite my warning that my brother wouldn’t appreciate something as immature as a letter, Vicky insisted. She’d been watching too many teen movies.

I left the bathroom in just my towel and went to my room. I put on my underwear and frowned at how tight they were. I needed new underwear ASAP!

I didn’t look any heavier, but my body was telling a different story.

I grabbed a pink bra from my drawer. I’d been wearing training bras even though I was seventeen. Puberty hadn’t been kind to Vicky or me, so we didn’t have the sexy boobs other girls did.

At least it saved money on new bras. I decided to stick with my middle school trainers until puberty decided to bless me with womanly curves.

Whenever that would be.

I pulled on tights over my underwear, put on my bra, and shrugged. My boobs peeked out a bit, but it didn’t matter; they wouldn’t show under my T-shirt.

Suddenly, the door swung open. “Princess, your mom says breakfast is ready and your brother—”

I froze, turning to see Nathan standing in the doorway.

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened.

His deep blue eyes sparkled as he took in my half-dressed state.

He swallowed, his gaze dropping to my bra. “Oh, sorry…”

“Get out, you pervert!!!” I screamed, grabbing the nearest object and hurling it at him.

The jerk was so athletic that he easily dodged the lotion bottle, giggling as he slammed the door shut.

“Max!” I yelled, stomping down the stairs and out onto the patio where everyone was gathered for breakfast.

Our mornings were usually spent enjoying a hearty breakfast on my patio, unless my mom had an early shift at the hospital.

She was a nurse, and even though she was always busy, she made time for us.

My dad and Nathan’s dad were away on business—they were partners—and wouldn’t be back for another six months.

“What’s got you all riled up this morning, sis?” Max asked, his mouth full of scrambled eggs.

I noticed Nathan smirking as he bit into a piece of toast next to Max.

His presence only made me angrier. And that smirk? It wasn’t helping his case.

“Can you tell your friend to stay out of my room?!” I snapped, plopping down in a chair across from the jerk.

My mom, hearing the commotion, came out of the kitchen with two glasses of orange juice and joined us on the patio.

“What’s going on, Chels?” she asked, glancing at Max who was wolfing down his breakfast.

That guy could eat.

“Say grace before you eat,” she scolded him, and he quickly closed his eyes and mumbled something, even though he’d already started eating.

“Mom, Nathan walked in on me in my underwear,” I blurted out, glaring at him.

Nathan cleared his throat and raised a finger politely. “Um, excuse me, Mrs. Holmes? That’s not entirely accurate. She was wearing biker shorts.”

He was always so polite around my mom, which is why she loved him and usually took his side. But she had no idea how annoying and arrogant he really was. And she never believed me when I tried to tell her.

My mom chuckled. “You were wearing shorts, Chels, it’s not a big deal.”

Did she just take his side again?

I huffed. “That doesn’t make it okay! He saw my…”

I stopped, suddenly embarrassed. I remembered that I was wearing a training bra, not exactly something I was proud of.

Maybe I should just drop it like my mom suggested.

“It’s not a big deal, it’s just a training bra.” He shrugged, a smile playing on his lips.

Nothing ever got past this guy.

Max laughed, almost choking on his food. I wished he had, so he’d shut up and stop making things worse.

“Damn, sis, isn’t it about time you moved past training bras?”

My mom frowned and set the two glasses of orange juice in front of Nathan and Max.

Really? Nathan was drinking the orange juice my mom made at my house and he had the nerve to laugh at me? Talk about bold.

“Boys, be nice. Some girls develop later than others. Like me. I didn’t wear a real bra until I was fifteen,” my mom said.

She was trying to make me feel better, but it only made things worse.

Max laughed again. “Exactly, Mom, and Chels is seventeen. If she hasn’t developed by now, when will she?”

Nathan choked on his pancake from laughing so hard, and seeing how much they were enjoying this, I decided to throw a wrench in their fun.

I folded my arms and smirked. “Speaking of bras, the girl you brought home last night and slept with on Mom’s couch, was she wearing a training bra?”

I mentally patted myself on the back.

Max froze, a guilty look on his face. He knew how much my mom loved that couch.

My mom heard and sat down next to me, glaring at him. “You did what?”

Nathan smiled. “Mrs. Holmes. She’s just trying to get back at him. Don’t worry about it. Max and I were playing games all night. There was no girl.”

I shot him a look, and he winked at me before shoving another piece of pancake in his mouth.

I knew he’d cover for him.

My mom seemed satisfied with Nathan’s explanation—as usual—and she sighed in relief. “Oh. I know you wouldn’t let him do anything bad. Right, Nathan?”

Nathan put a hand over his heart and smiled innocently. “Yes, Mrs. Holmes. I’ll make sure he behaves.”

Max smirked at me from across the table.

I rolled my eyes and looked away.

I started eating, ignoring Nathan’s amused gaze from across the table.

“Good morning!” Vicky called, pushing open our gate and jogging up onto the patio.

Vicky was my best friend. She was beautiful and fun to be around.

She had curly brown hair and delicate features, which made her look innocent. If Max turned her down, it wouldn’t be because of her looks. It would be because she was too naive and innocent.

She grabbed a forkful of eggs from my plate and stuffed it in her mouth.

“Thanks.” She mumbled around the food in her mouth.

She blushed when she saw Max, who was chugging his orange juice.

Vicky had a big crush on my brother, but I’d warned her that it might not be a good idea.

My brother was two years older than us and a player. He probably saw Vicky as a sister. I doubted he’d ever see her as anything more, but it couldn’t hurt to try.

“All done!” Max announced, standing up and stretching.

I made a face. He had no table manners.

“Max, make sure you’re home early today. I’ve got the night shift at the hospital,” Mom said, sipping her juice. “You need to be there for Chels.”

Max scowled at her words. “What, is she a baby or something?”

Nathan grinned, pushing his chair back and standing. I could tell by the look on his face that he was about to make some lame, insulting joke. I braced myself.

“Well, she’s still in a training bra, Max. I think that says it all.”

And there it was.

Max burst into laughter at Nathan’s pathetic attempt at humor.

No wonder I couldn’t stand either of them.

Vicky looked at me, confused and not understanding the joke. “Training bra?”

I waved her question away. “Don’t worry about it, Vicky. Jocks like them find the dumbest things funny!”

Nathan and Max stopped laughing long enough to give me small smiles, not at all bothered by my comeback.

“Alright, boys, off you go!” Mom said. “Drive safe!”

“Too bad we’re stuck riding with these jerks,” I muttered as Vicky and I stormed off ahead.

Max’s car was in the shop, so we were stuck riding in Nathan’s van. The only positive thing I could say was that Nathan kept his van cleaner and more comfortable than Max’s Honda.

He was good with cars and could fix most minor issues. He’d tried to help Max with his car, but the problem was beyond his skills, so Max had taken it to a mechanic downtown.

Vicky and I rolled our eyes every time Max and Nathan slowed down to catcall some girl walking by.

It was so annoying! They said the same thing to four different girls in a row that morning.

Finally, Nathan pulled into the school parking lot, parked in a handicap spot, and turned off the engine.

For the record, these guys rarely followed rules. If any at all.

“You know you can’t park here, right?” I asked from the backseat, always the one to enforce the rules.

“Shit, I gotta pee!” Max exclaimed, flinging the door open and running off towards the bushes behind the parking lot.

I just shook my head.

Vicky smiled at Nathan as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride, Nate.”

“You’re welcome, Vee. At least someone here has manners,” he said, glancing at us in the rearview mirror. “Unlike some people.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well he was talking about me.

He’d just eaten breakfast at my house; that was thanks enough for the ride. Plus, he’d almost seen me half-naked this morning. What if he’d opened the door a little earlier?

I shuddered at the thought of how embarrassing that would have been.

Nathan got out and opened the back door, offering his arm to Vicky. She took it gratefully, and he helped her out.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and looked up just in time to see Nathan extending his hand to me with a smile, his dimples forming deep indentations in his cheeks.

Nathan was attractive. He had deep blue eyes that were mysterious and, as all the other girls at Gilmore High would say, sexy.

He had black hair and perfectly shaped pink lips that were neither too thin nor too plump. They were just right, perfect, and tempting to kiss—

I shook my head to clear the thoughts.

“No thanks,” I said flatly. “I can get out by myself.”

He shrugged, not arguing, and stepped aside to give me room to get out.

I jumped out of the van, my ankle twisting as I landed, and I almost fell. But before I could, I was caught and pulled against a solid chest. I looked up to see Nathan’s hands gripping my arm tightly.

His eyes met mine, and for the first time since I’d known Nathan, I saw how truly mysterious they were.

He smirked. “You okay, Princess?”

It was my heart! I was nervous! But around…Nathan?

I quickly pulled away. “Y-yes.”

He chuckled at my obvious discomfort. “Okay,” was all he said as he turned away, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut.

“You ready, Nate?” Max asked as he walked up, adjusting his belt after relieving himself in the bushes behind the parking lot.

“Yeah,” Nathan replied, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets.

“See you after school, little sis.” Max gave me a warm smile, and I forced one back, still upset about him joining in on Nathan’s crude joke this morning.

“Nathan!”

A girl’s voice made us all turn to see Elizabeth, or Lizzy, running up and planting her lips on Nathan’s, kissing him passionately as if her life depended on it.

The sight made Vicky and me cringe in disgust.

“Gross,” I muttered. “Morning porn…”

Nathan’s girlfriend was Elizabeth Jane.

Well, one of his girlfriends.

He had too many, and whenever I was in my room studying, he always had another girl in his room.

He should get an award for that, really.

Vicky grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. “Chels, when should I give Max my letter?”

I swallowed hard. “Uh…”

I scratched my head. “Let’s get to class first, then we can think about it.”

I sat in history class, daydreaming about Brad Pinsley while Mr. Jones droned on about the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The only name that kept echoing in my mind was Brad.

Just Brad.

I was practically counting down the seconds until class ended so I could hand him the letter. I was hoping, no, praying, that he’d feel the same way about me.

Brad was a senior, just like Max and Nathan, which made him two years older than Vicky and me.

I wasn’t sure if Brad had the same tastes as my brother, only being interested in girls his own age. But I was more than ready to take that chance…