“Yeah. I can see that. That’s how you look at her. Like she’s better than you.”
“I kind of thought she was. Since you told me the truth about why she broke up with me things make a little more sense. She liked posing for pictures, and we kissed and had sex, but it really wasn’t that great. She’d be all over me in front of people, then we’d get alone and, sure, we did stuff, but it was different. It’s hard to explain.” He sighs. “Actually, it’s embarrassing.”
“Tell me.”
“Fine. I never really felt wanted. I was always trying to do stuff to make her want me.”
“Dawes, jeez, you ever look in a mirror? You’re gorgeous, hot, and amazing. Plus you can be really nice when you want to be. You need to start seeing yourself the way other people do. The way I do.”
“I think I’m starting to. Look.”
He pulls a frame out of the sack and flips it over. In the frame is the picture of us. The one Annie wants to enter in the contest.
“Annie gave me this tonight after the game, and she told me the camera can’t lie. So when I got back to my room, I really looked at it. And then I started looking at the pictures of me and Whitney. This picture. The way we’re looking at each other, the uncertainty. I knew what you were thinking when you kissed me. I knew you were unsure, and I knew why. I knew you knew I was unsure. When I look at the pictures of me and Whitney, I have no idea what she was thinking. I still want to take it slow. I still can’t tell you how I feel, but I’m thinking this picture has the potential to be better than what I’m used to. Please hang out with me tomorrow. Please try and come to the Hamptons this weekend.”
I don’t answer. I just jump into his arms and kiss him.
Crying yourself to sleep.
10:45pm
I stop kissing Dawson in time to make curfew. I’m back in my room, calling Mom, while Katie is down the hall.
“Hey,” I say when she answers. “I just called to say hey. And I was hoping to talk to the girls. Are you getting all settled?”
“Yeah, we’re getting pretty good at moving. Have it down to a science. Kym asked me what you’re doing for the holiday weekend. We never discussed what you’re going to do on school vacations.”
“I know, but it’s okay. I’m probably going to be in the Hamptons at some friends’ house.” I don’t mention that I’m also supposed to see Brooklyn. I have a feeling everyone would freak about that. But come on, I don’t really think Vincent is going to fly all the way to New York on the off chance I might be at B’s tournament.
“These friends. Are they nice?”
“Yes. They’re brothers. One is my friend, Riley. He’s one of the first guys I met here. I think he and I and this other boy, Dallas, are going to be good friends. At least, I hope so. And his older brother is gorgeous. Sweet. I kinda maybe like him.”
“Just make good choices, okay? It’s not just the stalker that can cause trouble for you. There are so many kids that get their trust funds, start to party, and spend all their money on drugs and hookers.”
“Hookers? Really, Mom?” I laugh.
“You know what I mean. I was thinking of this actor that I knew. He blew all his money. Got addicted. Now can’t get a decent role.”
“I’m not like that. You know that.”
“I know, but you could become it. It’s easy to get sucked into that kind of lifestyle. Okay, enough with the lecture. Tell me how it’s going. It sounds like you’re making friends.”
“I think so. There’s Katie, my roommate, and Maggie. They’re both on dance team with me and really nice. And Annie, she’s in my French class.”
“And the God of all Hotties?”
“He hates me. Well, no, he asked me to hang out tomorrow, but he waited until tonight to ask me. So I said no.”
“Why?”
“I have plans with Gorgeous. The brother. He’s really cute, Mom. Tall, dark, and dreamy. And he’s super sweet. And he doesn’t drive me nuts like the god. Want to see a picture of us? Annie, like before I knew her, took a photo of us. He was getting ready to kiss me. It was sort of our first real kiss. He’d kissed me before. Like, a little sweet kiss, but this was a real kiss.”
“Of course, I’d love to see it!”
“Okay, I’m emailing it to you. But you’ll have to delete it after you see it since we’re in our school uniforms and stuff. Or did Garrett password protect your computer too?”
“He did, but I’ll delete it just to be safe.” I hear her clicking then she says, “Keatyn, oh my gosh! Look at you! This picture is amazing! You look beautiful, and it doesn't even look like she edited it! Look at your skin! Oh, let’s take a moment to rejoice in your smooth, wrinkle-free skin. Seriously, look at it. Someday you will understand.”
“Um, okay.”