The Year I Became Isabella Anders (Sunnyvale, #1)

“Why do you like her? I mean, she’s so mean . . . and you’re so . . .” I stop myself from saying nice, because I’m uncertain how he’ll react.

“I don’t know. I just . . .” He glances at the door to my house then rubs the back of his neck, looking really uncomfortable. “Isa, I don’t really feel comfortable talking to you about this.”

Give me a crown, people, because I just took the title for Most Super Awkward Girl Ever.

Thankfully, the side door of his two-story house swings open and out walks Kai, Kyler’s younger brother, who’s a junior in high school like me.

He’s not wearing a shirt—he usually isn’t—his boxers are sticking out of his black cargo shorts, and his light blond hair is smashed on one side, as if he just woke up. The whole sleepyhead, rebellious look he’s rocking is a recent change, as well as the people he’s started hanging out with, the stoner kids—labeled as such for wearing dark clothing, eating a lot of junk food, and their overall don’t-give-a-shit attitude. At least, that’s what everyone calls them, although I have yet to see any of them smoking pot. If that were the case, then I’d be a pothead, since the description fits me, too.

“Hey, what’s up?” Kai gives a chin nod to Kyler as he closes the door behind him.

“Not much,” Kyler says to his brother as he picks up the basketball. “I’m thinking about heading to a party.”

“Which one?” Kai asks, stuffing a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

He shrugs, dribbling the ball against the concrete driveway. “I think one of Hannah’s friends is having one.”

He chokes on a laugh and spits out a mouthful of cereal. “Sounds like tons of fucking fun.” Sarcasm drips from his tone.

“It won’t be that bad.” Kyler lifts his arms up to shoot another basket.

“It’ll be a bunch of dumbass cheerleaders and jocks,” Kai says, setting his bowl down on the porch railing.

“I don’t know what your problem is.” Kyler walks backward toward the grass to collect the ball. “You used to be one of those,” he makes air quotes, “ ‘dumbass jocks’, too, before you decided you were too good for everyone.”

“That’s not what quitting the team was about,” Kai replies in a clipped tone. “So stop talking about shit you know nothing about.”

“Then what was it about?” Kyler challenges as he scoops up the ball and tucks it under his arm.

Kai shrugs, picking up his bowl, looking pissed off. “Who cares?”

“Whatever, man.” Kyler’s gaze bores into Kai, like he expects him to cave. “You know everyone thinks you’re into drugs now.”

Kai lifts his shoulders and shrugs again. “That’s their problem. Not mine.”

“I’m starting to wonder if they’re right.”

Kyler sounds more aggravated than I’ve ever heard him. And trust me, I’ve eavesdropped on his conversations a lot, so I would know.

They argue for a few minutes longer, acting completely like night and day. Kyler and Kai may be brothers, but they sure don’t act like it. Yeah, Kai is equally as gorgeous, in a dangerous, bad boy, let-me-stun-you-with-my-smoldering-eyes kind of way. Up until about six months ago, he used to be almost as good of a football as Kyler is, and nearly as popular. He even flirted and checked out Hannah sometimes. But then one day he did a complete one-eighty, quit the team, and started spending a lot of time ditching school. I always thought it was odd that Kai was the one who went the route Kyler once wanted—well, in terms of changing. I’m not really sure Kyler ever wanted to become a rebellious bad boy.

The one thing that remained Kai, though, is he’s really intense, to the point where looking him in the eye can actually be terrifying for some. And for some girls, exhilarating. For me, not so much, because unlike a lot of people, I know there’s a dorky side to Kai, who thinks he’s funny and who reads comics.

“Believe whatever you want.” Kai backs toward the porch, shrugging off Kyler. “Have fun at your lame-ass party.”

Kyler dribbles the bejesus out of the ball. “Whatever. Avoid the problem, like you always do.” Another slam of the ball. “Cause more problems between Mom and Dad.”

Kai seems oddly satisfied by the fact his brother is annoyed with him, and a smile touches his face as he spins for the door. Right before he walks inside, though, he looks over his shoulder at me.

I should probably duck for cover, since I’ve been caught eavesdropping red-handed. If it had been Kyler, I’d be so mortified that I’d probably bolt back to my room. But with Kai . . . well, he and I sorta have this thing going on, ever since seventh grade. Not a relationship type of thing or anything. It’s more like a ‘he teases me and annoys the crap out of me’ thing. I don’t know why he’s so persistent about doing it, other than maybe I’m the only person who doesn’t get all squirrely every time he looks at them.