Kissing in Cars (Kiss and Make Up #1)(5)

Anyways, like I said - best feeling in the world.

I will even admit to an air of a smugness about myself when I'm driving. What can I say? I can't help it.

Soon I'm squeezing into a small parking spot - I groan at the sight of myself in the mirror. What a disaster. Grabbing my bag, I hop out the window without actually opening the door, ala Dukes of Hazard. Before I go any further, I lean over to give my head and hair a good shake, running my fingers through it to get out any knots. When I flip my hair back up my eyes immediate connect with Weston McGrath.

Well, well, well, what are the odds....?

He's openly staring. Again.

Leaning his shoulder against the passenger side door of the red truck that had passed me earlier, it's obvious Weston is waiting for its driver, who's still inside. Knowing that he had been checking me out on the highway sends an excited shiver up my spine. I can't see his eyes because he's wearing really dark sunglasses, but this time he isn't wearing a ball cap. Messy hair blowing in the breeze, he's changed his shirt (another cut off tee shirt) and is wearing Hawaiian printed board shorts that hang low on his hips. For a brief second I wonder if he has chest hair.

Ugh, get a grip Molly! I scold myself and give myself a mental slap.

He's just so...so.....What's the word for it?

Intense.

What is wrong with me today!? These thoughts are so unlike me!

I can hardly even focus.

The driver side door opens and Rick Stevens - he's a senior too - walks around to the tailgate and opens it up. I actually have Rick in my marketing class. For such an *, he's pretty smart. Shocking, right?

Rick follows Weston's gaze and takes off his sunglasses. He gives me one of those head nods - you know the kind - the unspoken 'hey.'

"Little Miss Molly Wakefield, lookin' good. Waz zup?"

Oh my god, seriously? What an idiot.

"Hey guys," is my bashful reply. They can't tell because it's hot out, but I'm blushing down to my toes.

I'm so lame.

Not sticking around for idle chatter, I give them a feeble wave and scurry to the beach as fast as my flip flops will carry me. My mom once said "Molly, you can afford to flirt a little. It never hurts if you want to meet someone special. And you never know - you just might have fun doing it." This is all very true, but I utterly refuse to be one of those girls. Simpering. Giggling. Fake. The one thing I always wonder: why do guys always fall for that?

I never once understood it.

Don't get me wrong: I date.

Have dated.

Do the occasional hair toss.

But over the past few months, as I get closer to high school graduation, it's a little harder to want to even bother. I mean, I'll be heading for college at the end of the year. And as for my own unique popularity... I'd classify myself as one of those "middle of the road" people - not popular, not un-popular. Friends with everyone and friendly to everyone (for the most part). Yes, I play a sport: I'm on a club soccer team called Lake Country Fusion, and I also play for school. I'm not winning any college scholarships, but I consider myself pretty darn good.

I've got fast feet.

A few weeks ago, when school first started, this guy named TJ Walker asked me to the movies. Jenna was all agog, because - again with wanting to double date... But there weren't any sparks. I didn't even want the poor kid to kiss me good-night, which he did attempt to do while we sat in the driveway under garage security light. I kept sarcastically thinking "Really TJ?! You didn't even talk to me tonight!" Not to mention, he only paid for his half of the movie, and I bought my own popcorn.

Such a cheapskate (hardly the way to win a girl over).

So yeah. Guys are the last thing on my mind.

But ever since this afternoon in the library, Weston has been on my mind - like, all freaking day. Every nanosecond. When before today... I don't think I thought of him at all. He wasn't even a blip on my radar.

It's a funny thing how a few exchanged glances can change....everything.

I allow myself peek back at the parking lot just once to see that Rick and Weston are surrounded by a group of girls, all eager to be the flavor of the week.

Holy crap, they work fast.

"Hey, guess who's here Jenna? You're boyfriend Weston McGrath," I taunt as I approach my best friend, who's laying in the sand. She's sporting ear buds but I know she can hear me because she immediately shoots up to a sitting position. "Whoops! You better fix your top," I laugh, tossing my bag down beside her in the sand.

"Are you serious?! Holy crap do I look okay?" Her boyfriend Alex (who has seen this behavior from her before) sits up too and has the decency to look affronted, shooting her an incredulous look as she adjusts the straps on her bikini.

His mouth drops open. "Babe! I'm sitting right here..."

"I know babe, but oh my god, he's so cute." She is digging through her beach tote, and finds what she's looking for: a hair brush. "Seriously though Molly, do I look okay?" Alex gives up and lies back down on the towel, shaking his head and closing his eyes. Jenna gives him a quick peck on the cheek.

Measly consolation prize from a girlfriend who's ogling nearby man-flesh.

Alex must agree because he snorts indignantly.

"Sit down for god's sake Molly, you're blocking my view," Jenna practically shouts. I laugh again, because seriously, she's cracking me up. Like right now, she's applying lip gloss. One strong breeze and she'll have sand stuck to her lips all afternoon. "Shit, there he is with that jerk off Rick Salamander."