"You were supposed to pick me up," I said staring into Colton's icy blue eyes that were stained red. THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol. Basically, weed. He was high, and he ditched me in the cold to light up with his friends and forgot to pick me up.

He ran a hand over his face in distress then began digging through his jeans for his car keys. "It's not my responsibility to pick you up, Asha. You just turned 16, maybe try and get your driver's license?"

I hated to admit it, but he was right. I did just turn 16. And I have been reluctant to get my driver's license. Not because I was scared of the road, or anything, but more so because I knew driving lessons cost money. In the state of Maryland, it's 300 fucking dollars to take a 2 week class that teaches you how to drive. How fucked is that? And the kicker- even the paper test costs money too. 50 bucks, take it or leave it.

"And i mean shit, at least i'm here, right?" His car chirped to an unlock and we both hopped in.

It smelled like a mix of pinetree and that fresh lemon car scent thing. Colton kept his car clean. Well, really, Colton kept everything clean. Unlike his personal relationships that were always messy, Colton (shockingly) was a bit of a neat freak. I wasn't surprised he and his friends didn't hotbox in his car because weed smell = Colton's parents busting his ass and that = no more weed, parties, seeing his friends, but most important of all; no more Brooke Mckailey.

Brooke Mckailey was blonde...ish. Like, she wasn't full-blonde because she had those beach-highlights in her hair and to put it quite shortly- was the embodiment of Sarah Cameron from Outerbanks. Or, at the very least, Sarah Cameron's long-lost cousin who's super fucking gorgeous and any dude would definitely drop their girlfriend to be with her.

Brooke Mckailey was perfect on the outside, perfect on the inside. Played Field Hockey in the fall, indoor track in the winter, Varsity co-ed volleyball in the Spring - and was somehow on the swim team. Overachiever much? Nope, just Brooke Mckailey. Now pair this with a Victoria's Secret body (minus the height-- she was actually really short, but to a lot of guys, that somehow made her cuter) and bam! She was the perfect formula of "Boy-Attracting-Goo'' anyone in the county had seen.

And honestly, you couldn't really even hate her that much because she was super nice. Well, nice to whoever fit her agenda. For instance, there was this one time in Sophomore English when I had some chips and the first time she ever talked to me was to ask me for some. We had been going to the same schools for years now, and that was the first time she ever even acknowledged my existence.

She never talked to me again after that.

Everyone wanted her. Including Colton, who had a crush on her since the 9th grade. 9th grade, Brooke Mckailey would never even glance at Colton-- literally nobody would. Not even me, honestly. He was a straight up rude nerd. One of those kids who applied to the neighbouring "Gifted" high schools and was mad they didn't get in so they acted all high and mighty around all the other "normies" and thought they were better than everyone. It took Colton joining the baseball team for some of the personalities of the guys on the team to rub off on him. After a couple of exclusive "popular" kid hangouts (where they probably all just made out with each other and got drunk off some kid's parents' cheap wine), Colton was good to go. Literally the most insane personality change because by the end of freshman year, Colton was your perfect highschool boy. Except, he was better than perfect- since he was also smart (nerd genes) and hot. There weren't many combinations of that at Melbourne High.

Sophomore year, he was the captain of the Baseball team. Grew an inch or two taller. 5'11, or so, which was sort of tall for a sophomore guy I guess. He was cute. Emotionally available, good in bed (or so the rumors say), and had money. A lot of it. Not just from his parents who were, yeah, DUMB fucking rich, but he worked for it. Had a job at a Panera that showed 'hard work' and 'dedication', but he didn't really need it. Once again— Colton was loaded.

He only worked there because in really, if you knew him like I did? You'd know he just knew Brook came there with her friends after field hockey practice during the fall, and that's why he always took an "academic break" off work during the winter and spring, since Brook wouldn't be there anymore.

Summer after sophomore year, me and Colton hung out all the time. Well, all the time he wasn't hanging out with Brooke and her friends and I wasn't at Volleyball tryouts. He picked up the guitar that summer and started hitting the gym with his new friends more. Said he had to buff up for sports season if he was gonna stay captain. He got invited on a beach-week trip to Martha's Vineyard with Brooke, his friends, her friends- yeah basically just all the popular white kids- and the last half of the summer, I barely got to see him.

(P.S — Martha's Vineyard, basically The Hamptons' cousin for East coast rich kids)

But fuck. Junior year. When he came back this fall... He was something more like a greek god than he was my Colton Whitman. I don't know what was in the water of Martha's Vineyard but he grew 5 more inches and along with that, toned abs. His personality was different, too. He was one way with his other group of friends, and another way with me. It felt like he was always hiding, and honestly, a part of me was shocked that he still chose to be my friend after such an insane glow up. I don't even think he realized what hit him.

I didn't really fit in with his group friends, and he seemed to pick up on that and always went out of his way to keep us apart. A part of me still doesn't know whether he does it because he's ashamed of me, or because he's protecting me. Huh.

"Everyday you shock me, C. It's almost midnight and right now, you could be making out with Brooke Mckailey- your dream fuckin' girl- and yet you're here. Picking me up. Now, if I didn't know any better i would say--"

The serious expression he once wore was now wiped off, with a badly concealed smile. "Alright, alright alright, you got me. Fine!" He stuck the key into the ignition and the car shook to a start. "Brooke scares me. She's so hot."

"I knew it! You lied to the group and picked me up instead."

"Yep."

I grinned, punching his shoulder. "Don't try that blaming-me shit again, ok? Like, I know your brain dude. We have the same brain."

"We do not."

"Yeah, we do. Can't believe your ass. You never pay gas, Asha." I mocked him and he threw his head back in a laugh.

I wasn't a comedian, and honestly, not many people found me funny. Yet somehow, I could always make Colton laugh. It was something I prided myself in, kind of. Don't judge me. I understand it's bad to base your sense of self-worth on a man's point of view but I couldn't help it.

I just cared about Colton Whitman's opinion way too much.

"Listen, I might be in regular classes but that doesn't mean I'm a dumbass." I mentioned.

"Honors and regular are the same." He rebuttled.

"Aht aht. Most of your classes are APs and the only honors course you take is Modern World."

"I do love my APs."

"BEOOO BEOOO! Nerd alert!" I began screaming a fake alarm as we turned down Mapleberry Street. My house was a block down and he was pulling into the driveway. With a laugh, he shouted over me to shut the fuck up and soon enough, came to a stop outside of my house.

He shut off his car and the only thing sounding was the sound of crickets in the quiet night silence.

The lights were off I lived

I unlocked my door, ready to hop out but then-

"I think I'm gonna ask her out." Colton said out of nowhere.

I stopped in my tracks. Shocked. Genuinely. I didn't know what I was feeling, but it wasn't anything I wanted to keep feeling. Jealousy? No, not that. Or maybe it was. I knew he liked Brooke Mckailey for years now, but he never actually did anything about it.

"What?" Was the only thing that came to my mind.

"Tomorrow. After school. I'm gonna ask out Brooke, I think." His hands were off the steering wheel and he was fiddling with them. He was looking down with a giddy smile, looking to be in deep thought about the oh-so-lovely Brook.

"That's great!" I exclaimed, but it came out like a weird screech. He looked up, an amused expression on his face.

"Uh...Thank you?" There was an awkward silence that he rushed to fill. "You good, Aash?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Tip top. Top of the mornin to ya!" I did a little irish jerk jump toe tapping dance.

"That was weird. You're acting weird."

"I know. I'm sorry." I felt nervous, flushed and embarrassed. What was wrong with me? Seriously?

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then?" He began to start his car engine. Not gonna lie, he definitely looked like he wanted to leave.

"Yeah. You picking me up or are ya gonna make me walk in the freezing cold?"

"Get a license and grow a pair, Daniels." he grinned, shifting the car to D and taking off. I stuck a finger up to his disappearing silhouette.

That pestering feeling was still at the gut of my stomach as I watched him drive off.

And that was when I realized I was in love with Colton Whitman.