#BreakingTheRules: Book 5 of the #BestFriendsForever Series Page 8

  Just like that, the movie ended way too soon.

  Wes sighed. “I should probably get back to studying,” he said. His locks of rich brown hair fell perfectly just over his eyes. “Thanks again for inviting me up here. It was fun.”

  His eyes met mine, and just like before, they moved to my mouth for an instant.

  But then he seemed to recover, and he began climbing down the steps. “Let me know when you get that extra copy of Chamber of Secrets?” he asked.

  I nodded, still speechless from the way he’d looked at me before.

  Then he was gone.

  Silently, I put everything back inside the picnic basket, covering it with my blanket and slowly making my way back down the steps and toward the house.

  When I walked into the kitchen through the back door, my mom stood at the kitchen sink doing the dishes.

  That’s when I noticed the perfect view she had of the backyard through the open blinds.

  Not enough to see inside the treehouse, but clear enough to see just who had gone in and out.

  Had she seen Wes hop back over the fence just five minutes ago?

  The near-empty sink told me she’d probably been there a while…

  She turned to me with an odd look on her face. I kept walking up to my room with the basket in tow, determined not to bring up the topic of who had been in that treehouse with me unless she did so first.

  Suddenly, I felt super self-conscious and guilty, but I tried to remind myself that we hadn’t been doing anything wrong.

  Although the fact that Wes and I had become friends wasn’t exactly common knowledge.

  As I shut my bedroom door behind me, I thought about when we’d make that new fact known. Or would we always hang out in secret?

  Once again, I felt like I was probably blowing everything out of proportion. I had nothing to hide.

  Wes and I were just friends, and if my mom asked me about it, I’d just tell her the truth. No need to admit my crush for him, but it was okay if she knew. In fact, it was probably a good thing.

  I tried to stop thinking about the whole thing, and instead, I made plans to go to the bookstore on Saturday.

  I eyed Chamber of Secrets on my shelf, the awesomeness that had been the past couple of hours replaying in my head and making me hug my pillow tight with nerves—the good kind—and something like rolling down a grassy green hill on a sunny day.

  I’d successfully turned Wes into a Potterhead.

  If this wasn’t a blog-worthy topic, I didn’t know what was.

  Fifteen

  That topic ended up being the most popular one yet, with more comments and shares and traffic than I’d ever seen.

  I couldn’t believe how popular my blog had become just in the past week.

  All thanks to my huge crush on Wes and our blossoming friendship over Harry Potter.

  Who knew so many people would go crazy about it?

  I sure didn’t. I couldn’t believe how many people were reading my posts, leaving their thoughts on what they thought would happen next.

  So many people wondered when we’d have our first kiss, but I definitely wasn’t counting on it.

  After all, he was still Hugo’s friend first. They hung out and went to school together, and I was just the girl who’d introduced him to the world of Harry Potter.

  So I kept my expectations low, just happy to have someone to obsess over Harry Potter with.

  On Saturday morning, I jumped out of bed, ready to head to the bookstore.

  I put on my favorite top, a loose shirt just the right shade of soft blush and with cutouts in the arms along with my high-waisted jeans and ankle-length boots.

  The day was sunny with the perfect amount of cloud cover, and all I wanted to do was grab a coffee and cream cheese danish so I could sit down with my journal outside the bookstore.

  They had the perfect tables with giant umbrellas to keep the sun’s rays at bay, and that was exactly what I was going to do after I found a copy of a Chamber of Secrets.

  Today was going to be an awesome day, and I could feel it.

  I ran downstairs, a cute little packpack with my things hanging from my shoulders.

  After finding my parents in the kitchen, I gave them a hug. “Is it okay if I hang out at the mall today? I need to go to the bookstore, and I think I’m going to sit outside and write for an hour or two.”

  My mom smiled at me from her seat at the counter, a mug already in hand. “You’re up a little early.”

  “I’m just excited to get to the bookstore,” I replied sheepishly.

  I knew for a fact that Hugo would be asleep for another couple hours at least before he and Wes did whatever they were going to do today. Probably video games all day. My brothers were already in the living room taking advantage of their screen time, but all I wanted to do was find a good book and write some words.

  My dad flipped a pancake at the stove. “You don’t want to have breakfast first?” he asked. “They’re blueberry… your favorite.”

  I bit my bottom lip, looking at how perfectly golden brown the stack of pancakes my dad had going looked. “Okay, I said. Just one. I want to leave room for a pastry later.”

  My dad smiled. “I’m glad I was able to bribe you with pancakes so I can catch up with my favorite daughter this morning.” He winked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Dad, I’m your only daughter,” I siad.

  My mom grinned and sipped at her cup of coffee. But I joined them for a few minutes anyway before finally leaving for the bookstore.

  The mall was practically empty at this hour, but I considered that another advantage of hanging out there early.

  I parked right outside the bookstore. It was the only place I planned on going to anyway.

  Just like I liked, the tables outside the bookstore were wonderfully empty, just waiting for someone like me to sit down with a large dose of sugar and caffeine and something to read or write.

  But it would have to wait. I knew that once I sat down, I would not want to get back up, so I went inside and made my way to the science fiction and fantasy section.

  The employee at the front desk, who I knew to be named Mike because Mike worked every Saturday morning until two o’clock, gave me a familiar wave.

  I waved back and kept walking. It wasn’t long before I had my hands on another copy of Chamber of Secrets. And it wasn’t long after finding the book that I had picked up a couple of extra books to buy and read for myself.

  I bit my lip, knowing I should probably head to checkout. I already had a stack of books on my nightstand that I hadn’t gotten to, and at this rate, I’d never get through them if I kept adding more to the pile.

  Why couldn’t I just become a book reviewer? Wasn’t that a job? I’d have to double-check those college programs my parents had shown me.

  A tap on the shoulder jarred me from my thoughts and made me jump. To make matters worse, I dropped the books in my arms.

  And was that a scream that had just come out of my mouth?

  “Sorry,” I heard just behind me. I knew that voice.

  I turned around. “Wes?” I asked, disbelief clear in my voice. He was right there.

  He smiled. “Sorry that I scared you. I just—was walking by, and I happened to see you.” He glanced away, clearly not knowing what to do with his hands. “I just thought I’d say hi.”

  Then he saw the books on the floor. At the same time he chose to bend down and pick them up, I did the same.

  Our heads bumped, and my hand immediately went to my right side of my forehead.

  “Ow,” I said, then laughing.

  Wes looked horrified, but then he started laughing too.

  “Here,” he said, bending down again. He grabbed my books. “Sorry again. I just couldn’t believe I saw you.”

  I grinned, liking this run-in of ours more and more with each passing second despite the physical pain. The fact that he’d come over to say hi had my stomach bursting with what felt like butterflies. “Wha
t are you doing at the mall on a Saturday morning?” I asked. “I thought maybe…”

  My voice trailed off. I didn’t want to mention my brother so early in the conversation.

  Wes glanced around. “Believe me, I’m not normally anywhere this early, but my dad’s in the market for a new lawn mower, and he needed my help. He’s still shopping, though, and I kind of snuck away. There’s only so much about lawn mower features and price points I could take.”

  I giggled. “I do not envy you.”

  Wes held up Chamber of Secrets. “You found it,” he said.

  I nodded. “You’re gonna love it.”

  “And what’s this?” he said, holding up the other two books. He read the titles and stared at the covers.

  “Just two books in need of a loving home,” I replied.

  That had him laughing again. “What’s the name for someone who’s a hoarder but with books?” he joked.

  But I was ready for him. “A bibliophile,” I said.

  That had him grinning. “Why am I not surprised you know the word for that?”

  I took my books back, and Wes glanced around. “So this is it, huh? The bookstore.”

  I smiled. “Don't’ you ever come in here?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Just once. I needed to buy a copy of Huckleberry Finn for English. Never did actually read it, though.”

  I rolled my eyes. “There’s tons of stuff in here you would like.” I pointed out Eragon and Percy Jackson. “But we’ll start with this.” I gave him Chamber of Secrets back.

  Wes began strolling down the aisle, looking at all the books, and I followed behind him. It was surreal having the boy who made my heart beat a little faster in my favorite place.

  Truth be told, I was holding back a major geek out.

  We entered the romance section. “For when you’re in the mood for a happily ever after,” I explained.

  He picked up a book by Nicholas Sparks than put it back. Then he saw the shirtless guy covers and chuckled. “Do you ever come in here for something new to read?”

  I giggled. “I mostly stick to the science fiction and fantasy sections. And wherever the latest John Green book is.”

  We made our way through most of the bookstore. I liked how Wes took his time, picking up a book here or there and leafing through it before putting it back.

  There was one about World War II which he really seemed to like, and I told him, “You should take that one.”

  But then he closed it and put it back. “Maybe next time. Right now I’m wondering what’s gonna happen in Chamber of Secrets.”

  We made our way back to the shelf with all the Harry Potter books. Wes noticed the different covers. “Are these…” he began.

  “Different editions,” I finished. I pointed out the first editions. “These are the classics, and these over here are some of the new ones that have come out.”

  Wes nodded. “Kind of like the originals myself.”

  I smiled. “Me too.”

  He picked up each book in turn, from Prisoner of Azkaban all the way to Deathly Hallows. “You’ve read all of these?” he asked.

  “Yep,” I said. “At least three times, maybe more. I could read them forever.”

  Wes sat down with Chamber of Secrets, and I followed his lead, taking a seat on the carpeted floor next to him. Our legs and shoulders touched, and that’s when I realized how close we were. I inhaled, taking in his scent. Something like pine straw and grass.

  Wes traced his fingers carefully over the silver embossed letters on the book cover. “I like the silver on this one.”

  Then he opened up to chapter one and began reading. He chuckled, and I realized why as I read the first page. “Uncle Vernon cracks me up.” He turned the page. “And Dudley.”

  My chest felt funny as I took in the way his mouth stretched into a grin while his eyes went back and forth, taking in the words on the page.

  Then he glanced at me, and I went back to pretending I was reading along with him. We stayed like that for several minutes, only the sounds of people passing by or Wes turning pages interrupting the silence.

  I was taking in the story, but at the same time, I wanted to memorize every moment of what was happening right now, wishing it would never ever end.

  Then Wes closed the book and sighed, glancing at his phone. “I should probably go. My dad’s already wondering where I am.”

  He turned to me, disappointment etched on his face. “So we’ll finish later?” he asked.

  His voice was just above a whisper and it was because he was right there, his face just a few inches from my own.

  I nodded, speechless. Without even thinking about it, my eyes went to his mouth. I blinked rapidly, moving my gaze back to his hazel eyes. Had they always been framed by those beautiful thick lashes and brows? Or was he just becoming more handsome by the day?

  My chest rose up and down with each breath, my heart pounding, and I tried to think of something to say, anything, to fill the deafening silence between us.

  “Rey?” he said. “There’s something I want to do before I go. And I hope it’s okay.”

  OH MY GOSH.

  Did he mean…

  Realizing he was waiting for me to say something, all I could do was nod again and say, “Okay.”

  Then his eyes filled with something like determination, like this was now or never, and he came all the way in until our noses touched.

  Then our lips. His mouth moved against mine, and then his hand went to my knee, like he needed to hold on to me to stay steady.

  I kept my eyes closed, wanting to feel every single thing happening between us.

  Now wasn’t the time to think about anything else, except how much having Wes this close felt absolutely right.

  But then it was over, just like that.

  I felt out of breath and frazzled and like I could do anything.

  All I wanted was for Wes to kiss me again, but then he turned away and got up.

  I did the same, our books forgotten on the floor next to us.

  “I should go,” he said, no longer meeting my eyes.

  Then he was gone.

  What had just happened?

  My fingers came to my mouth.

  The look on his face just now, though, had me wondering if Wes thought this was a mistake.

  Was our friendship over? Would I go back to being his best friend’s little sister, the girl he hardly talked to?

  Picking up the books from the floor, I ached to know, but the truth was I didn’t have the answers to any of those questions.

  Wes did.

  Sixteen

  I bought the extra copy of Chamber of Secrets, but Wes didn’t message me about our daily chapter.

  He didn’t message me at all for the next week.

  Which was especially awkward because Hugo’s 19th birthday rolled around, and we still hadn’t said one word to each other.

  The whole week, whenever Wes came over, he hardly looked my way. Or he’d make an excuse and leave, saying he had homework to do or that he wasn’t feeling well.

  I got the hint, letting my mom answer the door and hiding out in my room.

  The more time that passed without us saying a word to each other, the more I realized what had happened between us had been a huge mistake.

  There was no going back to what we had before.

  Not even the awkward hellos before we became friends.

  At this rate, there wouldn’t even be that.

  I wiped a stray tear from my cheek and hugged a pillow to my stomach. I lay in bed, not feeling like doing much except laying there and staring at my closed curtains.

  Catching a glance of Wes in his room was the last thing I needed. I knew he didn’t want to see me, and I didn’t want him to see how much this had torn me apart.

  A couple more tears ran down my face, and I let them, pulling my blanket up around my shoulders.

  Chamber of Secrets lay on my nightstand, but I couldn’t bear to pick it up, much les
s read it.

  Just a few days ago, I’d been so excited to start reading it with Wes. He’d been even more ecstatic than me because it was his first time. He’d get to discover the brilliance that was J.K. Rowling in this book, but now that would probably never happen.

  How was it possible that I saw Wes every single day but I missed him like crazy? My heart ached for him yet I knew that what had happened had been too good to be true in the first place.

  I should have known it wouldn’t last, that we just weren’t meant to be.

  I brought my knees up to my chest, really not wanting to go downstairs for my brother’s birthday barbecue. The #BFFs were supposed to come over later, and I wondered if I could get away with hiding in my room until then.

  Maybe Wes would be gone by then.

  Wes, his dad, and his brother were a given at our house today. Our parents were actually friends, and I was sure they’d be up late with a glass of wine catching up. Wes and Hugo would probably hang out late too, but maybe I could convince my parents to let me hang out elsewhere with the #BFFs so I wouldn’t have to slap on a happy smile around everyone.

  Usually I could make small talk and socialize if needed, but not today, not with my heart slowly cracking into pieces at the sight of Wes.

  As if sensing how badly I wanted to stay in my room and wholly forgotten, a knock came at my door.

  My mom popped her head in, and I couldn’t say I was surprised. She seemed to have a sixth sense sometimes, or maybe it was plainly obvious that I just wasn’t feeling my best.

  She came over to my bed. “Hey, I was wondering where you were. Everyone’s outside. Food’s about ready.” She patted my leg. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head, wishing I’d had an excuse ready. “My head hurts. I was just laying down for a minute.”

  My mom gave a “Hm,” and I wondered if she had bought it. “Well, I’m sure it’s not something a good cup of tea can make better. Want me to brew some for ya?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “No, thanks, Mom. I’ll be down in a minute.”

  But she sat there a little longer anyway. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain boy, would it?”