Of All

Cousins

“You gonna stare all day or is there something you want? I’m trying to have my lunch in private.” I say to him. Which mostly is true but a tiny piece of me is curious.. He stares a little more and now I’m getting annoyed. I start to gather my belongings and he finally decides to speak.. “Don’t leave your spot. I was just coming over to talk to you now that your club isn’t around but your a feisty one I can see.. I like that. Maybe you’d want to go with me to that party this weekend. I hear it’s your friend throwing it.” I look around for a minute for any of his stupid friends. This is probably some bet or a dare so I am gonna go sideways on this.. “Afraid your boyfriend will catch us?” He says and I snap my head to him. “Excuse me?” I say with an attitude as I stand up facing him with my bag. He leans in a bit. “I know Parker has a thing for you I just didn’t think you would date so soon. There’s a lot here to go around.” He says lowly and ends it with a smirk.. “I have nothing going on with anyone so you can stop assuming sh.it. Also I’m not interested in this right here. Move aside or I will make you.” I say to him getting pissed off. “You’ll make me? Sounds intriguing but that’s alright I wasn’t trying to scare you. Just have a little fun.” He says winking at me. I ignore whatever garbage came out of his mouth. The second he moved to the side I was out already half way back. “I will be seeing you at the party babycakes!” He shouts and I throw my middle finger in the air and keep walking.. What a fu.cking pig. I storm back into the cafeteria so I can make my way to the library where it’s nice and quiet. I walk past the first table and at the same time I look around I see Jaden and he calls me over to his table.. I kinda dread it the moment I see all the guys.. I didn’t see him when I came down here so he must’ve gotten here late. “Hey Asp! I didn’t know you had this lunch I would’ve invited you to sit with me and some of the guys. They are on the football team too. Next to me here is Jace Graham one of our linebackers, James Sanders but he goes by Jimmy, he’s one of our running backs and across from us is Taylor Ward our kicker. Sev our quarterback was here but I think he met up with his little girly friend.” He ends up saying with a wink and they all laugh. I just stand there like a weirdo.. I’m about to talk when I hear another voice. “Ay what about me bro?” I turn and see a guy that looks exactly like the ten year old version of my moms cousins Christmas card.. This is definitely Sev. Now I’m nervous.. “Nothing bad bro just introducing our new girl Aspen here to the guys.” Jaden says and they all look over to me again. “Hey.. Aspen Gray, I guess we are related.” I say with a nervous chuckle and his eyes get big. “Hey! Mom told me you guys moved here but I wasn’t sure if I’d meet you before a family dinner! It’s nice to meet you cuz!” He says excitingly and gives me a big bear hug picking me up off my feet spinning me around. “Ah!” I yelped and gained most of the cafeterias attention for a moment. He puts me down and apologizes. I am extremely embarrassed right now but decide to laugh it off and thankfully the guys follow suit. “I was not expecting that.” I say fixing my hair. “Take a seat next to me cuz I’d love to get to know you guys.” Sev says. “Uh sure..” I say awkwardly and sit. “Um there’s really not much.. Lived in Montana all our lives, never really had a dad or social life. Just been studies and that’s pretty much it for me. Asher my twin is actually more equipped for these situations than I am. It was really great to meet you but I should get going.. I wanted to check out the library before lunch is over.” I say and look over to Jaden who sends me an apologetic look. “No worries at all. I will be seeing you for family get togethers so we can catch up then when there isn’t a million ears ease dropping..” He says glaring over to his friends.. “I’m gonna be heading to the library too, mind if I join you? I can show you the way.” The guy that was introduced as Jace says while smiling big at me. “Bro you hate it there.” Jaden says. I look over at Jace watching his expression.. He’s like a stone wall. “I think it’s better you stay here Graham and let the girl be.” Sev says affirmatively. Jace rolls his eyes. “Right.. I’m gonna be on my way now.. Uh.. Thanks for having me guys.” I stand up and turn my back when the bell goes off then I hear one of the other guys say Jace almost had me.. Fu.cking pigs everywhere man. I’m telling you. High school is made out to be this fairytale of fun when in reality it’s se.x everywhere or your a loser.. Well screw that. When I’m ready is when I’m ready and that’s final no one will take that from me. I just go back to class. I will find the library another time. “Hey Aspen wait up!” I turn and see Sev waving. I stand by the vending machines waiting for him to catch up. “Hey sorry I probably should have mentioned that I’m awkward and not really experienced in any situations like that back there.” I say to him. “Don’t worry cuz I’m captain and if they want to be on my team then they know what’s up. You tell me if someone acts out of line and I mean anyone. I won’t be here for your last two years of high school but I will make sure you are watched over. Just like Sasha. My sister. I always have eyes and ears out for her.” He says and I can tell it’s genuine.. “My mom was right. Her blood line is full of gentlemen. However.. Asher is way too overprotective for his own good and although he’s got every reason it’s still too much at times so if you are anything like him please bring it down a notch so I can fly.” I say and we both start laughing. “You got it cuz. I will walk you back to class.” He says and I try to object but he doesn’t take no for an answer and keeps walking. “I’m not a little kid Sev!” I say catching up to him. He walks me to my class and says he’ll drive us home after school if we want. I told him that would be cool and to meet us by the buses. Going back to class I’m thankful that the rest of it went by quick and while in my last class before I knew it the bell was ringing and it was time to go home. I packed up my bag and headed to my locker. “Guess we won’t be working together much anymore.” Ben says opening his locker. “We can still hangout Ben but I’m sorry I gotta go.” I say closing my locker and starting to walk away. “I will catch up with you later! Bye!” I say loudly waving back to him as I walk down the hall. I see Ash as I go down the stairs he’s with the Danny, Matt and the guys from lunch earlier. “Hey y’all. Ash I met Sev earlier today at lunch and he offered to give us a ride home. He’s gonna meet us out by the buses.” I say. “Hey he’s not the only one you met today. Did you forget about me beautiful?” Jace says with his beautiful smile. “Bro what’d I say was my number one rule!” Asher says and I can hear the annoyance in his voice. I roll my eyes. “Don’t mind my dad here.. He’s all bark and no bite.” I say folding my arms across my chest.. Before Ash can object Kimi and the girls walk over. “Aspy!!” Kimi shouts pulling me into a bone crushing hug. “I have been so lost without you today!” She says letting me go. “Sorry girl. But Aspy? Really.. Please pick anything else.” I say laughing. “Alright let’s be serious everyone. Party all weekend long. Bring whoever but if you drink and drive that’s on you. I don’t condone it and your more than free to spend the night so I don’t want to hear s**t. You’ve been told!” She says affirmatively with her hand on her hip looking at all the guys. Most of them putting their hands up to defend themselves. I just laugh again. “Y’all heard the boss.” I say nudging her with my shoulder and she laughs. “See you guys soon! Come on loves!” She says and we all say bye to each other. “Aspen can we talk for a second?” I turn my head to Matty talking to me. I internally regret the words that come out of my mouth next.. “Yeah you can walk with me outside. Sev’s waiting Asher! Bye guys!” I say excitingly. “Alrighty.” Asher says laughing. Matty and I are walking down the hall and out the doors. “So what’s up?” I ask him as we get over to the buses. “Why does it seem like you are ignoring me?” He asks me and I get embarrassed.. I know my cheeks are red by now. I look away for a moment gathering my thoughts. “I’m not.. Truly. It’s been a long weird day for me today and I’m just tired.” I say looking back at him. His eyes never left mine and I look away again catching Erica’s glare with her group of friends and he turns his head too seeing what I am seeing.. I just sigh.. “Listen Matty.. I enjoy your company but I don’t want to be getting close to someone with.. um baggage. So I hope we can be friends.” I say to him walking away. I hear him groan frustratingly. “Aspen wait.” I hear him say but I continue walking over to Sev and Asher talking and laughing by Sev’s black Camaro. “There’s the princess, can we go home now?” Asher says and Sev laughs. “Your household princess is here now we wait for Sashy. Oh here she comes now.” He says. Ash and I turn around to see a girl whom I presume to be Sasha. She is beautiful. Similar features to Sev. Both dirty blondes. He’s got a short style with his wavy curls on top and hers is long. Can’t forget about their pretty blue eyes. She’s with Erica and another girl. “Sashy meet our cousins Asher and Aspen. We are gonna give them a ride home.” Sev says casually and she seems to hesitate for a moment. Like she doesn’t want to act a certain way in front of her friends.. “Oh hi nice to meet you guys. I am Sasha. These are my best friends Erica and Simone.. Sev I was gonna see if they could catch a ride with us?” She says and he shakes his head no. “Sorry ladies maybe next time.” He says so smoothly and they just walk away. Thank goodness.. I could feel Erica’s glare on me the entire time.. It’s official. I hate high school. “Let’s get going guys.” Sev says breaking me out of my thoughts. He walks over to the driver side and we all get in. It’s real nice inside his car. Makes me wonder his wealthy they can be. Mom said they we’re but honestly I wasn’t believing her until now. “Bro this ride is so dope. I’m jealous!” Asher blurts out and we all laugh. “Thanks cuz. It was a birthday present. She is my baby. Isn’t that right Sashy?” Sev says turning on his car and we drive off. “Will you stop calling me that!” Savanna shouts at him then goes back to using her phone. Ash and I just look at each other. “Don’t embarrass us now drama queen.” He says and she gives him a death stare.. “As you wish brother.” She said coldly to him.. “So how do you guys like it here?! Any crushes?!” She says perkily in her seat. Ash looks at me and I widened my eyes quickly to him as a sign not to say anything. “Uh.. It’s not too bad here. We are adjusting. As far as crushes Asher just got out of a relationship and I’m trying to focus on my studies. My health partner kinda screwed us so I have no time for anything else but school work.” I say to her and Ash gives me a quick thumbs up. “Awe that is a bummer!” She says and then goes back to her phone. The rest of the ride Ash and Sev talk about football and whatever else. We pull up to the house and we thank him for the ride. They drive off and we go inside. Man what a day.