Crushing on the Bully by Sarah Adams Page A

Skull. His brown eyes looked excited and it made her want to smile, but she refused to give in.
    Skull leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, but she pushed him away.
    “No,” she said, putting her hands firmly against his chest, “Skull, I’m serious, and kissing isn’t going to get you out of it!”
    The guys laughed again and Clarissa flipped them a bird over her shoulder without looking back at them.
    “We’ll talk, but first I need to go to St. Louis,” Skull said, “As soon as I can my bike out of the impound lot in the morning.”
    “St. Louis?” Clarissa asked, throwing up her hands, “What the hell is in St. Louis?”
    “You’re not going anywhere,” Hugo said.
    “You’re not my father, Hugo,” Skull said, stepping past Clarissa, “I’ve told you that before and I talked to a guy while I was waiting for someone to show up. He went to school with Aaron and he said he saw him last weekend in St. Louis! I’ve gotta go! This is the closest things I’ve found to a real lead! I’m going, even if I have to walk there!”
    “Who’s Aaron?” Clarissa asked, stepping in front of Skull, not willing to be ignored for a man that smelled like a stale ashtray.
    “You’re not going! It’s crazy!” Hugo said, “You keep chasing after him, but he don’t want to be found, boy! So what, he’s thrown his life away? I’ve tried to help! Just like I’m trying to help you! You have a girl who thinks the world of you for some reason I can’t logic out, but she does and you want to run off again?”
    “Who’s Aaron?” Clarissa asked again, her lips trembling.
    “Tell him he’s crazy,” Hugo said, “Tell him it’s crazy to go off on a wild goose chase, girl! Tell ‘em!”
    “Shut up!” Clarissa said again, “I’ll tell him what I damn well please, whose Aaron, Skull? I’ll drive you to St. Louis tomorrow, I’ll take the night off and everything. I’ll take you, just please tell me what’s going on! I can’t take this anymore! I love you, Skull!”
    The room fails silent and Clarissa listened to the breathing of the other occupants, which suddenly sounded incredibly loud. Every inhale and exhale the room made echoed around her mind. Had she really said that? Right here in front of everyone?
    “Aaron’s my brother,” Skull said pulling her into his arms. Clarissa buried her face in his chest, thankful for a place to hide her bright red cheeks, “Look I don’t want to talk about this here.”
    “Then when?” Clarissa asked.
    “Tonight, but not here,” he said.
    “Come on,” Clarissa said, entwining her fingers through his and holding tightly to his hand. She didn’t look back at the others, because she didn’t want to see their faces. She had never liked to let people down, but tonight was about Skull and her, not them. Her fingers were cramping by the time they reached Green Grandma, but she still didn’t want to let go of him.
    Before unlocking the car she looked up at him and gently touched his cheek. He looked excited, but exhausted, his brown eyes were bloodshot and Clarissa hoped it was only from the lack of sleep.
    “I won’t say it,” Skull said, “I won’t say it right now, it’s not fair to you, you’ll understand after we talk.”
    Clarissa nodded and dropped her hand away from his to unlock the car. Sliding behind the wheel of Green Grandma wasn’t as familiar or as comforting as her old blue clunker, but she reminded herself any car is better than no car.
    Upon arriving at her apartment complex Clarissa took a deep breath before getting out of the car.
    “Nice car,” Skull grinned.
    “You be nice to Grandma,” Clarissa laughed, thankful for the distraction from the nerves that were squeezing her stomach.
    “Is this your Grandma’s car?” Skull asked.
    “No, her name is Green Grandma,” Clarissa said as they entered the elevator heading up to the fourth floor.
    Clarissa unlocked the front door and they both took their shoes off before stepping