“Why are we here?” I asked Lynn. “Contrary to popular belief, my idea of good time does not involve watching drunk guys hit on my underdressed sisters.”

“Whatever,” Danica said. “This dress covers the essential areas.”

“I want to go sleep,” I said. “My internship finally ends tomorrow, and I need to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

“Dude, you work like five hours a day,” Reese yelled. “Look at Lynn twerking on that guy.”

“What guy,” I said, turning my head.

“Don’t look now,” Danica laughed. “Reese has herself a bad boy.”

I glanced over, recognizing the face of the asshole touching my sister. Son of a bitch.

“Oh hell no,” I said.

                “You know him, baby brother?” Danica asked.

“Yeah, he is sort of dating my friend Britney. She was going to dump him tonight.”

Her article was complete, and officially, it’d been picked up. We were a dynamic publishing duo. Kelly’s article, Give cheating a Chance, was rejected outright. I’m pretty sure Patrick also broke up with her after finding it, but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t a good person; I’d learned that by now. It turns out our entire relationship was just one of her schemes to get some literary gold. It officially sucked being a part of someone's game, never knowing what was real or pretend. But I'd moved on from all the women who been poisoning my life, Kelly and Lisa. They were both forgotten.  

“Well, he rebounded quickly,” Lynn laughed, referring to Jonas. “Good thing Reese is on the pill.”

“Right,” I said. “Excuse me.”

             I stood up, ready to drag my sister off the floor and throw her into a nunnery. By the time I turned around, she’d disappeared. I shrugged, knowing Reese could handle herself. She went out with dumb guys, but she also used them more than they used her. She wasn’t really going to listen to me anyways.

                “Kellan,” I heard a voice say. I turned to see Brittany, who stared at me.

“Hey there,” I said. My eyes drifted down. She had on these tight jeans and a low cut blouse, and I felt my temperature rise. She was a beautiful woman, and I certainly noticed. Now that I actually liked her as a person, it was safe to say I could appreciate her appearance as well.

“Hey, have you seen Jonas?”

“He was molesting my sister a minute ago,” I said.

                “Your sister,” Brittany said. “I forgot you had a sister.”

“I have three; that’s why I’m so high strung. So I am guessing you broke up with Jonas.”

“No,” Brittany said. “I was going to but he text-dumped me. Brit, if you won’t fuck me, I’ll find a bitch who will. Keep it real –Jonas. He sure keeps it classy.”

“Wow. I know I pretended to be an asshole, but wow. Jonas is a professional douche bag.”

         “I thought you were too young to drink,” Brittany said.

“I have a fake i.d. Shhhhhh.”

“Well, Kellan, I can keep a secret. You want to buy me a daiquiri?”

“I sure do,” I said. “But only if you hang on my arm so these people all think I could actually get a girl so pretty.”

                “Deal,” Brittany said. “Let’s go grab a drink.”

I grabbed her arm and we took a seat. Lord knew it was going to be more fun than watching my sisters get freaky.

*

*

*

         “I’ve never seen star trek,” Brittany said, smirking.

“Are you trying to get me drunk,” I laughed, taking my third shot. It was a very pricy and crazy game.

“It’s your turn, Kellan.” She smiled.

“I’ve never had a man hit on me,” I said.

          She took a shot and smiled, taking some pride in it.

“Ok,” Brittany said. “I’ve never been in love.”

                I paused and looked at her. How was that possible?

“Take a shot, loser. I just won.”

“Brittany, you’re gorgeous, funny, and smart. How have you never fallen in love?”

I took my shot and it burned on the way down. She shook her head.

“I’m not the girl guys want to love,” she said. “I mean, even you think I’m a joke. Who I am I kidding... I am a joke.”

“I don’t think that,” I said. “I was an asshole before. We agree on that. You're not a joke.”

“Well, I have a gift,” Brittany said. “I bring out the asshole in guys, so I don’t do love. I do flings, fun, bad boys making out in the back room. I don’t do love.”

“But you should…you’re so,” I stammered.

“So what,” she asked. “Stupid and do-able? I’ve heard that before.”

           “Britt,” I said, putting my hands on hers. “There a million guys who’d want you, both good and bad. The bad are just easier to find.”

                “What kind of guy are you?” she asked, her eyes serious.

“I am a good guy, one who has made mistakes,” I said. “But deciding to get to know the real you, that was a good choice. Britt, I think you’re a great girl.”

“Oh really,” she said. “Did you read my article?”

         “Bad boys are overrated,” I said, quoted. “And seven other lessons I learned the hard way.”

“And…”

“You’re vocabulary was spot-on. You were honest, and refreshing, and I found you brilliant. I find you brilliant. It’s amazing you write like such a wonder woman, because you talk like a valley girl.”

“So you think I am smart,” Brittany said.

           “And sweet,” I said. “And sexy as hell. But that might be the shots talking.”

                “We should dance,” she said.

“I don’t dance, Brit.”

“Well, you should start,” Britney said. “Come on baby.”

I perked up when she called me baby, which seemed odd. I was a full grown man, but I liked the name. I stood up and she pulled me by my hands. The music changed, slowing down. Oh snap, the universe is pushing me towards the hot blonde. We got out and I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her waist. She moved close and rested her head on my shoulders.

“Hey,” I said. “You don’t smell like fruit.”

“What?”

“Girls always smell like peaches or raspberries.”

“What do I smell like?” she asked.

Heaven on earth. Don’t say that Kellan, you cheeseball. I shrugged, remembering one bad boy rule I still liked.

“It’s almonds,” she said. “My shampoo smells like almonds.”

“I like almonds,” I said, pulling her close.

                “I forgot an adjective,” I said, after a while. “To describe you.”

“What is that,” she whispered, her fingers somehow trailing up to my hair. It felt wonderful.

“You’re cool Brittany. Like, all the other girls made me feel like I had to try to be something else. With you, I can just hang out, you know.”

“So, you think I’m a friend.”

             “Well, yeah, but I want to do inappropriate things to you,” I said. “What I am saying is, will you go out with me sometime?”

“Really,” Brittany said. “Of course, Kellan.”

“Evan if I start wearing nerd glasses again.”

“Truth be told, I actually found them to be kind of sexy.”

                I just nodded and pulled her in for a kiss.  Maybe it would work out, maybe it wouldn’t. But whatever happened with Brittany would be real and honest, which was what I needed in the end. And I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.