Chapter 15: Bad Boy

Lexi

"I need clothes," I argued to Claire the next day. I held my cell phone against my shoulder as I looked at the outfit I was currently wearing. Holding up a scarf, I heard her make a noise of disapproval in the back of her throat. "School starts Monday and I wanted to start off senior year looking more...senior-ish."

"Uh huh," she said. "So Brady just volunteered to drive you three towns away to go clothes shopping out of the blue? Just for fun?"

I gave my reflection in the mirror an annoyed glare and shook my head. "What are you getting at?"

Claire cleared her throat. "Nothing."

"What do you mean 'nothing'? I can tell by the tone in your voice that you don't mean it like you said it."

"Oh come on, Lexi, don't play coy with me. You like him. You don't go to the mall with a guy you don't like. Especially not all day. That's so a boyfriend thing to do."

I rolled my eyes and tossed another scarf down on the bed. "He's not my boyfriend, Claire, how many times do I have to say it?"

"Enough times that you'll believe it," she stated innocently.

"But that's—" I began formulating a rebuttal to Claire's matter of fact statement when the rumbling sound of Brady's truck entered my consciousness and my heart skipped a beat or two. As much as I hated to admit it, it did that a lot when he was around. Damn it.

"He's pulling into the driveway, I have to go. Good-bye Claire!"

She snickered and hung up. I tossed my cell phone into my purse and gave my reflection an exasperated sigh. Sometimes, I wish I was able to look a little older. Cuter. Hotter. Frowning, I realized that I was really nervous to see Brady again after last night. After that kiss...well, kisses...sleep had been difficult to come by. I wasn't sure how to take all of it, and he just really pissed me off with how calm and collected he was about it all.

Like he expected it to happen.

He wasn't expecting anything today, was he?

Brady had a certain effect on me and my dad and Patrick had definitely noticed. My father had poked his head in my bedroom before he left for the day to talk to me.

"Hey sleepyhead," he said softly, ducking his head around the door.

I sat up in bed and gave him an early-morning wince. "What time is it?"

"Still early, but we're going to leave soon to get a head start before traffic gets bad. Can you stay awake long enough to talk a minute?"

I moved over and let him sit on the edge of my bed. I gave him a look that meant he was going to have to talk first.

"So Brady was over here last night."

I nodded solemnly. "Fact."

His lips quirked like he was going to smile, but he waited. "Brady was over and…it seemed like you two have gotten close."

I shifted slightly on my sheets, shrugging. "We're friends."

My dad wasn't fooled. "Lexi…I can tell when a guy gives you a look that means he wants to be more than friends."

I snickered to myself and gave him a sideways look. "I know dad. I see that look every day and I'll give you a hint; it's not directed at me."

He snorted to himself, shaking his head. "I know you do. But this isn't about me. This is about you."

"What about me?"

"Brady is a nice boy..guy…man," he stuttered. "Should I be worried that you're spending time with him? I want to play the role of trusting, cool father here but my memories of my younger years keep me from doing that wholeheartedly."

I winced. "Ew. Um…no, you don't have to worry. We're just friends, and I think it will stay that way. Dad, I….yeah, trust me," I stammered, not wanting to go into a big discussion about my sex life. Or lack of one.

"He's just older, Lexi. I trust you, and I'd like to trust him, but I don't yet. Get what I'm saying? I'm trusting you to be the adult in this…even if a time comes when he doesn't act like the adult he is, I'd still like you to."

"Dad…" I whined. "Most of the guys at my old school forgot I was a girl most of the time. I was invisible. Did one guy ever call the house for me in all my teen years you lived with me in California? I was invisible," I repeated.

He sighed. "I know Lex, but can't help but notice Brady looks at you like you're the opposite. I don't think you're invisible to him. Not by a long shot," he explained.

I looked over at him and frowned. "What do you mean?"

My dad shrugged, shaking his head. "Ignore me, I just…think he's taking this a little more seriously than you are. He didn't seem like he was just at our house last night for the food, Lex."

"Dad…."

The topic of conversation was making me increasingly uncomfortable. I knew my dad wanted to bond with me and be close the way we used to be when I was a kid, but I was too old for that now. I didn't want to talk to him about this, especially when he was so on target. I knew Brady wanted more than friendship and that he wasn't to be trusted; but that wasn't something I wanted to share with my father of all people. Brady was the bad boy, and no father wanted his daughter to fall for the bad boy.

"Just try not to get too caught up in this alright? You're only in high school and he's…much older. I know you're the age where you can make your own decisions about things, I do. But please be careful honey."

"So I'm not grounded? Not allowed to see him? Locked in my room forever?" I teased.

He shook his head. "Your mother was always the disciplinarian. Not me," he shrugged as he stood. "I just love you Lexi. I want what's best for my little girl."

My father was right though; Brady didn't just look at me like he wanted to be friends. I knew that. I had seen enough romantic comedies and tragic love stories to know what 'look' my dad was talking about, even if I did play dumb. But that still left me with the fact that Brady was a bad boy and an experienced one at that. What had I gotten myself into with him? The events of the night before flashed in front of my mind as I picked up my coat and slipped into my Converse sneakers.

As I walked down the steps, I found myself wishing I was a tad more experienced. Luckily my father and Patrick weren't home today – they had taken the day to go to Seattle to look at samples for something or another. They wouldn't be back until late, so I didn't mind not having to spend the day at home by myself. I hopped into Brady's truck and slammed the door, looking at him cautiously.

"Hey," he said confidently, motioning to the center console. "I got you coffee."

I glanced down to see a whipped cream-covered drink beside another container I assumed was his. He picked up his own and sipped it as we pulled out onto the main road, and I grabbed the other and clinked the plastic against his.

"Cheers," I laughed, taking a pull of the icy coffee drink. "Oh wow, this is great. How did you know I like white chocolate mochas?"

He shrugged as he turned onto the highway. "You told me on the phone, remember? We were talking about how there isn't a Starbucks in town, but I told you there was a pretty good little coffee shop. You said you liked Starbucks' white chocolate mochas."

I was a little awestruck that he had remembered that part of our late night rambling session. "Oh, um...yeah, I did. Sorry, I remember now. Gosh, that feels like ages ago. This is really good though," I said, taking another pull. "Maybe even better than Starbucks."

He laughed. "Yeah, I told you."

I chewed on my straw and turned to look at his side profile as he drove down the highway towards one of the bigger suburbs. They had a pretty decent mall there that Claire had taken me to a few times last spring although I couldn't determine why in the world Brady would want to go there. Maybe my dad had a point.

"What are you looking at?" he teased, glancing over at me. He was actually really easy on the eyes; I understood how he had a successful run as a man whore in a town the size of Forks. Short, spiked black hair, creamy toffee colored skin, white, straight teeth, and an angled jaw that looked perfectly sculpted.

I played coy. "Nothing."

"What?!" he laughed.

I shook my head and looked forward.

"Thanks for driving me. I appreciate the ride; I mean...the mall is probably the last place you want to spend your Sunday."

He shrugged. "It's alright. I need some new clothes anyway, and I'm sick of having to buy them at Wal-Mart," he muttered. "I guess it works since I usually destroy all of my clothes what with...work and all, but...it would be nice to have some clothes again that aren't just ripped jeans and sweats."

We chatted easily the rest of the hour long drive to the mall, avoiding any mention of the night before. Although I was dying to casually bring it up, I didn't. I wanted to see what he would say about it first. He parked relatively close and walked right beside me as we strode inside, a nervous flutter settling over my stomach. Immediately people stopped or paused to look at Brady, their eyes raking over him appreciatively. As I glanced up at him, I thought – how could they not? He's gorgeous. A cocky, arrogant, self-destructive ass, but a pretty looking one at that. I chewed my lip and walked beside him, feeling a little out of place next to the Adonis-like creature I was walking next to. And I should have, I realized. I didn't belong with someone as good looking as Brady; I was a silly little high school girl and nothing else.

People probably thought he was my babysitter for shit's sake. I continued to watch him as he grew irritated with people's stares. His towering height and bulk didn't help him blend in any; he stuck out like a sore thumb. He looked like a movie star stranded in a small town mall.

"What?" he asked me defensively, pushing through the crowd. I trotted along after him, my short legs trying to keep up with the pace he had set to get away from the prying eyes.

"Nothing, I just...hey, slow down!"

"Sorry," he said, immediately slowing his gait. He walked beside me slowly, his dark eyebrows furrowed.

"What's eating you?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, just…sick of getting stared at like a freak."

"I…"

"What?"

I blushed. "I don't think they were staring at you because they think you're a freak Brady," I said quietly.

He rolled his eyes and pulled me gently out of the aisle where people were trying to walk. "Where did you want to go?"

I paused, suddenly a little shy. "Um, you don't have to come with me if you don't want. I'll probably just walk around for a bit. Macy's ok?"

He nodded, shrugging slightly. "I don't care. I don't have anywhere to be today. You're the one with school tomorrow. I'm here for you," he said pointedly.

I groaned, wrinkling my nose as we turned in the direction of the larger department store. "Ulgh, don't remind me. At least its senior year though, that much is nice. I'm just dreading it. Summer was nice," I laughed.

"Yeah, well….get that diploma then."

"I plan on it, I just…kinda sick of the high school thing. Ready to move on."

Brady's dark eyes flicked up to meet mine. They smoldered slightly as I stood there awkwardly, chewing my bottom lip.

"That so?"

"Yeah, well…anyway, we'd better get going. Macys still ok?"

His hard gaze softened slightly and he nodded. "Sure."

He followed me inside the store and waited patiently as I navigated through the racks of clothes and shoes. His mood started to lighten as he either shook his head in approval or made faces of disgust at my selections. Half the time I scooped things up specifically to irk him. His response would be to roll his eyes at my antics. He stopped in the shoe section and picked up a pair of dangerously high, black heels with an open toe. "Now these are hot."

My frown was instantaneous. "Do you normally scope out women's shoes?"

"No," he said defensively. "I just like women in high heels."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Good to know." I walked around the shoe department, looking fearfully at the rows of high heels. I hoped he didn't think I was ever going to wear anything like those! They just looked painful and...well, dangerous. I would fall off of those suckers in an instant! What was he thinking? Any woman that wore above a two inch heel was just asking for trouble or a broken ankle in my book. My eyes fell down to the worn out Converse sneakers on my feet. I suddenly felt very...inadequate. Brady's eyes followed my awkward gaze.

"I didn't mean anything by it," he chuckled. "Just that girls look good in them."

"Girls with a death wish," I laughed, picking up a pair of Converse. "Now these are more my style."

Brady shrugged. "I like a girl in Converse. But what about when you go out to town? You gotta wear something with an open toe. You have great feet."

I winced. "Um, ew? Stop looking at my feet, creep," I laughed, glancing down at my shoes. I had gotten a pedicure with my mother in California, so my toes were actually looking pretty cute. Normally though, I slapped on some pink polish and called it a day. I had never paid much attention to my feet before, and it was very weird that Brady had.

"I'm just saying. Sometimes it's nice to wear something a little...festive. Flirty, fun, I duno."

I laughed and tossed a high heel in his direction. He caught it and held it up to look at it with a sultry gaze.

"You're a bit metro, you know that?"

He shrugged. "I have a mom with good taste, that's all. A lot of times it was just the two of us when I was growing up, so I used to watch her get ready to go on dates with my dad. I used to like to watch her pick outfits and put on makeup."

"And you're a whore," I laughed.

"That too," he admitted.

We laughed our way through the shoe department before finally going our separate ways to find clothes. I claimed it was weird for a guy to help me shop and he insisted he didn't want to help me anyway. We exchanged a couple of frowns and split up. I had purchased a few new pair of jeans and a few tank tops that could be deemed school appropriate and dad-friendly when Brady came crawling back.

"Okay...I'm done."

"Why the long face?" I asked as the cashier handed me my receipt. I tucked it in my wallet and glanced at his frown.

"I realized I don't go anywhere fancy anymore."

"Where do you need to go?" I asked.

He sighed. "Anywhere, really. Anywhere nice or that could justify as nice."

"What does that mean?"

Brady snorted in amusement. "Um…a place where there are cloth napkins or…valet, or something like that."

I shrugged. "Well...go, then?"

Brady raised a dark eyebrow at me. "Want to come with me?"

"What? Someplace nice?"

He nodded.

I sputtered.

"Well...n-no, that's...where would we go?"

He shrugged. "Seattle. Port Angeles. Somewhere nice. I could wear a shirt with buttons and you could wear open toed shoes. We could make a night of it."

I paused. "Like...a date?"

His tanned face grew a little red. "It doesn't have to be. It can be two friends at dinner."

"Riiiight," I nodded. I was using humor to deflect this and I knew it. Brady was asking me out in his sneaky little way. "I think shirts with buttons and open toed shoes define a date, actually."

He shrugged. I was getting to him and I loved it - secretly, of course. I grinned to hide my nervousness.

"Just think about it," he pleaded casually. He was playing it cool, but I could see that he meant it. My stomach twisted nervously as I nodded.

"I can do that."

There was a nervous, flirty tension between us that was always there but it somehow seemed magnified as we walked around the mall. He excused himself to get something to drink from the food court as I perused a girly boutique looking shop with eclectic earrings and scarves. I lived in Washington now, I needed pretty scarves. I watched my reflection in the little mirror on the counter as I tried on accessories and tried to imagine wearing them in my daily life. Some of it seemed a little extravagant and silly, but I was still debating. A guy across the store caught my eye and gave me a small smile. Feeling stupid, I put down the scarf and tucked my hair behind my ears. I felt my face heat up as he walked closer.

"No, keep it on. That looked good on you."

I turned around and blushed brightly as he eyed the magenta colored material in my hands. He was tall, blonde and blue eyed and everything I would have instantly swooned over back in California. But as my location had changed so had my tastes. I now preferred something tall, dark and dangerous. I mentally swatted that thought away as I felt my cheeks grow hot. Was this guy seriously flirting with me? Guys didn't usually flirt with me; I was too awkward and weird for that normally. But I must have struck this guy's fancy because he definitely wasn't backing off.

"Oh, um...I was just trying them on."

He smiled charmingly. "Well it gets cold here in the winter – you could pull it off."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure," I laughed. "You look familiar."

He nodded. "I was a senior at Forks High last year. You were the new girl, right?"

"Oh! I remember. You were friends with Dylan and those guys. Yeah, I transferred here from California at the start of second semester so I didn't know too many people."

"Shame," he said brightly. "I go to school nearby; we just come here on the weekends for something to do."

"Oh, that's cool," I replied lamely. We made small talk for a few more minutes about high school and college and how we hated the rain when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I didn't even have to turn around to know that Brady was quickly approaching.

Weird.

I brushed off my newfound sixth sense and turned around to find him glowering behind me. The boy's face grew a little pale as he took in the hulking Native American man behind him.

"You ready to go?" he asked quietly. I looked at him with a surprised look – I had expected more anger. Instead, he seemed to be keeping his cool even though he was still shooting random eye-daggers at the poor kid standing in front of me.

"W-who's this?" he asked stupidly.

I silently cursed his braveness and watched as Brady tensed up beside me. "Someone who thinks she should go."

Random kid lifted his chin. I could tell he was nervous but stupidly trying to be cool. This was going to get ugly, I just knew it. Shit.

"We were just talking. No need to get all weird and creepy about it. Is this guy your boyfriend or what?"

I opened my mouth to speak but Brady beat me to it. "Yeah, yeah I am her boyfriend. And I think we should go. Lex, come on," he said gruffly. He gently grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the store, leaving a bewildered random kid in our wake. I sputtered angrily as he led me through the crowded mall. I growled under my breath and saved it until we got into the parking garage.

"What the hell was that?" I snapped as soon as we were alone. My angry tones registered against the cement walls, echoing loudly. For a second, I was proud of myself for taking such a stand against Brady's arrogant, jerky behavior. "Where do you get off acting like that?"

"Like what?" he spat. He stopped walking and turned to face me. His dark eyes were almost black but I didn't care. He had no right to treat me like that; like I was his property or plaything or something dumb like that. I might be new and inexperienced when it came to guys, but I had seen enough shitty lifetime movies to know when a guy was being a possessive jerk.

"Like you're my boyfriend! Like you have some claim over me!"

"So?" he asked, throwing me a nonchalant glance.

"So?" I screeched. "So you have no right! Even if you were my boyfriend or something, that wouldn't give you any right to act like you are right now!"

"So I'm not your boyfriend, so what?"

"So...So..." I huffed.

Brady stepped closer to me, his body suddenly inches from mine. I could feel the strange heat rolling off of him in waves as his tanned body shook slightly. "So let me be."

I was floored. "What?"

His jaw clenched and his features softened. "I said so let me be. Let me be your boyfriend."

"Don't be ridiculous," I snapped. "And what, give you the license to be a possessive, caveman ass all the time? No thanks, we can just stick to that on the weekends," I added sarcastically as I brushed past him. I kept walking towards his truck as he groaned to himself behind me.

"Lexi, stop!"

"No, thank you," I called over my shoulder. "Just take me home."

I heard his feet hitting the floor of the parking garage as he trotted after me. He darted in front of me and reached his hands out to stop me in my tracks. His gentle touch floored me. How could he be so pissed and yet so controlled? The whole situation simply infuriated me.

I wanted to smack his smug look off his face.

"You mad?"

I sat on my hip and crossed my arms. "I just asked you to take me home, asshole."

"So, no date?"

I growled and tried to push past him. Instead, he grabbed my hands and squeezed them. "I know you're not really mad."

"You don't know much then, do you?"

He chuckled bitterly, something flashing in his dark eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. Finally, he nodded to himself. "So small, and yet so much anger. You're more like me than you'd care to admit, Lexi."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded.

"When I met you I didn't understand….now I do. You're a fireball when you want to be. Huh. I like it. You definitely belong with me," he replied smugly.

What the hell?!

I whirled around and whacked him square in the chest with my shopping bags. "You! You are an arrogant, self-serving, moody asshole, Brady. I want nothing to do with you! I don't belong with you!"

He gave another cocky laugh. "And what makes you so sure of that?"

I was so angry my bones shook beneath my skin. My neck tensed until my temples throbbed. "I can't stand you!"

He crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "I know that's a lie. You're drawn to me, admit it."

My feet moved me closer to him as I looked him square in his cocky gaze. I stopped inches from him and lifted my chin. I wasn't sure where this self-assured bitchiness was coming from, but I was gonna roll with it.

"The only reason I'm drawn to you is so that I can get close enough to smack you. An urge I am barely suppressing right now. Get me?" I hissed.

"Wooo," he hooted quietly, his eyebrows shooting up. "You promise?"

"I hate you."

His dark eyes ignited playfully. "Look at you. You're amazing, you know that?" he whispered. He lifted his hand to touch my face, and I carelessly smacked it away. He chuckled. "I definitely see it now. At first I wasn't sure, but...I get it now."

I let out another aggravated growl. "What are you talking about? You're not even making sense!"

He shook his head. "I'll explain it someday soon."

I spun on my heel and charged towards his truck. "Well, you'd better explain it fast. Because this is the last time you'll see me."

Oh Lexi...*sigh*

I love writing these two. And yes, Brady spills the beans rather soon since I know many of you will ask. I'm definitely looking forward (Especially after this chapter) to get to write the 'turning point' in this fic, if you get my drift. I'm assuming most of you have read Love This Pain and know what I am talking about, but just in case. *wink wink*

I wanted to add something AOM related to my blog, but I wasn't sure what you guys wanted to see. Ideas? Suggestions? I'm open.

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