"Nice ass."

I stand up straight and glare at the asshole. "Stop staring at my ass and help me."

"Nah, I would much rather stare at your ass," Zeke smirks.

I get down on my hands and knees and shovell up more sand into the trash bag.

"Oh, so you like it doggy style," he winks.

Someone punch him for me. With a brick.

"If you're not going to help me then go away," I say while brushing more sand onto the shovel.

"Trust me, I would rather be stuffing my face with hairy mac and cheese than being here with you. But unfortunately, I can't leave until this is all tidied up. So chop chop, nerd."

"It'd be cleaned up faster if you helped," I yell as I stand back up, my leg cramping.

"I already told you; no."

"Then how about you just be quiet and stop annoying me?"

"I will think about it, Princess."

Princess.

After a couple of minutes of silence and Zeke kicking at the sand on the ground – making it harder for me to sweep up – he finally speaks again.

"You want anything from the vending machine?"

I look at him, surprised that he asked.

He raises his eyebrows when I don't answer. "Well...are you just going to stare at me like you have just seen fucking Santa Claus fucking your Mom or are you going to answer?"

I feel my cheeks heat up. Why am I so lame?

"Um, just a bottle of water, thanks. Oh, and Reese's peanut butter cups too." I reach into my pocket and pull out some change. "Here," I hold the money out in front of me.

He shakes his head, laughing. "You are cute sometimes, nerd." He walks away without taking the money.

What's so funny?

Did Zeke Blakely really just offer to get me food? And it just so happens that guys who get me free food are exactly my type.

I smile to myself and start brushing up the sand again.

"Damn," a male voice says.

I look up and am met with beautiful grey eyes.

Mason Conway.

Long beach High's star soccer player. Here. Watching me on my hands and knees sweeping up sand.

Thanks, god.

"Aren't you the one that got covered in this stuff?" He asks.

"Yep, that's me."

"And they're making you clean it up?"

"Uh-huh. Well, with the help of the asshole who done it, but he's not really helping."

"That's sucks." He reaches his hand out to help me up. I look at it for a moment, wondering if this is a joke and he'd push me back down and the full school would jump out and start laughing.

Yeah, I have a little bit of trust issues.

I take his hand and his strong arm pulls me up.

"Thanks," I smile.

"No problem," he smiles back, but his smile blows me away. I've never been this close to him before. I have never noticed the dimples in his smile, and his eyes; I never saw how beautiful his eyes were.

Someone coughs, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn to my right and there stood Zeke, holding food from the vending machine.

"Zeke, so you're the asshole who did this."

"Asshole? More like legend," he smirks, handing me my bottle of water and Reese's. I give him a grateful smile.

"I wouldn't say picking on girls makes you a legend."

I turn, shocked at what Mason just said. Is he really sticking up for me?

"Good thing I didn't ask your opinion."

Oh god.

Mason stares at him for a moment before looking back at me, his expression going softer.

"I didn't catch your name."

"Uh, Marnie," I say in the dorkiest voice ever.

"Marnie," he smiles, "that's cute."

My stomach explodes with butterflies.

My life has taken such a turn these last few days. I mean, I am currently standing in the middle of the two hottest, and most popular guys in school.

"I'll see you around," he says before walking away.

I think I might faint.

Turning around, I am met with an annoyed looking Zeke.

"What?"

"Uh, M-marnie," he says in a high pitched mocking voice.

I roll my eyes.

Jerk.

+++

It was now Friday night, and after a very eventful week; I was exhausted.

I'm going to have a relaxing night of binge watching the Vampire Diaries, I thought as I put my legs up on the living room couch.

Just as I am about to hit play on the T.V, my phone rings. 'Mom' appears on the screen.

"Hey mom," I say into the phone.

"Hi, sweetie, how was school?"

"It was okay, did you want something?"

"Yes, Evelyn asked if you'd go to her house and babysit Zeke."

Ugh.

"But i'm so tired," I whine.

"Marnie, please. I don't want to have to tell Evelyn no just because you're too lazy."

I am not lazy.

Do you know how much exercise my fingers get from pushing buttons on this T.V remote?

"Fine," I sigh.

"Thank you, honey. There's some ice cream in the freezer if you'd like to bring some over for Zeke."

"Uh, mom...you are aware that he's 17, right?"

"Of course I am."

"Then why would you say-"

"I need to go sweetie, I'll see you when you get back."

She hangs up.

The last place I want to be right now is with Zeke. I'm still mad at that jerk for embarrassing me in front of everyone.

Pulling myself up from the couch – using all my effort – I switch the T.V off, grab my phone and leave.

+++

"Hey, Sandy," Zeke greets me as he opens the door.

"Asshole," I say back in a sweet voice.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Didn't your Mom tell you? I'm supposed to be babysitting you tonight."

The smile falls from his handsome features. "Shit, damn that woman," he sighs. "She probably texted me, but I blocked her number."

"Why would you do that?"

"She pissed me off."

"You're such a jerk."

"Thanks, now leave please. You don't need to be here."

"Yo, dude, what's taking so long?" A guys voice shouts through the house.

"Sounds like I do," I smile and walk past him into his house.

As I enter the living room, I see Cole and Isaac sitting on the couch with Xbox controllers in their hands. I notice on the T.V screen that they're playing Fifa.

"Marnie?" Cole says, "Wow, I almost didn't recognise you without the sand covering you."

I scowl and sit on one of the other couches. The one Zeke was laying on when I first babysat him. I think it's my favourite place to sit, being the perfect angle from the TV and all.

"What's she doing here?" Isaac asks Zeke as he walks in.

"She is obsessed with me."

I scoff. "You wish, I'm babysitting him. And you guys shouldn't be here."

Cole and Isaac laugh, while Zeke keeps his permanent pissed off face.

"And why's that?"

"Because, he's not allowed to have any friends over."

"Then pretend we're not his friends. We're his gay lovers," Cole states.

I roll my eyes. "If you don't leave then I won't be doing my job right."

"As if I care," Zeke walks over to me, "Now move."

"What?" I stare up at him.

"Move. That's where I sit."

"Whatever, Sheldon."

"Did you just compare me to Sheldon Cooper?"

"Yes."

"I wouldn't be surprised that you watch that show, you are such a nerd."

"Excuse me, but you obviously watch it too considering you knew who he was."

"Well-" he stutters.

Ladies and gentlemen. I made Zeke Blakely speechless.

"Just fucking move," he demands.

"No, I like it here."

"Too bad. If you don't move I will make you."

"Can you feel the sexual tension?" Cole whispers loudly to Isaac.

"Go ahead and make me, asshole."

Zeke picks me up from the couch, throwing me over his shoulder, then dumps me down on the floor.

Ouch, by butt.

"Asshole!" I yell.

Zeke triumphantly slumps down into his spot while Cole laughs.

"A little harsh, Blakely," Isaac says, holding back a smile.

Zeke shrugs.

I pull myself up from the floor and sit on the other end of the couch from him.

"Want to play?" Cole asks, nodding towards the TV.

"Sure," he hands me a controller and restarts the game.

"You dick, I was about to score," Zeke says.

Cole smirks. "Don't worry, brother, Marnie can go on your team and help you out."

"That is not fair. Put Isaac on my team and you can have her."

"Dude, she's your babysitter; you take her."

Zeke groans.

I feel so loved.

Cole sets up the game and we start playing. It doesn't take me long to get the hang of it again, and I end up bringing the tiny ball through the field and score.

I cheer, "Yes!"

Zeke, Cole and Isaac look at me in shock.

"How did you do that?" Zeke asks.

I shrug, "My brother and I used to play all the time."

"Who is your brother?"

"His names Joey, he's in college now."

"Joey Jones," Zeke looks at the ceiling. "I remember that guy. He's cool, how are you related to him?"

"Hey, I'm cool."

"Sure you are," he says sarcastically.

"I am. I'm about to win this game for us. Feel free to help, but you don't do much of that do you?" I think back to his amazing efforts in helping me clean up the sand.

Cole chuckles, "I like her."

+++

A couple of hours later, the game is over – Zeke and I winning – and Cole and Isaac went home.

I've decided not to tell Evelyn about them being here. I'm a terrible liar though, so we'll see if she believes me.

Zeke goes up to his bedroom and I'm left sitting in the living room, watching an old episode of How I Met Your Mother.

"Oh, Barney," I say to myself, "If only a guy would like me as much as you like suits."

Suddenly I hear the front door open and close. I hope Zeke hasn't decided to leave. That would mean I need to get up and do something about it.

Instead, a pretty brunette girls walks in. Her mouth drops when she sees me.

"Oh god, you must be another one of Zeke's one night stands that never gets the hint," she mutters.

"Wha-"

"Listen," she interrupts, making her way over and sitting beside me, she takes my hands in hers. "Honey, I know it hurts, but you have to let him go. He played you." She speaks in the sweetest tone, "But it is okay now, you can move on and find the love of your life. Go on, let it all out. I am here for you." She smiles sweetly.

We both stare at each other for a moment before she speaks again.

"Why aren't you letting it all out?" She says in what I assume is her normal voice.

I cant help but laugh. "You really think I'd hook up with Zeke?"

"You didn't?" She let's go of my hands.

"No," I say through my laughter. "I'm babysitting him."

"Oh, you are the babysitter! I am such an idiot," she laughs, face-palming herself.

"Don't worry about it. I just can't believe you thought I'd be low enough to sleep with him. Who are you anyway?" I try not to sound rude in the last bit.

"I am Maggie, Zeke's sister."

Oh.

Oh.

She laughs at my expression. "Don't worry, you can say whatever you want about him. I know what he is like, and I totally agree."

"I didn't know Zeke had a sister."

"Yeah, we don't tell people, and I'm a sophomore."

That explains it.

Sitting this close to her, I notice that she has the same eyes as Zeke, and also they both have a sharp jawline. Other than that though, they seem very different, in personality too.

"Oh my god, you're watching How I Met Your Mother! I love that show."

I'm liking this girl more and more by the second.

+++

i updated so fast yaaaayyyyyy are y'all proud of me 😏

btw maggie lindemann is gonna play maggie in this, but you can imagine her as someone else if you'd like!

- e