Free Never Say Never by Kelly Mooney

people from school hanging out until the party later. I stop, staring in her direction, wondering if she listened to the song I sang for her. It’s something I’ve never done for anyone, and never thought that I would be one of those guys. Yes, I am now of those cheesy guys you see in movies.
    I continue to stare as she moves through the crowd that is standing on the corner, laughing with her stop-my-heart smile. My skateboard is dangling from my side, I can hear the sounds of boards riding behind me.
    I don’t know why, but I can’t keep my eyes off her. She turns and looks in my direction, the smile fades from her face. She quickly looks away. I don’t want her to look away, I don’t want her to be afraid of being with me. There’s something about her I can’t quite figure out. She has no idea the effect she has on me, and all I can think of it making her understand.
    I’ve never been in love, lust..yes, but love...no. I’m not even sure if this is love, but I know I want to find out.
    Max screams out, “Cam, let’s get going. The party’s about to start, man.”
    I look away from the one girl I’m crazy about, and head off with Max.
    I’m three beers in when I see Gabby stroll through the front door. Alone. I look around her, waiting to see Kat walk in behind Gabby, but she never does. After some time passes, and two more drinks I walk up to Gabby. The beer is clouding my thoughts, but I want to know where she is. Her back is facing me as I tap her on her shoulder.
    “Hey Gabby, how’s it going?” I ask.
    She turns, “Hey, Cam.”
    “Where’s Kat?”
    She tilts her head, “Home, probably. Why?”
    “How come she didn’t come with you?”
    She chuckles. “Do I really need to explain this to you, Cameron?”
    I pull her aside and whisper in her ear, “Can you do me a favor?”
    “What?”
    “Can you please talk to Kat for me? Put a good word in, I’ve been trying, but...”
    She cuts me off, “Cam, I don’t think it’s just you. She’ll come around.”
    “Yeah, all right. Thanks.”
    I’m upset she didn’t come. I didn’t think she would, but I had hoped to see her here tonight. Half the school is here, except for the one person I want most.
    I usually don’t drink this much alcohol at one time, and can’t for the life of me figure out why I’m pushing the tab back on another can of beer. I guzzle it back not paying attention to anyone. Stephanie is walking toward me, smiling. I had seen her earlier, and did my best to avoid any kind of communication, or even a glance in her direction.
    I’m feeling good now, and the buzz from the beer is making me feel better. It stops me from thinking of Kat and what it would feel like to lay next to her. I feel her hand on my chest, pushing me up against the wall.
    “Hey, Cam. You look good tonight.”
    “Yeah, you too Steph,” I tell her.
    “Thanks,” she says licking her lips.
    All I want to do is forget about Kat, get her out of my head. I do the unthinkable. I lean in and kiss Stephanie, giving her exactly what I know she wants. Me. After several minutes of playing tonsil hockey, I open my eyes and push her away looking at her. The smile’s not right, the color of her eyes are not right, the hair color is all wrong, and even the absence of cinnamon is missing. Yeah, she’s good looking, but I know if I go any further my fate with Kat is sealed. Kat will never touch me again.
    “What’s wrong?” She asks.
    “Nothing, just don’t feel like doing this right now,” I say, trying to think of something to get away from her.
    She looks behind her and calls over one of her friends, I start to walk away, she grabs my arm. “Lauren this is Cameron, Cameron this is Lauren.” She pauses, “Kat’s cousin.”
    Then she smiles, pursing her lips.
    Shit!
    Now all I can think of is Kat again. I know girls can be calculating and I can’t help but wonder if this was all a setup. Cousin sees me kiss Stephanie, cousin reports back to Kat. This is