Free Awkwardly Ever After by Marni Bates

tweet—if that would provide an excuse for me not to face Dylan head-on. The frustration and pain that gleamed in his deep brown eyes made my stomach lurch and twist.
    â€œI’m really not in the mood for one of your head games right now, Melanie. I mean, I’m never in the mood for them. But now is a particularly bad time. You say you’re more interested in being with Spencer? Fine. Go find him. I’m not stopping you.”
    â€œThat’s not—”
    â€œNot what?” Dylan cut me off again. “Not what you want? Are you sure about that? Because I have a feeling he’s exactly what you want, Mel. He’s one of the most popular guys in school. He’s not just a Notable—he’s a freaking legacy! And then there’s the added bonus that as a junior he could actually take you to prom. That probably sounds pretty exciting to you too. So why don’t you go pick out your dress and leave me alone?”
    â€œBecause he’s not you!” I blurted out and then clapped a hand over my mouth as if that could help me magically take the words back. No such luck. So I was stuck standing there while Dylan gaped at me in disbelief.
    â€œAre you for real right now? You don’t want me, Melanie. So if you’re feeling guilty for blowing off your best friend’s little brother—get over it. I certainly will.”
    I sucked in a deep breath and reminded myself that he was hurting right now. That I deserved a rejection after unintentionally toying with him. He was right about the mind games. Or at the very least, I had been sending some seriously mixed signals.
    Still, I’d hoped that the first time I ever told a boy I liked him, you know, that way, I wouldn’t be feeling quite so vulnerable. That his whole face would light up at the words.
    â€œWhat . . . what if I didn’t want you to get over it?”
    He took a step back and then glanced over his shoulder as if he needed to make sure that this wasn’t some elaborate prank. Dylan slowly cleared his throat before answering. “Then I would say I never realized you were this selfish.”
    That stung.
    In fact, it burned.
    â€œWhat. Do. You. Want. Melanie?” Dylan enunciated each word and I felt them all like a backhanded slap.
    â€œI-I don’t know! We can’t be together. You know we can’t be together, so—God, I just don’t know anymore!”
    Dylan crossed his arms. “Want to run that logic by me again? Why exactly can’t we be together? Overlooking the whole I never asked you to be with me thing for a moment.”
    I glared at him. Maybe he hadn’t asked directly, but he had made his intentions more than clear. And when he put it that way . . .
    I sounded absolutely nuts. Borderline delusional.
    But I knew it wasn’t all in my head, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that he was—
    â€œYou’re Mackenzie’s little brother!” Somehow I managed to get the words out. “There are rules against that sort of thing!”
    â€œNo, there aren’t. We can go to any state—hell, any country —and be together if that’s what we wanted. Nobody has legislated against dating a friend’s sibling.”
    â€œIt’s the Girl Code,” I mumbled, embarrassed to have to say the words.
    â€œSorry, I didn’t catch that.”
    Liar, I thought bitterly, but Dylan deserved a straightforward answer. Maybe he would never be able to get one from his dad, but he certainly could from me.
    â€œGirl Code,” I repeated defiantly.
    The excuse sounded increasingly stupid as it hung heavy in the silence between us.
    â€œOh, Girl Code. What rule am I breaking, exactly? I’d really love to take a look. Here I thought that involved dating your best friend’s ex. Apparently I need to look over the rules again.”
    â€œWell . . . yeah. But—look, I really value Mackenzie’s friendship,