What A Boy Wants Part 1

WHAT A BOY WANTS.

BY.

NYRAE DAWN.

Dedication:.

To my husband. I can write romance because you taught me what love is.

Chapter One.

There was nothing better than opening my email to a job offer. Well, I could think of a few things I liked more, but money wise, this topped the list. Another love-struck girl, in desperate need of my services. And another hundred bucks in my pocket. Sweet!

To: Hook-up Doctor .

From: PA Rocks <>>.

Subject: Boy help?.

Dear Mr. Hook-up Doctor.

I snorted. Mr. Hook-up Doctor? That was a first. Id been at this for six months now, and I had yet to be called Mr. anything.

I kind of liked it.

Maybe Id start using it from now on. It made my business sound more legit. Like I was one of those guys in a suit, sitting in a high-rise office in some big city instead of a broke, seventeen year-old with no wheels. I could definitely get used to that fantasy.

ExceptIm not really a suit kind of guy. It would be my high-rise office though. I could wear whatever the h.e.l.l I wanted. I was thinking jeans and t-shirts as the required uniform. Oh, and Vans. Have to have the Vans.

I twisted the ring in my eyebrow and looked down at my laptop again. I could figure that c.r.a.p out later. My fundage was running low, and an email to my Hook-up Doctor account meant possible money. Money meant a car. Cars equaled more chicks. You get the picture.

Mr. Hook-up Doctor, Umm, yeah. This is weirder than I thought it would be. Im sure you get that a lot. Im really not like the other girls who need your help though. Well, not that I know any girls who have come to you, but Im not the kind of girl who usually does something like this. Ugh! Im rambling, arent I?

No, s.h.i.t. What was your first clue? I groaned.

Okay, sorry. Im just not used to emailing someone to get a guy. Im the sensible one. I dont need someone to help me with boys. Not that Im a compulsive dater or anything, and well, I guess its obvious I need help since Im emailing you, but this is different. What Im trying to say is, Im not the kind of girl who would usually give a guy who wasnt into her the time of day. d.a.m.n, Im rambling again. Sorry.

I dont really know what kind of information you need, so yeah, Ill end this painful email. I just wanted to see if youre available to help. This guy, well, hes kind of out of my league. Not like he thinks hes too good for me, its justyeah, hes not the kind of guy who dates a girl like me. Can you help? Whats the next step? Your blog isnt really too forthcoming on information, you know.

Hope to hear from you soon!

PA Rocks (This whole process is confidential, right?) Shaking my head, I leaned back in my computer chair and kicked my feet up on the desk. Pulling a dart out of the arm of my chair, I tossed it at the dartboard on my wall.

See? This was a cla.s.sic example of why girls dont get the guys they want. We dont like that wishy-washy back and forth c.r.a.p. Girls need to decide who they are: either the strong, confident chick who puts us on our a.s.s and still makes us want more, or the shy girl next door who we want to either corrupt, or bring home to our parents. A toss-up.

Or, there were those girls in between. When I say in between, I dont mean theyre all over the place like PA, but theyre not the man-eater girls or the completely innocent ones either. They know who they are. Theyre confident in a more quiet way. Theyre subtle, not pushy like Black Widow Girl or too standoffish like Little Miss Innocent, theyrecool.

Unfortunately, you dont run into the latter girl too often. And honestly, when guys do, a lot of the time we dont notice her. Sucks, but true.

I threw another dart at the board. My finger lingered over the mouse. Without letting myself think too much about it, I hit reply.

Miss PA, I usually dont do this, but Im going to give you a small piece of free advice. Then, we can talk details and see if you want to go through with this. I can tell you right now why you dont have the guy you want. Make up your mind about who you are. Half the email you were all, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar. And the rest of the time, you were the unsure chick who stumbles over her words and hides in the corner of the gym during the dances. Were guys. Half the time, we dont know who we are. It helps things become a lot easier if we know who you are.

I can hear you now, and before you go all She-Woman on me, let me tell you, I know its a double standard. I will fully admit c.r.a.p like that goes on. You know, the whole lifes not fair thing. Nothing we can do about it. I didnt make the rules, I just know them.

That advice was free. I usually dont do that (a guy has to make money). From now on, everything costs.

Anyway, yes, this is confidential. I dont want anyone knowing who I am any more than you do (hence the whole 007 email thing).

My services are a hundred bucks. I know that seems like a lot, but youre trying to score your dream guy here. Im worth it. I promise. I take fifty dollars up front and fifty after. You dont pay the post fee if you dont get the guy (its never happened). Ill give you instructions later on how to pay. What I need you to do is decide if you want to continue. If so, I really need you to think about which of those girls you are and let me know. Each of my clients get a personalized plan of action, so I need to know about who you are and a little about the guy. No names. Make up some kind of code name for him (please, no hottie, cutie etc. A guy can only take so much). I dont need to know his date of birth, hair color and favorite thing to do on a first date or anything. Im talking basics here.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Hook-up Doctor.

Pushing out of my chair, I pulled a t-shirt over my head and tossed it into the pile of clothes next to my guitar. One clean shirt later, I was out the door, jogging down the stairs, and hoping to make it out of the house before"

Sebastian Dale Hawkins! Where are you going? I told you Roger was coming over tonight. He really wants to meet you. s.h.i.t. The full name and everything.

My mom walked around the side of the stairs, crossed her arms and glared at me, still wearing her Courtneys Dance Studio shirt. Yes, my mom taught dance, but not the sleazy kind. If I had a dollar for every time someone made a wise crack about it, I wouldnt need to be The Hook-up Doctor at all.

Ma, why does he want to meet me? I mean, its not like Im five years-old and looking for a daddy. I might sound harsh, but it was always the same thing. She met a new guy and we had to play house. After seventeen years, I was pretty sick of it.

Because hes a nice guy? Because were in a serious relationship, and youre my son? Come on, Sebastian. I really think he might be the one. My moms bottom lip poked out like she was a toddler trying to get her way. Or, h.e.l.l, maybe that was just a girl thing. Id file that bit of information away for later. Might be something I could use as The Hook-up Doctor.

I had to say, she knew what she was doing. My mom was good. For teaching people how to get what they want, I obviously learned from the best. But after a while, I also learned how to say no to her. I cant. You know I would, but I have this project I have to work on with Aspen. Im heading over there right now.

Why are you going there? I know shed rather be over here than snacking on tofu burgers at her house.

Its hard to bulls.h.i.t a bull-s.h.i.tter. By the way Mom narrowed her brown eyes at me, I knew she wasnt buying what I tried to sell her. Im going over there, and then shes driving me to meet up with Jaden and Pris. Its a groupprojectthing. She gave me those all-knowing eyes that made it hard to lie to her.

Next time? she pleaded.

Sure. I let the lie roll off my tongue. I had no desire to meet this guy. What was the point? The four husbands before him werent the one, and I doubted he was either. Still, I pulled her into a hug, because I knew shed just let me off the hook on purpose and yeah, Im a guy and I love my mom. So shoot me. Im man enough to hug her without feeling like a mamas boy.

After a quick squeeze, she finally let me go. Oh, and, Sebastian? Its Friday night before the last week of school. Going out with your friends would have been a more believable excuse than a group project thing. My mom winked at me.

Im an idiot.

I pulled on my Vans and slipped out. It took me about thirty seconds to walk two doors down to Aspens. Her house was the only one on the block painted a different color. Her front door was orange. Who would do that?

I raised my hand to knock, but her mom pulled it open before my fist came in contact with the door. And here was the very person who would have an orange front door.

Come in, Sebastian. Phils meditating, she whispered, and I fought some serious eye-rollage. Sneak up stairs. Aspen is in her room"unless, you need to be centered? Im sure Phil wouldnt mind if you joined him. She smiled all hopeful-like and I really hated to deflate her excitement, but not as much as I disliked the idea of being centered.

With a shake of my head, I tip-toed up the stairs, realizing I should have gone to her window. Her room faced the backyard, and their gate was always unlocked. Aspen has begged me a million times to hike the side of the mountain that was her house, instead of using the front door. I think her parents embarra.s.sed her, and I could see why, but it always felt too Dawsons Creek for me. The fact that I knew a show that had been off the air for years, well enough to know climbing through her window was too Dawson/Pacey-like, made the whole window thing an even bigger h.e.l.l no. I blamed it on that Katie chick marrying Tom Cruise. I might have to start rethinking the Spiderman thing if it came down to finding my inner feng shui or climbing a d.a.m.n trellis.

Aspens door was half open, so instead of knocking, I slipped it open slowly, pulled some more twinkle-toe walking like Id done on the stairs and grabbed her shoulders. Boo!

Ahh! She jumped, slammed her laptop closed and whirled around, her honey-brown ponytail flying out and almost poking me in the eye. She gave me that p.i.s.sed-off Aspen look, and I knew I was screwed. What the h.e.l.l, Sebastian! You scared the c.r.a.p out of me.

Yeah, I knew I was a punk, but I couldnt help it. I laughed. That was cla.s.sic. You looked like you were going to pee your pants. She punched me in the arm, and I laughed louder.

Shut up. She leaned backward against her desk, with a hand on her laptop.

Dont pout, Woodstock. You cant help that Im stealthy as a ninja.

She pushed past me, bright green eyes throwing daggers my way as she picked up her cell phone off the bedside table. I ignored her dirty looks and flopped down on her bed, kicking my feet up on the purple comforter. We should probably wait a few minutes before we bail. Daddy Peace is meditating, and your mom already tried to get me to do it, too. Im sure she wouldnt let you escape quite as easily as she did me.

See! Thats why I tell you to come in the window. All you had to do is climb that lazy b.u.t.t of yours up the side of the house, let me know you were here, and then I could have snuck out. Now sh.e.l.l be watching for me. Aspen sat down at the foot of her bed. She was a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl, but when she leaned over to tie her shoes, I caught a glimpse of smooth, creamy skin right above her jeans that had me wondering for the first time what shed look like if she decided to show a little more flesh every now and again.

I didnt like her because"well, I didnt really do the whole like thing. I did the fun thing, and I didnt think Aspen would be down for that. There were way too many chicks in the proverbial sea to ruin a friendship for a sliver of skin, anyway. Oh, I see. So I have to scale your house, and you get to sneak out the front door?

Now youre getting it. See how smart you are? she teased back.

Aw, you think Im smart? Thats so nice of you to say. I crossed my arms, waiting for her next comeback.

No, I think youre c.o.c.ky.

Yeah, thats whats Stephanie said, too"ouch! I covered the family jewels as she attacked me with her other shoe. Settle down, woman. Youre violent! I chuckled as her dainty, little shoe hit me in the thigh.

Men, she mumbled. Ive had about enough of conceited guys today.

She stopped hitting me, and I sat up next to her, nudging her with my shoulder. Whats wrong, Woodstock?

She used to hate it when I called her that, but over the years, shed gotten used to it. I couldnt help it. Her parents were tree-hugging hippies. Not that I had anything against that, but they were always telling us stories about their peace and love adventures. Theyre not old enough to have gone to Woodstock or anything, but it made for easy jokes.

Nothing.

She tried to stand up, but I pulled her back down by the wrist. I gave her c.r.a.p, but if any other guy did it, Id kick his a.s.s. If he was bigger than me, Jaden would help too. That was what our group did. We always backed each other up. Seriously. Did something happen?

Her cell phone beep cut off our conversation. Aspen flipped it over. Its Jaden. Half her mouth kicked up in a smile. Obviously, she was just as excited about going out tonight as I was. He wants to know whats taking us so long.

And just that easy, I forgot all about what wed been talking about. Standing up, I held my hand out for her. Come on. You sneak down first. Ill have your back. James Bond has nothing on me.

Chapter Two.

I didnt hear from PA the rest of the weekend. Monday morning I was still flying high from the party Friday night with Alexandra Maple and her killer legs that I had a feeling she showed off that night just for me. As I pulled myself out of bed for the last week of school before three months of freedom, I hit the power b.u.t.ton on my computer to let it warm up while I showered. Not that I expected her to get back to me. If she waited this long, shed probably punked out. Which sucked for the wallet, but I didnt really want to work with someone who wasnt sure anyway.

With my hair still wet and dripping on the collar of my shirt, I sat down at my desk and fired up my Hook-up Doctor account. One new message. h.e.l.l, yeah.

Dear Know-it-All.

Well, looked like Id lost my Mr. t.i.tle already.

Okay, I dont know who you think you are, but you know nothing about me. I happen to know exactly who I am! You cant blame me for being a little nervous. I mean, youre not even willing to let anyone know who you are, so obviously that tells me youre not as confident about this whole thing as you want everyone to believe. Hmmm? Could I be right?

I stifled a laugh. This chick didnt play around.

That being said, Im willing to give you a try. Just like a guy needs money, a girl could use a little help. You were right about the whole double-standard-thing. I figure Ill take all the help I can get.

So, about me. I DO know who I am. Im the friend. Im not shy, but Im not real forward when it comes to guys either. Ive um well, not really had a lot of experience. I mean, I had a boyfriend for a couple weeks once, and Ive played my fair share of spin the bottle, but Ive never really done the dating thing. Ive definitely never done the seducing-a-guy thing. Im your basic girl. I do well in school. I have friends, play sports and all that stuff. Im not one of those girls who wear shirts two sizes too small so guys stare at their b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

THE GUY (I cant think of a name) is the kind of guy who goes for those girls wearing shirts two sizes too small. Hes not really a relationship kind of guy. Well, let me rephrase that. I think he would be, if he found the right girl. I know him and I know theres more to him than he shows everyone. Hes funny and sarcastic. Umm, likes music. Everyone loves him. Hes one of those guys who have a ton of friends, but he doesnt realize how much people like him. Deep down, hes a really good guy.

Sounds like you got yourself a chump, I said to my computer. What was it with girls? He has a ton of friends, but he doesnt realize how much people like him. Yeah right. He realizes it, he just doesnt want you to know he does. It was all about how you played the game and it sound liked her chump knew how to play.

Even more important than her hes-sensitive-on-the-inside issue was the fact that she was blind. She tried to see something in this guy that wasnt there. Id seen the mistake made a million times. My mom had made it a million times herself. If you have to use the words, deep down all that means is youre fooling yourself. Youre seeing what you want to see and not whats really there.

But she wasnt paying me to tell her that. Not that shed paid me anything yet, but when she did, shed be paying me to hook her up, not tell her that even though shed get the guy, it wouldnt last. It never did and I wasnt just talking about the people I hooked-up, either.

A honk sounded from outside. I closed down my email, picked up my backpack and ran for the stairs. Jaden sat outside in his beatermobile that had about ten different colors of paint on it. I used to give him s.h.i.t about it until he pointed out that a piece of c.r.a.p was better than no car at all. So now I sucked it up and rode with him to school every day. I could always ride with Aspen. Her cars a lot nicer. One of those electric things that she has to plug in every once in a while, but she picked up Pris every day. It made no sense because Priscilla had her own car. Whatever. Girls were weird that way. Anyway, I dont like to get up any earlier than I had to, so Jay and the beatermobile it was.

Whats up? I asked, wincing as the door creaked and stuck when I tried to pull it closed.

Yeah, its doing that now. Gotta pull hard, Rambo. Jaden scratched his bleached hair as I jerked the door closed. There ya go. I knew you had it in you, he said, sarcasm dripped from his words. You ride in my car enough, you could help me work on it, you know.

Whatever. Im too pretty to work on cars. I teased him.

He rolled his eyes at me and backed out of my driveway before he started for the school. So, Alexandra Hot, huh? he leaned back in his seat, one hand on the stick-shift and the other on the wheel.

Yep, was all I said. I didnt do the whole kiss and tell thing. What I did was my business. Well, and the girls. I hadnt kissed her too much, anyway. I planned on rectifying that soon.

Jay didnt ask anything else, because he knew I wouldnt tell. We were at school about ten minutes later. As I closed his ghetto door, the bell rang. Perfect timing. See ya later, man, I called out to him. While jogging to my locker, I looked around, but didnt see Pris or Aspen, so I headed straight to cla.s.s. I didnt pay much attention all morning, trying to formulate a plan for my little do-gooder who obviously had it in her head to save a sap. Ha. Save a sap. I could use that one again.

By the time lunch rolled around, I had a rough game plan set out for her. I met Jaden, Aspen and Pris by our table under a tree. Priss long, black hair was curly today. It was crazy how she did that. Some days it would be straight as a board and others it looked like my Grandmas poodle, only longer. Of course, I never told her that. Pris would start yelling in Spanish at me and then proceed to try and kick my a.s.s. She rocked, though. Pris and Aspen were both cool girls.

Hey, ladies. I walked up and put my arm around Aspens shoulder. She b.u.mped me with her hip before mumbling a whats up.

What? You cant say hi to me? See if I give you any more rides to school. Jaden jumped on the picnic table, much more awake than hed been this morning.

Theres only four more days. I dont need any more rides. Plus, I did say hi to you.

No, you said-- his eyes widened. You dont have to make excuses for thinking Im pretty. I wont tell anyone you swing that way. We all laughed.