There’s a rumor going around…
That Trevor Holt has the biggest “you-know-what” in school.
And here he is standing outside my dorm room…naked.
MarthaWhat is wrong with you?!
TrevorGet out of the way!
TrevorHurry up!
I gape at him as he pushes past me into my room.
I get a full view of his butt as he scrambles to the floor and underneath my bed.
TrevorI’ll explain later.
TrevorJust don’t tell her I’m in here!
MarthaTell who??
As if on cue, a female voice calls his name from down the hall.
Trevor’s worried face peeks out.
There’s red lipstick smudged around his mouth.
TrevorPLEEEEASE!
TrevorI’m desperate…umm…what’s your name again?
I roll my eyes.
We’ve only had three classes together.
MarthaMartha.
TrevorPlease, Martha.
TrevorShe’s gone crazy!
MarthaSHE’S gone crazy?!
MarthaYou’re the one who—
TrevorLook, I’ll owe you one.
TrevorGet rid of her for me…
TrevorAnd I’ll do anything.
I pause, considering this.
Trevor is friends with Drew, my longtime crush.
Maybe this is my chance.
MarthaOh, what the heck.
MarthaFine — but tuck in your stupid feet!
He mouths ‘thank you’ and his face disappears again under my bed.
And it’s not a moment too soon, as an angry Tilla James suddenly appears in my doorway.
She’s wearing her signature red lipstick…
The same color I just saw around Trevor’s mouth.
TillaWhere is he?!
MarthaWhere is who?
TillaTrevor Holt.
TillaI just saw him run down this hallway.
MarthaTrevor Holt?
I tap my chin and pretend to be thinking.
MarthaSorry, I don’t know anyone by that name.
She gives me the once over.
TillaYou’re lying.
TillaEveryone knows who Trevor is.
Even you, her eyes are saying.
Just then, a stifled laugh sounds from under the bed.
Tilla peers over my shoulder.
I try to block her view.
MarthaI told you.
MarthaI haven’t seen him.
She doesn’t look convinced, so I think fast.
MarthaBy the way…
MarthaYou’ve got lipstick all over your chin.
Her hand flies to her mouth.
She glares once more over my shoulder, but finally walks away toward the dorm entrance.
I breathe a sigh of relief and shut the door.
My relief is short-lived.
TrevorWhat are these?!
A grinning Trevor crawls out from under my bed.
He’s holding up a pair of my underwear.
TrevorGranny panties?!
TrevorSeriously?!
Mortified, I run over and snatch them out of his hands.
Trevor stares down in shock at my bed where I had been folding laundry.
Specifically…my underwear.
TrevorHow many of those boner-killers do you own?!
MarthaIt’s none of your business!
I shove the rest of them under my blankets.
Then I throw a towel at him without meeting his eyes.
MarthaAnd for god’s sake, cover yourself up, will you?!
Trevor wraps the towel around his waist, still grinning.
TrevorAnyway, thanks for getting rid of her.
TrevorShe’s become a bit of a problem.
Still defensive over the underwear, I snap at him.
MarthaWhy? Did she ask you for something like honesty?
MarthaOr was it exclusivity she was after?
MarthaOr I know! Something realllyyy scary like commitment.
His grin fades.
TrevorShe’s my buddy’s ex-girlfriend.
TrevorI’m not interested in her in that way.
TrevorBut she won’t get the hint.
TrevorShe just cornered me in the shower.
Okkayyyy.
Now I feel dumb.
I’m about to apologize, but Trevor is suddenly smiling again.
I notice a small dimple by his lip.
TrevorSo what will it be?
TrevorI said I owe you one and I’m a man of my word.
My stomach instantly fills with butterflies.
Will I actually be able to tell him about Drew?
He’ll probably just laugh at me.
I stall, walking over to the turtleneck sweater dress I have hanging up.
MarthaWell…as you know, the end-of-the-year parties are tonight.
TrevorI do know that.
He looks over at my dress.
TrevorAnd please, tell me you’re not wearing that.
Offended, my eyes cut to his.
MarthaExcuse me?
He holds up his hands in surrender.
TrevorOk sorry, sorry.
TrevorGo on.
I sigh with frustration.
MarthaSo, this is my last chance to tell a guy I really like how I feel.
MarthaHe graduates this year.
TrevorUh huh.
TrevorAnd what do you want me to do?
TrevorGive you advice or something?
MarthaWell…
I gather my courage.
This is your last chance, Martha!
Just go for it!
MarthaNot exactly advice but…
MarthaIt’d be great if you could put in a good word for me.
That gets his attention.
TrevorWhy would he care about what I have to say?
MarthaBecause you guys are on the football team together.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
TrevorSo you want to tell one of the football players that you like him?
TrevorAnd you’re planning to wear THAT?
To my horror, he laughs.
TrevorCome on Martha, you seem smarter than that.
TrevorThose guys only go for one type of girl.
He gestures to the dress.
TrevorGirls that don’t dress like nuns for starters.
His words make my stomach sink.
I can feel my cheeks flooding with color.
Trusting him is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
I hang the dress back up angrily.
MarthaGet out of my room, Trevor.
MarthaLet’s just forget this whole thing.
I turn away so he won’t see how much his words have bothered me.
I hear him blow out a breath.
TrevorLook, I didn’t mean to insult you.
TrevorI’m an idiot and have a habit of saying things the wrong way.
TrevorI just meant that that dress doesn’t really…play up your assets.
I don’t reveal that my mom told me the exact same thing the other day.
I look at the dress and frown.
Maybe they both have a point.
TrevorTell me who it is.
TrevorI’ll help you.
TrevorI promise.
I don’t want to tell him.
But maybe if he tells me I have no chance with Drew…
I can finally get over this asinine crush.
I take a deep breath and meet his eyes.
MarthaIt’s Drew Longhorn.
To my surprise, Trevor looks disappointed.
TrevorSeriously?
TrevorWhy him?
MarthaWe were lab partners in chemistry my freshman year.
MarthaWe haven’t talked much since then but…
MarthaWe worked together really well.
MarthaHe was nice to me.
Trevor scrutinizes me but doesn’t say anything.
TrevorFine.
TrevorYou want to get Drew’s attention?
TrevorWe’ll get his attention.
My heart starts beating fast.
MarthaReally?
MarthaBecause if you’re messing with me—
TrevorYou need to trust me.
I cross my arms, a little wary, but I nod.
TrevorFirst…you show up to the parties with me.
TrevorEveryone will notice you if you’re on my arm.
I resist the urge to gag over his supreme egotism.
TrevorSECOND, we need to go shopping.
TrevorBecause I’m sorry, but you’re not wearing that.
He leads me out into the hallway and up to his room on the second floor.
He’s still wearing my towel and nothing else.
I stand in his doorway and watch him pull a box from his closet.
TrevorTa-da!
It’s a box of women’s clothing.
MarthaWhere did you get all those?
TrevorI call it my “one-night-stand” box.
TrevorNow take your pick.