Fall For Me by Melanie Marks Read Free Book Online

confusing.
    I wanted Riley to be happy. I did. But to be honest, I didn’t really want him to like a girl—unless the girl was me. And well, I had a boyfriend, so I was—seriously, desperately—trying not to like Riley. Trying so hard. So, really, it wasn’t fair that I wanted him to like me. But blah. That’s what it seemed I wanted.
    Stupid.
    The concert was fun—pretty much. But Bianca ended up being there. When I came out of the bathroom, there she was, cornered with Finn, acting all intimate and we-have-a-thing- like. It made me feel sick and it ruined the rest of the night for me, though after that, Finn treated me extra sweet and gave me extra hugs and kisses and ice-cream.
    “I love you so much,” Finn whispered to me on the way home from the concert. “Please, don’t let Bianca come between us—Zoey, please.”
    I sat ridged and trembling, not knowing what to say or think. It seemed he was the one letting Bianca come between us. I mean, he sure didn’t look hostile towards her when they were huddled together in that corner. You know that spark I was talking about? The one Riley got in his eyes when he looked at Ava? It seemed Finn had it in his eyes tonight when he was talking to Bianca.
    It made me clutch my stomach and want to cry. But I let Finn hold me in the car and try to make me feel better. I wanted to feel better. So bad. I wanted things to go back to the way they were—when we were happy and totally into each other and in love. I wanted things to be right between us again. But … it didn’t seem they could.
    Not anymore.
    But I wanted to be wrong.
     
    ***
     
    A week after the concert, Finn and I took my little brother and sister with us to the fair. We stopped by Riley’s on the way, trying to coax him into coming too—and I tried coaxing him into bringing Courtney, but Riley smirked.
    “Why are you trying to sell me on Courtney, Jones?”
    I shrugged, turning red. “She’s nice.”
    “And the total opposite of Ava.” Finn nudged me playfully. “Zoey hated Ava.”
    Riley raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
    I could feel myself turning even redder, ‘cause I wasn’t quite sure anymore why I didn’t like Ava. Was it because she was a self-centered snob … or because Riley like, craved her? I was pretty sure it was a little of both, but I didn’t want to discuss it.
    I didn’t like talking about Ava with Riley around, anyway. I didn’t like her name even being brought up in his presence anymore because it made his eyes look all sad and lost these days. Though, actually, they didn’t look sad or lost right now. Right now they looked … guarded.
    “Come on, Riley!” Justin called impatiently through the open window of Finn’s car. We stood talking in Riley’s front yard longer than my little brother could tolerate. “I want to ride the Ferris wheel with you!”
    “I’d like to come, buddy—really.” Riley sounded torn, regretful. He didn’t often tell Justin no—in fact, he never did. Only, well, he did now, saying he had already made other plans.
    “Oh!” Finn whooped with a grin. “Riley’s got another girl—is she inside? Who is it? The red-head from the mall?”
    Riley shook his head, looking sober. “It’s not the red-head.”
    “Who is it, then?” Finn’s interest was piqued by Riley’s reluctance to spill.
    Riley rubbed the back of his neck, eying me. Then he set his jaw. “Ava.”
    It was like a punch in the stomach. For some reason. Though, really it was none of my business. I knew that. It shouldn’t matter to me who Riley dated. Of course. Still … ouch.
    “Oh.” Finn laughed, awkward-like. “Zoey doesn’t hate her that much—I was just messing around. Bring her with us—she and Zoey can duke-it-out in the fun house—actually make the house fun.”
    I tugged on Finn’s arm, wanting to get away. Riley obviously didn’t want to come. The way he was acting, it was kind of tense.
    “I already invited Ava to come,” Riley