interrupted with details, details, details about world wars and treaties. The rest of the afternoon people stopped me in the halls to ask about Went. I could have held court in study hall.
I was walking out of my last class when I was accosted by Meagan Bird, our very own head cheerleader. âBailey!â She blocked my exit with her extraordinarily large breasts, her perfect bod, and her hair to die for. âWent says heâs sixteen, but I think heâs kidding me. He looks so much more mature than sixteen. We have math together.â
Went? Kidding Meagan Bird? In math class? Adding, subtracting, multiplying together? I didnât even want to think about it, but my mind was shooting images of them teasing, multiplying. Meagan was a sophomore, like us. Only she was seventeen because her parents had held her back in kindergarten. Twice.
âPretty sure he wouldnât lie about his age to you, Meagan,â I said.
âGuess that means heâs too young for you, huh?â said Amber My Best Bestfriend.
Meagan acted like she hadnât heard Amberâs sage advice. âWent is just so funny!â she squealed.
âIn math class?â Amber asked.
âYes!â she assured us, emphasizing the word with a cheer-leading bounce.
âWell, you know how funny numbers can be,â I admitted. This whole conversation was giving me a stomachache, or chest pains. But I wasnât about to let her see that. I had a feeling sheâd set her sights on Went Smith, just like Carly had. âI need to go to my locker, Meagan . . . if youâll move so I can.â
âI smell a Carly-Meagan catfight,â Amber whispered when we were out in the hall. âUnfortunately, I canât stick around for the show. Dentistâs appointment.â
âSay hi to Mom. Sheâs covering reception for Dr. Castor.â
âWill do.â Amber strode off, her long legs carrying her as gracefully as if she were on a modelâs runway.
With Amber gone, I felt more alone than ever. All afternoon Iâd expected to run into Went. But I hadnât so much as glimpsed his golden locks. Not even once.
And then I did see him.
I was walking to my locker, and there he was. Not at my locker, but at Carlyâs. His back was to me, but Carly saw me. She waved. Went turned around and waved, too.
I ducked into the girlsâ bathroom. So much for alternate reality. Carly had her hooks into Went like she always did with guys. The universe was back in order.
Alone in the bathroom, I moved to the mirrors. The slap of my sandals echoed like broken applause. The light buzzed. Iâd never noticed that before. I waited until Carly and Wentâugh, I hated saying those names togetherâhad time to leave. Then I dashed from the building like it was on fire.
The second I reached the spot of my morningâs fall, there was that little white dog. He barked and jumped and whimpered at my heels. I squatted to pet him, and he pounced on me so hard I almost spilled backward again. âWere you waiting for me?â
He jumped up and licked my nose.
âYou think thatâs going to make me forgive you for this morning?â He licked my chin. It tickled. âOh, all right. Youâre forgiven.â
âAre you trying to steal my dog?â Went Smith was standing over me, grinning, showing two dimples.
â Your dog?â
âCanât you tell by the way he likes me better than you?â Went asked. His dog was totally ignoring him. âHere, Adam! Here I am.â The dog, still dancing around me, didnât even turn toward Went.
I stood up and gave Adam a little push toward his master, but he bounded back to me. âDonât feel bad. I have this effect on dogs. You can ask anybody.â
He leaned down and stroked his dog. âI donât need to.â
I looked from Went to Adam. A breeze kicked up, making treetops sway and swish. Silver-tipped clouds sped
Autumn Reed, Julia Clarke
Seraphina Donavan, Wicked Muse