eyes.
“But will YOU be there?” He had a small smile on his face but his gaze was intense.
I nodded, feeling too nervous to even say yes. What a loser I was. The most popular guy in the school was telling me he cared whether I went to his party or not and I couldn’t even speak.
“Awesome. See you tonight then.” He gave me a panty melting smile, then turned and walked away toward the locker rooms. Holy dreamboat .
I headed into the girls’ locker rooms to get my stuff, kind of tripping out from the encounter with Bryce. All he’d done was ask if I was coming to his party and commented that he was happy I would be there. Still, that was tantamount to a declaration of interest. Lacey and Alex were on their way out the door, still in their cheerleading costumes. The showers were gross so we all tried to shower at home when we could. They stopped, duffle bags over their shoulders.
“So, were you waylaid by Bryce, is that why you’re late?” Lacey was psychic or something. Alex looked at me with frank curiosity.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “He was checking to see if I’m coming tonight.”
Lacey nodded approvingly. “Good. He’s staking his claim early and will make his move at the party.”
“Wow what are you, the puppeteer? I hope you’re not orchestrating all this, Lacey.”
Alex looked shocked that I would speak so tartly to the Queen Bee. But Lacey’s involvement here was bordering on annoying.
But Lacey laughed genuinely. “You are hilarious Jenny. I have not said one word to him. I just know how guys think, that’s all. You sure you don’t want me to pick you up?”
“No, thanks, I’ll meet you there.” I wanted to have my car so I could leave if I wasn’t having a good time.
“OK, I’ll text you when I’m leaving so we can arrive at the same time.” I knew this was for my benefit since Lacey could stroll into that party alone and own it, but she knew I was a little nervous about walking in by myself. My irritation with her gave way to gratitude.
After the girls left I got my things and hurried home to shower, eat something, and get ready before driving myself to the party. Parties stressed me out. I was better at one on one conversation than navigating through a group. I was wearing a silky gray tank and a navy bubble skirt, very short, with jeweled leather flip flops. When I’d decided to move up socially I’d started paying more attention to my wardrobe, with help from Tina. My budget was limited so I relied on Forever 21 and H&M sale racks. I was a pretty good bargain hunter: shopping was kind of tedious but it wasn’t rocket science. Looking at myself in the mirror now, I felt good. My hair was down and I’d put on mascara, which I rarely wore. I facetimed with Tina quickly to show her how I looked. She approved.
“If Bryce doesn’t find me attractive in this outfit there’s not much more I can do.” But my show of confidence didn’t stop the butterflies.
As I drove to the party, though, my mind drifted away from Bryce to Callum. We hadn’t spoken since our tutoring session on Wednesday. The next day in Calc he had come into the classroom after I was already seated. I’d watched him as he walked down the aisle toward me, somehow deluded into thinking he was walking toward me. Which of course he wasn’t, he just walked past my desk then over to his usual seat. He didn’t look at me until he was right by my desk, at which point he caught my eye and nodded silently. I gave him a small smile. He then ran his knuckles lightly across the top of the desk as he continued past.
At that casual gesture, which he probably barely noticed he did, I felt my heart thump in my chest and my face flush. What the heck, Jenny? I was pissed at myself for my reaction, no, overreaction. His nod had been courteous, a student acknowledging his tutor, and the hand on the desk was just a funny gesture that was probably easier than actually talking to me. But I had watched
“But will YOU be there?” He had a small smile on his face but his gaze was intense.
I nodded, feeling too nervous to even say yes. What a loser I was. The most popular guy in the school was telling me he cared whether I went to his party or not and I couldn’t even speak.
“Awesome. See you tonight then.” He gave me a panty melting smile, then turned and walked away toward the locker rooms. Holy dreamboat .
I headed into the girls’ locker rooms to get my stuff, kind of tripping out from the encounter with Bryce. All he’d done was ask if I was coming to his party and commented that he was happy I would be there. Still, that was tantamount to a declaration of interest. Lacey and Alex were on their way out the door, still in their cheerleading costumes. The showers were gross so we all tried to shower at home when we could. They stopped, duffle bags over their shoulders.
“So, were you waylaid by Bryce, is that why you’re late?” Lacey was psychic or something. Alex looked at me with frank curiosity.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “He was checking to see if I’m coming tonight.”
Lacey nodded approvingly. “Good. He’s staking his claim early and will make his move at the party.”
“Wow what are you, the puppeteer? I hope you’re not orchestrating all this, Lacey.”
Alex looked shocked that I would speak so tartly to the Queen Bee. But Lacey’s involvement here was bordering on annoying.
But Lacey laughed genuinely. “You are hilarious Jenny. I have not said one word to him. I just know how guys think, that’s all. You sure you don’t want me to pick you up?”
“No, thanks, I’ll meet you there.” I wanted to have my car so I could leave if I wasn’t having a good time.
“OK, I’ll text you when I’m leaving so we can arrive at the same time.” I knew this was for my benefit since Lacey could stroll into that party alone and own it, but she knew I was a little nervous about walking in by myself. My irritation with her gave way to gratitude.
After the girls left I got my things and hurried home to shower, eat something, and get ready before driving myself to the party. Parties stressed me out. I was better at one on one conversation than navigating through a group. I was wearing a silky gray tank and a navy bubble skirt, very short, with jeweled leather flip flops. When I’d decided to move up socially I’d started paying more attention to my wardrobe, with help from Tina. My budget was limited so I relied on Forever 21 and H&M sale racks. I was a pretty good bargain hunter: shopping was kind of tedious but it wasn’t rocket science. Looking at myself in the mirror now, I felt good. My hair was down and I’d put on mascara, which I rarely wore. I facetimed with Tina quickly to show her how I looked. She approved.
“If Bryce doesn’t find me attractive in this outfit there’s not much more I can do.” But my show of confidence didn’t stop the butterflies.
As I drove to the party, though, my mind drifted away from Bryce to Callum. We hadn’t spoken since our tutoring session on Wednesday. The next day in Calc he had come into the classroom after I was already seated. I’d watched him as he walked down the aisle toward me, somehow deluded into thinking he was walking toward me. Which of course he wasn’t, he just walked past my desk then over to his usual seat. He didn’t look at me until he was right by my desk, at which point he caught my eye and nodded silently. I gave him a small smile. He then ran his knuckles lightly across the top of the desk as he continued past.
At that casual gesture, which he probably barely noticed he did, I felt my heart thump in my chest and my face flush. What the heck, Jenny? I was pissed at myself for my reaction, no, overreaction. His nod had been courteous, a student acknowledging his tutor, and the hand on the desk was just a funny gesture that was probably easier than actually talking to me. But I had watched
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