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A heavy weight of dread zips through me, and my automatic reaction is to look around, wondering if anyone heard her. No one did, but by the time my eyes find hers again, she flashes me a knowing grin.
“You see?”
“Izzy, that’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not.” She shakes her head. “It’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to me.” Biting the inside of her lip, she raises up her hand to my cheek. “Sorry, Matt.”
Before I can say anything else, she turns around and heads down the hall.
I walk over to the quad and can’t help but look across the way to see Izzy sitting with her friends. I know she knows where I sit for lunch, but she doesn’t look up. Letting out a defeated sigh, I sit down at our table just as Micah gives Carter a nod and leaves.
I’m already in a grumpy mood, which is why I lead with my inappropriate question.
“Okay, what the hell is his deal?”
“What?” Emma looks over at me.
“You okay, man?” Carter shoots me a look.
“He’s here, and then when I show up, he leaves. Is Micah gay or something? Does he like me? Or does he just hate me? And if so, why?”
Emma and Jen exchange peculiar looks, and then in unison, break out in a cackling laugh.
“Did I say something funny?” I spit out.
“Micah isn’t gay,” Jen says between laughs. “He had a girlfriend.”
I gave Jen a blank stare. “I guess that’d be the first time a gay dude had a girlfriend then, huh?”
“Whoa, calm down, man.” Carter looks at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I groan out and peek across the quad. Izzy is still talking to her friends, and she doesn’t look like she’s looking over anytime soon.
Carter follows my line of sight and then looks back at me. “Oh, I see.”
“What? What is it?” Emma turns around, making Jen follow suit.
“Nothing,” I say loudly, staring at Carter. “It’s nothing.” Carter mouths sorry back to me.
Emma and Jen both turn back around and flash me an unconvinced look.
“Anyways,” Emma elongates the word. “Okay, I’m not really supposed to say anything, but Micah just isn’t really comfortable around you.”
“But he’s okay with Carter?” I stare at her, confused.
“Well, Carter isn’t really friends with half the basketball team anymore.”
“What’s that have to do with anything.”
“Micah’s ex-girlfriend, Lana? She messed around with someone on the team. I still don’t know the details, or who it was, but something about seeing you just sets him off, and he starts thinking about her and what she did all over again.”
Now I feel like an ass. Here I am, getting mad at the guy, thinking he was being rude when he’s just hurt. I guess today is ‘Hey, everyone. Matt is an asshole’ day.
“Yo, Hillard,” someone calls out behind me, and I turn to see Oscar walking over.
“Hey.”
“Emergency ASB lunch meeting.”
