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“The match,” I clarified. “I hope you win.” I gave him a small wave before hurrying down the aisle toward the exit, desperate to put some much-needed space between Johnny Kavanagh and my heart.
“Shannon?” Johnny called after me.
Pausing at the door, I swung back to look at him. “Yeah?”
His blue eyes burned holes inside of me when he said, “Thanks.”
“For what?” I whispered.
Johnny smiled. “For being nothing like the rest of them.”
“Uh, okay?”
“I’ll see you in a bit, okay?”
I nodded. “Bye, Johnny.”
Feeling off-kilter, I hurried off the bus where I was immediately intercepted by both Shelly and Helen.
Hooking their arms through mine, they led me away from the bus.
“Girl, you have some explaining to do,” Shelly said excitedly.
“And we want all the details,” Helen agreed with a nod.
“Details?” I asked, feeling flushed by their ambush. “About what?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Helen warned. “You just spent three hours up close and personal with Johnny.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” I replied. “The seat next to his was the only one left.”
“What did you talk about?” Shelly asked, eyes dancing with excitement. “What did he say to you?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, feeling awkward. “Just stuff.”
“Just stuff?” Helen spluttered.
“Shannon, I am trying to live vicariously through you here. You’ve got to give me more than ‘just stuff,’” Shelly huffed.
“Back off, vultures,” Lizzie barked. “Go and find another carcass to fight over.” She was leaning against the back of the bus, with a huge boy standing in front of her.
I instantly recognized him as Pierce.
I decided that they had to be back on again when I took in the sight of her hands on his waist, and the way he was nuzzling her neck.
Claire, Gibsie, Hughie, Coach Mulcahy, and Patrick Feely were standing close by, though they weren’t paying any attention to us. In fact, they all seemed to be in a debate over something as they circled Coach Mulcahy.
“Lizzie!” Shelly whined. “I was only asking.”
“If you want to know what Johnny Kavanagh talks about then go and ask Johnny Kavanagh,” Lizzie shot back. “Not Shannon.” Turning her gaze on me, she said, “Come on, Shan. We’re over here.”
Grateful for her interruption, I slid out from between the gossip girls, gave them a quick wave, ignored their disappointed expressions, and then hurried over to my friends.
The closer I got to my friends, the louder the discussion between the others seemed to get.
“He’s playing, Coach,” Hughie was snarling. “They can’t do this.”
“I agree, Biggs,” Coach replied with a phone to his ear. “This crap won’t stand—hello, yes, I would like to speak to the principal.” With his mobile welded to his ear, Coach hurried off, barking orders into the phone.
