“What progress?” TJ says, then his confusion turns into a sneer. A warning sneer. “She already knows you vandalized the thing. What more is there to tell?”
“I’m rebuilding it,” I say, my voice low. “We got a great start last night.”
“We?” he turns to Clarissa. “Why’d you get him to help you? I can do it.”
“He…” She looks at me before continuing. “He promised to help me rebuild it.”
TJ frowns. “Well, he’s not your boyfriend, now is he?”
I freeze. They can’t be official. There’s no way. Please, please, don’t be official.
Clarissa straightens, and some of that ice cold attitude of hers comes back. “I don’t have a boyfriend, but the last time I checked, a woman doesn’t need a boyfriend to help her do something.”
“Whoa, Clarissa,” TJ says, holding up his hands. “Chill out.”
The bell rings and everyone gets up to leave. Everyone except for us. TJ stands, and he glares at me as he’s talking to her. “You don’t need Gavin to help you build something. I’ll do it.”
“He’s the one who promised,” she says. “It’s his responsibility.”
I stand, too. “The job is mine, dude. Don’t you remember? I was the one who wrecked the greenhouse in the first place. Not anyone else. Justme, according to Coach, and the principal.” There’s a warning in my voice. A dare, just begging him to come clean about his involvement. But I know he won’t. I smirk. “That means the job is all mine. And if Clarissa wants to spend the evening with me, she’s free to do so.”
TJ scowls. “That’s all you’re ever going to be to her, Gavin. Don’t get any ideas. She’s mine.”
“I’m no one’s,” Clarissa says. “God, ya’ll are just a couple of cavemen.”
“He’s the one treating you like a piece of property,” I say. “I’m the one coming through on my promise.” I lower my voice and talk directly to her. “We’re friends, and I’d never push you to be anything else.”
“Shut the fuck up, man.” TJ says. “You had your chance and you ruined it.”
Anger rises up so fast inside of me that I’m not sure I can control it. I am two seconds away from doing something stupid. But I can’t. Not in front of Clarissa. All I can do is leave.
I grab my backpack and storm out of the classroom, noticing one very confused homeroom teacher watching me go.
“Gavin!”
I stop at the corner of the hallway when I hear Clarissa call out my name. I’m afraid to turn around, because she could be withhim. What if she’s holding his hand? What if they’re both wanting to continue the conversation about how I’m nothing but a vandal to Clarissa and that TJ is the guy who has her heart now?
I grit my teeth. Then I smell her strawberry shampoo as she rushes up next to me, grabbing my arm to get my attention. I blink, wishing she’d keep it there, but of course she doesn’t.
“Gavin,” she says, taking a deep breath. I glance behind her, but I don’t see TJ. Thank the heavens.
“What?” I start walking.
She keeps pace with me. “Don’t let TJ get to you like that. He’s,ugh, he’s such an idiot.”
“You shouldn’t talk about your boyfriend that way.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“It sure feels like he is.”
“Gavin.” She says my name like she’s exhausted. “Please don’t let him get to you.”
I walk toward an alcove near a window to get out of the rush of students heading to their first period class. She follows me, her expression sorrowful and yet still as beautiful as ever.
“Listen, Clarissa. I know I fucked up. I know I ruined the perfect thing we had between us, but please keep in mind that TJ used to be my friend before all of this. I know the kind of guy he is, so trust me when I say that you are too good for him.” I put my hands to my chest. “You don’t want me, I get it. And that’s fine, but you don’t need him, either.”
She tilts her head and peers at me. “Did you only start helping me with the greenhouse because you’re jealous of TJ?”
