“But Jude, come on. You’ve got to at least try.”
“But I’m disgusting,” I whine, fanning under my arms. My mesh tank top has done absolutely nothing to keep me cool. “I also think I need to reapply sunscreen.”
“God, you’re so white,” Max mutters.
“What about her?” Celeste says, gesturing to the closest booth. “She’s really hot.”
I barely have to look before I’m already blushing. “Oh, my god, Celeste, she’s way too hot.”
Celeste smacks her tongue. “You’ve said that about every single girl I’ve pointed out.”
“Well, they’re all too hot!”
“This is impossible,” Max says. “Let’s just go.”
“No!” Celeste shouts, prompting a few strangers to look our way, and I hide my face behind my nonbinary-flag fan. “Jude, I’m not joking. Go talk to a cute girl before I throw your sunscreen in the lake.”
Max crinkles his nose. “Oh, Celeste, surely that can’t be good for the lake’s ecosystem.”
I scoff. “Seriously? I could get skin cancer!”
Celeste ignores us. “What about her?”
Reluctantly, I follow her gaze to see… holy shit, one of the most gorgeous humans I’ve ever laid eyes on. She looks like a model for a goth tattoo magazine—creamy ivory skin decorated with ivy and floral tattoos, silky black hair streaked with pink and orange. She’s wearing mostly black lace and mesh, but several bright, lesbian-colored accessories are scattered throughout her ensemble. Her black lipstick contrasts with her perfect white teeth, framing a truly beautiful smile beneath a septum piercing.
“She’s cute,” Max observes. “I mean, that’s a lot of tattoos, but at least you’ll be able to share sunscreen. And maybe even foundation.”
“Guys, she’s way,wayout of my league. Like, we’re not even playing the same sport,” I stammer.
“So what?” Celeste snaps.
I run my hand through my hair, disgusted by how sweaty it is. “She’s not going to be interested in me.”
Celeste sighs. “Who cares? At least you’ll know you tried!”
“Plus, Celeste said that all you have to do is talk to a cute girl, not get her number or a date or something,” Max points out. “Go shoot your shot! Even if you miss, we still get to drive home in an air-conditioned car and take showers.”
Max has a point. “Fine. I’ll go say ‘hi’, tell her she’s pretty, and then we can leave.”
Celeste and Max cheer, and, after taking a deep breath, I make my way over to the tattooed angel.
As I approach, our eyes meet, and I nearly stumble. Her eyes are a piercing pale blue. She smiles at me. “Hey, cutie.”
My mouth is suddenly a desert. “Um, hi.”
She giggles. “I’m Nikki.”
“I’m—I’m Jude.”
“Aww, hey Jude! Like the Beatles’ song!” She smiles even wider.
I nod. “Yep. That’s why I picked it.”
Nikki’s expression falters slightly, but she recovers quickly. “Oh, cool! That’s really nice.”
I laugh nervously. “Thanks.” I gulp, remembering again how dry my throat is. “I just wanted to, uh, say ‘hi’, and tell you you’re really pretty. Like, so beautiful.”
Nikki beams. “Aww, well, aren’t you sweet! Right back at you, cute stuff!”
