Page 15 of Catching Feelings

His steps stutter before he matches my stride again, and I have to look at my phone to hide my furious blush. You have to stop saying stuff like that, Sabrina!

But this guy is fun. Good banter, great smile, a delight to fluster. It’s no big deal—Tyler is a totally different person from Ryan. And sure, I need to take care of that problem, but it’s not like it should stop me from flirting with anyone at all this year!

I put my phone away and look back up with a newly bright smile. “Your first period is just this way—” I nod toward the east wing and am about to turn down the fork in the hallway when I realize Tyler’s no longer beside me.

When I turn, his back is practically pressed to the locker bank. A girl with long, glossy black hair beams at him. If there was an introduction, I missed it—she’s already asking, “Would you like to go to homecoming with me?”

His eyes immediately fly up to meet mine, gaze alarmed. All I can do is hold my hands up helplessly. There’s only so far the buddy system can take you.

I can see his dry swallow from here. He turns his eyes back to the girl, smiling awkwardly. “That’s very flattering, but I just got here. I barely know anyone. I was hoping to settle in first?”

“Okay!” she chirps, undaunted. “I’ll ask again in a few weeks! Have a good first day, Tyler!”

We both watch her stride down the hallway, head held high. Gotta give her props for boldness. Get after it, girl.

Tyler takes a step toward me, shaking his head in a dazed way. “It’s strange when everyone knows your name and you’ve never even seen them before.”

I wince. “Too much attention?”

“Way too much.”

The dismay in his voice makes me pause. The way he’s shrinking into himself, as if trying to shorten his height and decrease the breadth of his shoulders… There’s none of the spark and humor and challenge I saw during his website interview.

He hates this.

Guilt curdles in my stomach. This is my fault. I rarely regret one of my Spirit Committee plans, but I really threw him to the wolves with that interview, didn’t I? I can relate to just wanting to be left alone, especially during a senior year where your life has unexpectedly changed. If the guy doesn’t want to be asked to homecoming, he shouldn’t have to put up with it! That girl is going to be back, and probably a whole swarm of others!

Between his fan club and Ryan’s persistence, we should start a support group.

Oh. Oh.

My lips curl up into an involuntary smile. The din of the hallway quiets, everyone’s faces blurring around me.

Oh, I do love to feed two birds with one scone.

I look back up at Tyler with a grin. “Hey. You want to go to homecoming together?”

His eyes widen. “Oh, um—like I said, I was hoping to settle in—”

“Whoa, tiger.” I laugh. “Settle down. I mean to get people off your back and mine. It’s a clear solution.”

He frowns. “Off yours?”

I shrug. “Yeah, there’s this guy who’s been trying to… whatever. It doesn’t matter. The point is, we can both focus on our own lives, and you can tell people you already have a date. Just as friends.”

Tyler gives me a long, considering look, eyes scanning all over my face.

The crowd in the hallway eddies around us, curious glances thrown Tyler’s way, but I raise an eyebrow and wait him out.

The moment’s long enough to make me squirm with uncertainty. Like, okay, don’t do me any favors if you’d rather go with some girl you don’t even know—at least we’ve had a conversation—

Then he holds out his hand, and I realize he wants me to shake it. I grasp it with relief—his palm is warm, firm, a little callused.

Tyler’s smile is so bright, I have to fight the urge to look away. “A friend would be nice. You have yourself a deal.”

8. TYLER

You have yourself a deal.