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I watched in awe as Savannah’s eyes lit up for the tiniest moment, her frown softening. I imagined it was like seeing the Mona Lisa up close, moments after Leonardo DaVinci had placed the final strokes of his brush. And then the moment was over, and Savannah was storming away, the echo of her boots announcing her exit.
We all glanced at each other, as if we’d hallucinated at the same time. And then we began to break out into laughter. The tension was gone. Audrey reached up to her tip toes and placed a kiss on Collin’s lips, his arms automatically reaching around her waist as he pulled her tighter.
“I think they’re going to be like that for a while,” Mandy said, shaking her head. “Should we head inside?”
I nodded. She was right. Audrey and Collin were still in the sickly sweet honeymoon phase. It was best not to interrupt. I doubt they even remembered we existed.
The first warning bell sounded as we walked toward school and the front lawn began to empty. To our right was a single basketball hoop, where a bunch of the guys liked to let off some steam before school. Despite the lines of students streaming into the school, they were still intently focused on their game, rebounding a shot.
I slowed my pace as I spotted a new face among the players. He looked old enough to be a senior. At least six feet tall with dark hair, a chiseled jaw, and long, athletic arms. It was easy to see he was a natural at basketball. Every move he made was graceful. And as we got closer, he made a run for the hoop, sinking a lay-up with ease.
Rock Valley High was a big enough place that I didn’t know everyone’s name, but I at least prided myself on being able to recognize everyone’s face. This guy was definitely new. And smoldering hot. Not that that mattered. Making friends with the new kids was kind of my thing, whether geek or popular, hot or not.
“Who’s that?” I asked, elbowing Mandy to point at the new guy. The players had started another round and were already fiercely fighting for the ball. “Do you know him? He looks good enough to play on the basketball team.”
“Just because I’m an incredibly gifted runner doesn’t mean I automatically know every athlete in school,” she said with mock outrage in her voice. I glanced over at her and her face fell. “But yes, I know him. He’s in my Lit class. Just started last week. I think his name is Mason Finnick.”
Mason. That was a good name. A solid name. With a name like that, he was bound to be nice. And smart. My parents liked smart. Most moms and dads were just hoping their daughter’s didn’t bring home the bad boy from school. The boy with a tattoo across his chest, an earring, and a charming grin that said he was trouble. No, as doctors, my parents had a few more expectations, including me finding a guy who’d be there to help me through med school. Preferably, a future brain surgeon or famous researcher. They had my whole future planned out, whether I liked it or not.
“Heads up!”
As luck would have it, the basketball bounced toward us. I grabbed it before it could get past, holding the textured rubber ball tight in my hands. Mason jogged toward me, his cheeks red from the exertion of the game. Now was my chance to introduce myself to the new kid at school. Make him feel a little more at home. I smiled brightly at him, hoping to see a flicker of something in his eyes.
“Hi.” I bit my lower lip and looked up at him. “Is this yours?”
His forehead furrowed and he nodded curtly. “Yep.”
So he was a man of few words. That was okay. My dad always said I could talk enough for ten teenagers.
“Aren’t you new here?” I asked, trying to meet his eyes with another smile. “How do you like it so far?”
“It’s okay, I guess.” He reached out and plucked the ball from my hand, hardly giving me a second glance. “But I’ve got to finish this game before the bell rings. I’m not about to lose to that Ryan kid for the second time in a week. Someone has to put that guy in his place.”
I laughed. He had a sense of humor. That was a plus. “Don’t be too hard on him. Remember, it’s only a game.”
Mason froze, his whole body tensing. For
the first time, he made eye contact with me. His eyes were steel blue, with long dark lashes. They were narrowed at me, as if I’d just insulted his dead grandmother or something. The intensity of his expression took the breath right out of my lungs.
“It’s not just a game,” he said in a low voice. He shook his head and glanced at me once again with a disgusted expression. “Not to me.”
I couldn’t respond even if I’d wanted to. My vocal cords had been paralyzed. No one had ever made me feel like this before. Like I’d come to school smelling like a cow pie. It was a strange and alien feeling that caught me completely off guard. I wasn’t sure how to answer.
So I just nodded and smiled widely at him. He tilted his head to one side and frowned, looking at me as if I were a lunatic. But then the bell rang again and he growled through his gritted teeth.
“Lost again,” he said, his mouth quirking in disapproval. “As if today wasn’t bad enough to begin with. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I couldn’t help it, it was habit. He threw me a last incredulous look before jogging off to grab his backpack from a nearby picnic table. I stood watching him, my pink-laced Converses glued to the sidewalk.
“Holy guacamole.” Mandy smacked her hand to her forehead and barked out a laugh. I’d almost forgotten she was standing there the entire time. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so completely awkward. My first pap smear wasn’t even that awkward. He did not want to make new friends, did he?”
I groaned and threw my head back, staring at the cloudy sky above. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that basketball was just a game. I was out of line.”
“No, he was out of line.” The fierceness in Mandy’s voice drew my attention. “And totally rude. Don’t waste your time on him. Mason Finnick is a jerk.”
I wanted to agree with what she was saying, but my eyes found Mason again as he entered the double doors of the school. The way he was walking, as if the weight of the world lay on his shoulders, made a spark of pity flare inside my heart. He said he was having a rough day. I could give him the benefit of the doubt, even if he had all the warmth of a prickly pear cactus.
