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He glances at me briefly again before focusing back on the road. Are his cheeks turning pink, or am I imagining things?
“It was amazing,” I reply. “I spent some time on my grandparents’ farm in Eastern Washington.”
“Those are the ones with the horses, right?”
“Yep. My grandpa actually let me name one that they got while I was there. I named him Charlie. I hated that I had to leave him. I miss him.”
“More than you missed me?” He smiles at me as he says it, and I can feel my blush deepen further. At this rate, my cheeks will be darker than the red of my dress before we even make it to school. I really need to get myself under control. It’s never been this hard to hide my feelings, but I’m still processing how hot he got over the summer, and my brain is struggling to remember why it would be a bad idea to lean over and kiss him right now.
I slap his arm, “No. That would be impossible. By the way, you’re not allowed to leave me for a whole summer ever again.”
“Well, that might be a little problem, since I already got invited back for next summer.”
“Seriously?!” He nods. I can’t help being proud of him, even if I am disappointed that I’ll have to go another summer without him around.
“Congrats. I know how big a deal that is – even if it means that you’re abandoning me again.” I smile at him so he knows I’m not really mad.
We pull into the parking lot and I move my hand towards the handle when Jack stops me.
“Hang on.”
He reaches into the back, grabs his backpack, and then runs around to my side. He opens my door for me and my jaw practically hits the floor. I was not expecting that. First, he’s never done that for me before. I mean, sure, he will open the door for me when I’m getting into a car, but he’s never bothered when I was getting out. Second, what 16-year-old guy actually opens car doors for girls like this anymore? I’m so impressed and with how my hormones are raging right now, I think I just fell a little more in love with him. My smile is a mile wide when I finally make eye contact with him. He smiles back and we walk towards the main entrance.
This is going to be a good year. I can already tell.
Two
I’m struggling to concentrate on what my history teacher, Mr. Morris, is rambling about. I flip my pen around on my desk, distracted by thoughts about my best friend that I probably should not be having right now.
God, Paige got gorgeous over the summer. Was she always that pretty? Have I been blind this whole time? I mean, I always noticed that Paige was cute, but something definitely changed over the summer.
I can’t stop replaying that moment when she opened her front door this morning. Holy shit, I thought I might come in my pants with how hot she got.
My thoughts veer off to how her plump pink lips looked wet from her lip-gloss and the way her dress hugged her in all the right places. I wiggle in my seat subtly, suddenly uncomfortable with the tightening of my pants, and wondering if I can discreetly adjust myself without anyone noticing. I’ve got to stop thinking about Paige, or this is going to get out of hand fast.
I glance over at her sitting in the desk to my left. She’s focused on our teacher and taking notes dutifully. At least one of us can concentrate. I wonder if she’ll let me copy her notes later. Maybe I can invite her over under the pretense of copying her notes but then make a move.
Wait a second. What the fuck am I thinking?
This is Paige, for fuck’s sake. She’s my best friend. She’s the one person in my life who has never cared about my parents’ wealth or my popularity. Hell, she’s the one who’s always calling me out if I start to get too cocky. I can’t fuck things up with Paige. But, goddamn, I can’t stop thinking about her…and not in a purely friendly way. There is definitely nothing pure about the thoughts swimming around in my head right now.
I glance over at her again and catch her looking at me, or my arms more specifically. She glances up, her eyes meeting mine and then turns away quickly, a blush creeping across her cheeks that makes her look even hotter, if that’s even fucking possible at this point.
Um, did Paige just check me out? Is she feeling this, too?
Heat spreads throughout my body at the idea, and I’m convinced that all the blood in my body is quickly heading south.
After what feels like forever, the class ends, and I walk out into the hall with Paige like usual. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly shy with me. Paige hasn’t been shy with me since we were five and I taught her how to swing, but I kind of like that I seem to make her a little nervous now. It’s causing this adorable blush to stay on her cheeks and I really like that.
I put my hand on the small of her back – the contact causing warmth to flow through my body – and pull her into a secluded walkway nearby. I face her but glance behind me quickly to make sure no one is coming down this way.
“Jack? What’s up?” Paige is looking at me like she’s confused, which makes sense since I don’t usually act like I’m about to do a secret drug deal.
“I… I couldn’t focus in Morris’ class. Would you be down to come over to my house tonight so I can copy your notes?”
She looks at me like I’m a weirdo, which is fair right now because even I’m aware that I’m acting weird. “Sure, or I could just give you my notebook now. You can give it back to me tomorrow.”
“No!” I say far too quickly. “I mean, it would probably be better if you just came over…. you know, so I can… ask you to clarify your notes if I’ve got a question… or something.”
